Unexpected music venues keep the beat across the bridge

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The scene of new music may be fading in Manhattan, but those willing to look a little further will find a music hub with a unique culture and talented new artists in Williamsburg. Venturing beyond the large corporate music halls and onto the seemingly empty streets, students will find quite a few unusual music venues in various intimate settings.

The Lovin’ Cup Café, on North Sixth Street (between Berry and Wythe), serves organic comfort food and alcohol, but also houses an underground venue for music, comedy, and art shows. The cafe itself has a homey, almost country feel to it, with wooden benches and candlelit tables, wooden cupboard shelves on its walls, and a faux fireplace.

Musicians often walk in, carrying their instruments, to have a drink with the Lovin’ Cup crew before they head off to their next gig. The cafe is truly a home to musicians and area music lovers.

In the back of the cafe, past a flashy tinsel overhang, a dark performance space called The Cameo, which has a thread-like ceiling fixture lit with flowing strips of neon light, contrasts with the warm room in the front. The Cameo is small but always packed on show nights, and with sound treatment and a 25-feet ceiling, it stands as an ideal space for rock shows.

The venue is home to a large part of Williamsburg’s indie rock scene, with frequent performances by artists like the Lemon Souls and Bear in Heaven. Dave Brandwein, who is in charge of the show space and recording studio, said, “What’s unique about this place is that it houses so many different events, and bands will often take advantage of that and combine visual arts with music in their shows.”

If they head up a few streets from the Lovin’ Cup, students will find the small but comprehensive Sound Fix Records, an independent record store that carries used and new vinyl and CDs in every genre from reggae to psychedelic. The record store itself doubles as a venue for many local indie rock artists. Tammy Hart, who books shows for Sound Fix, reminisces of a time not too long ago when Sound Fix had its own separate show space.

The old space hosted names like Camera Obscura and Okkervil River, who played for free in the small show space. Hart recalls nights when the audience got so wrapped up in the music that everybody stood on chairs and screamed.

Though the new space doesn’t have the hype the old one did, “its unconventional setup creates a more intimate setting,” Hart said. The bands play music that is mainly acoustic in nature, and play on the floor with the crowd standing just a few feet away.

Walking along a lonely stretch on Lorimer Street, visitors will happen upon Pete’s Candy Store, a ’50s-themed bar with an Americana feel that houses an intimate performance space for various talented upcoming artists.

The music here is of a mellower quality, featuring folk, bluegrass, experimental, and some rather eclectic styles, which can be attributed in part to Pete’s small but uniquely built show space modeled after a vaudeville-inspired train car.

Pete’s has made quite a name for itself, and music lovers from all over the world visit this unique space to hear the voices and talents of its eclectic artists. Bruce Martin, who has performed at the Open Mic Night at Pete’s since it opened 10 years ago, said that he loves the space for its unique design and cozy feel and that, “even if there are only half a dozen people listening to you play, you still feel like you have an audience.”

For unusual venues like these, with intimate settings, intricately designed interiors, free shows featuring talented local and notable artists, and reasonably priced food and drinks, $2.25 and a 40-minute subway ride is a small price to pay.