Lower East Side
New York, NY

Erstwhile home of Jewish and Hispanic immigrants, Manhattan’s Lower East Side has undergone a serious makeover in the past decade. For better or worse, depending on who you ask, knishes, pickles and empanadas now sit alongside ultra-hip cafes and pricey downtown designer boutiques. Guliani-fication aside, however, the L.E.S. remains as it always has, resolutely bohemian while continuing to be a breeding ground for New York’s ever changing, always thriving music scene.

Guide to Giggin in New York

Venues

ABC No Rio

156 Rivington St.

New York, NY 10002

(212) 254-3697

abcnorio.org

Founded by local artists in 1980 ABC No Rio is a haven for local D.I.Y. punk and hardcore events. Firmly ensconced on now-fashionable Rivington St., No Rio embodies the old L.E.S. attitude of anti-corporate activism. Bands range from local screamers to just-hopped-a-train squatters with guitars slung over their backs. As one of the last and best venues of its, kind No Rio is more than a place to catch a Leftover Crack show, its a snapshot of downtown history. For booking inquiries contact punk@abcnorio.org

Cake Shop

152 Ludlow St.

New York, NY 10002

(212) 253-0036

Cake-shop.com

Cake Shop, so called because of the (primarily vegan) cake that they sell, is a jack-of-all-trades sort of place. This gryphon-like operation is part cafe, part record store and part venue. Their small, underground stage hosts local bands and performers of all kinds 7 nights a week with a D.J. set immediately following each show. For booking info email Andy Bodor. andybodor@gmail.com.

Pianos

158 Ludlow St.

New York, NY 10002

(212) 505-3733

pianosnyc.com

Housed in a refurbished piano shop, Pianos is an integral part of the NYC music scene. A veritable display case for local up-and-coming bands, the club (which also features a decently swanky menu and bar) has become famous in its own right. To submit bands for consideration contact Zachary Waldman, Billy Jones, or Jo Murray at booking@pianos.com and be sure to check their website for guidelines and requirements.

The Annex

152 Orchard St.

New York, NY 10002

(212) 673-3410

theannexnyc.com

A relative newbie, The Annex opened to great acclaim in 2006 and has since become the home of some of the most coveted parties in New York. The small stage and faux-smoky atmosphere offer an intimate, ultimately cool setting that takes you back to the days when you could actually smoke inside. The live music calendar is broken up by big-name D.J. nights, so it’s a good idea to look into availability before making booking inquiries, which can be done by contacting Joady at joady_annex@yahoo.com or Xiaoting at xxxing@gmail.com.

The Mercury Lounge

217 E. Houston St.

New York, NY 10002

(212) 260-4700

mercuryloungenyc.com

The Mercury Lounge has maintained its dusky presence on Houston St. since 1993 and in the intervening years has played host to an incalculable string of luminaries including Bikini Kill, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, The Strokes and many others. Still one of the best venues for local and national talent, the Lounge’s sound system alone makes it worth a trip. For booking questions email info@mercuryloungenyc.com or call (212) 375-1200 between 1 and 4 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For music submissions send CD’s to Mercury Lounge Booking, Attn: Johnny Beach/Jay Belin. 217 E. Houston St. NY, NY 10002.

Arlene’s Grocery

95 Stanton St.

New York, NY 10002

(212) 995-1652

arlenesgrocery.net

A great venue for local bands, Arlene’s is one of the few places left in the city where friends of the band can actually afford to come see them play. A bastion of L.E.S. cool since 1995, playing Arlene’s has become a rite of passage for many New York groups looking to get big. The fact that the exterior still looks like the bodega it once was ain’t too shabby either. For booking, send a link to your website to julia@arlenesgrocery.net or call (212) 358-1633

Media

L Magazine

20 Jay St.

Brooklyn, NY 11201

(718) 596-3462

thelmagazine.com

One of NYC’s newest free publications, the L is a clean, colorized magazine that features, among other things, a solid set of handpicked music reviews and listings. With its bright orange distribution boxes cropping up on every other corner, the L’s visibility makes it a valuable resource for musicians seeking to get noticed. Email livemusic@thelmagazine.com to have your event listed.

Time Out New York

475 Tenth Avenue, 12th floor.

New York, NY 1001

(646) 432-3000
It may not be free, but TONY features the thickest, most comprehensive set of listings that anyone could ever ask for and its website offsets the cost by offering virtually everything it’s print counterpart does without the $3.95 price. Check the “Get Listed” section of the website’s sidebar for instructions on how to get your event in Time Out.

The Village Voice

36 Cooper Sq.

New York, NY 10003

villagevoice.com
The Voice is the mother of all NYC free papers. Available almost everywhere, it features a voluminous listing of nearly every venue in the city. Getting listed by The Voice is a bit tricky, but odds are that the club you’re playing will already have an ad space reserved to publicize upcoming shows.

Repairs

First Flight Music

174 First Ave.

New York, NY 10009

(212) 539-1383

firstflightmusic.com
Although First Flight is technically an East Village institution it’s within easy walking distance from the L.E.S. and is well worth the trip. Specializing in guitars and basses of all brands, the store carries a wide variety of cables, strings and parts and features a reliable and well-respected repair shop.

Rivington Guitars

125 Rivington St.

New York, NY 10002

(212) 505-5313

rivingtonguitars.com
Rivington guitars have earned a solid reputation for good stock, service and repairs since opening in 1998. They specialize in vintage amps and guitars, but also offer repairs for a number of other instruments. For more information and a full stock listing, go to their website.