The Rickshaw Theatre

The bouncer here. Nobody at the venue would report his name but it was for a special event, disqualified me from entering an event I had already paid for. He hit me in the nose and made me bleed when I objected and asked his name and on what qualifications he was excluding me on. Wasted 20 dollars on a ticket will not do again because bouncers are on a power trip and think they can hit you with no consequence. All in all I walked away from here asking for someone to complain to about getting hit in the face and bleeding for a reason nobody at the venue would explain to me.

I liked this theatre very much.
I don’t go to concerts very often but when I saw that the Buzzcocks were in town, it was a must attend. Was very apprehensive about the area where the theatre is located but it was actually quite fine! The bus stop drops you right in front of the theatre and when you leave, you can just cross the street directly to take the bus back downtown or just take a taxi.
The bouncer/​security at the front was very very friendly and helpful — gave us instructions, what to do with our tickets, etc. The girls at check in were delightful and very well organized — absolutely no questions or issues, they had everything in order.
Their drinks are cheap! Got 1 beer and 2 rum and cokes for $ 14. FOURTEEN DOLLARS. I just blinked in awe at the bartendar when he actually gave me change for my bill.
And most important of all, the sound was great! (I’m not a sound expert though and perhaps a large part of that is because the buzzcocks were AMAZING!)

No stars!!! The old ugly east indian owner has short man syndrome and is a complete angry asshole!
1. The rickahaw was sullosed to open at 7:30. We had to wait until 8pm to be let in on a freezing friday night. We had to pay for parking on a crackhead street.
There was a dirty old couch from the 70s and one row of plastic seats available. There were a total of 6 people in attendance for the malhones show. There was more staff than patrons yet the loser east indian old man who cmaims to be the owner threw an absolute mantrum because we moved the couch that was provided so that we could see better. Youd think we were jumping on the couch for the way he over reacted. Freaking out because apparently the place was going to be full despite it now being 8:30 and no band or audience in sight. He was so rude and patronizing. Newsflash: we are paying customers who came to enjoy ourselves not be chastised by daddy shitface for sitting quietly on the couch. Apparently no one has ever questioned his dictatorship because when we asked why he snapped and whined that he’s asked three times and now we are getting kicked out! He never once answered why we had to move, just expected us to jump up and help him move the couch, which my friend did. He then accused my friend of «touching» him to the bouncer, who was not needed. Totally blown out of proportion, he whined to his bouncer aka body guard like a tattletale 8 year old spoiled brat to his mommy, trying to convince his staff to side with him. He seemed completely insane and intoxicated. What a huge loser. Two of his production staff said there’s no way we were getting kicked out for asking why we had to move and agreed that he was being a total unnecessary prick (he looked like a hungry janitor) I hope he goes bankrupt for being such a dickhead. He deserves to go broke. So immature. He was definitely picked on his whole life. Pretty sad that he decides to take it out on the 10% of his customer base that evening. What a shithole. Not recommended at all!

Bathroom was horrifically disgusting and the overwhelming smell of urine soured an otherwise solid concert experience. Seriously, there’s no good excuse for a washroom to be so foul — especially a women’s washroom where fighting off the smell from urinals isn’t even an issue.

The inside of this venue is cool, but I don’t know of any path walking out from here at night time I would EVER want to do alone again.

