Live rock music in Park Slope?

anonymous

Are there any bars (not big venues like Southpaw) that have live music in Park Slope? Not interesting in singer-songwriter stuff (the only audience members are always friends).

MOD

Well, Two Boots often has live bands perform. The sangria is to drool for.... =P~

MOD

Oh, and one more. It's not in PS but only a block outside of it. Hank's on 3rd ave. They have a website, google it.

nuff said
:-'

anonymous

I know about both places. Two Boots doesn't cater to rock music much.

Hank's Saloon and the whole Atlantic Ave strip I know well. Thinking of Park Slope proper, especially 5th Ave and South Slope.

anonymous

Actually, Union Hall has booked some incredible live bands.

caaahyoko

The extremely talented "MichaelKeys" plays with his band at Buttermilk now and again. Don't know if Buttermilk is doing many other shows these days...

The problem is, unfortunately, that it takes a lot of money to keep up a pa system/pay a sound engineer unless you set your place up specifically for music and advertise as such, or get enough traffic anyway to cover costs and warrant charging a cover. This works with places in Manhattan like Lit and at Williamsburg's Trash bar, but I don't think any one bar in Park Slope is busy enough. (Aside from the aforementioned Union Hall--which also has the size to accomodate it)

Though it would be WONDERFUL if someone were ambitious enough to start one up. There are a lot of nights I want to go check out some music, but don't have the time to go home, walk the dogs, and run all the way back to Manhattan or into Williamsburg.

anonymous

Thanks everyone.

The nature of my question is basically trying to find places to play with my band. I've played everywhere: up and down Manhattan, and Brooklyn from Williamsburg down to Bay Ridge. Whenever I schedule more gigs, all my Park Slope friends ask me why I never play in Park Slope. I then ask them where can I play and their response is always Southpaw.

Southpaw (and now Union Hall) is a big space dedicated to signed artists. We are looking for smaller/local places. Every other neighborhood has bars for local rock bands EXCEPT Park Slope. There are clubs in Bed-Stuy, Besonhurst, Greenpoint, but I can never find anything in Park Slope (not counting singer-songwriter acoustic stuff that no one really likes). Someone already suggested Buttermilk to me, but I really couldn't find any info on them.

anonymous

Battermilk is on the corner of 16th and 5th. They do not even have a sign outside but it is noticeable if you go at night (during the day, I think they close shatter)....I also have encountered a band playing at Bar 4 (14th? on 7th av), but that place was a bit tight for a loud music.

anonymous

I know where Buttermilk is, I just can't find out if they have live bands or not. Seems like they cater to the acoustic crowd. Bar 4 is definitely acoustic music (unless someone can indicate otherwise).

anonymous

Also Magnetic Fields (I know, not in Park Slope). They welcome unsigned bands.

pitu

Brooklyn Lyceum?

caaahyoko

Anonymous wrote:

Southpaw (and now Union Hall) is a big space dedicated to signed artists. We are looking for smaller/local places.

I've seen plenty of "unsigned" (or signed to small indie label) local musicians play at Southpaw as well as bigger name acts. Many of my friends bands have played there. They just expect you to be able to draw a minimum number of people. I suggest trying to get a night together with a couple of other bands you know that, together you can draw 100+ people and then talk to Southpaw's booker. Its really your only option to get a full rock sound in the neighborhood. (Though I don't know what Union Hall's backline/pa is like)

anonymous

Magnetic fields is great. So is Hank's. There's another one down on Atlantic, across from the Y, which used to be really good.

caaahyoko

pitu wrote: Brooklyn Lyceum?

I always think that place would make a great rock club.

Why don't they book more stuff? Do they book anything there?

caaahyoko

Also, its not Park Slope, but maybe you could convice your friends to mosey on over to Red Hook. I've heard The Hook is a good venue.

michaelkeys

Unfortuantely, PS has no small, live performance-oriented clubs. That doesn't mean you are left without options.

Union Hall's actual performance area is tiny but for whatever reason it seems to be VERY HARD to land a gig there. Southpaw, on the other hand, is a lot more unsigned artist-friendly than you may think. They're also BIG supporters of talent from the 'hood.

A few bars that have the space and the desire to spice things up a bit occasionally host bands, like Buttermilk, Great Lakes, and I believe The Living Room on 23rd & 5th. (As far as I know, Barbes does not do rock.) But since this is not a key part of their draw they do so sporadically and don't do actual booking. For the most part what they do is accept--or not--requests to play there.

At the 'Milk, for instance, YOU have to pick a date you'd like to play--Fri and Sat. nights are no-go--and drop off a CD with the bartender who normally works the night in question, since he/she will be the one you'll be dealing with the day of your show. Like everywhere else, if you don't hear back...they've passed on you. Sorry.
They are pretty open-minded--I've played there both solo acoustic and full band, the latter being in a Cheap Trick-type vein; local favorites The Mugs have also played a few times, as well as a few others from the 'hood--they just have to like your tunes. (Btw, being a somewhat regular patron of a neighborhood bar you'd like to play NEVER hurts.)

Bar 4 does open mics and mostly acoustic-based stuff, Perch as well; the deal with the Brooklyn Lyceum is that it's more like renting out a space and putting on your own show, although I've heard that they've started doing actual bookings; and rumor has it, Hank's will be closing soon. Also, if your music's on the really heavy side Lucky 13 might give you a shot. It's tiny, though.

On a final note, if the singer/songwriter thing is not your bag, cool. But don't knock it just for that. And who cares if a gig is attended by a handful of friends if the artist is kicking ass? I saw one of Brooklyn's finest, Kevin Omen, frontman of the mighty Smokewagon, play solo in one of the above bars for less than a dozen people on the recommendation of a friend. One of the best gigs I've seen in a while.


