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Categories: Music Venues, Lounges
Neighborhood: Gowanus9th St-4th Ave (F, M, R)
Smith-9th Sts (F, G)
Mon-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
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My friend introduced me to Allagash on tap at The Bell House -- great choice!
I love that they host Secret Science Club meetings and that they are on Foursquare (http://foursquare.com/...).
The bartenders are down-to-earth and nice. What's not to like?
Came back to the Bell House last Saturday for the 5th anniversary of the Wasabassco burlesque with my gf and a friend. The show was great, can't complain about that. What I want to complain about, however, is the organization of the event by Bell House:
1) There are two entrances to The Bell House: one to the bar, and a second one that leads directly to the will call/coat check area. For reasons I can't understand, all people on will call and people who wanted to buy tickets had to enter through the bar. As a result, there was a massive jam in front of the will call area between people already in line, people getting in line through the bar, and people who collected their tickets and were moving to the stage area. Why they didn't allow people on will call to form a line by the second entrance (like they did for the burlesque festival a few weeks ago, btw) is beyond me.
2) There were only two bartenders working the stage room. Two bartenders for about 300 patrons. As a result, you had to wait 10-15 minutes for a drink, and through the night the two bartenders grew considerably nervous, frustrated, and rude. And understandably so, I must add.
3) I had to go out a bit to walk my friend to the subway; on the way back to the stage the security guy didn't have the flashlight that allows you to see the special ink they use to mark your wrist at the entrance, and wouldn't let me in. What the fcuk was that?! I paid for the ticket, I have the effing ink mark on my wrist, and security don't let me back in because they don't have the flashlight that reveals the ink mark?! What kind of security serice is that?! Luckily I decided to wrestle my way through the bar (again!), and could get in from there.
I am glad Wasabassco moved to this venue, since it is larger that the previous one, and I will certainly come back here for more burlesque, but you guys at The Bell House need to get your act together for this kind of show. This kind of unprofessional, amateurish management would deserve less than 3 stars, but I'll give you a second chance.
I've been to this bar/performing space in the Gowanus a couple of times: the first time it was for a… Read more »
Where...the...heck...was I?!? We got off the subway to head to the second night of the NY Burlesque Festival, which was held at the Bell House. We walked down a long and rather creepy street full of nondescript warehouses. I watch enough horror flicks to know that this was not good. A loud and obnoxious little Asian girl walking down a dark and abandoned street in the middle of the night, on the way to a party, is always the first to go. Although, for once, I wasn't the only minority in our group...so I had a 25% chance of surviving if a homicidal maniac should leap out from the shadows to take vengeance for a dastardly crime that we committed to a schoolmate when we were 12 and was oh so clever in being able to hide it, that a team of cops couldn't figure it out.
Fortunately, nothing like that happened, because we turned the corner, and there was the Bell House! Yes! I live to Yelp yet another day.
We got there early and chilled in the "front room" of the Bell House. The bar is a nice open area, with good seating. I'm told that the selection of beer is pretty decent (not a beer drinker), although the selection of "house special mixed drinks" were pretty hilarious, as they were named after albums. Heh. Clever.
We get to the Will Call booth and get our tickets rather quickly. The guy running that booth has that ticket list memorized or something! WOOHOO! Later, when my husband arrived, the coat check girl was super nice about checking his 50000 pound dufflebag. I think I love these people!
I wasn't totally in love with the space where the stage was. While the stage was rather big, and the lighting and sound were great, the stage wasn't high enough so that you could see anything if you were more then 3 people deep. Also, the bar in that space was on a riser, and so naturally, everyone went to stand on the riser to watch the show - blocking access to the bar, making getting drinks near impossible.
Frustrated, I headed back out to the front bar in the other room, and was able to order drinks. The bartender chick was so awesome! I seriously heart all the staff here!
So, long and short - I love the Bell House. I love the staff at the Bell House. I loved the NYBF! Only thing I didn't like - was the actual space where the stage was. It might be fine for bands, but for performances where the visuals are everything, it was definitely lacking.
I had a great time here for the Eugene Mirman comedy fest.
It's a bit out of the way, but it's a nice venue!
I love seeing live music, but I had never seen a show at the Bell House before last weekend. This is one of the most intimate venues in NYC.
