Concert Guru

Unassuming from the outside, Brooklyn Steel at first glance appears to be your typical former steel manufacturing plant.  However, upon entering the venue, which opened on April 6, 2017, one will find a state of the art 1,800 person capacity concert venue.  The interior decor is highly influenced by the original occupant, which helps to maintain its original industrial vibe.  Since its opening, Brooklyn Steel has hosted acts such as Jimmy Eat World, Modest Mouse, Interpol, Pixies, PJ Harvey, The Killers, and Dashboard Confessional.

Entering through the front of the building, you'll head to the left, the a quick right down a hallway containing the merch table and a small bar.  At the end of the hallway is a staircase that leads up to the balcony area, with a larger bar against the back wall.  A right at the bottom of this staircase leads to the main GA floor area, as well a slightly elevated viewing area, also with a larger bar located against the back wall.  Both the lower elevated viewing area and balcony are both horseshoe shaped.  Bathrooms are located in the back corners on either side of the bars on the main floor and balcony.  Though there might not be any food options here, the bars provide a sufficient choice of beverages.

 While Brooklyn Steel is pretty straight-forward with its layout and concept, it more than makes up for it with exceptional lighting and sound.  The sound quality in this venue is undoubtedly the best of any venue I've been to yet.  Crisp, clear, and LOUD.  The lighting, while not extravagant, is perfect for the size of the venue and the artist on stage.

Parking can be a challenge around the venue, as the nearest parking garage is a solid 10 minute, 1/2 mile walk away.  Street parking is the best option, if you're driving.  Mass transit is absolutely the best way to get to there, whether it be from within Brooklyn, or nearby Manhattan.  However, keep in mind that if you're traveling from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan to Brooklyn Steel (a solid 40-45 minute trip), the nearest subway station is a good 15 minute walk away, as is the MTA bus station.

Though it's not the easiest of venues to get to, it's without a doubt one of my favorites without question.  Between the aforementioned cool industrial vibe and the amazing sound quality, Brooklyn Steel is an awesome place to catch a show at a medium-sized venue.

*Guru Tip*:  There are a couple of nearby restaurants for a pre-show bite to eat, however, due to the venue's location in Brooklyn, options are limited.  Try to have a good meal before getting too far into Brooklyn, unless you're familiar with the area.

Scores

Getting There:  4/10

If you don't live in the NYC area, driving is probably your best option for getting to Brooklyn Steel.  However, as mentioned above, the nearest parking garage is a 15 minute walk way (use that SpotHero app!), and walking through this part of NYC may be intimidating to some people if you've never been here before.  Side of the street parking near the venue is your best option in this scenario.  Mass transit is also an option (both subway and MTA bus), however, the nearest stop is also a good 15 minute walk away.  Uber/Lyft is also a good option to back-pocket if all else fails.

Production Quality:  10/10

The lighting and sound systems are both top notch and I honestly could not find a fault with either of them.  The lighting is perfect through the venue, and the sound is clear, loud, and clean no matter where you stand.

Cleanliness:  10/10

Absolutely nothing to complain about when it comes to the cleanliness of the venue.  Plenty of refuse bins throughout, clean bathrooms and floors.

Staff:  10/10

While I didn't interact with too many staff members, the ones I did were perfectly helpful and knowledgeable.  Keep in mind that you are in NYC, so if staff members don't seem very talkative or are short and to the point, they're not being rude.  They're simply trying to do their jobs quickly and efficiently.  Just that typical NYC "attitude," so don't take it personally.

Food/Drink Options:  5/10

Unfortunately, there are no food options within the venue.  However, the bars are fully stocked with a wide selection of beverages, which is honestly really all you need in a venue of this size for 2-3 hours.

Other Amenities:  1/10

Really, there aren't any additional amenities to speak of at Brooklyn Steel, though you wouldn't really expect their to be any.  While I attend a show here a year after the venue opened, at the time there was no wifi, though that may have been changed by now.  However, even for being a steel and brick building, I had no cell signal issues inside.

Parking:  1/10

There is no on-site parking at the venue, so street parking is your best, and closest option.  There is a parking garage a 1/2 mile walk away, though others are a much farther trek.

Overall:  7/10

Brooklyn Steel itself is a fantastic venue to catch a show at, even with it's less than easy access.  Don't be put off by its physical façade.  What you'll find within the building is exceptional:  state of the art lighting and sound systems, clean from top to bottom, and a very cool industrial vibe.