Oh, and thanks for the kind words, caaahyoko. YOU rock.

the drunken guest

That Michael Keys knows his stuff... you really should check out The Living Room...I'm guessing they are down for just about anything there

joanjettofarc

Living Room is a great space, however, criminally underutilized.

anonymous

Thanks once again everyone.

DroppinShadows wrote: Also Magnetic Fields (I know, not in Park Slope). They welcome unsigned bands.

Yes, another place I know well. It's just not Park Slope.

caaahyoko wrote:
I've seen plenty of "unsigned" (or signed to small indie label) local musicians play at Southpaw... They just expect you to be able to draw a minimum number of people. I suggest trying to get a night together with a couple of other bands you know that, together you can draw 100+ people and then talk to Southpaw's booker.

We are just a small local band playing small shows. Easy to do in Manhattan. All of our friend's bands do not play like minded music, so a bill with everyone together doesn't mix.

caaahyoko wrote: Also, its not Park Slope, but maybe you could convice your friends to mosey on over to Red Hook. I've heard The Hook is a good venue.

Red Hook? You can't convince anyone to go out there! Yes, I have played in Red Hook as well. It seems I have been everywhere in the city, just not Park Slope. BTW, a great place to go to (and play) is the Liberty Heights Tap Room.

MichaelKeys wrote:
Union Hall's actual performance area is tiny but for whatever reason it seems to be VERY HARD to land a gig there.

That's what I have been experiencing. We sent them e-mails BEFORE they even opened about playing a show there. No response. All my other friends have witnessed the same thing.

MichaelKeys wrote:
A few bars that have the space and the desire to spice things up a bit occasionally host bands, like Buttermilk, Great Lakes, and I believe The Living Room on 23rd & 5th. (As far as I know, Barbes does not do rock.) But since this is not a key part of their draw they do so sporadically and don't do actual booking. For the most part what they do is accept--or not--requests to play there.

Thanks for the heads up about Great Lakes and the Living Room. I will look into them both as well as explore Buttermilk further.

MichaelKeys wrote: (Btw, being a somewhat regular patron of a neighborhood bar you'd like to play NEVER hurts.)

Makes complete sense, but none of the bands members live in Park Slope. I will personally stop by each bar, perhaps this weekend. I usually try to meet the owners instead of sending an impersonal email.

MichaelKeys wrote:
and rumor has it, Hank's will be closing soon.

There is no truth to the rumor. They will be closing to do renonvations.

MichaelKeys wrote:
Also, if your music's on the really heavy side Lucky 13 might give you a shot. It's tiny, though.

We do get rocking, but nothing that heavy. I will still try and give them a shot.

gringcorp

Um, wot about Freddy's? Last I heard they hadn't been evicted yet, and they still had bands on. Not that they'll pay you much, but they have some great musicians there, and Don the manager is pretty supportive. How much rockin' you can do is a bit of a subjective process, but the Spunk Lads were hardly Jack Johnson...

http://freddysbackroom.com/live_cal.html

Yes, yes, yes, 6th and Dean is technically P. Heights, but please don't let semantics stop you giving them a bell.

michaelkeys

Anonymous wrote: Red Hook? You can't convince anyone to go out there! Yes, I have played in Red Hook as well. It seems I have been everywhere in the city, just not Park Slope. BTW, a great place to go to (and play) is the Liberty Heights Tap Room.

Yeah, Red Hook IS out of the way. (And while I've heard good things 'bout The Hook that place seems like it's out of the way even for the people out there!) However, a few months ago I saw a cool double bill--Knife Fight and The Saloonatics--at LHTR and really liked that place. Hell, I should book a gig there...

anonymous

does the Brazen Head on Atlantic and Boerum still book live music? That used to be a great place to go.

anonymous

The Brooklyn Lyceum has a couple of regular things going on musically...

Checkout these urls to see if they fit your taste.

http://www.gowanus.com/MORE?listingid=100065

http://www.gowanus.com/MORE?listingid=100111

The Kicksville, elk city and square egg shows should be pretty good.

Also, in case you dont check the website often adrian grenier is scheduled to show a short film of his and speak a bit at the march 10th asbury shorts of new york.

disclaimer: i am an employee of the lyceyum. i highly recommend the aforementioned shows. YMMV.

anonymous

This weekend a few friends went bar hopping on 5th ave. The main was to have fun, but I was also checking out bars to play at.

Buttermilk no longer has bands. They said they tried, but gave up. I seriously doubt Lucky 13 has band, the place is tiny. We didn't stay, so I didn't ask the bartenders. We didn't hit any others bar spoken about here. I'm beginning to think the Slope doesn't rock

Gringcorp wrote: Um, wot about Freddy's?

Yes, yes, yes, 6th and Dean is technically P. Heights, but please don't let semantics stop you giving them a bell.

Been there, done that. I played once at Freddy's years ago with another band. We have to change our setlist around because the drummer said the house kit was too small to play some of our songs. And I have no problems that Freddy's is really in Prospect Heights, I was justing looking for a place in Park Slope so that my friends in that area can easliy come to. Buttermilk would have been the perfect location.

MichaelKeys wrote: However, a few months ago I saw a cool double bill--Knife Fight and The Saloonatics--at LHTR and really liked that place. Hell, I should book a gig there...

The owner of LHTR is a really nice guy. He actually runs the soundboard. Most lowkey venues have no sound guy and no mic'ed instruments. LHTR mics the drums and guitar amp, and use the direct out from the bass amp. The stage has monitors! Great place. The staff are all very nice and the Sixpoints Ale is damn tasty.