Irving Plaza

Irving Plaza closed in late 2019 for renovations, which was extended due to the COVID pandemic, but reopened in the late summer of 2021 at 1200 capacity, including improved...
Irving Plaza

Irving Plaza

We Are Scientists

Irving Plaza closed in late 2019 for renovations, which was extended due to the COVID pandemic, but reopened in the late summer of 2021 at 1200 capacity, including improved sound, lighting, and sightlines, and upstairs VIP lounge with private bar and balcony level boxes.

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 ‘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).  However, Live Nation changed the name back to ‘Irving Plaza’, effective 6/23/10.  Live Nation did a similar thing when it took over now Gramercy Theatre just to the northwest, renaming it ‘Blender Theater at Gramercy’, and that ended when corporate sponsor Blender folded.  Starting just before 2018, Irving Plaza joined with fellow Live Nation venues Bowery Ballroom, Gramercy Theatre, Mercury Lounge, and Warsaw as ‘Mercury East Presents’.

Like nearby Webster Hall to the south and the late Highline Ballroom directly to the west, the stage floor at Irving Plaza 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.  To the house-right of the stage floor, there is a large raised & cordoned-off section for VIP’s and equipment; between that and the entrance to the house-left, the front half of the stage floor can get quite cramped, and is difficult to sneak up its side.  Also like Webster and Highline, there is a balcony section that rings the stage floor, with a much less packed bar in the back, but apparently the balcony itself is reserved for VIP’s, paid upgrades, and disabled viewers.  This creates even more of a crush on the regular stage floor, as something like a third of the viewing area seems reserved (paying ticket holders can feel like part of the 99%…).  Lying just a block away from Union Square makes Irving Plaza 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.

Irving Plaza seems to favor an older set of acts, even with alternative bands.  The acts do tend more towards the straight-up ‘rock’, with younger groups tending more towards the excited emo-punk.  Even the younger alt-rock groups that play there seem to be one album after their big hit.  There’s no taps, but the place does sell cans, up to and including 25 ounce Bud Lights (though dollar-for-ounce, they’re more expensive than the smaller 18 ounce Buds), along with its array of mixed drinks.  The LiveNation money behind it has given it a video system very strong for its size (to watch when you can’t get into the reserved spaces or the packed pit).  The security staff is vigilant and effective – actually enforcing the ban on such things as video and SLR cameras, not to mention reserved/VIP areas – but not un-polite.  An interesting, and accessible, if somewhat mature and segregated, venue.

Capacity: 1000

all ages

Address:

17 Irving Place (Corner of East 15th Street and Irving Place)

By Subway:

L, N, Q, R, 4, 5, & 6 trains to Union Square – walk 1 block east on North side of 15th Street, turn left
L train to 3rd Avenue – walk 2 blocks wast on 14th Street, walk 1 block north on West side of Irving Place
F train 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:

-Yoke Lore, August 23rd, 2023 – photos

-Joseph, June 22nd, 2023 – photos

-Colony House, March 7th, 2023 – photos

-MUNA, October 2nd, 2022 – MUNA photos, Meet Me @ The Altar photos

-Prateek Kuhad, June 28th, 2022 – photos

-Relient K, March 18th, 2022 – photos

-Finneas, with marinelli, November 17th, 2021 – Finneas photos, marinelli photos

-Cafe Tacvba, November 2nd, 2021 – photos

-Robert Gordon, with Electrajets, The Trash Bags, Beechwood, and The Advertisers, July 1st, 2019 (Irving Plaza Appreciation Night) – Robert Gordon photos, Electrajets photos, The Trash Bags photos, Beechwood photos, The Advertisers photos

-Perturbator, with GosT and Destryur, May 16th, 2019 – Perturbator photos, GosT photos, Destryur photos

-White Lies, May 2nd, 2019 – photos

-Ministry, with Carpenter Brut and Alien Weaponry, December 7th, 2018 – Ministry live review, Ministry photos, Carpenter Brut photos, Alien Weaponry photos

-Meat Beat Manifesto, with C-Tec, Author & Punisher, Hellbent, Continues, and Winkie, September 14th, 2018 (Cold Waves) – Meat Beat Manifesto photos, C-Tec photos, Author & Punisher photos, Hellbent photos, Continues photos, Winkie photos

