Bar Matchless closed early in January ’18.
Bar Matchless is located on 557 Manhattan Avenue, at the corner of Manhattan and Driggs Avenue. It is two blocks west of Warsaw, southeast of Greenpoint’s late Europa and the late Studio B, and to the northeast of Williamsburg venues such as Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bowl, Pete’s Candy Store, and Union Pool, separated by McCarren Park.
Bar Matchless is a bar first and foremost, a typical mix of local and hipster. One enters through the bar to get to the music space, which is in the back (down Driggs), behind the outdoor area of the bar. There is a cover for the back area, but never very much. Upon entering, there is a second small bar to the left, stage to the far right, with bench seating built into both the near and far wall. The space was previously a garage – the wall separating the music space and the outside bar area is a garage door.
For such a small, low-rent place, the sound is better than you’d expect, but the lighting is quite poor. However, the bar right near by (where the drinks are relatively cheap) and the built-in seating are very nice touches. If you’re gonna see your friend’s Brooklyn band in a place, you could do worse – a lot worse.
Capacity: 60
21+
Address:
557 Manhattan Avenue, at the corner of Manhattan and Driggs Avenue
By Subway:
G to Nassau Avenue – walk one block south on west side of Manhattan Avenue
L to Bedford Avenue – walk seven blocks northeast on west side of Driggs Avenue, through McCarren Park
L to Lorimer Street – walk eight blocks north on Lorimer Street, beneath Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and through McCarren Park, one block northeast on north side of Driggs Avenue
QRO Coverage:
-Kissem, with Modern Diet and Coran Stetter, October 25th, 2014 (CMJ) – Kissem photos, Modern Diet photos, Coran Stetter photos
-Corrupt Autopilot, with Slang King and Libel, September 5th, 2014 – Corrupt Autopilot photos, Slang King photos, Libel photos
-Crazy Pills, with The Living Kills, June 15th, 2014 (Northside) – Northside coverage, Crazy Pills photos, The Living Kills photos
-Clouder, with MiniBoone, Old Monk, The Meaning of Life, Haybaby, and The Planes, June 14th, 2014 (Northside) – Northside coverage, MiniBoone photos, Old Monk photos, The Meaning of Life photos, Haybaby photos, The Planes photos
-Ugly, Ugly Words, with Courtesy Tier, January 3rd, 2013 – Ugly, Ugly Words photos, Courtesy Tier photos
-Outernational, with Donna Missal, Peck, and Courtesy Tier, June 16th, 2013 (Northside) – Northside coverage, Outernational photos, Donna Missal photos, Peck photos, Courtesy Tier photos
-ARMS, with Ravens & Chimes, June 15th, 2013 (Northside) – Northside coverage, ARMS photos, Ravens & Chimes photos
-The Planes, with Quiet Loudly, The Beets, pow wow!, and Crazy Pills, June 14th, 2013 (Northside) – Northside coverage, The Planes photos, Quiet Loudly photos, The Beets photos, pow wow! photos, Crazy Pills photos
-Marie Stella, with Beat Radio, June 18th, 2011 (Northside) – Northside coverage, Marie Stella photos, Beat Radio photos
-Thieving Irons, with MiniBoone, P.S. I Love You, Boy Without God, and Shark?, June 27th, 2010 (QRO/Ampeater Northside showcase) – Northside coverage, Thieving Irons photos, MiniBoone photos, P.S. I Love You photos, Boy Without God photos, Shark? photos
