Concert Guru

Opened in 2008, (Le) Poisson Rouge (abbreviated as LPR), located on Bleeker Street in the historic Greenwich Village area of NYC, is a small independent venue that has played host to acts big and small, from up-and-coming artists to the likes of Lady Gaga, Moby, Erykah Badu, Beck, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, and even Christina Aguilera.  With a maximum capacity of only 700, it LPR has a VERY intimate feel.  However, if you attend a sold out show here, it will be quite cramped, especially in the back GA standing room only area.

LPR is the literal definition of an "underground" venue, located literally underneath of a CVS store (the venue has it's own separate street level entrance next to the CVS).  Upon entering, you'll immediately head down a set of stairs that will lead you past an ante room with a bar for pre-show beverages (through it may not always be open) with a few high-top tables and chairs.  Passing through this bar area will lead you into the main venue, with another bar to you left and the stage to your right.  Also to the right, in front of the stage, is a floor area that, depending on the artists, can either be GA standing room only or set up with tables and chairs where light food items can be ordered/served.  Along the outer edge behind this area is a standing room only GA area, as well as a raised area in the corner with a couple of tables and more GA standing room only space.  Past the bar, in the back of the venue, are the bathrooms.  Be aware that all of the bathrooms are unisex, which can be off-putting to some to share a bathroom with the opposite sex.  If this is an issue, I'd advise finding a nearby bathroom before entering the venue.

While LPR isn't known for being a venue uber popular artists will perform at, they do occasionally get some fairly big names, especially up-and-comers, so sign up for the venue's mailing list to be the first to know when new shows are announced as they can and do sell out quickly.  Shows typically don't run later than 10-10:30 p.m., both due to curfews on certain nights and also due to late "clubbing shows" that are hosted on weekends starting at 11 p.m. right after another show has ended.  You will be asked not to linger inside too long after show because of this.

*Guru Tip*:  After the show, most people will hang out by the main entrance waiting for the artist to come out for a chance to meet them.  However, be aware that the stage door is located around the corner (just go around the corner past the CVS), and the artists will sometimes sneak out that way to avoid the large crowd at the main entrance.  The address on the stage door is not the same address as the venue, which may throw you off, but trust me, that is the stage door.  (I missed meeting Jeff Goldblum because I was thrown off by the address on those doors and instead stayed by the main entrance with the crowd.  Lesson learned.)

Scores

Getting There:  9/10

Another venue located in lower Manhattan, mass-transit is the best option for getting here.  Subway lines and bus stops are located within a short 5-10 minute walk of LPR, though if you're unfamiliar with the area, the streets in this neighborhood are not the straight-forward block style as the rest of Manhattan, so don't be afraid to break out maps on your phone with your GPS on to help you navigate the streets.  If you're coming into NYC via Grand Central Terminal, hop on the 6 train right inside of Grand Central and exit at Bleeker Street (approximately a 20 minute subway ride.)  Also, like all NYC venues, there is no dedicated parking for the venue, so use that SpotHero app to find nearby parking if you're driving.  As always, allow for extra time for traffic also when driving to/through lower Manhattan.

Production Quality:  7/10

While you wouldn't expect a venue of this size to have arena-level production quality, the lighting and sound are sufficient for what is offered.  However, during a sold out show when the artist is just chatting between songs, it can be a bit difficult to hear them.  Not sure if this is just a speaker volume issue or if a speaker upgrade might be helpful.

Cleanliness:  9/10

LPR is an incredibly clean venue, especially considering how cramped it can get during a sold out show.  The floors, bathrooms, and bars are absolutely clean all night.  Maybe just move the bus tubs that dirty glasses/plates/etc. go in somewhere other that at the ends of the bar to somewhere out of sight from the customers.

Staff:  9/10

Though I didn't necessarily interact with too many members of the staff, the few I did speak with were pleasant enough.  The servers for the seating area appeared to be very attentive and fast throughout the night.  Just keep in mind that if you're not used to it, there is always that little bit of misconstrued NYC "attitude".  Just roll with it.  No one is being rude to you, they're just trying to be efficient about doing their jobs.

Food/Drink Options:  4/10

While the bar(s) are plentifully stocked with a variety of drinks, the food options are quite limited.  Though, for being a such a small underground venue, there really isn't room for a kitchen anywhere anyway.  Definitely eat beforehand, either at a nearby restaurant (fair warning:  this is a pricey neighborhood) or somewhere in midtown before hopping on the subway.

Other Amenities:  3/10

The ante room before entering the main part of the venue is a nice touch that helps spread the crowd out a bit before the show, even when the bar itself isn't staffed and serving drinks.  Other than that, there aren't many amenities at LPR.  However, I was pleasantly surprised that, while wifi was available for free, I had a full 5G signal even being underneath of a building.

Parking:  1/10

Again, there is no on-site parking, so if you're driving, a nearby parking garage is your best bet.  (Use that SpotHero app.)

Overall:  9/10

Personally, I'm a big fan of LPR, even if it can be a bit of a hassle getting to.  It's a very cool little underground spot to catch some live music in an intimate setting.  Just a really nice place to kick back with a couple of drinks and listen to some music without dealing with the larger crowds at major venues.