-OHGR, with Chemlab, Lead Into Gold, Cocksure, Statiqbloom, and Omniflux, September 13th, 2018 (Cold Waves) – OHGR photos, Chemlab photos, Lead Into Gold photos, Cocksure photos, Statiqbloom photos, Omniflux photos

-Editors, with Heaven, May 15th, 2018 – Editors live review, Editors photos, Heaven photos

-Kate Nash, May 2nd, 2018 – live review, photos

-Timeflies, March 28th, 2018 – photos

-‘Celebrating David Bowie’, February 12th, 2018 – live review, photos

-The National, January 25th, 2018 (Citi Sound Vault) – live review

-LANY, October 14th, 2017 – photos

-Stereophonics, September 5th, 2017 – live review, photos

-Everclear, with Vertical Horizon and Fastball, June 6th, 2017 – Fastball live review, Everclear photos, Vertical Horizon photos, Fastball photos

-Warpaint, June 3rd, 2017 – live review

-Tove Lo, with Tkay Maidza, June 1st, 2017 – Tove Lo live review, Tove Lo photos, Tkay Maidza photos

-Old 97’s, with Nicole Atkins, May 6th, 2017 – Nicole Atkins live review, Old 97’s photos, Nicole Atkins photos

-Biffy Clyro, April 13th, 2017 – photos

-Hippo Campus, March 31st, 2017 – photos

-The Band Perry, March 7th, 2017 (pop-up show) – photos

-Against the Current, with CRUISR, January 13th, 2017 – Against the Current photos, CRUISR photos

-Dinosaur Jr, December 1st, 2016 – live review, photos

-The Sounds, November 23rd, 2016 – photos

-Kaleo, October 7th, 2016 – photos

-KT Tunstall, September 19th, 2016 – photos

-Old 97’s, with Heartless Bastards, May 12th, 2016 – Old 97’s photos, Heartless Bastards photos

-We Are Scientists, May 11th, 2016 – live review, photos

-St. Lucia, with Pure Bathing Culture, May 4th, 2016 – St. Lucia photos, Pure Bathing Culture photos

-AWOLNATION, May 3rd, 2016 – photos

-The Darkness, May 2nd, 2016 – photos

-The Joy Formidable, April 14th, 2016 – live review, photos

-Savages, March 28th, 2016 – photos

-Bloc Party, March 16th, 2016 – photos

-Animal Collective, with RatKing, February 24th, 2016 – Animal Collective photos, RatKing photos

-Unknown Mortal Orchestra, with Lower Dens, February 19th, 2016 – Unknown Mortal Orchestra photos, Lower Dens photos

-Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, with Skinny Lister, September 28th, 2015 – Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls photos, Skinny Lister photos

-Ride, September 21st, 2015 – photos

-Jamey Johnson, September 15th, 2015 – photos

-AWOLNATION, June 27th, 2015 – photos

-Kaiser Chiefs, with Priory, May 13th, 2015 – Kaiser Chiefs photos, Priory photos

-Gang of Four, with Public Access TV, March 7th, 2015 – Gang of Four photos, Public Access TV photos

-Jukebox the Ghost, with Little Daylight, February 28th, 2015 – Jukebox the Ghost photos, Little Daylight photos

-Kongos, with Sir Sly, February 15th, 2015 – Kongos photos, Sir Sly photos

-Wild Feathers, November 21st, 2014 – photos

-Peter Hook & The Light, November 7th, 2014 – photos

-Smallpools, with Magic Man and WATERS, October 30th, 2014 – Smallpools photos, Magic Man photos, WATERS photos

-Lights, October 29th, 2014 – photos

-Gerard Way, with The Eeries, October 20th, 2014 – Gerard Way photos, The Eeries photos

-You Me At Six, with Young Guns, October 19th, 2014 – You Me At Six photos, Young Guns photos

-The Orwells, with SKATERS, October 15th, 2014 – The Orwells photos, SKATERS photos

-Joywave, October 9th, 2014 – photos

-Metronomy, September 18th, 2014 – photos

-Iggy Azalea, May 5th, 2014 – live review, photos

-Riff Raff, April 21st, 2014 – live review

-The Ataris, with Authority Zero, March 20th, 2014 – The Ataris photos, Authority Zero photos

-Twin Shadow (DJ set), DIIV, Guards, and Eiko Hara, February 20th, 2014 (‘Painted Black II’) – live review, Twin Shadow photos, DIIV photos, Guards photos, Eiko Hara photos

