Southpaw

01/23/2008 Posted by harlemviolette

was excited to see a concert on this venue, since it was nice place to meet up with a brooklyn buddy (i live in manhattan) but was completely disappointed and upset with experience i had here. arrived an hour early but still waited in line outside in JANUARY for almost 3 and a half hours. then waited for coat check for additional 30 minutes. show was not held for those still waiting outside. staff treated everyone horribly, but can see why considering how stressed they must have been. the stated capacity for the show was 350 but complete bag checks were done by the one bouncer while other patted saem people down. completely ridiculous process. i really wanted to like this place, but i would NEVER reccomend that anyone go there.

Pros: had great artist

Cons: horrible service, 4 hour wait

01/06/2008 Posted by kriscress

I haven't been to a show here, but heard about The Rub dance party (1st Saturday of every month) from friends. I decided to check it out and was REALLY dissapointed. It was supposed to be good+fun old school dance music from the 80's and 90's, but ended up being almost ALL house music - okay, with one Bel Biv Devoe and an Arrested Development every hour or something. I even made a request to the DJ for a little more old school stuff and he told me that there was no cover for tonight and if people didn't like what he was playing, they could go the [expletive] home. Then he actually grabbed the mic and said the same exact thing to everyone else. Ouch! Also, the crowd is SUPER young, so if you're over 22, you're going to feel like an oldie. It's really crowded and messy and not appealing enough for me to give it another try. Oh man, I'll never get that Saturday night back!

Pros: One night of free cover

Cons: DJ is sub-par, too crowded, VERY young crowd

09/23/2007 Posted by aw12345

excellent HIp-Hop-ol' skool , new skool , and every good mix in between. Only Catch...............FIRST SATURDAYS at "The Rub" party. DJ Ayres (Vassar Alum) is on point with his sultry grooves and mixes of everything from Tribe to T.I. Check it out! Park Slope heads don't know what they're missing when they take the train to NYC and the good stuff is right in their own backyard on 5th Avenue.

09/13/2006 Posted by angryjoe45

the space is decent, sound is not so hot. the booking leaves a lot to be desired. Drinks are too expensive.

Pros: it's near my house

Cons: not too many interesting events regularly

08/06/2006 Posted by captainfun

Believe it or not - I prefer seeing shows here over anywhere else I can think of. Southpaw seems to have the right amount of everything. The stage is awesome - the presentation is awesome. This place is big enough to never feel like you're suffocating...even on crowded nights. There's always someplace to escape to (especially now that their downstairs lounge is open). The sound is amazing and the vibe is amazing. The beers aren't too expensive - the covers are totally fair. The bands are great - they really know how to book this place. I find myself hopping on the train to Bklyn for Southpaw constantly now....I don't even think about it anymore.

Pros: great bands, great atmosphere, amazing sound

Cons: hard to park - but you don't need to drive here anyway - leave your stupid car at home

01/14/2003 Posted by KEAR

Southpaw is one of the most impressive spaces in the whole city, let alone Brooklyn. It is huge and very sleek on the inside, but the atmosphere is homey and inviting, the way a brooklyn bar should be. The sound was always crystal clear on the nights I've been there. They seem to be booking bigger bands as the weeks go by...the place is certainly worth checking out. The artwork above the bar is phenomenal, and the bartenders are super cool and down to earth. Cheap beers, pretty girls, good DJs...

Pros: great staff, amazing artwork, close to trains

Cons: hard to park

12/06/2002 Posted by sheepprofessor

Fix the damn sound! I like the space a lot, and the tiered seating with the little squat tables provides a nice Japanese effect. Good bar, good beers on tap, and a decidely non-cramped, non-squalid venue to see big-league bands in Brooklyn is great. But the sound blows. Tacking up a little bit of foam to combat the echo is neither time consuming nor expensive. The people who operate Southpaw have obviously put some time and thought into the operation. How they could overlook such a key detail is much beyond my reckoning.

Pros: nice space,, great bands, but

Cons: the, sound, sucks

11/06/2002 Posted by dading_dading

Brooklynites don't miss out. Now there is no reason to leave the borough! I love the fabulous atmosphere, music and service!!!! There is much flavor to be found.

Pros: Inexpensive, Trendy decor, Great Bartenders

Cons: Hard to park the car

09/18/2002 Posted by NYCornfed

How can a new live music venue have such a terible sound system? The WIDE open space needs softening so the treble doesn't bounce off the floors and walls and kill you! I love live music, but not against d.j.s or a loungey thing- still-I don't want to stare at a lone guy on stage?!@!!Get some real bartenders!Cute girl bartenders were huddled together ignoring us at the bar while they whispered. Am I in High School?

Pros: live music, pretty, large

Cons: terrible sound, cutesy bartenders

1 comments

08/08/2002 Posted by bklyndude

It's funny how 5th Avenue, and Smith Street have done everything they can to replicate the Williamsburg or SoHo look they think is so pretentious. This place rocks! Finally a true rock club. I haven't seen live music there yet, but if the vibe is as cool as it was on a Monday- (the music ranged from Blackalicious to Wilco!), I can't wait to be there when the amps are blasting, heads and bodies are bobbing as I watch a local band make good. I just hope the air headed barbie dolls and hipsters don't come take a great rock club and turn it into another fashion show hipster hangout for folks who listen to terrible club music.

Cons: Bad sign