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The Media Club
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Lounges, Music Venues [Edit]
695 Cambie StVancouver, BC V6B 2P1
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 608-2871
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for The Media Club
Review Highlights
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"It is a small intimate venue that makes any live show a..." In 4 reviews -
"...if any of my favorite acts come here, I'll be there for..." In 4 reviews -
"It's well run, reasonably priced and conceptually great." In 3 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Elton R.
4/30/2012
I love this venue!
My last two shows here were CANT and Future Islands, so it has been a while. I cannot think of a better venue for these two bands; I feel like it was even better seeing them in such close quarters. I LOVE how close you get to the stages.
Each time I've observed the crowd complaining endlessly about the temperature of the venue - I don't think they have experienced the outrageous temperatures of the Montreal venues (I almost feel like I've walked into some kind of a trap planned and executed by a group of cannibals to cook us all alive). Yeah the place is small and it gets hot pretty quick but it's very tolerable.
I would tend to agree though that they could do with better beer on tap as mentioned by Jordan H., although I don't have very high expectations for the quality of beers when I go to venues. If I remember correctly the drink prices were very reasonable ($7 pint of Red Truck? Correct me if I'm wrong) -
Review from Robin M.
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh dear lord, won't someone think of the women?? That bathroom - sweet baby jesus, that bathroom is the like the gurgling acid reflux of a beer-guzzling alcoholic giant. Toilets overflowing, urine stench flowing, wet shoe inducing; good lord this is what I'm waiting in line for?? I've used some pretty rank toilets in my day, but Media Club's is legitimately disgusting.
BUT, the venue itself is pretty okay. A decent room size with barely any booths or tables makes for what is usually an intimate show where the whole audience is almost forced to come alive. Bonus of this is that it also gets Vancouverites out of their insular circles and into the show ('cuz lawdknows this ain't no easy task).
Also: nice staff who understand that even though plastic cups are mandatory for those super busy nights, no decent woman should drink scotch from one. Suckers get yo' plastic, I got me a glass.Listed in: Goings On and Going Out, Music Venues Vancouver
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Review from Rheanna F.
Vancouver, BC
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Media Club is a cool venue to catch a show that is guaranteed to be intimate and cozy, and the renos are nice and give it a cool, dark look that makes it feel a little bit like it's the Biltmore's little brother. Definitely the best thing about the place is the size and location. The small size guarantees that even the shortest of us won't have trouble getting nearer to the front to see the show, and everyone's gotta admit that intimate shows are always memorable... Memorable either for being really awesome and 'oh my god, i can't believe i saw them play so close!' or 'holy shit, i wanted to leave but it would have felt awkward since the place is small.'
Media Club would be getting 4 stars but their bathroom is just nasssssty. I don't go there regularly, but every single time i've been something unappealing is going on in there. Last time i was there it smelled essentially like an outhouse and the toilet on the right side was spraying water out of the toilet onto the back wall when you flushed. And not little drops, i mean it was like a freaking water fountain of horrors so half the bathroom was flooded. I guess someone would rather mop toilet water off the floor than take the time to write an out of order sign?
The other door didn't lock. This is why i ended up in the stall with the evil water-spraying toilet. Because call me crazy, but i like using bathroom doors that lock. And you know what? I go to a lot of dive bars and pretty much all of them have now renovated to have locks on the bathroom. Media Club, you don't LOOK like a dive, so why are you subjecting your female patrons to no bathroom door locks and smells that bring to mind a morgue with broken A/C in the middle of a heat wave?!
