Rumba Café — Restaurant in Columbus

I make it a point of not writing bad or rude reviews. My intention is to merely explain what I encountered and let the reader determine if the site/ location fits their needs. In that regard this review is made in two parts 1st Rumba. 2and part the artist performing, Dylan LeBlanc, the evening I had long wanted to have attended. So here we go.... #1 Rumba... clean, well kept , patio for watrmer weather, bar counter young lady skilled attentive quick. Everything.you.would seek or want Rumba was great. The front.door tickets and welcome fellow was pleasant and engaging. The Rumba was spot on. Small attendance not over 25. Rumba, Good.. NOW TO THE EVENINGS HEADLINER TALENT : A Disaster.... maybe worse ... Dylan LeBlanc is a talented musician composer singer ... I.had sought a chance to see him live for awhile. But he displayed nothing worthy of that desire at the Rumb. LeBlanc advertised his entire tour "as acoustic" ... if he had done that most likely he would have been as great as my expectations of sharing an "acoustic" evening with him . He blared over " whelmed" by his screaming high volume electric "not acoustic" guitar. Overwhelming schmeer that obliterated any voice skills and or lyrical engagements that he had offered to get me out to see his "acoustic (boisterous electric full blast instead) performance" Any musical artist named Dylan (ala, Bob Dylan) should understand both the definition of acoustic as well as his audience understanding of the expectations of seeking him out in "HIS SELF DEFINED SELF ADVERTISED ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE" which was nothing but electric overwhelming blare. Oh well ... we part company greatly disappointed. BUT Rumba exceeded in...

First visit to the Rumba Cafe, bought a ticket to see The Surfrajettes. There is really no other way to say it than the Rumba is a no thrills "dive" bar. The space was cleared for a standing crowd that would max at maybe,120-140. There were two stools left at the bar, but you weren't going to get a good view of the band from there. The sound system was good!

Parking was available on the street around the building. The limited contact I had with the staff, the doorman and the bartender, they were friendly. I am not a drinker but I would guess the prices are very reasonable. I bought an Athletic N/A and two bottles of water for $7. That would run me $10-$12 at other places. The price of the ticket was ridiculously low to see such a quality band as The Surfrajettes.

These ladies have carved out a niche in the Surf music scene and and are fantastic musicians. They put on a great show...

Doyle Bramhall II, the Austin, Texas legend, who has played with everyone in the universe, blew me away there. Before playing there he just got off a tour with Clapton. Prior to that he played the guitar for the Roger Waters tour. I love that dude. He grew up in Austin with Stevie Ray. His father played with SRV and when Doyle II became of age he played with SRV. How the Rumba Cafe pulled off booking THE MAN I will never know but excellent job! The staff was super cool. The bathroom situation sucked. Parking sucked but once you got inside it was all good. Book Gary Hoey or Steve Stevens or the Red Dragon Cartel (Jake E. Lee's band) or Doyle Bramhall II AGAIN and I'll be right back. Doyle is one of the coolest guys you'll ever meet and has one of the best, soulful voices in rock and roll. He's one of the best guitarists alive. Good job! Farm out,...