After taking the 4 to the F to Brooklyn, we arrived at TBH just as Exene Cervenka was starting to play a 45-minute set with members of Dead Rock West. It was all part of Bloodshot Records' 15th anniversary party.
Exene, a legend and founding member of the band X, introduced songs from her new solo album, much of which deals with her fight against MS. The music was raw, powerful and understated.
Exene was followed by Cordero, the unsung heroes of the night, who played an inspired set of Latin rock. The band is fronted by Ani Cordero, a talented Brooklyn native who traveled to the Puerto Rican island of Culebra to write songs about bullfighting, tequila and love.
In between sets, my date and I wandered into the bar area -- the Frontier Room -- where I drank a bunch of Tecates (in a can) and we checked out the photo booth for some funny shots.
The night had a little of everything - acid trippers, dancing latinas, urban cowboys, punk rockers and hair worshippers. It even had a spotting of the Gowanus Canal, my second favorite canal after Panama. (You think there are fish in there?)
Finally, the headline act of Bobby Bare Jr. took us down for the home stretch. All for only $5.
How could I not give the Bell House five big ones?
Who: Friends and lovers
What: Burlesque!
Where: near the Gowanus
When: Friday night
Why: Didn't score tix to the burlesque festival at the door, was very disappointed, but served us right for not buying tix in advance. Went next door, which was also the Bell House, had a drink, enjoyed the ambience. DUB pie - chili and cheese, not too shabby ;-) Cocktail Surfer Rosa not bad. DJ showed up around 10PM, played Ian Dury, now can't get hit me, hit me, hit me with your rhythm stick out of my head, invited to a warehouse party, kewl, after all, not a bad evening, even if I didn't get to see PASTIES!!
To truly experience The Bell House you need to commit to the destination. It is on a random street in Gowanus, but not too far from the F/G at Smith and 9th. What you get when you go inside is warm and unexpected. The front has a nice, big bar with plenty of room for a lot of people to hang out. This is a great place to go with a bunch of people. They have a good selection of tap beers in true Brooklyn fashion. Last time I was there I had Beer of Gods...enough said.
The surprise is what lies in the back for shows. A fantastic back room for live music and comedy, probably could hold around 300, with arched ceilings with exposed wood beams. Also, a nice long bar in the back area, as well as very accessible bathrooms right by the bar. I saw the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival here on Thursday night and could tell how excellent a venue this would be for music. During the Mirman show, which was great by the way, we got lucky enough to have the guy from The Posies there who performed two songs in the middle of the comedy.
The stage is large and there is not a bad seat or standing area in the venue at all. Wherever you are, you will be able to see and hear whatever is going on. A very intimate stage and overall venue.
The even greater surprise is the programming here. If you look at the upcoming events at any time, there are plenty of things that you really want to go to. From comedy to good bands to special events with beer and wine, The Bell House definitely has that little extra that makes it totally unique and much more than just a neighborhood bar.
What's not to love? This space is great. The people are awesome. They make a mean cocktail, and the concerts there totally rock. go there now.
This has to be split into two sections.... one for the actual bar area and one for the music venue part of it.
1) The Bar- Excellent selection of beers on tap... love the pumpkin ale. Happy hour was ok- 2-for-1 drinks. But it lasts from 5-7... nobody's going to get there at 5 unless you live in the area. Otherwise, coming from the city, you won't get there until after 6. The dub pies were delicious-- got the chilli/cheese and thai chicken. Appetizing, cheap, and fairly filling.
2) The Music Venue- came here to see Fountains of Wayne perform an acoustic set. The opening act was Jon Auer and he was pretty good. Some of his music a little too somber for my liking, but I appreciate a good acoustic guitarist who can sing, as well. Fountains of Wayne were f'n awesome. But this review isn't about Jon Auer or F.O.W. The venue is pretty much a stage and an open floor for standing room only. You can sit on the steps by the bar, but you won't see anything if everyone is on their feet. But the venue itself makes for a more intimate concert experience and it's a lot of fun.
In summation, if you live in the area, it's a great neighborhood bar. If you don't, it's probably not worth going to because it's far to get to. But if you like good music, check out their events and concerts section on the website and watch a show. You won't be disappointed... unless you go and see a band you absolutely hate, in which case you should ask yourself, "why did i pay to see them?"
turn on the air conditioning you cheap bastards! i came here for a show, not a bikram class. i'll probably be back anyway because they do book good bands from time to time, but next time i'll be dressed in layers.
