11/15/08

Way past it's prime and not worth the aggravation

by ktobiassen

When people say "New York just isn't cool anymore," Don Hill's is exactly the sort of place they are talking about. I went here recently for the first time in many years to hear a friend's band. They were the first band up, and we arrived 15 minutes before show time. Even though the doors allegedly open 1/2 hour before the first act, they made us stand outside for about an hour with no explanation except annoyed glares. Many people simply left and took their business elsewhere. When they finally let us in, the humorless a-hole of a doorman scanned our IDs and actually took photos of us. So uncool and lame, but apparently that is their policy -- treat everyone like a criminal. It really made me wistful for the old days when no one even checked IDs (sigh).... Everyone in this crowd was at least 35, by the way. Now, I expect drinks to be pricey at a club, so I was not shocked to learn that they charge $7 for their lousy selection of bottled beer. However, the beer was spoiled skunk water. If you're going to overcharge, at least don't have the cojones to serve something that is spoiled. Worst of all, they made the band guarantee a certain number of paying customers -- OR THE BAND PAYS. Yes, the band has to pay the club for the privilege of playing there. Which is the craziest, most messed up band policy I have every heard. The only bright note: the band sounded great and they do have a nice sound system, stage, and lights. Too bad I was too annoyed to enjoy it.

• Pros: good sound system, big stage
• Cons: staff is very rude, the beer is spoiled, they treat their bands very poorly

09/03/08

One of the things that are overpraised.

by rightguard18

I would say, this place is just an average club. Yes, I admit, the equipment is quite good and sound is cool, but let me regard people who work there: I would pretty much agree with the majority of people who went there with me - the staff is rude and really careless of their visitors/customers, so be aware of it if you plan to go.

• Pros: Equipment and club/bar environment
• Cons: Rude staff

07/25/08

BAD experience

by DonHillsSuxx

I am in a band and was very excited about the opportunity to play at this well known club. We had heard some bad things about the club prior to the show (the door guy has a reputation for being an a##hole) but we figured it didn't matter and tried to stay positive. When we arrived, we were impressed with the big stage and high-quality sound equipment. But...the people were rude. Drinks were overpriced, even for NYC - $9 for a Washington Apple with hardly any alcohol). They had the set times for the bands screwed up and we were told to go on suddenly, without warning. We didn't get a sound check or a line check, just some rude comments from the sound guy rushing us to play. We were treated poorly by the sound guy, who was rude, inattentive and did an inadequate job. We had to use their equipment, which malfunctioned during the show, and we received no help from the staff to fix it, which was very awkward and unprofessional. Their electricity was not grounded properly and I got shocked from the microphone. The sound guy did such a lackluster job that my friend approached him twice during the show and asked if he realized that obviously something was wrong, and the sound guy almost punched my friend! After our performance, we were rushed off the stage and we did not get paid, as the discourteous door guy informed us that we had to bring a minimum of 30 PEOPLE to the show to get paid, which is not true. We left immediately after we finished with a bad taste in our mouths from the awful experience. We will never play at Don Hill's again. Such a shame because the stage and venue were very impressive. They had enough lights and sound equipment for an arena in there, and when we first walked inside, we got very excited (they even had a fog machine). Too bad the sound guy did not pay attention and did not know how to use such an impressive setup the way it was meant to be used.

• Pros: Cool stage
• Cons: Incompetent and rude staff, inadequate use of impressive sound system, overpriced drinks

06/22/06

Great atmosphere on the right nights

by loisiada

This bar is a NY institution. The likes of Courtney Love and Alice and Chains play here unannounced. Don is the coolest guy I ever met and the bartenders make STRONG drinks. This is a GREAT place to see a band. I'm never disappointed here.

• Pros: ROCK & ROLL atmosphere
• Cons: Depressing on slow nights

04/27/06

Only 2 good things to say

by alisajoyce

1 - the great band, The Ropes played there (they ROCK) and they have a POLE! :) Other than that, the people were rude, the place was kinda creepy and I just was not impressed...

• Pros: pole dancing
• Cons: mean workers

A gay-straight club that rocks.

by Contributor

In Short
Don Hill's nondescript brick-wall exterior conceals a glitzy underground homo-rock scene. The space would be a blue-collar tavern if pretty hunks in their undies weren't bumping and grinding on the room-length bar. Open to patrons of all sexual persuasions, the bar features live rock from up-and-coming bands as well as kitsch-themed dance parties. Call the bar for updates on the weekly rock, glam and Brit-pop nights.

05/16/03

"No club for you!"

by HK

Go to Don Hills if you want to pay 30.00 per couple only to get cursed out by the bouncer for asking for your change.

Go to Don Hills if you want to have your money thrown back at you and get rejected at the door for no apparent reason.

There's a bouncer nazi working right here in our great city and he is looking for more innocent people to take his agression out on so if you're into that like of thing, then this is your club.

03/09/03

What is happening?

by smw123123

For the last several weeks, the great crowd and vibe that made Thursday so great has been missing. One time it was packed at 11:30, who gets there before midnight? Hopefully the old crowd will return and bring back the magic.

01/31/03

COOL FUN!

by mrlittlesociopath

I went here totally randomly and thought it was actually really fun. The live bands are definitely worth a listen, and, since the place is pretty small (but not too crowded) we were able to chat with the bands after their performances. The staff was great, but maybe with the exception of one surprisingly self-righteous cocktail waitress who actually took my half-empty drink and poured cigarette ashes into it before carting it away... Charming, sure. Bad attitiude? Aww yeah. Seriously. Stay away from her, order from the bar, and you'll have a great time.

• Pros: Great bands, Not too crowded, Cheap
• Cons: Bad server

12/16/02

Great place

by Myradith

The music was great 80's new wave and my friends and I danced our asses off all night long! The bathroom lines were a bit ridiculous, but the fact that we managed to score a table with waitress service made up for it. Good place; I'd totally go back.

• Pros: music
• Cons: bathrooms