Compared to the Fortune Sound Club show back last year, this time the Rickshaw was an improvement but not by much. Normally I avoid the Rickshaw at all costs due to other logistics, however, sucked it up for one of the best performers of the 80’s, Gary Numan. Unfortunately in true Rickshaw tradition the sound was compromised unless you had ear plugs than it was somewhat of a saving grace. Even through the rubble of the noise mix I was still motivated to find the core skeletal structure of the beats. Earplugs allowed you to hear the distinct keyboard parts.
Thankfully the 80’s pop tarts were few and far between and when «Cars» was performed ²⁄₃^rd into the show those few immediately left. There were a few core pop tarts that actually stayed for the whole show ’cause even though they weren’t familiar with his industrial material they were sold on his performance.
For someone of Gary’s age and genre, shit can that guy move. Some of his moves resembled an awkward yet feminine ballerina at times and at others he invoked the spirit of a 1992 Pretty Mate Machine Trent Reznor. Even if you’re not invested in the genre of music, he was addicting to watch. I’ve only seen a few «rock stars» fully emerged in their own character and display such addicting energy. Gary out raced his other band mates almost half is age and trumped his peers to the finish line.
For someone who has made the career mistake of not touring the US since the 80’s as frequently as he should’ve, solidifying his one album wonder status, his stage show made up for it. His presence proved that not only is he one of those rock and roll gems but there’s a chance for a second wind mainstream success. He is an artist who takes care of himself and treats his craft like a job rather than being an entitled douche bag rock star who gets away with minimal effort and failure of their instrument.
The set list displayed his more industrial tracks. The hits and album tracks from the 80’s had new air breathed into them with the industrial make-​over. Thankfully Gary was the entire entertainment package that it made up for the parts that the club failed. I find some of the electro stuff slightly outdated, therefore, the majority of the songs remixed worked more in his favor for today’s audience. I like how re-​invented himself musically to be more modern. His reinvention has allowed him to be more of a rock star.
The chemistry between him and the other band members was addicting ’cause they were into their own performance. Some of the band members were left overs from Nine Inch Nails past tours as well as heavy weights in the industrial music scene.
The audience who were aware of the program were very into the showman ship and the industrial sound of the show, however, I could tell that their patience was running out of steam at 75 minute mark. This had less to do with Gary and more to do with the sound issues of the venue.
Gary tried to remix Cars, however, it was just cake walked the number. He didn’t seem to care. He more or less did it as a favor for the 80’s crowd but they even seemed less than impressed.
Gary sang slightly more than half live. The chorus on the new material seemed lip synched. I suspect such simply ’cause his face was more than 13″ away from the mic yet his vocals were too perfect and clear. Technically when you’re singing, regardless of the genre, you’re supposed to be kissing the mic. There was a very clear distinction between his live voice and his pre-​recorded studio voice. Either way it worked with the mood and the whole package. He got away with this whereas other artists would be heavily chastised for this.

The Rickshaw is one of the loudest places I’ve ever been.
The venue is fine, large space, and lots of seats remaining in the back from the movie theatre days. The sound quality might not be great, but it is not horrible, and it is outrageously loud. I’m not mentioning the loudness as a bad thing, but you definitely have to be prepared for it.
What makes the place are the bands. Lots of really great bands play there, and the cover prices are very reasonable, especially compared with what you usually see in Vancouver.
The people working there are also very friendly.
On the other hand, the beer selection is not so great, and definitely overpriced.

Really great venue for a dance night — enough space for the crowd to dance, and awesome original theatre seating to chill out in and chat with friends when you need a break from dancing. The balcony seating area at the top adds a nice extra feature and cool place to slip away to and watch it all from above!

Great sound, nice staff… but I wish there was an accessible washroom on the main floor :(

Great venue off the beaten path in Chinatown/​DTES. This place gave me flashbacks to when I was a kid and my folks took me to watch kung-​fu movies. I believe it was called the Shaw theatre back in the day.
I came here a few nights ago for a a show called the Main Event-​Hip Hop, RnB, urban variety dance event. The place definitely has some character and is a decent replacement for the Waldorf.
My only complaint is the place gets really HOT fast!

