Mercury Lounge

Mercury Lounge is located on 217 East Houston Street, Manhattan, on the corner of Avenue A and Houston.  Starting just before 2018, Mercury Lounge (and nearby Bowery Ballroom) separated...

Mercury Lounge

Astari Nite

Mercury Lounge is located on 217 East Houston Street, Manhattan, on the corner of Avenue A and Houston.  Starting just before 2018, Mercury Lounge (and nearby Bowery Ballroom) separated from Bowery Presents and formed ‘Mercury East Presents’ with other fellow Live Nation venues Gramercy Theatre, Irving Plaza, and Warsaw.  It lies within the circle of venues in the Bowery (roughly between Houston, A, Delancey Street, and Bowery), which includes Piano’s, Arlene’s Grocery, Rockwood Music Hall and others (as well as Bowery Ballroom).

Mercury Lounge has a long, tight squeeze of a bar at the front, with the stage and audience area in a separate room, past the bar.  The stage area is still larger than expected, and generally a step up in terms of ‘class’.  The cushioned booth-couches that line both walls are nice, and do mean that people aren’t pushed right up against the walls.

The headliners at Mercury Lounge are often a form of indie-something, and usually have an album or two under their belts.  Often, however, it can be hard to tell who the headliner is, as the scheduling tends much more to the ‘on the hour’ than ‘headliner-opener’, with each band given the same time and the acts not necessarily getting bigger as the night goes on.  This means the band you’re there to see might come on first, last, or anywhere in between.  This tendency is only exacerbated by the habit of labels to use a Mercury Lounge show as an almost SXSW-like ‘showcase’, where an act plays to a much more industry crowd, and, especially on work nights, they don’t want to wait until eleven PM or midnight.  You do get more bands than at many other venues, often four or five, though they might have little to do with one another.  Also, sometimes there are two separately ticketed shows, an early & late.  But, punching above its weight in acts – both in size and number – and below its weight in cost (including beer), Mercury Lounge gives strong value.

Capacity: 250

21+

Address:

217 East Houston Street (On the Corner of A Avenue and Houston)

By Subway:

F train to 2nd Avenue – walk 2 blocks east on South side of Houston
F, J, M or Z trains to Delancey/Essex – walk 3 blocks north on West side of Essex

QRO Coverage:

-Ultra Q, with Sub*T, March 8th, 2024 (New Colossus) – New Colossus coverage, Ultra Q photos, Sub*T photos

-Somebody’s Child, September 21st, 2023 – live review, photos

-Bad Bad Hats, August 6th, 2022 – photos

-Wet Leg, with JW Francis, December 7th, 2021 – Wet Leg live review, Wet Leg photos, JW Francis photos

-Princess Goes To the Butterfly Museum, October 31st, 2021 – live review, photos

-Princess Goes To the Butterfly Museum, March 12th, 2020 – photos

-CRX, September 6th, 2019 – live review, photos

-Bear Hands, with Soren Bryce, June 3rd, 2019 – Bear Hands photos, Soren Bryce photos

-Astari Nite, with The Foreign Resort, April 13th, 2019 (The Red Party) – The Foreign Resort live review, Astari Nite photos, The Foreign Resort photos

-La Force, with Denitia, October 10th, 2018 – La Force photos, Denitia photos

-The Hunt, June 9th, 2018 (The Red Party) – photos

-The Bones of J.R. Jones, with Kris Gruen, May 10th, 2018 – The Bones of J.R. Jones photos, Kris Gruen photos

-Sigrid, April 25th, 2018 – photos

-Welles, April 9th, 2018 – photos

-Jessica Lea Mayfield, with Mal Blum & The Blums, March 9th, 2018 – Jessica Lea Mayfield photos, Mal Blum & The Blums photos

-Black Heart Procession, with Sam Coomes, November 16th, 2017 – Black Heart Procession photos, Sam Coomes photos

-Pale Waves, November 14th, 2017 – photos

-Gedeon Luke & The People, with Southern Avenue, February 23rd, 2017 – Gedeon Luke & The People photos, Southern Avenue photos

-Roosevelt, September 27th, 2016 – photos

-TEEN, August 12th, 2016 – photos

-The Virginmary’s, March 30th, 2016 – photos

-LNZNDRF, March 5th, 2016 – photos

-Honduras, January 9th, 2016 – photos

-Spector, December 3rd, 2015 – photos

-Ruen Brothers, October 16th, 2015 (CMJ) – photos

-The Jungle Giants, with The Maccabees, Yak, Fraser A. Gorman, and Seratones, October 15th, 2015 (CMJ) – The Jungle Giants photos, The Maccabees photos, Yak photos, Fraser A. Gorman photos, Seratones photos

