new york - indietravelguide.com -a city by city guide to the best indie clubs, bars, record shops and local bands

By Marisha Chinsky

When you think about New York City and indie credentials, I bet a few things come to mind. Over several generations of art, the city has embodied the real meaning of indie: not just an aesthetic or a style, but the spirit of creativity, rebellion from the mainstream, and a collective community. In the 1950s, there was Kerouac, Ginsberg and the Beats who took over Columbia University and Greenwich Village. Then there was Bob Dylan and Gerde's Folk City, a music venue which no longer exists. Later on came Andy Warhol and his Factory cohorts such as the Velvet Underground. Fast forward to the late 1970s when CBGBs and Max's Kansas City were the happening place for the likes of Television, Blondie, Talking Heads and The Ramones. Even though questions have recently arisen about the future of CBGBs and it's not really the happening place it once was, the club's still there at 315 Bowery, on the edge of the East Village.
Bedford Avenue became the hipster hangout of the late 90s and early 2000s, although it's becoming more gentrified and quite possibly "cliché" as an indie-hub. Williamsburg was the neighborhood credited with nurturing the rise of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, and even The Strokes. Larry Tee's Luxx gave us a new style called Electroclash. The club is now called Trash, 256 Grand Street between Driggs and Roebling, and books decent mostly local rock bands. New York City's up and coming neighborhood is usually on the frontier and since the city is very much alive, the fringe is changing and ever-moving. Yesterday's hip new neighborhood for artists could be home to tomorrow's overpriced coffeeshop and expensive luxury condos. There’s lots to discover, so jump right in!

Crashin In
Supreme Trading, 8th Street, Williamsburg, Every Friday night. No cover charge.
A bit trendy but in a good way (ie: BBC 6, indie) focuses heavily on Britpop and 90s style shoegaze.
(www.crashinin.com/events.html)

Mondo
Location tends to change.
Indiepop, new wave, post-rock, Britpop, Northern soul, shoegaze - casual atmosphere. Encourages dancing and not playing "predictable" DJ hits.
(mondo-nyc.com/)

DeLuxe
Lolita, 266 Broome St, 9pm - 4am, free, last Thursday of the month
Dr Maz has been treating NYC's most discerning indie audiophiles with a monthly dose of new and vintage indiepop, britpop, and french pop.
(www.deluxe-nyc.com)

Anything promoted by Todd P
Get all your noise and art rock, ie: Japanther, Oxford Collapse, and see where a lot of bands got their start. Todd tends to book and promote shows that are held in dive bars off the beaten path, on the cusp of something new. On the down low, fun and exciting. Prices and location varies, but usually about $3-$7.
(www.toddpnyc.com)

PS 1
Long Island City, Queens.
Free with recommended donation for admission. Check out the warm up outdoor DJ series every Saturday in the summertime.
(www.ps1.org)

There are usually great shows at: Pianos, Rothko, Mercury Lounge, Trash, Northsix, Bowery Ballroom, Knitting Factory. Pick up a free, weekly Village Voice from a kiosk anywhere in the city. Go online: www.villagevoice.com

Hi-Fi
169 Avenue A between 10th and 11th Streets, East Village, Manhattan.
Location used to be the legendary club Brownies. Has an mp3 jukebox, updated weekly with over 30,000 albums or something ridiculous. Very fun. Tons of great classic record covers decorate the space.
(browniesnyc.com)

Great Lakes
285 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn.
This bar is an "Indie Rock haven." Great Jukebox caters to 1990s indierock. Laid back crowd.

Buttermilk
Fifth Avnue, Park Slope.
Great jukebox, also.

Iona bar
180 Grand St, Williamsburg
Nice little Irish bar in Williamsburg. Good place to go for an afternoon drink or hang out on a Sunday. There are loads of good CDs behind the bar and the bar staff will usually stick on your requests. Good selection of beer and one of the best beer gardens in New York. Also includes a table tennis table for anyone who can play it (unlike me).(DB)

The Royale
506 5th Ave Between 12th and 13th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn
Nice looking bar. There is a back section with booths and a Moroccan feel to it. Friendly bar staff and a good music policy. Last time I was there they were running a monthly Madchester night. (DB)

EAT Records
124 Meserole Avenue, Greenpoint.
Has now opened a café/coffeeshop. Great vinyl and used selection. Occasionally hosts shows by local bands and sells tickets to Todd P-promoted shows.
(www.eatrecords.com)

Cake Shop
152 Ludlow Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan.
Recently opened. They are hosting shows downstairs on a regular basis.
(www.cake-shop.com)

Other Music
15 East 4th Street, Manhattan.
Amazing record store. Legendary for indie music shopping:
(www.othermusic.com)

Somethin' Else
Fifth Avenue, Park Slope
Cool record store. Owned by members of Radio 4,
(www.somethin-else-records.com/home)

Etherea
66 ave A, East Village.

Kim's
6 St Mark's Place, East Village.

Cause Co-motion.
They were featured on John Peel. RIYL Orange Juice.
(www.causeco-motion.com)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Tension, drama, excitement, all sealed with a kiss and a tremble from Brooklyn. CYHSY take their cue from the Arcade Fire, the Violent Femmes, Orange Juice, The Wedding Present and The Rapture, but the passion and intensity is theirs and theirs only. Superstars in the making. (IW)
(www.clapyourhands.com)

Metric Mile
(www.metricmile.com)

My Teenage Stride
(www.myteenagestride.com)

The Consultants
(www.theconsultantsband.com)

Air Market
97 Third Avenue, Manhattan
Amazing imported Japanese store. Clothes, accessories, stickers, and more.

Take the Staten Island Ferrry to Staten Island and back. It's free!

If you'd like to recommend a club, bar, record shop, band or any indie delight for inclusion in the Indie Travel Guide, please email us. If we've included a link to your band/shop etc, it would be lovely if you could link back to us. Thank you!