As leader of the blues bar pack, the Rhythm Room rolls up its sleeves to unearth Phoenix's blues and R&B roots. The barroom lures top bands seven nights a week, digging deep for local treasures and searching far afield for national acts. In between a wall of bar and a wall of stage, experienced pros and new cats mingle, knowing full well that this is a place of preeminent musicians. When the harmonica yowls, it's go time: All eyes are on the contorted faces of master musicians. Patrons savor raspy baritone bawls and painfully bent guitar strings. The centrally located Rhythm Room has plenty of seating and parking to handle its stature as a Phoenix institution of live music. If the sparse rectangular atmosphere of the room doesn't do it for you, the rhythm will surely get you. One of the Valley's premier blues clubs recently got a face-lift. In addition to an expensive, updated sound system, the Rhythm Room also got a spacious patio, where you can smoke and drink (the patio bar usually has a shorter line, too). The club has also been booking more rock acts along with its usual stock of blues bands, which means you could, in theory, see Jimmie Vaughan or Sistah Blue sandwiched between a Gene Loves Jezebel and a Red Elvises show.
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