I visited the Rickshaw for the first time in November 2012 and again in December.
The performers were incredible on both counts.
The audience was respectful but not very excited for one show, and a furious and awesome energy storm for the other.
The venue is just fine. It didn’t strike me in any way as being particularly outstanding for any one thing, the lighting was just ok, and the sound was just ok, and the temperature goes up and down (the bathrooms were frigid, but that’s better than stankin’ hot)
But the experience over all? Very positive. Really great open atmosphere and just looking around the place gave me a feeling of the world being a lot more interesting than I am all by myself,
A respectful crowd made for an easy evening my first time at this venue, but an energized and enthused crowd made my second experience at Rickshaw insanely fun and very memorable. I would definitely come back for the right performance/​performers/​audience.
NOTE: HEEL HAZARD!
The main concert floor in the Rickshaw is slanted towards the theater seats, and a potential hazard for anyone who feels the need to wear stilletos or platforms, so if you’re planning on rocking out at a show at this venue you’d be wise to plan your outfit to include low-​hazard footwear.

I was really disappointed to see Calexico at the Rickshaw (Oct 20,2012). This is not a place for anyone over 40. The light show blasted into the eyes of the audience continuously for the entire concert. It was like strobe lights, very bright, going into your eyes at regular intervals. The sound was not professionally balanced. Acoustically, the Rickshaw is poor for music that requires less volume and sound with subtlety. It did not do service to the music of Calexico.
Their intro band, the Dodos, were either not so good or the sound system defeated them.
Some people actually left during the Calexico concert. Personally, I would not go back there to listen to music. One positive thing was that the staff was very nice.

I heard that the Rickshaw Theatre had been renovated not too long ago. However I think this place still needs a major overhaul and thorough cleaning. I made the mistake of needing to go to the washroom. I have seen better facilities in the third world. Seriously only two stalls out of four had doors. One stall looked like something had exploded in it. There was no paper towel, the floors were disgusting, and it was obvious no one cares about maintaining even a basic level of sanitation. Later on in the evening one of other women in our group went to use the washroom and simply couldn’t bring herself to go. She was so disgusted she had to wait for us outsider. Seriously this place is a health threat.
On top of all that the sound was terrible.

The shows here are good…
and the sound is very much improved when they have the seats curtained off.
drinks are cheap which is good as the shows are pretty reasonably priced as well.

The Rickshaw has a special place in my heart. The space itself we rented when I was in high school to throw «raves». After graduating we never really saw anything come of it until David Duprey bought it and made it what it is now.
I like the Rickshaw. I like that every show I see there I feel like I’m stepping into a whole new world.
I really like now that they do have a liquor license, I get that it makes it challenging for all ages stuff, but I like a beer or five when I see music.
I also love that there is seating and an open floor. When the Rickshaw first opened I wasn’t sure what they were going to do with the interior, but I like it.
I also like the upside down photo of Colbert.
Two thumbs up.

Even though The Rickshaw has been open in it’s reincarnated form for a while now, I only managed to make it out there for the first time last week. I have to say I was really impressed with it as a live music venue.
We were here for a (blast from the past) Concrete Blonde show and the band certainly didn’t disappoint. There was an incredible mix of patrons from groups of rockers much younger than me to those that have clearly been fans for years and everyone seemed to be enjoying getting their drink on until the performance started, albeit somewhat later than I had anticipated.
I especially love the initerior set up with a half-​open dance floor, half-​seated area and a bar up by the stage. There never seemed to be a crazy lineup for drinks and the beer was definitely reasonably priced. I did think it was kind of highway robbery that they were charging over ten bux for double highballs, but maybe this has something to with the clientele on the night I was there? The sound was terrific — the cavernous space gave the show a really full sound, but of course this would depend on who you were seeing.
It’s great to have another small concert venue in the city, and now that I’ve experienced The Rickshaw, I will most definitely be returning. My only complaint is that it was downright frigid in this theatre. Bundle up before your show!

