Rx Gallery

Saw Tycho here on a trip in from Austin…

Why did Rx Gallery close? Rx Gallery was the best thing that has happened to the Tenderloin in years! Rx was one of the few galleries in San Francisco that featured avant-​garde art and cutting edge electronic music.
Even though the sound system sucked and the space was minuscule, I witnessed some of the best djs/​producers in the world — Lusine, Thomas Fehlmann, Luomo, Morgan Geist, Erlend Øye, Alexander Robotnick and Broker/​Dealer — throw down some sick beats!
R.I.P. Rx. You will be missed!

RX, come back! I saw Thomas Fehlmann, Luomo, Erlend Oye, Broker/​Dealer, Solvent, Lusine, Morgan Geist, Alexander Robotnick, and probably more here. RX featured an awkward layout, and wasn’t the kind of club that makes sense to attend by yourself. The sound system was positioned oddly and sometimes failed during sets. Sometimes people didn’t dance. Sometimes people on the floor were kinda in the way.
I actually enjoyed the sake/​soju choices available at the candle-​lit bar. RX didn’t appear to have typical nightclub aspirations and that was fine by me.
Some of the art was fantastic, especially the murals and graffiti. And did you see the exhibit that featured a bunch of Mr. T. dolls affixed to the walls?
The mens bathroom used to feature one of those gigantic convex mirrors like the one a store owner might hang from the ceiling to watch for shoplifting. Someone probably broke it.

Cool people, Sucky venue… Poor Jesse (Tittsworth) dropped some ill beats but that system and venue is just not built for party music. Oh yea, Watch out for them steep stairs or else youll be tumbling like the few people we saw tumbling. Least I saw some dope homies like Kid Kameleon and Buddy Leeze. Other than that, The venue could use a serious makeover.

I don’t think this place has one ounce of pretention, in fact the website is misleading giving the impression, but it’s far from it. Ventured here for a music event for some local artists recently and the location scared the @#$% out of me walking here from Powell Street. I only got one date offer on the way, which was kind of disappointing. The buiiding is pretty non descript from the outside so I would reccommend looking hard for it. You don’t want to come off as looking like Little Lost Red Riding Hood in these parts. The inside of the gallery features some cool art, most graffiti based from an artist known as Dream. Sounds like an interesting guy, and I am interested in learning more abotu him and his art. Like how do those guys paint that crap on overpasses? I can’t even draw a straight line on a piece of paper right in front of me! Also feature a bar with cool beer choices. Perfect for smaller events.

you make like my boobs and BOUNCE every Wednesday
indoor bounce houses knock my socks off.
so do $ 1 PBR’s

I’ve decided to make this my first review… because my feelings are so strong against this place. It’s not personal, people seem nice. but it shouldnt be used as a nightclub. I’ve been to this place many times, and each time I feel like my experience is worse. They have great line-​ups, but I always wish I was somewhere else, instead of this amateur excuse for a nightclub. So I’ve vowed to boycott this sorry excuse for a night club. Kontrol moving to a real club, the End Up, was a good day for me.
The soundsystem is sorry. It’s sad that all these great acts play there on this lame system. It’s too small. There’s no mixed drinks, beer and wine only. When you go smoke or go grab a breather you are standing in the heart of the tenderloin. When its crowded, its unbearable. Good luck in that bathroom line.
It’s too bad that DJ’s like Luke Vibert and Jon Tejada were booked at this club. As much as I wanted to go I skipped it cause my past experiences have been ho hum. There are so many venues in SF for DJ’s, the RX Gallery is bottom of the heap. Those acts should be playing places built for house, like the End Up.etc. places where you can order a real drink. (The End Up makes weak expensive drinks, btw. But their soundsystem and outdoor patio rock)
If you are a music fan, avoid this place… it sucks.

As far as now spent here NYE 2005 – 6 (got free tix for that) and attended many many small and dense gigs. I actually like the attitude of this small venue. Not too spiffy, not too pretentious but still kicking. They went a little bit too much towards techno recently but they still have place for music like laptop-​minimalism and trip-​hoppish downtempo. Drinks are fairly limited but honest (by the way, the corner store nearby is always open). Only one thing… help me figure out what’s the thing you can smell in the bathroom area… fried something I think (don’t know if there’s a restaurant behind them).

