Mercury Lounge's back room holds about 250 people and has been the first real New York stage for an absurd number of bands - the Strokes, Interpol, the Killers - which makes a four-band local bill here a genuinely good bet rather than a gamble. An early door means you can see all four and still have a night afterwards. This is the cheapest way to be in the room before anyone else knows the name, which is the whole point of the Lower East Side.
What to expect
You enter through a front bar and pass into a small, dark back room with a low stage and standing floor. Four short sets run back to back with quick changeovers, so the whole bill moves fast. Expect a scene crowd that rotates as each band's friends arrive and leave.
Good to know
- The F to Second Avenue is a block away; the J, M and Z at Essex are close too
- The early door means you can catch the whole bill and still go elsewhere after
- The room is standing only with no seating in the back space
- It is 21-plus with ID checked at the front bar
- The front bar is a good place to wait between sets
- Houston Street food nearby stays open late
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Common questions
How big is Mercury Lounge?
About 250 capacity in the back performance room, making it one of the city's classic small clubs.
Is it standing room?
Yes, the back room is standing only.
How many bands play?
Four acts share this bill, with short sets and quick changeovers.
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