Everyone knows the classic Toto song "Africa" by now, and if you don't, well, you should be ashamed. Hang your head like a flower in the rain* and see yourself over to a corner.
I mention this important tune because of one particular line: "She's coming in 12:30 flight."
Last night at the Bell House I also went on a flight. It was more like 6:30, not 12:30. And my boarding pass wasn't for African Airlines; it was for an Allagash beer and cheese flight.
A crisp $10 bill purchased my boarding pass with 5 different types of Allagash, 4 of which I could try. Surprisingly, the glasses were pretty big! I was sufficiently drunk by the time I left. The cheese didn't really do much for me. Don't get me wrong; it was delicious and I LOVE cheese. But I thought it would be a cheese + beer pairing, when really the cheese was just served on a table in a corner (and they ran out of crackers pretty quickly). It wasn't a big deal though. The bartenders are extremely friendly and the crowd seems just as cool.
Did this simple event make me like Bell House? You bet.** I really like the lounge area--it's big and spacious and warm; but be warned, on weekends it can fill to capacity pretty easily, aided by the draw of the concert room.
They also have a photobooth, which I haven't tried or investigated enough, but it gives me an excuse to come back. Where are all the good photobooths in New York? I have to scout those out immediately.
When words fail me, I return to "Africa": Bell House, it's going to take a lot to drag me away from you. Hurry pals, the Bell House, she's waiting there for you.
__________
* I bless the rains down in Africa.
** I'm as sure as Kiliminjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti. Which is pretty damn sure when you think about it. I think. Maybe. Just kidding--that line is ridiculous.
Outside: Desolate. Even in daylight. Unless you count cars and the surrounding buildings.
Inside: Like a mullet; Business in the front; party in the back. That is to say, there are 2 rooms. Spacious. 2 bars (1 in the front, the other next to the stage in the back); I cannot say much about the drinks, I do not drink. And yesh, I am over 21. There are also 2 ramps. One on the outside and one inside. Being a wheelchair-user, I found the ramps to be very easy to push myself onto. HUGE PLUS.
The bouncer and the bartenders are friendly. The bartenders have handlebar moustaches. Funny.
I went to see the Noisettes perform. I did not know I could go right against the stage, however I was real close. If there were rows, I would have been in the 2nd one. The stage is a decent size and no matter which side you stand/sit, you can have a great view. The sound was great. The Love Language and Phantogram also performed. It was an awesome night.
Above the stage is a big picture of a buffalo. I do not know why, but I kept looking at it from time to time.
As I was leaving, I really got a sense on how spacious The Bell House is. It was packed @ around 12:00am. The host said if everyone wanted to stick around to see the Movits (free show), but I didn't want to.
Waiting for my ride, there were the band members from The Love Language wandering around as well as club goers smoking it up.
Outside: Still desolate, despite the people. (That makes no sense.)
So you're all like "Where the fuck is Gowanus? How far will I have to walk?," but you want to see a band/go to a tasting event/whatever else they have going on there, so you start walking.
You'll see all of the graffiti along the way saying "Kook wants your soul," and you may get a little spooked, but let me say that the Bell House is worth it.
They always have the coolest events going on, they serve reasonably priced drinks, and they have a great atmosphere. Top notch.
Breathing life into Gowanus that isn't glowing or crawling out of the canal, this is one of the better music venues b/c it has has the space. A really nice bar out front and plenty of room for shows and dance and learning. Home to both the Secret Science Club and the Subway Soul Club, you can't ask for more. And for those who don't regularly venture to Brooklyn it's close to the F and R so you'll be fine. Well not the R actually, the R will keep you there forever.
I decided to stay up late on a school* night and brave the spooky fog of the Gowanus. So, I walked through the misty darkness, over the canal, past warehouses, to the Bell House to see Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3.
The club is split in half (a large bar in the front and the stage and another large bar in the back). It's a nice venue and you get good views of the stage from no matter where you are. The sound system is pretty good, too, although you lose some volume if you stand on the side of the stage.