The staff were at least mostly awesome and pleasant! The door girl was friendly and the bouncers were cool, but their bartender was definitely a bit of a grump. My boyfriend's brother was playing that night and he had saved his drink tickets until the end of the show not realizing the bar would be closing shortly after the show ended. When we went to get drinks the bartender just ignored us as we stood on the other side of the counter he was wiping down, all of us looking expectantly at him... And i HATE when people do that. I mean, we know you see us. Just politely say 'sorry, the bar is closed for the night' and we'll say thanks and go on our way. When my boyfriend's brother asked if we could gets drinks, the bartender looked at us with a really annoyed expression and barked 'closed' before looking down again. Get a sign that says closed if you can't deal with people asking you a simple question about your job instead of being a jerk about it. It was a pretty crappy final impression to leave us with of our evening there!Listed in: Make Mine Music!
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Review from Tyler L.
Vancouver, BC
5/26/2012
One of my favourite live music venues in Vancouver. Intimate & perfect for all genres, great selection of drinks, and always has a chill atmosphere will great people.
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Review from Megan S.
2/5/2012
It's been a couple of years since I'd been here last, and was happy to see that they've removed the booths and opened up the space a little bit. It's still a fairly intimate spot and sound-wise it's pretty good.
BUT
Sold-out show last night and...one bartender? The line-up for the bar was ridiculously massive, it just blended in with the rest of the crowd. It took so long to get my first drink that I ordered a double and never went back.
The bathroom situation went from bad to worse and I didn't see any staff even enter to check on it. Plugged toilets, piss and toilet paper all over the floor...I know this isn't uncommon for music venues in Vancouver, but it's time the patrons start demanding better. $15 to get in, $9 a drink and there's no adequate place to pee? Not good enough. -
Review from Jordan H.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Media Club is one of my favourite venues. Great space, great sound, you can always see what's happening on the stage, and you take your booze outside. Is there anywhere else in the city with a proper stage/soundsystem and a patio?
The staff are all friendly and polite and have been respectful even when I didn't deserve it.
5 stars if they get some good beer on tap. -
Review from Daniel L.
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a special Burlesque event and guess what "Wham" did they take the media club by storm I actually don't remember my experience of the media club cause I was caught up in this amazing Beautiful Burlesque show WoW...
BUT I do remember going there (media club) a few years ago so I will base my review on that experience as I don't think much has changed other than the date... Well a few years I was very tipsy and I actually don't recall much but.... I do remember having good fun and lots of laughs so I guess thats all that counts right..... So then you should go to.. -
Review from Michael A.
2/21/2012
Cool small venue. If you get there early enough you can grab seats along the walls on the couches, if not there are a couple standing tables in the middle of the floor. Great place to catch a band, drinks super easy to order and a fun atmosphere.
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Review from Louise G.
1/9/2012
What a lovely and intimate venue this is. Came for the Amelia Curran show and it made me a fan of the place. Perfect place for a stage and a surrounding lounge, which makes it a great place to enjoy an act, have a drink, and chill.
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
6/11/2009
I so want to give Media Club a 4th star. As long as it's a great show (like the Honey and the Money + Robert Wilson I went to last week) it's a great space. I love the recent renovations that have taken the big booths out in exchange for low rise tables that focus more attention on the stage. The only drawback is it feels a little like a big 'ol hallway before the music fills the room and the space fills in.
The staff seem to have a "could care less" attitude and when paired with the chlorine taste I've experienced when drinking their draft, the Media Club is a venue I go to happily when there's a good band on! -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
10/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Solid music venue downtown.
What I like: Nice cushy seating along one wall, intimate space, great bands (usually). If a band you enjoy is playing there, check it out because it's like having your own personal concert!
What I don't love: How uninteresting the space is. One fairly plain room lacking in character.
I've never had a bad experience here, but I've never felt compelled to come back either. Needs wood paneling, crazy bartenders, bear rugs, etc., for this red neck girl to feel at home! ; ) -
Review from Rick C.
9/19/2010
The Media Club is a cool, serviceable place to hold a show. It really depends on the act but I like its open, relaxed vibe. The stage and front are open for dancing and mingling and it's small enough to be intimate with a bar in the back.
