Mercury Lounge is located on 217 East Houston Street, Manhattan, on the corner of A Avenue and Houston.  It is part of the ‘Bowery Presents’ circle of venues, along with the Bowery Ballroom, Music Hall in Williamsburg, and Terminal 5, and from noon to seven PM, Monday-Saturday, serves as the box office for all four places (as well as for other Bowery Presents events, such as those at Webster Hall).  It lies within the circle of venues in the Bowery (roughly between Houston, A, Delancey Street, and Bowery), which includes Piano’s, The Cake Shop, The Living Room, Arlene’s Grocery, Crash Mansion, Rockwood Music Hall and others (as well as Bowery Ballroom).

Mercury Lounge has a long, tight squeeze of a bar at the front, with the stage and audience area in a separate room, past the bar.  While the smallest of the Bowery Presents venues, the stage area is still a bit larger than most other venues in the Bowery, and generally a step up in terms of ‘class’, placing it nicely between the two sets of locations.  The cushioned booth-couches that line both walls are a little awkward, but do mean that people aren’t pushed right up against the walls.  As in size, in price, Mercury Lounge lies between the bigger Bowery Presents venues as the smaller Bowery locals, in the eight-to-twelve dollar range.

Thanks to the size and Bowery Presents hook, the headliners at Mercury Lounge are invariably a form of indie-something, and usually have an album or two under their belts.  Often, however, it can be hard to tell who the headliner is, as the scheduling tends much more to the ‘on the hour’ than ‘headliner-opener’, with each band given the same time and the acts not necessarily getting bigger as the night goes on.  This means the band you’re there to see might come on first, last, or anywhere in between – Los Campesinos! played Mercury Lounge on back-to-back nights, once as the first band, the other as the last.  This tendency is only exacerbated by the habit of labels to use a Mercury Lounge show as an almost CMJ/SXSW-like ‘showcase’, where an act plays to a much more industry crowd, and, especially on work nights, they don’t want to wait until eleven PM or midnight.  You do get more bands than at many other venues, often four or five, though they might have little to do with one another.  But, punching above its weight in acts – both in size and number – and below its weight in cost (including beer), Mercury Lounge gives strong value.

Capacity: 250

21+

Address:

217 East Houston Street (On the Corner of A Avenue and Houston)

By Subway:

F or V to 2nd Avenue – walk 2 blocks east on South side of Houston
J or M to Delancey/Essex – walk 3 blocks north on West side of Essex

QRO Coverage:

-Surfer Blood, February 28th, 2010 - photos

-Freelance Whales, with Animal Tropical, Still Life Still, January 20th, 2010 - Still Life Still life review, Freelance Whales photos, Animal Tropical photos, Still Life Still photos

-Savoir Adore, with Mon Khmer, Cruel Black Dove, January 14th, 2010 - Savoir Adore live review, Savoir Adore photos, Mon Khmer photos, Cruel Black Dove photos

-Land of Talk, with Surprise Me Mr. Davis, November 21st, 2009 - Land of Talk live review, Land of Talk photos, Surprise Me Mr. Davis photos

-Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, with These United States, November 20th, 2009 - These United States live review, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson photos, These United States photos

-The Dig, with Locksley, November 19th, 2009 - The Dig live review, The Dig photos, Locksley photos

-The Dig, with Ravens & Chimes, October 23rd, 2009 (CMJ) - CMJ coverage, The Dig photos, Ravens & Chimes photos

-Ambulance LTD, with Alec Ounsworth, Patrick Watson and JBM, October 22nd, 2009 (CMJ) - CMJ coverage, Ambulance LTD photos, Alec Ounsworth photos, Patrick Watson photos, JBM photos

-The xx, October 21st, 2009 (CMJ) - CMJ coverage, photos

-Jupiter One, October 20th, 2009 (CMJ) - CMJ coverage, photos

-The Black Hollies, September 5th, 2009 - live review, photos

-Art Brut, with Jeffrey Lewis and Keith Top of the Pops, June 5th, 2009 - Art Brut photos, Jeffrey Lewis photos, Keith Top of the Pops photos

-Kiss Kiss, with Fake Problems, July 1st, 2009 - Kiss Kiss photos, Fake Problems photos

-Illinois, with Holly Miranda and Kenan Bell, May 5th, 2009 - Illinois photos, Holly Miranda photos, Kenan Bell photos

-The Boxer Rebellion, April 24th, 2009 - live review, photos

-Handsome Furs, with Iran, March 6th, 2009 - Iran live review, Handsome Furs photos, Iran photos