There were two openers. Takka Takka is a local Brooklyn band. Sort of a blend of Morphine and U2, maybe? They were good. Ken Stringfellow also played. He's toured with R.E.M. He was good, but pretty eccentric. He chose to not use the microphones for some of his songs. So, he played guitar and sang without amplification. So, basically you couldn't hear his voice unless you were right in front of him.
Robyn Hitchcock was great, as usual.
Spot the celebrity! Eugene Mirman was there. (He played the landlord on Flight of the Conchords.) I thought I spotted James Iha from the Smashing Pumpkins, too, but I may have been mistaken.
*School of hard knocks.
This place is awesome! Great space close to my house, woo hoo! I must admit though, when I was walking there for the first time I thought to myself 'This isn't a place I would want to walk alone at night. Oh wait. That's exactly what I'm doing right now.' Woops.
I absolutely love the decor, and how you feel like you walk into a mountain lodge rather than an industrial garage. The live music stage in the back is great. The beers on tap are great too. Why is this place not packed every night?? I'm a big fan.
HINT! To avoid the creepiness of Smith/9th, take the F one more stop to 4th Ave/9th St (or 9th on the R). Same distance, much more drunken girl walking alone friendly.
I like the space. But it feels like it really really wants to be in Williamsburg. The concert area inside is big and spacious, though. I'll probably warm up to the place over time.
Today* I injured myself while washing my hands at the Bell House. FML.
Specifically, on the paper towel dispenser in the bathroom. After washing my hands, I pressed down on the lever twice, and the thing popped open and gashed my arm. This is not a painful injury, but it's really inconvenient to be bleeding profusely from your arm in a bar.
But if it happens to you, here are some things you can say to girls:
1. Great to meet you! Want to write your number down on this bloody paper towel I have pressed to my forearm?
2. Oh, you ordered the Pinkerton?** Can I try it? I'll do my best not to drip blood into it.
3. I hurt myself. Hold me.
After field testing these, I've determined that #3 works best. (Best is clearly a relative term.)
Despite this absurd injury, I love the Bell House. It's a little out of the way, so much so that you think you're in the wrong place as you're walking down 7th Street. But make the trek, because they always have fun things happening, there are amazingly comfortable couches and chairs, and the space is huge and a very decent concert venue. The bartender/manager Abigail makes me a mean (citrusy) Bloody Mary, and all the other staff members I've encountered have been sweet as well.
*Actually, it was Saturday. That's just the format http://fmylife.com uses.
**All their signature drinks are named after 90s rock albums. And I like most of them. The albums, not the drinks. I don't NOT like the drinks, I just haven't tried them.
What an amazing space! I was here for the A.C. Newman concert this spring and also for the Australian BBQ fest. My fanboy-crazy boyfriend made us show up several hours early for the Newman concert, just as the bar was opening up. The bartender gave us takeout menus to look through, which meant I didn't have to strangle my boyfriend and already gives the place a big thumbs up in my book.
Excellent beers on tap, and the happy hour deal makes me actually happy. The venue itself is great - really intimate space, but without the overcrowding and the sweating.
The Bell House is everything I want in my home-y neighborhood bar, except it's a big club. The sound is good, the vibe is calm and friendly, the drink prices are reasonable and the events are interesting. (They showed the season premiere of LOST, preceded by a band whose genre was described as "recap rock.")
I plan to attend their documentary series, which is occurring once a month as soon as they show something I haven't seen yet.
Just a wee-bit of a warning: the walk to the Bell House from the Smith & 9 Street G train is a tad creepy. Bring a friend.
That being said, this place is great! The music venue is large enough to house a good size crowd - not too small that everyone is crammed together in a sweaty mess, or too large that the room seems empty. Nice full bar to the side of the stage, but would have been nice to have a few cheaper options (PBR anyone?).
Chill atmosphere-a mix between an old barn and a brothel...is there a better combo? Seems like there's a lot of great music coming in the next few months, I'll be back.
So I haven't actually seen any shows here, but we did swing by here to grab a beer with some friends and I'm impressed. Well planned venue with plenty of room for groups, a great beer selection (kudos on having Allagash White, one of my favorite beers ever). Prices are decent, at around $5 a pint, and there are some interesting cocktails and snacks available.