The Rickshaw is one of my favourite concert venues now! It comes second after the Commodore.
I love that it never gets hot, because I’d rather be chilly than overheated. I love that there is a ton of floor space and a ton of seating, so you can pick whichever you want. It’s the perfect size for pretty much every band I’ve seen here.
I’ve always been fairly impressed with the cleanliness of the washrooms as well, although it’s been awhile since I’ve had to use it.
The beers are cheap with a few carefully selected choices, I can’t say much for the rest of the bar selection because I haven’t really checked it out.
The staff are super friendly and I’ve always felt welcome here! I’ll obviously be returning. :)

So, I LOVE The Rickshaw. It is a much needed venue for live music and culture. They show awesome bands, and the place has been fixed up amazingly by an extremely dedicated group of people who are passionate about what they do and who are integral to keeping Vancouver culturally diverse.
It used to be a laid back place to grab a drink, with fun staff, and just a great atmosphere and comfortable place to be. It meshed well with the DTES — with both the rough edges and the heart.
When The Rickshaw applied for a permanent liquor license, I (along with many others) wrote a long and detailed letter in their support. And to the delight of many, they got one.
However, I went to see a show there a few weeks ago and something had changed. I spoke to some of the old staff that I know and love, and their morale had shifted. Some people had quit. It stopped feeling as much like a community.
In I go. I grab a $ 20 to get my guy and I some drinks, but stopped dead at the bar. Doubles: $ 10.25
WHAT? Are we at a strip club? Are we on Granville? Nope, we’re on the DTES, and suddenly a $ 20 is not more than enough for two doubles and a tip. I keep my $ 20 — for that price, I’m staying sober on principle.
I will continue to frequent the Rickshaw, because I do still absolutely love the place. Bands are fabulous, ticket prices are fair, lights and sound are always stellar. But it is different, and I will likely not be making use of the bar unless those drink prices improve. Hello, drinking at another bar before I arrive.

Finally made it here last night and now I definitely want to see more bands in this venue.
My ticket was $ 20 for three bands of blistering rock. Hells yeah! The beer was cheap — $ 5.50 if you’re splurging, $ 4.50 for PBR. The bar pours look minimalistic but whatevs — I’m not coming here for fancy tarbending.
The venue was chilly which meant I could keep my jacket on and not worry about where to put it. The slanted floor/​theatre seats make for good viewing in between bands. I didn’t make it up to the balcony level to check out the view there. We slunk along the wall in about the fourth row and made the ‘mistake’ of getting up to dance. Some loser behind us was insistent on sitting throughout the show and told us in no uncertain terms that we should sit or move. Yeah ok buddy. I supressed the urge to flip him the middle finger ’cause really, I’m not that punk anymore. When the lead singer asked everyone to get up and dance I asked him if he wanted to dance with me. He didn’t. Naturally we ended up front and centre for the main band. Overt thrashing and moshing seemed to be discouraged by security which surprised me but I didn’t mind as I only got crushed a couple of times.
The washrooms probably wouldn’t stand up to forensic testing for bodily fluids but the seats were clean, the toilet paper rolls were full, the taps functioned and there were paper towels to dry your hands. What more do you need? A mirror? They have them too.
We had fun and we’ll be back!

Amazing sound system, elevated seating and a stage front dance floor, in house light system and a bar during all-​ages shows? How can you get a better concert experience than this?
There’s a smoking section right by the door «separated» from the street by some red dividers that the local addicts seem to respect. There’s a door guy keeping watch of the street and from my conversation with him on the 1^st he’s not run in to any problems with the street people in the neighborhood. The venue also recently hosted 100 monkeys for a bunch of under age girls (with their chapperones, of course) that filled the stands. If they can deal with the junkie zombies to see a great show, so can you.
My only complaints are on a case-​by-​case basis. The stage is a bit higher than most and on a night with 100 people the place still seems completely empty, the stage surreal. They recently figured out their lighting system and have been tinkering with it, but unfortunately aimed one of the spotlights directly in the eyes of the people at the theatre seats. The beer is a bit overpriced and the selection is poor, but liquor is not their main trade. If you have a problem with that you can always go next door to the savoy and deal with hastings street people drinking their cheap pints.