|
Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza is located on 17 Irving Place, Manhattan, on the corner of East 15th Street and Irving Place, one block east of Union Square. It was originally just ‘Irving Plaza’, but after its takeover by Live Nation, it acquired the name ‘Fillmore East’ (later ‘Fillmore New York’) after the once-legendary New York City counterpart to San Francisco’s famed Fillmore West (the original Fillmore East was located at 2nd Avenue and 6th Street to the nearby southeast). Live Nation did a similar thing when it took over now Blender Theater at Gramercy just to the northwest. Lily Allen inaugurated the revamped venue on April 11th, 2007. Like nearby Webster Hall to the south and Highline Ballroom directly to the west, the stage floor at Fillmore New York is located up a flight of stairs. Bathrooms and a lounge area lay on the first floor, and the person distributing alcohol wristbands is in a corner at the foot of the stairs, rather easy to miss. The stage floor lies to the left of the stairs, with the bar at the back of the stage floor. Also like Webster and Highline, there is a balcony section that rings the stage floor. Lying just a block away from Union Square also makes Fillmore New York perhaps the easiest venue in the city to access by subway, given that eight different trains stop at Union Square, and eight more within just a few blocks to the west. Perhaps taking inspiration from its new name, Fillmore New York seems to favor an older set of acts, even with alternative bands: Frank Black, Bob Mould, and Dinosaur Jr. have all played there, as well as rock veterans like X and The New York Dolls. The acts do tend more towards the straight-up ‘rock’, with younger groups tending more towards the excited emo-punk, like Flogging Molly and the Take Action Tour. There’s no taps, but the place does sell cans, if at six dollars a pop (at least), along with its array of mixed drinks (and there are waitresses milling amongst the crowd, at least until things get too hectic up front). The security staff is vigilant and effective – actually enforcing the ban on such things as video and SLR cameras – but not un-polite. An interesting, and accessible, if slightly mature, venue. Capacity: 1000 all ages/wristband Address: 17 Irving Place (Corner of East 15th Street and Irving Place) By Subway: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R & W trains to Union Square - walk 1 block east on North side of 15th Street, turn left
F & V trains to 14th Street/6th Avenue – walk 4 blocks east, crossing Union Square Park, walk 1 block north
1, 2 & 3 trains to 14th Street – walk 5 blocks east, crossing Union Square Park, walk 1 block north
A, C & E trains to 14th Street/8th Avenue – walk 6 blocks east, crossing Union Square Park, walk 1 block north
QRO Coverage: -Tapes 'n Tapes, April 18, 2008 - photos -Bob Mould, with Halou, March 13th, 2008 – Bob Mould live review, Bob Mould photos, Halou photos -Flogging Molly, with Jesse Malin and Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, February 28th, 2008 – Flogging Molly photos, Jesse Malin photos, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band photos -Spank Rock, October 19th, 2007 (CMJ) - CMJ coverage, photos -Dinosaur Jr., June 6th, 2007 – photos -Mission of Burma, January 19th, 2007 – live review, photos 
Live Videos:
Bob Mould Band - "I Can't Help You Anymore", New York, NY, 3/13/08
Bob Mould Band - "Paralyzed", New York, NY, 3/13/08
Click here for the venue's website |