-Charli XCX, with Kitten and Liz, November 13th, 2013 – live review, Charli XCX photos, Kitten photos, Liz photos

-Jessie Ware, with Mikky Ekko, November 4th, 2013 – Jessie Ware photos, Mikky Ekko photos

-Johnny Marr, May 2nd, 2013 – photos

-The Presidents of the United States of America, with Eternal Summers and pow wow!, April 15th, 2013 – The Presidents of the United States of America photos, Eternal Summers photos, pow wow! photos

-Blonde Redhead, with Beach Fossils, December 31st, 2012 – Blonde Redhead photos, Beach Fossils photos

-Delta Spirit, with JEFF The Brotherhood, November 27th, 2012 – Delta Spirit photos, JEFF The Brotherhood photos

-GZA playing Wu-Tang Clan’s Liquid Swords, with Bear Hands and Killer Mike, October 18th, 2012 (CMJ) – GZA photos, Bear Hands photos, Killer Mike photos

-The Heavy, with The Skins, August 30th, 2012 – The Heavy photos, The Skins photos

-El-P, with Killer Mike and mr. muthafuckin eXquire, July 13th, 2012 – El-P photos, Killer Mike photos, mr. muthafuckin eXquire photos

-The Dandy Warhols, June 5th, 2012 – photos

-Various artists, including Nicole Atkins, Cory Chisel, Christopher Chu (of POP ETC), Anthony Ellis (of Five O’Clock Heroes), Will Forte, Parker Gispert (of The Whigs), Griffin & Taylor Goldsmith (of Dawes), Adam Green, Adriel Harris, Mikki James, Sammy James Jr. (of The Mooney Suzuki), Alex Levy, Justin Long, Jesse Malin, Ryan Miller (of Guster), Fabrizio Moretti (of The Strokes), Jody Porter (of Fountains of Wayne, Austin Scaggs, Steve Schlitz (of Hurricane Bells & Longwave), Regina Spektor, Peter Erison Stakee (of Alberta Cross), Jason Sudeikis, Ben Trokan (of Robbers On High Street), Matt Vasquez (of Delta Spirit), and Todd Youth, with Cabin Down Below Band, May 25th, 2012 (DylanFest) – photos

-Star Slinger, May 9th, 2012 – photos

-The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, with Vacationer, January 31st, 2012 – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour live review, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour photos, Vacationer photos

-Architecture in Helsinki, with DOM and Lo-Fi-Fnk, November 18th, 2011 – Architecture in Helsinki photos, DOM photos, Lo-Fi-Fnk photos

-X, September 30th, 2011 – photos

-OMD, with Washington, September 20th, 2011 – OMD photos, Washington photos

-Echo & The Bunnymen, May 14th, 2011 – photos

-Yelle, with French Horn Rebellion, April 30th, 2011 – Yelle photos, French Horn Rebellion photos

-Pendulum, with Innerpartysystem, February 5th, 2011 – Pendulum live review, Pendulum photos, Innerpartysystem photos

-DJ Shadow, with Pigeon John, November 15th, 2010 – Pigeon John live review, DJ Shadow photos, Pigeon John photos

-Dresden Dolls, October 31st, 2010 – photos

-Puffy Amiyumi, with Boom Boom Satellites, October 10th, 2010 – Puffy Amiyumi photos, Boom Boom Satellites photos

-Tim Barry, with Rival Schools, June 15th, 2010 – Tim Barry photos, Rival Schools photos

-Los Campesinos!, with Cymbals Eat Guitars, April 26th, 2010 – Los Campesinos! photos, Cymbals Eat Guitars photos

-Ladyhawke, with Semi-Precious Weapons, Kat DeLuna, Little Boots & FrankMusik, September 16th, 2009 (Perez Hilton Presents Tour) – live review, Ladyhawke photos, Semi-Precious Weapons photos, Kat DeLuna photos, Little Boots photos, FrankMusik photos

-We Are Scientists, with Mobius Band, November 22nd, 2008 – We Are Scientists live review, We Are Scientists photos, Mobius Band photos

-Wire, October 9th, 2008 – photos

-Tapes ‘n Tapes, April 18th, 2008 – photos

-Bob Mould Band, with Halou, March 13th, 2008 – Bob Mould Band live review, Bob Mould Band 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

Semi-Precious Weapons

Irving Plaza

Click above for the venue’s website

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Venue Reviews

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