With nice walking distance form my place, you can be sure I'll be back.
Came here for Blip Fest 2008, which was an awesome event in and of itself...I'm hoping 2009 will be hosted here as well.
Great beer selection, and there was a happy hour deal for half-price drinks in the bar area that is in a separate room (I believe this area also serves food). There is also a bar in the main room (just drinks). Prices were pretty good, I think $5-6 a beer. My memory is a bit hazy...
So far as the A/V system goes, it's good. Much better than many other small venues I've seen shows at.
A lot of people attended Blip Fest, but while it was full of people, there was plenty of breathing room. Also, a truck of Mexican food pulls up front for munchies.
Long live the chiptune revolution, and long live the Bell House!
What I like about The Bell House:
1) Its location. Although deserted at night, Gowanus is pretty safe and has a lot of artists, creative people in general, low industrial buildings, the canal - all things I like. And it's not too goddamn far away. It's more centralized to Brooklyn than Williamsburg and it's what dumbo wants to be (burn!).
2) A delightful happy hour. 2 for 1. A good beer costs about 5 or 6 bucks, but when its two for one, it's certainly well worth it. And the beer cheese or whatever is cheap and good snack.
3) The build-out is amazing. They did a great job preserving the original rafters and the decor is cool and airy. You could bring ten friends here to start off a birthday, easy. Probably 15.
4) The shows. Great shows.
I like coming here. I like what's happening in this neighborhood. I just hope they don't zone it all residential...no more condos.
I was here the other day to work an event called the Spring Cavalcade in partnership with New New NY and http://Etsy.com. The space was nice and the staff helpful and friendly. Had a table next to Peter D., but he was cut and had to leave early : (
The bartender was great with my co-worker's silly requests, and the two beers I tried were great and 5 bucks each. They had a decent selection of drinks, a full bar and small "dub" pies that I did not find to be particularly satisfying.
Nice crowd came through, given it was a Saturday. The area around is OK although some might feel it looks dangerous. Parking in front and across the street minus two nights a week.
Check out the upcoming events!
You could get all down about, you know, the Dow Jones and what have you.
Or you could just go get drunk at the Bell House and count your lucky stars that in 2009 -- possibly the "worst year since 1933" -- you live in Brooklyn, New York.
Resist all you want, the demographers are going to get you--you fit a niche, denials… Read more »
I went to this place a few months ago for the first time and was totally impressed. It's kinda like the annoyingly perfect older sister to Union Hall. You know, the girl who does everything right and who you'd totally hate if she wasn't so awesome. The concert area is soooo much bigger and better than that at Union Hall, and while I didn't spend much time in it, the lounge area looked great as well. Lots of beer on tap, and the bartenders were friendly. They have tons of stuff happening there all the time, and the shows are always super cheap.
The outside is very unassuming, surrounded by warehouses and, well, more warehouses. Inside this place is spacious, open, and warm. The decor is rich and dark . . . just like a bar should be. The drinks are strong and reasonably priced. The pies . . . my god the pies! The pies will have your mouth trembling with delight.
I went to the Bell House to attend the Cinco De Mayo Guacamole tasting. Walking up, I was convinced I was on the wrong block as I was just passing one industrial-looking building after another. But then, up ahead, my astigmatism cleared just enough for me to see their friendly red sign...that and the crowd forming out front.
Man this bar was crowded for this event, and they had the back room closed at first which was ridiculous. There was no way for a non-pushy person such as myself to get any guac...and frankly it was a bit difficult to get served those fine fine $2 Tecates that they were offering for the evening.
That being said, I like the vibe of the Bell House. It seems like it would be a fun place to hang out on other, less insane nights. And they host a range of wonderful events here...a cause I fully support. It is definitely worth the short hike over from the subway, and really is a cool space if they have the whole back room open. I hope to return soon, and get here early next time so I can experience everything I am sure they have to offer.
Based on a single visit, this is an excellent venue. I won't comment on the music lineup, as that is yours to judge.
The place is, as others have mentioned, at the end of a block of auto mechanics and abandoned warehouses, all of which will be closed when you go, so I wouldn't exactly recommend heading out there alone late at night. But once you are inside, it's really nice. Not divey at all.
Not too crowded, though I suppose this might change depending on the night.