-Holly Miranda, September 17th, 2015 – photos

-We Were Promised Jetpacks, July 30th, 2015 – photos

-Magic Giant, June 11th, 2015 – photos

-Lieutenant, with Yukon Blonde, March 28th, 2015 – Lieutenant photos, Yukon Blonde photos

-Bright Light Social Hour, with The Midnight Hollows, March 6th, 2015 – Bright Light Social Hour photos, The Midnight Hollows photos

-Emmy the Great, February 19th, 2015 – live review, photos

-American Aquarium, February 2nd, 2015 – photos

-Mates of State, December 19th, 2014 – photos

-Brendan Canning, January 24th, 2014 – live review, photos

-Jessy Lanza, with The Drum, January 18th, 2014 – Jessy Lanza live review, Jessy Lanza photos, The Drum photos

-Dan Croll, October 17th, 2013 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, photos

-White Denim, with Calvin Love and Jonathan Rado, October 16th, 2013 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, White Denim photos, Calvin Love photos, Jonathan Rado photos

-NONONO, with Panama Wedding, October 15th, 2013 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, NONONO photos, Panama Wedding photos

-Sarah Neufeld, with Porcelain Raft, October 4th, 2013 – Sarah Neufeld photos, Porcelain Raft photos

-Pretty & Nice, with MiniBoone and Miracles of Modern Science, September 6th, 2013 – Pretty & Nice photosMiniBoone photos, Miracles of Modern Science photos

-Big Dipper, with Chris Collingswood, April 6th, 2013 – live review, Big Dipper photos, Chris Collingswood photos

-Snowden, with The Doorbells, February 23rd, 2013 – Snowden live review, Snowden photos, The Doorbells photos

-MiniBoone, with Pretty & Nice, January 11th, 2013 – MiniBoone photos, Pretty & Nice photos

-Benzos, with Happy People, Dinowalrus, and Inky Jack, November 28th, 2012 – Benzos photos, Happy People photos, Dinowalrus photos, Inky Jack photos

-Eleanor Friedberger, October 18th, 2012 (CMJ) – photos

-Tashaki Miyaki, with Rafiq Bhatia, Murals, Foxygen, and Calvin Love, October 16th, 2012 (CMJ) – Tashaki Miyaki photos, Rafiq Bhatia photos, Murals photos, Foxygen photos, Calvin Love photos

-Tanlines, with Sinkane, August 21st, 2012 – live review, Tanlines photos, Sinkane photos

-Thieving Irons, with Peasant, June 9th, 2012 – Thieving Irons photos, Peasant photos

-Jonathan Wilson, May 18th, 2012 – photos

-We Are Serenades, with Alt-J, May 9th, 2012 – We Are Serenades photos, Alt-J photos

-Plants and Animals, April 18th, 2012 – photos

-Zeus, with Eight and a Half, February 23rd, 2012 – Eight and a Half live review, Zeus photos, Eight and a Half photos

-With Lions, with Happy People and Hurrah! A Bolt of Light!, November 11th, 2011 – live review, With Lions photos, Happy People photos, Hurrah! A Bolt of Light! photos

-Pepper Rabbit, with We Barbarians and ANR, August 31st, 2011 – Pepper Rabbit photos, We Barbarians live review, We Barbarians photos, ANR photos

-CANT, with Blood Orange, August 30th, 2011 (CANT debut show) – CANT photos, Blood Orange photos

-Mates of State, with Cymbals Eat Guitars and Yellow Ostrich, August 24th, 2011 (Barsuk Records showcase) – Mates of State photos, Cymbals Eat Guitars photos, Yellow Ostrich photos

-Royal Bangs, with Dinowalrus, April 6th, 2011 – Royal Bangs photosDinowalrus photos

-Paperdoll, January 28th, 2011 – photos

-We Are Scientists, with Rewards, December 31st, 2010 – We Are Scientists live review, We Are Scientists photos, Rewards photos

-Juliana Hatfield & Evan Dando, with The Shining Twins, September 30th, 2010 – Juliana Hatfield & Evan Dando photos, The Shining Twins photos

-The Dig, June 5th, 2010 – photos

-Jason Collet, with Zeus, April 23rd, 2010 (‘Bonfire Ball Revue’) – live review, Jason Collett photos, Zeus photos

-Surfer Blood, February 28th, 2010 – photos

-Freelance Whales, with Animal Tropical, Still Life Still, January 20th, 2010 – Still Life Still life review, Freelance Whales photos, Animal Tropical photos, Still Life Still photos

-Savoir Adore, with Mon Khmer, Cruel Black Dove, January 14th, 2010 – Savoir Adore live review, Savoir Adore photos, Mon Khmer photos, Cruel Black Dove photos

-Land of Talk, with Surprise Me Mr. Davis, November 21st, 2009 – Land of Talk live review, Land of Talk photos, Surprise Me Mr. Davis photos

-Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, with These United States, November 20th, 2009 – These United States live review, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson photos, These United States photos