-Manchester Orchestra, March 4th, 2009 - live review, photos

-White Rabbits, with Bell, February 19th, 2009 - White Rabbits live review, White Rabbits photos, Bell photos

-The Morning After Girls, January 27th, 2009 - live review, photos

-The Picture, January 24th, 2009 - live review, photos

-Erika Wennerstrom (of Heartless Bastards), January 12th, 2009 - photos

-Up the Empire, with Bon Savants and Ford & Fitzroy, December 17th, 2008 - Up the Empire photos, Bon Savants photos, Ford & Fitzroy photos

-The Heavy, with Illinois, November 5th, 2008 - live review, The Heavy photos, Illinois photos

-Oakley Hall, with The Rosebuds, October 25th, 2008 (CMJ) - CMJ coverage, Oakley Hall photos, The Rosebuds photos

-Bear Hands, with Sebastien Grainger, October 22nd, 2008 (CMJ) - CMJ coverage, Bear Hands photos, Sebastien Grainger photos

-Land of Talk, September 11th, 2008 - live review, photos

-+/-, August 15th, 2008 - photos

-White Lies, August 5th, 2008 - photos  

-Broken Social Scene, with Gentleman Reg, July 17th, 2008 - Broken Social Scene live review, Broken Social Scene photos, Gentleman Reg photos  

-Snowden, with Colour Revolt, The Epochs and Bell, May 15th, 2008 - Snowden photos, Colour Revolt photos, The Epochs photos, Bell photos  

-Jason Collett, with Paddy Casey and Tony Scherr, April 10th, 2008 - Jason Collett photos, Paddy Casey photos, Tony Scherr photos

-Dawn Landes, April 7th, 2008 - photos  

-The Most Serene Republic, with Miracle Fortress and Liam Finn, March 21st, 2008 - The Most Serene Republic live review, The Most Serene Republic photos, Miracle Fortress photos, Liam Finn photos

-The Ting Tings, March 18th, 2008 - photos  

-The Epochs, February 12th, 2008 - live review, photos  

-The Felice Brothers, with A.A. Bondy, February 1st, 2008 - The Felice Brothers photos, A.A. Bondy photos

-The Most Serene Republic, December 14th, 2007 – photos

-Tulsa, November 13th, 2007 – photos

-Figurines, November 1st, 2007 – photos

-The Walkmen, with The Broken West, The Dead Trees, iLIKETRAiNS, The Shaky Hands, and Bon Savants, October 19th, 2007 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, The Walkmen photos , The Broken West photos, The Dead Trees photos, iLIKETRAiNS photos, The Shaky Hands photos, Bon Savants photos

-Sam Champion, with The Jealous Girlfriends, September 15th, 2007 – Sam Champion photos, The Jealous Girlfriends photos

-Los Campesinos!, August 9th, 2007 – live review, photos

-Frankpollis, July 31st, 2007 – live review, photos

-Apostle of Hustle, June 11th, 2007 – live review, photos

-The Harlem Shakes, with Ladyhawk, May 20th, 2007 – Harlem Shakes photos, Ladyhawk photos  

-Fields, May 19th, 2007 – live review, photos

-Cloud Cult, with Young Galaxy, April 15th, 2007 – Young Galaxy live review, Cloud Cult photos, Young Galaxy photos

-Land of Talk, April 5th, 2007 – live review, photos

-The Autumn Defense, March 19th, 2007 – live review, photos

-Patrick Watson, March 1st, 2007 – live review, photos

-The Early Years, January 25th, 2007 – photos

Live Videos:

