Elephant Stone at Mercury Lounge event image
Mercury Lounge, Lower East Side, Manhattan

Elephant Stone at Mercury Lounge

Montreal psych-rockers Elephant Stone swirl sitar into fuzzed-out grooves at Mercury Lounge, the LES's essential 250-cap rock room.

Wikimedia Commons image; CC BY-SA 3.0; attribution: This photo was taken by participant/team Team Dustizeff as part of the Commons:Wikis Take Manhattan project on Octobe...; source page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WSTM_Team_Dustizeff_0082.jpg

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Psych rockLES

Rishi Dhir is one of the only frontmen in rock who genuinely shreds on sitar, and hearing it woven through fuzz-pedal grooves in a room as small as Mercury Lounge is a trip in the best way. The LES institution's shoebox scale puts you close enough to watch the instrument-swapping up close. If psych, shoegaze or '60s raga-rock is your lane, this punches far above its ticket price.

What to expect

A tightly packed back room with the band a few feet away, kaleidoscopic songs that stretch into extended raga passages, and a crowd of psych devotees. Mercury Lounge runs efficient set times posted at the door; the bar up front is a good staging area between openers.

Good to know

  • F to Second Av — the venue is on East Houston at Essex
  • Small standing room; arrive at set time posted to get near the stage
  • 21+ typically; bring ID
  • The LES around Houston is packed with late-night food options after
  • Earplugs recommended — the small room runs loud

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Common questions

What does Elephant Stone sound like?

Psychedelic rock threaded with Indian classical influences — sitar-led melodies over fuzzy, danceable rhythm-section grooves.

How early should I arrive?

Mercury Lounge posts set times; arriving 20-30 minutes before the headliner usually secures a decent spot.