Eh, I like a good dive bar but the entryway here smelled like a dead body had recently been removed. Saw a great band, the sound guy was awesome, and the drinks were good. Door guy and bartender were nice. It's closing this week, I think, but there are plans to reopen under new ownership. Hope they can find the source of that smell and eliminate it.
This is pretty much the go-to spot for metal in this area, imo. They always have some metal show going on outside, so if you're into metal, I recommend showing up pretty much any night. I saw Green Day here a few years ago doing a secret show. It was one of the greatest concert experiences of my life. They were really cool about letting people up on stage to stage dive, even with a huge act like Green Day playing. So long as you're not getting into a fight of starting a riot, they're pretty cool with just about anything. They're definitely part of what makes Austin so cool.
A tad salty and LOUD! This is a great hole in the wall to check out local musicians and Austin bands. Be it a metal night, tribute night, or electronic mayhem fest, this place has it all. The bar selection is a bit weak but the pours are generous. Not a bad viewing angle in the (single) room. The outdoor backyard patio hosts a stage as well, although I've not seen any acts on it yet. Recommended!!!
I love this venue for the music they tend to book. Good sound. Great bands. Good people in the audience. Pretty unremarkable bar. Suitably dingy. Really, it's the fact they book more bands I like (at decent prices) than any place else that makes it for me.
#perfectdayatx
I've been to Red 7 on two occasions. The first time was to see a free indoor show on my daughter's birthday and the second was to see A Flock of Seagulls outside. The place is decorated in a Soviet Russia propaganda style which is appealing to me; and it also doubles as something of a dive bar. The bartenders were very congenial and helpful. The outside area was blazing hot in the 90+ temp. I didn't see any oscillating fans out there and it made for a highly uncomfortable when the place is jam-packed.