Surfer Blood - "Swim", New York, NY, 2/28/10
Freelance Whales - "The Great Estates", New York, NY, 1/20/10
Savoir Adore - "Transylvanian Candy Patrol", New York, NY, 1/14/10
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - "Always an Anchor", New York, NY, 11/20/09
These United States - "Everything Touches Everything", New York, NY, 11/20/09
The Dig - "Shadow", New York, NY, 11/19/09
The Dig - "She's Gonna Kill That Boy", New York, NY, 11/19/09
The Black Hollies - "Gloomy Monday Morning", New York, NY, 9/5/09
The Black Hollies - "Number 10 Girl", New York, NY, 9/5/09
The Black Hollies - "When You're Not There", New York, NY, 9/5/09
Art Brut - "Post-Soothin Out", New York, NY, 6/5/09
Art Brut - "Formed a Band", New York, NY, 6/5/09
Art Brut - "DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshakes", New York, NY, 6/5/09
Art Brut - "Emily Kane", New York, NY, 6/5/09
Art Brut - "St. Pauli", New York, NY, 6/5/09
Art Brut - "Modern Art", New York, NY, 6/5/09
Art Brut - "My Little Brother", New York, NY, 6/5/09
Illinois - "Nosebleed", New York, NY, 5/5/09
Illinois - "Hang On", New York, NY, 5/5/09
Holly Miranda - "Sleep On Fire", New York, NY, 5/5/09
Holly Miranda - "Slow Burn", New York, NY, 5/5/09
Kenan Bell - "Good Day", New York, NY, 5/5/09
The Boxer Rebellion - "Watermelon", New York, NY, 4/24/09
The Boxer Rebellion - "Soviets", New York, NY, 4/24/09
The Boxer Rebellion - "Evacuate", New York, NY, 4/24/09
The Boxer Rebellion - "Lay Me Down", New York, NY, 4/24/09
White Rabbits - "While We Go Dancing", New York, NY, 2/19/09
White Rabbits - "Kid On My Shoulders", New York, NY, 2/19/09
White Rabbits - "The Plot", New York, NY, 2/19/09
White Rabbits - "Lionesse", New York, NY, 2/19/09
The Morning After Girls - "Chasing Us Under", New York, NY, 1/27/09
The Morning After Girls - "There's a Taking", New York, NY, 1/27/09
The Morning After Girls - "Alone", New York, NY, 1/27/09
The Picture - "Blind Side", New York, NY, 1/24/09
The Picture - "Deer Crossing", New York, NY, 1/24/09
The Picture - "Tucked In Corners", New York, NY, 1/24/09
Up the Empire - "Reason Why It's On", New York, NY, 12/17/08
Bon Savants - "Between the Moon and the Ocean", New York, NY, 12/17/08
Bon Savants - "Angel", New York, NY, 12/17/08
Bon Savants - "Destroyer", New York, NY, 12/17/08
Tia of Bon Savants telling a dirty joke, New York, NY, 12/17/08
Ford & Fitzroy - "We Are Oak", New York, NY, 12/17/08
The Heavy - "Colleen", New York, NY, 11/5/08
The Heavy - "That Kind of Man", New York, NY, 11/5/08
Illinois - "Hang-On", New York, NY, 11/5/08
Illinois - "Old Saloon", New York, NY, 11/5/08
Illinois - "Nosebleed", New York, NY, 11/5/08
Land of Talk - "Breaxxbaxx", New York, NY, 9/11/08
Land of Talk - "It's Okay", New York, NY, 9/11/08
Land of Talk - "Speak To Me Bones", New York, NY, 9/11/08
Land of Talk - "Give Me Back My Heart Attack", New York, NY, 9/11/08
+/- - "One Day You'll Be There", New York, NY, 8/15/08
Broken Social Scene - "Fire Eyed Boy", New York, NY, 7/17/08
Gentleman Reg - "Rewind", New York, NY, 7/17/08
Gentleman Reg - "Boyfriend Song", New York, NY, 7/17/08
Snowden - "Innocent Heathen", New York, NY, 5/15/08
Snowden - "Between the Rent and Me", New York, NY, 5/15/08
Snowden - "Anti-Anti", New York, NY, 5/15/08
Snowden - "Lemon Peel", New York, NY, 5/15/08
Colour Revolt - "Swamp", New York, NY, 5/15/08
The Epochs - "Giving Tree", New York, NY, 5/15/08
The Epochs - "Head in the Fire", New York, NY, 5/15/08
Jason Collett - "Charlyn, Angel of Kensington", New York, NY, 4/10/08
Jason Collett - "Roll On Oblivion", New York, NY, 4/10/08
Jason Collett - "Henry's Song", New York, NY, 4/10/08
Jason Collett - "Sorry Lori", New York, NY, 4/10/08
Paddy Casey - "Fear", New York, NY, 4/10/08
Paddy Casey - "Whatever Gets You True", New York, NY, 4/10/08
Dawn Landes - "Bodyguard", New York, NY, 4/7/08
Dawn Landes - "Picture Show", New York, NY, 4/7/08
The Most Serene Republic - "Career In Shaping Clay", New York, NY, 3/21/08
The Most Serene Republic - "Why So Looking Back", New York, NY, 3/21/08
The Most Serene Republic - "Career In Shaping Clay", New York, NY, 3/21/08
Miracle Fortress - untitled new song, New York, NY, 3/21/08
The Ting Tings - "That's Not My Name", New York, NY, 3/18/08
The Ting Tings - "Shut Up And Let Me Go", New York, NY, 3/18/08
The Epochs - "Mouths to Feed", New York, NY, 2/12/08
The Felice Brothers - "I'm Saved", New York, NY, 2/1/08
Figurines - "Let's Head Out", New York, NY, 11/1/07