A good beer selection at totally reasonable prices.
They actually manage to keep the temperature at a reasonable place, which I find to be a rarity among music venues.
The Bell House is on a remote (at night anyway) industrial block, but strangely when you walk inside it has the feel of a great neighborhood hangout. There is a good selection of reasonably priced beers on tap including Miller High Life (yay!), and at least one good signature cocktail (only tried one of the many named after alternative bands and albums). It was a delicious version of a "Jim and Ginger".
The food options are limited, but they do sell a variety of CHEAP dub pies http://www.dubpies.com..., which are pretty tasty and cheese and crackers with some sort of special Kentucky cheese. I'm sure they'll cut it for you if you ask.
As for the concert venue part of the Bell House, it could use some sprucing up. It has a great warehouse ceiling with cool chandeliers, but not lacks the warmth of the front of the place. I know a big space like that is never going to be as nice as a cozy bar, but maybe some more furniture, or more than one bar in the back would help. Of course, they also don't have High Life in the back (boo!), and it seems like the prices at the bar are slightly higher. My imagination?
Anyway, I enjoyed the show I was at (Phosphorescent), and look forward to going back and hanging at the front bar before another show sometime soon.
It could be the fact that I really enjoy almost any place that has Allagash on tap, but I don't think that's it.
It could also be that I adore having amazing live music and comedy so insanely close to my house, but I don't think that's it either.
It could also be because Gowanus is sorely in need of something like this....but frankly, I don't that's it either.
It's probably because -- qualifiers or no, and no matter its location -- this would be an incredible music venue even if it was slightly east of Saturn.
Good happy hour from 5-7pm. Buy a Guinness, get one free. Quiet enough to read the paper or a book. Good place. Hope it doesn't get overrun by morons, like Union Hall.
My friend and I walked here from Smith Street and we were a bit nervous at first. One of the blocks leading to the Bell House seems to be a parking lot for buses (perhaps those were the band's?). From a distance we thought there was a gang congregating on the sidewalk, but it turned out they were discussing Wii games or something. Phew! We took a detour onto a block that looked safer and when we finally saw the Bell House sign looming, we finally felt some relief.
Friend and I went on a Thursday night and it really wasn't so busy. I guess there is a little thing called a recession on but the pink slips must have seriously been flying that day because New Yorkers generally go out on Thursday. In fact, I think Thursday is the new Saturday, especially for Brooklynites who would never be caught dead when their haunts go bridge-and-tunnel (yes, I'm talking to you, Manhattanites).
Anyway, there was a very masculine bartender who made my knees strangely weak. I flirted with him for a while, in my best Marlene Dietrich cool demeanor. He was originally from Colorado-- if you are reading this, *kisses*. We all talked about how the beer sucked at Bell House, but sucky beer at a ersatz-divey music hall has charm, n'est pas? I had this tall glass of expensive weird Belgian (?) wheat beer that had the worst sour aftertaste ever. Colorado man, if you are reading this, there is indeed a Blue Point lager: see http://www.bluepointbr.../. (He thought I was confused and mixing the names Blue Moon and Six Point together). Bell House should buy some of this-- it is the good stuff and local. Especially fond of the Toasted Lager. By the way, it's infinitely better on tap.
Anyway, we weren't into paying to see the show in the back room and settled into the comfy worn leather couches. I wonder if they found them off the street on trash day or if the reupholsterer intentionally made them that way. That would be pretty genius.
They had some pretty rad tunes playing on the speakers in the bar. Brooklyn hipsters were pretty standoffish but I'm used to that. Friend and I had a good time talking amongst ourselves. One girl showed up on a bicycle (after midnight!) and held her helmet in one hand and a beer in the other. Ah, Brooklyn.
I would definitely come back here to see a show if I did my research beforehand. This place is pure Brooklyn, and I'm glad it exists.
Gotta love venues like this -- on the verge neighborhoods bring with them reasonable rents and distressed but usable industrial real estate, which allow places like this to just sprawl the heck out. The Bell House, an old 1920s warehouse that's served as a printing plant, is huge. The stage is on the side, which makes for unobstructed views, but if you mosy around to the side, you'll lose out on the sound. Sound is best out front.
