text: 3.5 stars.\n\nI have gone to Bar Smith many times - both on Friday night (Fuse) as well as Saturday night (Solstice). Actually, I've been there a few times on Thursday when UK Thursdays was housed there for a night (Dubstep).\n\nSo you want to go to a club for music but don't want the \"club\" atmosphere? Tired of Scottsdale elites? Tired of the horse cops on Mill Ave? Want somewhere that houses a couple different genres of music? Want something close to the light rail? Well, bar Smith might be your place.\n\nI had a friend who came out from Ohio where I grew up and he hates clubs. Clubs are simply not something he wants to go and do. He is much more comfortable pulling up a seat at a bar and sipping on a drink. Me, on the other hand, loves to dance and get jiggy. I figured Bar Smith was probably the best place because it is kind of a blend between a bar and a dance club. While it has no barstools or tables, it does have a few benches along the downstairs walls and a small one upstairs. Everyone that doesn't want to dance just stands around and chit chats. Oh and did I mention that the upstairs section is on the roof? Normally they play music rain or shine - overcast or on one of our 100+ summer nights.\n\nSo what did my friend think about the place? He thought it was the coolest \"club\" he had ever been to - and all he did was stand against the wall and listen to music.\n\nSo what can I say that is bad about the place? Well, for starters... this place can get packed. Sometimes when you leave the top floor you won't be able to get back for the rest of the night. Bummer, right? Yeah, that sucks because when a man's gotta piss... a man's gotta piss. Upstairs is open to the elements and due to being crowded... I swear there are nights that the dance floor is more of a swamp than anything. What does this mean? What does this mean to you? It means, don't wear your $150 jeans that you want to keep clean. In fact, the dress code here is generally... go home and change into something that you wouldn't mind fixing your car in. Dont even bother wearing white shoes unless you want them to be grey after the night - you will be stepped on and drinks will be sloshed onto your feet sometime during the night. With that said, the crowd is different than any other place. The people who come here are there FOR the music - not to be seen (good reason why they dress down). This is good for some peoplem and bad for others. If you want to \"be seen\" then head east for Scottsdale. If you want to dress down (i.e. girls wearing sneakers instead of heels) then this place is for you. What else is bad? I think the prices are pretty steep. I am a weirdo and I don't drink beer (I know, weird male trait) and stick to liquor. I think I have paid more at Bar Smith than I have in Scottsdale for some liquor drinks. So if you only drink liquor like me and want to get trashed, I suggest you pregame in your car (lol). However, if you like beer then they normally have sort of dirt cheap beer special. I'd say that 70% of the people there drink whatever the special is and thusly I am squarely an outcast. This is not really a negative but I will say it anyways incase anyone is concerned - this is an alternative club. A lot of gays and bisexuals party here alongside the straight folks. I know because I don't know how many times I've been turned down by a girl by having her turn around to some other chick and start making out (a nice little hint that she isn't a fan of sausage). So if you are homophobic or closed minded - the crowd is going to freak you out.\n\nSo what is good? Dancing is awesome. If you like to dance but are afraid of \"looking stupid\" then this is your place. You are *encouraged* to dance if the feeling strikes you. In fact, some of the better dancers there will cheer you on - and not in that weird high school way where they are really making fun of you. One of the better dancers told me, \"it doesn't matter how you move, so long as you move because you want to move. It isn't about showing off, it is about enjoying life and enjoying letting the music move you.\" If I ever hear someone say that in Scottsdale, I'll shit my pants. With that said, somewhere around 1am there is normally a dance circle where the best dancers come out and battle. Maybe not battle, but show their latest moves. It is actually pretty cool and this may be the only place you can see a breakdancer (Bboy) bust out a windmill, headspin, and into a boomerang. Then the next guy jumps out and shows off his Tektonic moves... then that is followed by something I will call a contemporary electric salsa. Who knows what dancing you are going to see here! I also like dancing outside sometimes - even when it is hot. Even though the bar is expensive they sometimes do cool crap like flaming drinks, juggling, and fire breathing.\n\nSo what is the verdict here? If you want a place where you can cut loose and party and have nobody judge you... then this is the place to be.