(Photo credit: Christopher Parks/NPR)

As part of its “Venues That Rock” series, Rolling Stone published the top-20 “Best Big Rooms in America.” The rankings were determined by a group of big-name artists, managers and promoters. Among the voters: Britt Daniel (Spoon), Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Thomas Mars (Phoenix), Miranda Lambert, Talib Kweli, Bassnectar, Sharon Osbourne and several other industry power-brokers.

As anyone who has seen a show there would agree, 9:30 Club landed in the top spot. Billboard has named the club one of the best in the nation several times, but that distinction is based on more quantitative values (sales, attendance, etc.). Getting the vote of confidence from such a diverse panel of esteemed industry personalities seems more rewarding for a club that blossomed from the District’s hardcore scene in 1980.

Having just seen a sold-out show at the club Tuesday, the sheer awesomeness of the club is fresh in our mind. 9:30 club is oddly authentic for such a large, high-profile venue. Most other venues in its class seem contrived in comparison. We could go on for days counting the ways we love 9:30 Club, but we imagine most of you have already been there, and you know what’s up. If you have not been to a show at 9:30 Club, you would be served experiencing it for yourself than reading us gush about it.

The Rolling Stone write-up features a quote from voter Patrick Stump where he says, “You wonder if the locals know how lucky they are.” We do, Pat. We sure do.