Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1 Music Uncovered
New York is in the midst of yet another great rock-'n'-roll scare. A slew of young musicians have rediscovered the
jittery energy of New York's '70s and '80s heydays, and they're threatening to become a movement. Phosphor-
escent, Dirty Projectors, and the National are among the parade of hot new bands putting down Brooklyn roots.
It's not just rock, either. Classical, acoustic, salsa, jazz, and even alt-country make a stand in Yankee confines. The
only fly in this ointment is capitalism; the bars where groups play also have to pay rent. Most places try to keep
the booze flowing, although with a few exceptions New York is not super-uptight about enforcing its drink min-
imums. The musicians certainly don't care—most of the time they're just happy you're there to listen. You'll find
free music waiting 7 nights a week. You might as well embrace the cacophony, because Lord knows it's hard to
find a quiet hour in New York City.
For Those About to Rock
BAMcafé
The architecture of the Brooklyn Academy of Music's 1908 HQ is just as impressive inside as out. The
arching ceilings in BAMcafé (it was once the building's ballroom) provide both glitz and great acoustics for pop-
ular Friday and Saturday night musical performances. The shows are free, presenting a cross section from the
spheres of rock, jazz, world, and R&B. Happy hours run 6 to 8pm, with $3 beer and $5 cocktail specials.
30 Lafayette
Ave., btw. Ashland Place and St. Felix St.
718/636-4100.
www.bam.org
.
Subway: G to Fulton St.; C to Lafayette Ave.; B/D/N/Q/R/2/3/4/5 to Atlantic Ave./
Pacific St.
Goodbye Blue Monday
This cluttered space under the El serves up live music nightly. With two stages
(one indoor, one out), you can find up to seven performances, most every one free. For libations, wine starts at $4
and PBR drafts at $3. They do pass the hat for the musicians. Note that the location isn't exactly Midland City:
They're on the Bushwick/Bed-Stuy border, off the hipster beaten track.
1087 Broadway, btw. Dodworth and Lawton sts.
718/
453-6343.
www.goodbye-blue-monday.com
.
Subway: J to Kosciuszko St.; M to Central Ave.
The Living Room
A mellow music mecca, the Living Room hosts a slate of live performances every night, biased
toward acoustic and otherwise low-key up-and-comers. The occasional national act storms through, and the
space is used efficiently, with up to six acts a night. Usually no cover, though they do pass the hat (there's a $10
suggested contribution, as well as a one-drink minimum per set).
154 Ludlow St., btw. Stanton and Rivington sts.
212/533-7235.
www.livingroomny.com
.
Subway: F to Second Ave.; J/M/Z to Essex St.
The National Underground
A much-needed low-pretense zone is provided by this little pocket of Americana
on East Houston. PBR in cans and roots rock soundtracks are the key ingredients for laid-back nights. There are
two floors, with live music upstairs, and techno DJs in the basement. Although most of the performers aren't
name acts, you won't be dropping money on a cover, either.
159 E. Houston St., btw. Allen and Eldridge sts.
212/475-0611.
www.thenationalunderground.com
.
Subway: F to Second Ave.
Free & e-zines
With a city in endless flux and so much stuff going on, it's hard to stay abreast of the best in free and cheap events. My fa-
vorite means of keeping up is via electronic newsletters, conveniently e-mailed right to my inbox. Of the e-lists,
Nonsense-
nyc
's (
www.nonsensenyc.com
) is my favorite, specializing in the cheap and offbeat, and providing a comprehensive run-
down of the city's many hipster events. (They don't do music; log in to
www.brooklynvegan.com
for that.) Other newslet-
ters worth reading can be found at
www.dailycandy.com
,
http://lavorpill.com/newyork
,
and
Parkside Lounge
Nestled between projects and East Village tenements, this former brothel brings in an eclectic
crowd. Being too far east for most trendroids helps, too. The back room puts on rock shows, with comedy, im-
prov, and burlesque in the mix as well.
If there's a cover, it'll be $5 or so for the band; often a two-drink
minimum applies, but it's loosely enforced.
317 E. Houston St., at Attorney St.
212/673-6270.
www.parksidelounge.net
. Subway: F to Se-
cond Ave.