There's a lot of character in the place and I like how close you are to the stage. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
11/12/2008
Alright, I'll be the devil's advocate here, I hate the Media Club. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad bar. It's well run, reasonably priced and conceptually great. The fact you can get a recording of almost any show there is awesome and plenty of my friends bands have gotten some early gigs there that have really boosted there career.
My issues come from the fact that I only ever go here for shows and they've got some great ones. Yet, for some reason, the entire bar is so incredibly nonsensically set up as a music venue. Most seating has you facing a wall or away from the stage so it's a constant struggle to get up front and sit, stand or lean for the majority of a show. As a tall man, I'm disallowed from most frontal vantage points so it gets even worse for me. I've gone home from many a show uncomfortable and unhappy with the view I had.
When I hear a band I like is playing the Media Club my emotions are mixed. I know it'll be cheap and well produced but mostly I'm dismayed because I know I wont enjoy myself unless I get there super early and manage to find the one of three seats that let you see the stage and not twist your head off in the process. -
Review from Dani B.
4/23/2009
I'm a fan.
I've gone here several times and never had a bad time. The stage is ground level so you can get up close an personal with the bands. The drinks are pretty reasonable and it's just an overall god time. There is limited seating but if your the type to sit or just stand motionless during a live concert, then you probably shouldn't see live music at all.
This place is also super close to the sky train station which is super convenient for me (I live on Commercial). It's kinda tucked away and I like it like that.
Overall, if any of my favorite acts come here, I'll be there for sure. -
Review from kath r.
10/25/2009
Last night's Wood Brothers show was my first Media Club experience and it totally sealed the deal for me. I love this space! What a great live music venue, so small and intimate with reasonably priced drinks ($9 for a double Bullet bourbon), super friendly staff both on the bar and the door, and a great crowd. Plus, being so close to the Skytrain is an added bonus.
I'm definitely excited to see more shows @ this venue. -
Review from Xav V.
11/1/2008
The Media Club hosted Frightened Rabbit Oct 29th which made it possible to take in my favorite band in my favorite city on my birthday. Awesome!
The sound was mixed very well and the acoustics were just right. I loved that even though it was cold and wet outside they kept the outdoor patio open. Initially the line for drinks was barely moving at a snails pace, but as the night progressed service picked up and that was no longer an issue. Drinks were expensive and being from Seattle where nearly everyone pours on the heavy side it was difficult to get tipsy due to the measured shots. However, I believe that is required in Vancouver so that's not something to knock Media Club down a star. Next time I'll stick to the cider on tap! -
Review from Megan S.
11/4/2008
During the day, you might walk past the Media Club and not even notice it. It sits on a slow block of Cambie, right at Georgia across from a big EasyPark lot. But at night, there's usually a good crowd out front.
The thing that draws you to the Media Club is the lineup. Their nightly bill is usually local- but always a good mix. The crowd is friendly and talkative between shows. Seating is limited- but there are couches along one wall, and cool round booths lined up on the other wall.
Cheap cover seals the deal for a fun night. -
Review from Lauren N.
11/6/2008
I came here once to see a show by Warren Flandez, a local singer and friend of a friend. The Media Club was perfect for the show that night, great acoustics and lighting. It's dark and laid-back inside, and everybody's just so into the music and the moment, it's great. The stage is low so you don't have to tilt your neck up at an awkward angle to see.
They keep the middle of the floor empty so the crowd can stand and dance, but there are tables on the periphery for those who just want to chill. The bar is located towards the front of the room, closer to the entrance, and if my memory serves me right, the bartender who was working that night wasn't bad-looking. Not that that was a factor in my rating. I'm a professional, people, what do you take me for? -
Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
9/12/2008 1 photo
I may be biased towards the Media Club simply because it is stumbling distance from my humble abode. Besides that fact, the Media Club continually boasts an impressive list of independent local musicians, from Matthew Mei + You Bright Minds to The Satellite Nation. There will be no wearing of your sunglasses at night though as the club is darker than the inside of a cow's stomach (I am shocked to be re-using that sentiment). The bar service is prompt and attentive and the cover is never over-the-top...but the talent always is!