-The Dig, with Locksley, November 19th, 2009 – The Dig live review, The Dig photos, Locksley photos

-The Dig, with Ravens & Chimes, October 23rd, 2009 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, The Dig photos, Ravens & Chimes photos

-Ambulance LTD, with Alec Ounsworth, Patrick Watson and JBM, October 22nd, 2009 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, Ambulance LTD photos, Alec Ounsworth photos, Patrick Watson photos, JBM photos

-The xx, October 21st, 2009 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, photos

-Jupiter One, October 20th, 2009 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, photos

-The Black Hollies, September 5th, 2009 – live review, photos

-Art Brut, with Jeffrey Lewis and Keith Top of the Pops, June 5th, 2009 – Art Brut photos, Jeffrey Lewis photos, Keith Top of the Pops photos

-Kiss Kiss, with Fake Problems, July 1st, 2009 – Kiss Kiss photos, Fake Problems photos

-Illinois, with Holly Miranda and Kenan Bell, May 5th, 2009 – Illinois photos, Holly Miranda photos, Kenan Bell photos

-The Boxer Rebellion, April 24th, 2009 – live review, photos

-Handsome Furs, with Iran, March 6th, 2009 – Iran live review, Handsome Furs photos, Iran photos

-Manchester Orchestra, March 4th, 2009 – live review, photos

-White Rabbits, with Bell, February 19th, 2009 – White Rabbits live review, White Rabbits photos, Bell photos

-The Morning After Girls, January 27th, 2009 – live review, photos

-The Picture, January 24th, 2009 – live review, photos

-Erika Wennerstrom (of Heartless Bastards), January 12th, 2009 – photos

-Up the Empire, with Bon Savants and Ford & Fitzroy, December 17th, 2008 – Up the Empire photos, Bon Savants photos, Ford & Fitzroy photos

-The Heavy, with Illinois, November 5th, 2008 – live review, The Heavy photos, Illinois photos

-Oakley Hall, with The Rosebuds, October 25th, 2008 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, Oakley Hall photos, The Rosebuds photos

-Bear Hands, with Sebastien Grainger, October 22nd, 2008 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, Bear Hands photos, Sebastien Grainger photos

-Land of Talk, September 11th, 2008 – live review, photos

-+/-, August 15th, 2008 – photos

-White Lies, August 5th, 2008 – photos

-Broken Social Scene, with Gentleman Reg, July 17th, 2008 – Broken Social Scene live review, Broken Social Scene photos, Gentleman Reg photos

-Snowden, with Colour Revolt, The Epochs and Bell, May 15th, 2008 – Snowden photos, Colour Revolt photos, The Epochs photos, Bell photos

-Jason Collett, with Paddy Casey and Tony Scherr, April 10th, 2008 – Jason Collett photos, Paddy Casey photos, Tony Scherr photos

-Dawn Landes, April 7th, 2008 – photos

-The Most Serene Republic, with Miracle Fortress and Liam Finn, March 21st, 2008 – The Most Serene Republic live review, The Most Serene Republic photos, Miracle Fortress photos, Liam Finn photos

-The Ting Tings, March 18th, 2008 – photos

-The Epochs, February 12th, 2008 – live review, photos

-The Felice Brothers, with A.A. Bondy, February 1st, 2008 – The Felice Brothers photos, A.A. Bondy photos

-The Most Serene Republic, December 14th, 2007 – photos

-Tulsa, November 13th, 2007 – photos

-Figurines, November 1st, 2007 – photos

-The Walkmen, with The Broken West, The Dead Trees, iLIKETRAiNS, The Shaky Hands, and Bon Savants, October 19th, 2007 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, The Walkmen photos , The Broken West photos, The Dead Trees photos, iLIKETRAiNS photos, The Shaky Hands photos, Bon Savants photos

-Sam Champion, with The Jealous Girlfriends, September 15th, 2007 – Sam Champion photos, The Jealous Girlfriends photos

-Los Campesinos!, August 9th, 2007 – live review, photos

-Frankpollis, July 31st, 2007 – live review, photos

-Apostle of Hustle, June 11th, 2007 – live review, photos

-The Harlem Shakes, with Ladyhawk, May 20th, 2007 – Harlem Shakes photos, Ladyhawk photos

-Fields, May 19th, 2007 – live review, photos

-Cloud Cult, with Young Galaxy, April 15th, 2007 – Young Galaxy live review, Cloud Cult photos, Young Galaxy photos

-Land of Talk, April 5th, 2007 – live review, photos

-The Autumn Defense, March 19th, 2007 – live review, photos

-Patrick Watson, March 1st, 2007 – live review, photos

-The Early Years, January 25th, 2007 – photos

Chris Collingwood

Mercury Lounge

Click here for the venue’s website

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Venue Reviews

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