From Rolling Stone · Elisabeth Garber-Paul · · 2m
Small rock clubs are keeping live music alive
Across the U.S., independent venues are building thriving local scenes where emerging bands find community and fans discover their next favorite artist.
In brief
Across the U.S., independent venues are building thriving local scenes where emerging bands find community and fans discover their next favorite artist. Small independent clubs provide essential spaces for local musicians to develop and for communities to gather around live music, filling a gap between bedroom…
Small clubs fill the music gap
Music feels trapped between bedroom recordings and $500 arena tickets. But independent clubs across the U.S. are building thriving local scenes where musicians and fans actually connect.
Permanent Records Roadhouse in L.A.
Owner Lance Barresi connected a record store to a 100-capacity venue with an outdoor patio. The space hosts six bands or more nightly, giving motivated musicians a stage without requiring a massive following first.
“We provide a place for people who are motivated to play, without having to have a massive following already.”
Zebulon moved from Brooklyn to L.A.
After a decade hosting free shows in Williamsburg, Zebulon relocated to a Los Angeles warehouse in 2017. The 300-capacity venue now charges $20 to $30 covers while maintaining its eclectic mix of punk, jazz, and experimental music.
“The fact that it was free [made] the people interact together.”
Baby's All Right launched NYC stars
Since opening in Williamsburg in 2013, Baby's All Right hosted early shows by Sunflower Bean, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and Billie Eilish on her first tour. Co-founder Billy Jones died of brain cancer last year, but his vision lives on.
“you can do magic”
TV Eye champions underground music
Opened on New Year's Eve 2020 in Ridgewood, Queens, TV Eye books local punk bands alongside touring acts like Subhumans and Sun Ra Arkestra. Co-owner Jonathan Toubin wanted to recreate the community-oriented club culture he experienced in 1990s Austin.
“an attempt to do exclusively underground music”
Soul Clap brings community nationwide
Jonathan Toubin's dance party started in New York with local judges rating dancers. As he toured Soul Clap across the country, he discovered thriving scenes in nearly every city ready to make the event their own.
“I can now go to another town, and my friends there, or people the venue picks, they can judge it and make it like their own community event.”
Venues create gathering spaces
Baby's All Right and Zebulon both feature bar areas where people can hang out before, during, or after shows. These spaces let communities congregate and build connections beyond just the performance.
“We welcome the space for people to congregate, and build a community within the local scene.”
Genre mixing builds stronger scenes
Baby's All Right books two shows nightly, mixing local hip-hop with touring rock bands. This approach creates an amalgamation of different genres and styles in one place, reflecting what makes New York's music scene special.
“You might have a local hip-hop show in the early slot, and then a touring rock band late, and you see a big amalgamation of different genres and different styles coming together in one place.”
What matters most
Small independent clubs provide essential spaces for local musicians to develop and for communities to gather around live music, filling a gap between bedroom recordings and expensive arena shows.
