Mainstage

I remember when this used to be Sammys, of which I was not too fond of, the one time I had attended a birthday celebration there. But now that it’s been rebranded as «Mainstage,» I seem to be quite okay with this venue. Maybe I’ve just grown to be more tolerant of it, as it doesn’t seem wildly different.
I’ve been here for a couple of comedy improv shows and once for The Spazmatics. The stage lends itself well to both types of shows — visibility and audio doesn’t seem to be an issue, but then again, little is after a few cocktails. Not to say the drinks here are notably potent. .. or weak. Just basic, decently priced for this type of venue.
A nice touch is the dedicated parking across the street, although it is very limited. Street parking usually isn’t too difficult to take advantage of during the later hours. All in all, a pretty decent place, but in close proximity to other nightlife establishments should you want to wander a bit.

Lots of high ratings for this place? I was not impressed. At all. This is a review of the facility, not the band playing.
Came with a large group to see The Spazmatics (duh). It was crowded and hot, but fans everywhere. If you are in front of the stage and dancing around, just deal with the fact that you will sweat. The A/​C was working so hard, there was condensation dripping on us until we could inch away from underneath it.
There was a reserved section of tables and chairs for people that never showed up. Um ok… my friend’s bf was in an air boot and kind of stole one of the chairs anyway.
Bartenders were quick but we beered it that night.
I guess 80s music is baby-​making music for some. But I’d rather not see that while I’m trying to enjoy myself.
Prices for the show have gone up to $ 15 since they only come once a month now. Also, people actually dress up in 80s gear to see them? That’s new. Gawd, I miss Austin.
A great live music venue, this place is NOT. Try again.

I went to a Spazmatics show here for my birthday! I had a great time. It was realllly Hot in there but there is a second room behind the stage has another bar and A/​C. The parking was really hard, There is a lot across the street from the greyhound station and our car was still there when we left (score!) We got there at 10, but I will definitely go much earlier next time as the line was wrapped around the block! Also, good to know that the show was $ 15 (it wasn’t on the website) and they only take cash!

I ONLY go here for the SPAZMATICS and even so it is hella hot in here! WHERE’S THE AC? TOO MANY PEOPLE!
I WILL GIVE THEM A 5 STAR rating if they had AC, at least they have PHAMILY BITES gourmet food truck! Come and enjoy the fun outside of this place!

Guess it depends on what day you go and what is going on there. Parking is generally reasonable since nothing else is really around there. Kind of in a shady area being across the Greyhound. Wish the McD’s stayed open later and felt comfortable going to after the club. The venue itself is not bad and is on par with other clubs/​lounges. In this weather though, all I gotta say is Smoker’s Room…

Let me please express how odd it is of me to be out in a bar because I do not like crowds or to stand and most bars are just not my idea of fun…
I only went to the Main Stage because my buddy lives in the building so we have popped in a few times to see what the crowd was like…
I, of course, am always under dressed compare to most of the crowd, but its actually a very fun laid back atmosphere and the bands get more interesting every time… I also have to mention their very unique smoking section, which consist of several leather couches outside below the under pass of I-​45 … I don’t even smoke but I can resist taking a rest under the freeway, its quite amusing…
All in all a very good bar so if you are out and about in Midtown go check out The Main Stage ;)

We hit this place up to see the Texas-​Famous Spazmatics on Saturday night and they were great. Everyone had a great time. I was actually trying really hard not to have a great time but it was impossible. In fact, if you go here and don’t have a great time, do yourself a favor: Pick up the phone, call your dad, and tell him that you hate him. Because he obviously did something wrong– either raising you wrong or choosing to conceive.
We hoofed it from midtown. Easy 10 minute walk although I wouldn’t do it alone unless I had an R-​whistle handy. Arrived about 45 minutes ahead of show time, which I highly recommend. We got in with no trouble and no wait and we got ahold of some decent real estate next to some almost-​middle-​aged ladies who were downright ferocious, but to be fair my dance moves bring out the best in women of all ages.
Some of our friends spent 2+ hours at PF Chang’s (I assume they were brought there on command at gunpoint) and didn’t arrive until 10 minutes before showtime. They said the bouncers were enforcing one-​in-​one-​out and it would be about an hour, and thus they spent the remainder of the evening at an apartment playing Wii. The morals of the story: (1) PF Changs sucks (why not just go to Pei Wei?), and (2) get here early.
There isn’t really a dress code– a couple people we were with were wearing khaki shorts and Vans shirts with really big diagonal stripes and some MS WordArt. Bouncers let them in without issue, probably because they were with A-​list company.
Entertainment was great, drinks were good and reasonably priced, and the bar was well-​staffed. As another reviewer noted, it got a bit toasty inside, which is the only downside that I can recall.
In short, I highly recommend this place to anyone with a soul.

This is the old Sammy’s, but former Sammy’s patrons will barely recognize the place. The new management has completely remodeled it, so even thought the bands play 80’s music, the club no longer looks like it belongs there. Went there to check out a new band out of New Orleans called The Molly Ringwalds — it was so much fun! The staff was really on point — didn’t have to wait for drinks at all. Drink prices were very reasonable. It was also great that when the band wasn’t playing, the DJ played current hits to dance to. They told me Thursdays are ladies night, so I will definitely be going back to check that out. All in all, I would say check this place out — something fresh from the tired Washington scene.

Look out, ladies and gentlemen, Sammy’s is back. Well, «back» as in new management and a ridiculously generic name. That’s right, Spazmatics fans, 2016 Main is now the happening spot for something called a «Mainstage.» We were convinced by a friend of a friend to head out to ex-Sammy’s for their grand reopening, which wasn’t too difficult considering 80’s cover bands are always a rocking good time. I briefed myself using the extremely handy Unilocal dot com, and the Sammy’s reviews still apply to the reopened venue.
Despite some awesomely terrible marketing for the terribly named Mainstage, there was still quite a crowd. We arrived at 11, and the line stretched around the block. Luckily for us, our friend of a friend was perched at the front; I ended up waiting about seven and a half minutes. But the caveat still applies: if you don’t want to wait, get there early. We saw another friend later; he said he waited an hour. Also, valet parking is still an option, but even at 11, there was plenty of nearby street parking. You just have to be ready to fend off the bums should they appear.
The layout described in the Sammy’s reviews sounded a lot like new Mainstage, although the bouncer was trying to convince us that everything was brand-​new (also of note: VIP entry and free bottle if you book ahead!). The dance floor is ridiculously crowded, and at one point, our bar wait was longer than our wait outside. In other words, the wait outside is legit. The bartenders were solid and gave a healthy pour. Also, my tab of 7 drinks came out to $ 30 (including tip). Either something I bought was ridiculously discounted or some of my order made its way to some other poor sucker’s tab. No complaints here.
The only downside is that, full knowing Houston June weather, the air conditioning was mysteriously M.I.A. It was hot, hot, hot, which equals sweat, sweat, sweat, which is gross, gross, gross. Gotta dock a star for that one.
The Spazmatics, of course, were as awesome as a flock of seagulls haircut, the Summer of ’69, or Ferris Bueller.