Hitting Rock Bottom in Montgomery

Reckless at Rock Bottom

I've been reviewing local music for a while now, so let me take a momentary break to talk a little about the venues that provide these wonderful musicians an outlet to show off their talent.

First off is the Rock Bottom Pub. This sports bar is situated in East Montgomery, right off the Eastern Boulevard. The pub may be filled inside and out with flat screen televisions (30 HDTVs, 3 of which are 110' screens), but don't be fooled. As their home page states, they are "a celebration of the three great American past times: The burger, "real" sports, and music."

Chaos Unplugged at Rock Bottom

The pub hosts a fairly wide range of musicians - country and almost the entire spectrum of rock - at least 5 days a week. Local "house" musicians and bands that tour the country play here. Most of the musicians play covers, as that appears to be what is popular in Montgomery. Most of them are really good. (See the comment from Brad below for more big names that have come through the Rock Bottom Pub.)

Rock Bottom usually has a good turn out for its shows. The pub has a stage set up inside, complete with stage lighting and ample floor space for dancing. Outside is a 1400 square foot patio where the musicians sometimes set up to play. When the weather is nice, the patio - although there is less space out there - is an idyllic place to listen to good music and enjoy the company of friends.

Miss Used at Rock Bottom

This month, Rock Bottom has/will hosted 7-0-8-0, Reckless, Zac Young, Chaos Unplugged, Legs and Liquor, and Cold September, among others. This upcoming Sunday, May 22nd, they will have a 12 hour benefit concert for the Red Cross tornado relief. 12 different musical acts will be performing from noon to midnight.

Check out their website for more upcoming shows.

Reckless at Rock Bottom

So they play a lot of music. But just how good of a venue is Rock Bottom?

A quick google search provides mixed reviews, giving it about a 4 star rating on Google's scale (out of 9 reviews). Reviews range from loving this place and not being terribly impressed with it. The reviews on Yelp! are positive, stating that, "The owner is super nice &...The drinks and drink specials are great....This is by far my favorite hangout in Montgomery!" (via Holli D. - http://bit.ly/jCMS5l). On the flip side are the negative reviews on Urbanspoon and Google reviews, which mostly complain about the quality of the food. Although, there are only 2 reviews here, so take it with a grain of salt, pun not intended. Granted, it's pub food. I've eaten at few bars/taverns/pubs where the food is actually really good, and most of them were in the midwest. I'm not saying the food is bad, because it's not. And as Brad of the Rock Bottom says, "I also promise there are way more compliments on the food than complaints, you can't always be perfect." It's all a matter of taste, and you can't always rely on the internet for accurate information. Best that you try it for yourself!

Miss Used at Rock Bottom

All in all, whether you want a relaxed musical experience or the concert experience, Rock Bottom is a great place to go to hear great live music. Bring some friends! And if you see me, stop by and say hi! I'll be the one with the camera. :)

A Night of Getting Miss Used

Miss Used

 BAND: MISS USED

GENRE: ROCK

VENUE: ROCK BOTTOM AMERICAN PUB, MONTGOMERY, AL

Silver light flashed across the stage as the band entered. A thunderous rhythm resounded from the drums. The bassist, guitarist, and vocalist stood in a ragged line, their backs to the audience, whose cheering and screaming rose to the rafters. The guitars struck their first chords, and the Rock Bottom Pub thrummed with vibrant life. The pub’s patrons were drawn to the music and the stage like a starved man faced with a grand feast. The show Miss Used provided was mesmerizing, their music full of heady energy.

The greatest issue I have with cover bands is that often they do little more than mimic the form. There’s no energy, no creativity, no flair. Not so with Miss Used. With every song, they reminded their listeners why they loved those songs and made them enjoy them anew. This wasn’t just some gig in a small pub in Montgomery. This was a full-blown show that transformed the sports bar into a true concert venue.

It was apparent that the band was having tons of fun, and their joy at creating such wonderful music was infectious. It was impossible not to sing along or get up and dance. From those first chords, Miss Used grabbed hold of you, took you for a wild ride, and didn’t let go of you until you were spinning and laughing with wild abandon, drunk on music (and, let’s face it, alcohol).

In short, Miss Used was captivating. They were everything a cover band should be.

Check out their website for tour dates. Though based in Birmingham, AL, they tour much of the Southeast. Believe me, they are not a band to be missed! Especially if, like me, you’re a lover of rock. Unless you hate rock or having fun, you will not be disappointed by Miss Used.

After you’ve checked out their tour dates (what are you waiting for? Go look! Now!), please check below for more photos of this amazing band.