The Media Club will also be hosting acts for the Vancouver International Comedy Festival starting next week, so go and laugh the night away! -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
10/30/2008
The Media Club is a fun little venue situated on the periphery of where downtown trails into Gastown. Located in the backwater of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the Media Club plays host to a number of musical acts (both Canadian and foreign) as well as some comedic events.
The dark watering hole is small and intimate, often fostering witless and been-induced repartee between performers and audience members. Space is limited so the acoustics are that great and any music-induced twirls are often confined to the four square meters between tables. -
Review from Emma L.
7/28/2010
Decent venue downtown. Pretty small and intimate, with some low rise seating around the edges and at the bar for those who want to sit. I've been here before for shows, and last night went to a 90s bingo night, so they've got some fun events. I wish the drinks were cheaper.
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Review from Adrienne B.
Vancouver, BC
11/29/2009
The media club is the one bar i've consistently gone too since I moved to Vancouver. It is a small intimate venue that makes any live show a great one to see. It seems like there's another great band coming in every week with a great crowd to follow. The staff always seems to be super attentive with cheap drinks and a party attitude.This is a great place to go for someone like me who isn't a big dancer, but if you do like to bust a move, I still find the Friday night club-esque atmosphere enough to satisfy my random dance cravings with djs and a completely packed room. I'd have to say this is one of my favourite places to go and recommend it to anyone wanting to check out the local music scene.
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Review from Melissa M.
9/5/2011
Really cool bartenders and nice vibe; small, intimate (we came too early though); have to sign-in; drinks are reasonably priced
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Review from Last action zero P.
Vancouver, BC
11/4/2009
The jury is still out on this one. I dropped in on a weekday when the shark club was closed. The bouncer was friendly to all and handled the club well, saying that im biased because I know the guy from my work and he's a top bloke. I go downstairs, I was a bit short on cash that day and didn't realize they charged cover because it was my first time there. So I stroll down into the bar, there's a girl there chatting to some dude who looked like an extra from a sci fi flick. I order a beer, an expensively priced beer as well and I pay for it then take a sip. She then approaches me and hits me up for cover. Do your job and ask me when I'm coming towards you as I wouldn't have drunk there on a weekday when there is cover and only fifteen people including staff and it was a massive sausage fest anyway. I paid the cash because I didn't want to put my mate on the door in an arkward situation. So I'm out ten bucks for one beer, I decide to chill in the corner and watch this duet of a guy and a chick. They were talented but they acted like they were the white stripes and everyone there was their friends, I felt like a fish out of water. Then they started singing about monkies and coconuts from a clearly rehersed audiance so I'm not sure who they were trying to fool/amuse. It was starting to sound like the wiggles but with less humor which I didn't realise was possible until I witnessed this spectacle.
I downed my beer quicker then al bundy at a feminist convention and got out of dodge. I'd to back just to see if it was different but I'd probably take a girl because most of them would be into this kind of crap. -
Review from Victoria R.
BC
12/27/2008
The Media Club has a cool name. It also supports local talent by constantly participating in New Music West and featuring local acts as headliners. Even if no one has heard of them. The inside is not impressive, it's a dark bar with the typical dance area, a stage and the last time i was there it smelled like someone threw up all over the place. There are a plethora of smokers standing outside by the patio, so if you don't mind walking through a cloud of smoke to get to the inside, you'll be fine. Drinks are cheap, the music is good if you like the band you're seeing, but reallyl it's all about the company you keep when you check out this club.
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Review from Jeff M.
Vancouver, BC
3/29/2010
small club that gets in some really cool shows. sign in process is kind of stupid, but whatever. Sound is good and lighting ok. decor has gotten better since they've renovated.