Not as pretentious as I expected, though I’m sure this varies depending on exhibit. Speaking of which, the exhibit itself was a-​maz-​ing. I went to the opening of Device Art, which is a badass intersection of art and technology. I wouldn’t advise against partaking in mind altering activities prior to viewing, even in the mildest forms. Very much worth it.
However, a note to all you future goers: the room behind the silver chains is not an exhibit. I discovered this after being «that girl» at the party who didn’t know the hidden rules and guidelines and opened the curtain to this mysterious room in awe and anticipation, only to uncover an office packed with busy employees. Sadly, it took me a minute (and the annoyed glares of said employees) to realize this wasn’t «art,» and my look of awe faded into embarrassment.
As long as you know this, you should be fine.

This is the sort of space that has been missing from the San Francisco art scene for quite some time. It reminded me of the early days of 111 minna. A great place to look at art, listen to music and drink wine. Bar staff was very friendly. Great one night art show with fantastic dj’s. It was a mixed crowd that were all around friendly. Not a pretentious place at all.

Looks small on the outside but it’s spacious on the inside and usually packed with fantastic art and entertainment to feed your soul!
The first time I paid the Rx gallery a visit was when Ladytron were there and I wasn’t expecting very much but I got a memorable night out of it. I just really wanted to see Ladytron! However, the high ceilings, sophisticated interior design, sleek bar and acoustics make it a great venue where art and music meet.
The only downside: the neighborhood might make you feel uncomfortable and the parking is not great. Overall, you won’t be disappointed by the many events they cater to.

rx is my fix. i come not for the art (altho it is cool) nor for the drinks (they are tasty) but the really damn good underground house and techno deejays. i saw dj harvey there, talk about seriously old school!
walking through the TL was not the most wonderful experience and we almost went right past the inconspicous façade. the space is intimate and minimal, a few tables and chairs, but they have a nice upper landing that has a great view of the dance floor. they only serve sake, soju, wine & beer, so bring your trusty flask if you hang like that. upon observation, most of the people there seemed cool, but nonchalant, and stylish and unique without trying to hard. i think the place appeals to a more mature, music-​geeky crowd and because of this everyone dances!

They were snotty and pretentious at the door, oh, and make sure you are on the dreaded «guest list» or you don’t get in. Vapid and sad.
Avoid. There are enough crappy «art houses» that play boring salon electronica in this city as it is.
Update: I got an email response from one of the organizers of that night and she apologized and asked to come by and have a drink on her (which I still need to do!), so it may have just been an aberration. Anyway, it’s a cool space and worth a try. (Just who am I, anyway? LOL!)

No Vodka means no 4 stars.
NO GREY GOOSE IF YOU DON’T GET LOOSE
Update: I wrote this review when I was drunk, so take it for what it’s worth.

I’m a huge fan of Rx Gallery, each month or so there is a different artist featured. So if you roll up and are not feeling the artistic tempo, don’t think that is necessarily reflective of something you might see there next month or next year … cos it is not! duh!
That said the art is very varied from photographs to canvas paintings of all flavours to full on installation pieces.
In the evening the gallery hosts a series of techno/​house/​minimal parties like POP, KontrolSF, Diskotronik, Cargo and the occassional Blasthaus event. The sound is excellent, the folks friendly, drinks are sake cocktails and beer ($ 2 Red Stripes on POP nights!!) and there is a cool upstairs lounge with a balcony that overlooks the entire gallery.

Great space, inventive drinks, and nice li’l upstairs area to lounge in. If you ignore the ‘hood around you, (or appreciate it’s uniqueness, although as a girl walking alone at night, I wasn’t feelin’ that so much), it is a nice departure from the usual non-​artsy, overly glam downtown SF scene.

Though the neighborhood is less than ideal, the minimalist electronica is well complemented by the all white interior, lower case menu, and musicnerd crowd. Delightful space, delightful folks

Haven’t been real recently but the Blasthaus kids throw good parties and the drinks are nice and strong.

Great drinks, great space, great music, but why woulnd’t anyone DANCE.

Pros: Cool art, workshops, great Djs, interesting drinks, people who will dance, and not bad for just chilling.
Cons: Parking sucks. Neighborhood sucks. Serves only beer, wine, sake and soju.
I’m sure I’m forgetting something but ok, that’s it for now.