We saw three bands: Motel Motel, Mike Bones, and Phosphorescent. Motel Motel was OK, had a bit of a Slim Cessna-like warble going on, but took some getting used to. Mike Bones was a cross between the Royal Trux and Lou Reed -- and did a great cabaret-like number with dueling pianos. And Phosphorescent played their new Willie Nelson cover album from start to finish. We left a little into the second side.
Didn't get a drink. Didn't check my coat. Didn't use the restroom. So I can't speak to the amenities. But I'd go back. The tickets were reasonable, and they seem to book well. Nice!
Great venue. The interior is all wood, which gives the place a very warm, comfortable feel. The bar has some similarly comfortable seating, but not much of it. They have DUB pies and one other nosh, but it's probably best to eat elsewhere. The drinks options are good, but just a little expensive.
The acoustics are better than expected (giant wooden room, high ceiling), and the space is large and well organized. I'm not sure if tech changes with the show, but the sound system was great when I was there. Every staff member I interacted with was helpful and friendly. The bookings are solid. I'm not sure what else there is to ask of a music venue.
Out of the warehouses of Gowanus comes a great venue brought to us by the owners of other great venue Union Hall.
Yes, it's out of the way for most of us, but once you're there, it's fantastic.
Similar to the cozy decor of Union Hall, the outer bar area has plenty of drink options, and also comfortable seating. Inside the event area (where the bands that have become too big for Union Hall come to play in the area), there's a great sound system, un-obscured views of the stage, and, perhaps most importantly, another bar. The event space is big, and yet still finds a way to host intimate shows.
Whether you're coming to check out a show or hang out in the front bar area, the Bell House is a great spot in an area of Brooklyn that needs more great spots.
Don't wait to be hunted to hide, that's always been my motto. Yes, I don't know why, but I have never been disappointed, and I often was in the early days, without feeling at the same time, or a moment later, an undeniable relief. It was like difficult music heard for the first time.
Where I am, I don't know, I'll never know, in the silence you don't know, you must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on.
Nothing to be done.
This review is unfortunately based on only one visit. I went to the Bell House on Friday night because it's where a friend decided to have her birthday gathering. That night there was no live band playing, just a DJ in the main room. As I walked up to the building, I could clearly hear the music playing, and it was at the ideal volume, but this was OUTSIDE with the door closed. You can imagine how loud the music was inside the bar. I thought having a drink would help with my tolerance of the noise level. After browsing their list of beers, I saw a list of mixed drinks named after great 90's albums. I found a small opening at the bar and shouted at my bartender, "I WOULD LIKE A PINKERTON!!" She was very nice and my drink was very delicious and decidedly strong. It was also rather large.
As the night wore on I took refuge on a nice couch in the corner, hoping my throbbing ears would do better while sitting down. Of course that didn't work. I found myself using the ladies room more often than needed not because I had already broken the seal early into the night, but because I seriously thought my ears were going to start bleeding, and I didn't want to get ear blood all over my favorite dress.
I can continue to whine about how loud it was in there but I'm pretty sure you already got the picture. I did manage to have a fun time, but my voice was a little hoarse the next day, and my ears were definitely buzzing.
Now to focus on something other than the DJ being too loud that night. The drinks I had were great, fairly priced, and the bartenders were friendly and quick. That night they even had a deal for $2 cans of Presidente. The space was large, and the decor was appealing - lots of leather couches and dark wood. The bar itself was very long and had a lot of seats. Many reviews have compared it to Union Hall, because it's owned by the same people.
I'm giving it 2 stars for now because I can't believe no one in the entire place had the good sense to try and turn down the music to a slightly more reasonable level. Weren't the other employees' ears in pain? I would like to go back and listen to a live performance there because it seems like everyone's had a great time when that was what they went to the Bell House for. I hope to be able to update my review soon with a couple more stars attached.
Great new music venue in Gowanus. Owner of Union Hall brings this venue to the outer skirts of Park Slope. Huge space for music featuring bands like The Wrens and front lounge open every night with no cover.
Be on the look out for their events like an upcoming ping pong championship, game show nights and a summer block party in June.
$5 meat or veggie Dub Pies and $4 beer cheese w/ crackers are your food options.
Neighborhood: Gowanus
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - North Side
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Gowanus
Category: Performing Arts
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: Music Venues
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