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Categories: Bars, Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhood: Queen AnneMon-Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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Man, they have some shit punk bands on their roster. I check out their lineup on Myspace periodically and it is full of hilarity and sounds like great, thrashy, trashy fun.
We visited on a Saturday night with some friends to see Sioux City Pete and the Beggars, which looked interesting. The $6 cover was a great deal. We set up shop around the pool table as the other bands played. It was loud in the back, but not so loud that we couldn't have decent shouting conversations.
The bathrooms really need paper towel dispensers or hand dryer. I used the last inch of the old-school cloth dispenser around 10pm when the bands were just starting up...maybe that's where I got the fungal infection on my fingers.
I love their outdoor/covered area. There's a basketball hoop for the guys to get their testosterone going and the girls to relive their high school JV basketball glory. It was nice to have a smoking area without being forced the leave the venue (mostly since I don't smoke). There were a lot of interesting folks to strike up a conversation with. I remember trying to get a traveling comic to admit that he was mormon.
The staff is generally brusque though the bouncers were super helpful when the cue ball got stuck in the table. But then, they were very pushy at around 1:40am when the bands stopped playing and literally corralled everyone out the doors.
From what I remember, I had a great time. I'd definitely go again.
I've been to the Funhouse a few more times now, and while it is always a good time, they lose a star for the attitude from one bartender that seems to always be working when I'm there.
Yes, I like dumb girly drinks. Yes, I realize it isn't really the place for them. BUT I tip really well, and there is only ONE bartender who ever gives me attitude for it. I was there last week and I tried to order a lemondrop and she WALKED AWAY FROM ME.
Eff that. She will get no more of my money.
I have kind of a love-hate relationship with the Funhouse. They make good drinks, and the show I was… Read more »
I walk into the funhouse and im greeted by blaring music and the smell of freshly spilled beer....... I love this place already.
The bartender was awesome, yelling back and forth to about punk music while a local favorite punk band "The Bloodclots" is in full swing.
The time for a cigarette approaches, as i start to walk out the front door, i notice the patio out the side door. I see people drinking so i grab my drink and decide to check it out.
Its pretty sweet,one half is a covered area, and the other half is a bball hoop.
The Funhouse is awesome and is my 3rd favorite bar in Seattle. Definetley a must go for all interested in punk.
While here I drank my fill of $3 beer, some guy spilled his $3 beer all over me, then offered me undisclosed "stuff" to make up for it, some girl who could hardly speak came onto me, then her boyfriend (or whoever) threatened to kick my ass, then some turdy band took the stage.
The Funhouse is a great punk bar! The shows are awesome, the bartenders are the best, and the drinks flow like water.
Simply put, you can shoot hoops outside under the shadow of the Space Needle @ midnight. Do you need another reason to go here?
The beer selection is swill (Bud, Rainer, etc), the place is dark, seating is limited, the female bartender lacks a personality, the bands that play here seem to be ho-hum metal/hardcore music but...Did I mention you can shoot hoops and drink?
Go here. Now.
Walked into this bar while hanging out in Seattle and felt instantly welcome. Blaring metal with a mini freakshow of cinder block breaking and body-stapling was taking place on stage while I sat at the bar and drank PBR and Olympia from the tap. Classic rock n roll/metal bar, so while maybe not for the timid, the staff and patrons were great and there was plenty of cheap booze for all.
If I could give this joint more stars, I would. I loved it when it was Zak's and I love it as the Funhouse. All the ladies serving there are fantastic, spunky, pour with a heavy hand and will not hesitate to bitch someone out if they are so deserving. The added bonus of the chick bartender - the bathrooms (the girl's bathroom anyhow) is consistently clean enough to warrant setting one's purse down without concern of some random nasty shmeg getting all over it. I guess that pretty much goes for one's arse as well.
I have seen an amazing array of local and traveling bands and am never disappointed when after they get done screaming their bloody heads off, they join me on the back deck for a smoke and a quasi intelligent (depending on how much I or they had to drink) congenial conversation about stuff and things. The punks are as sweet and polite as they are rough looking and I have never had any problems here. I have gotten completely ess faced knowing that if anything ever went down, people here would have my back.
There is a large area next to the stage where bands can store their stuff and kick back in the green room, swallowing PBR and random drinks, after they load in from the back door which faces the bar's 8 or 10 car lot. There is a pay to park lot just beyond that but there is a plethora of parking on the streets all around this joint.
I have swiped many flyers of many fantastic shows and love this bar with every punk and hard rock cell in my body.
Excellent venue. Saw a great bill with Thee Oh Sees and Sic Alps during a stop in Seattle during a recent road trip. This place is a lot of fun with a nice "beer garden" with a basketball hoop. Sound is not amazing, but gets the job done. They also serve strong drinks, which is good and bad depending on your agenda. They have a huge water cooler with free water which is something I wish I saw at every venue, and bar for that matter. Location is not great, but the place is good enough that you want to stay and get a drink after the show. Glad I experienced a Seattle semi-punk show at a solid space.
Ever walk into a place and have it feel like home, even though you are a thousand miles away........this way it. The vibe is just Good 'ol dirty punk rock n roll.
I can confidently say I received the heaviest shot of whiskey ever here. I had two shots of Knob Creek and was pretty buzzed......felt more like 3 1/2 shots. SO BIG!
I can't wait to come back and play. The stage is small but comfortable enough to tear it up on. This bar totally sold me on moving to Seattle.
Allways wear steal toes and clothes you don't care about when going to a show here.
Great place to play. Sound could be a little better, but man do they know how to treat bands! I think that means better shows for the customers too... think they're on to something here!
what is it about all the bars in Seattle being awesome? This was the 3rd or 4th one I went to on my visit and it was my favorite. Saw some metal bands, had some cheap beer, smoked on the patio, it was great. Also, learned Bea Arthur died due to a shout out from the singer of one of the most METAL bands I've ever seen (whose name escapes me, did I mention the cheap beer?). All around super!
The Funhouse is on the edge of a dive bar, but not quite. However, it still holds some of the same charm of your favorite dive. Creaky booths, heavy drinks, and nice regular crowd. The location is right under the space needle, which is an interesting locale for such a place. I envy that they are able to book metal bands every night in that location and keep paying the bills.
They got a Bball hoop outside. Who does not want to shoot hoops when drunk?! They also got a photo booth inside. Who does not want to take a photo when drunk?!
The price and sound in this place keep it from being stellar, but it definitely is not bad.
Wandered in here around 4 in the afternoon after a touristy day exploring the city. We had left the space needle and realized we had some time to kill before a show across town later that night.
We spotted the crazy clown head from a ways away and figured whatever was inside was worth checking out.
For us two San Diegans on a mini vacation in the northwest, this place was like a little slice of our favorite divey bars back home. Friendly faces and strong drinks. A lovely lady named Lindsay chatted with us about music and all sorts of things while getting us nice and liquored up. Talk about an unplanned stop, but a really fun and memorable one at that.
If I'm ever back in the area, I'll stop in for a drink or a few for sure.
The Funhouse is the place for a lot of the metal shows in Seattle. So far Kayo Dot, Storm Crow, Galdr, Book of Black Earth have all been good shows there. Beer is way too expensive so be sure to get drunk before going. I love the outdoor patio basketball court for smoking since you can take your drinks out with you. I think The Funhouse make up for it's pricey beer by giving you sick shows and a good place to chill with friends while smoking and drinking.
Remember when it was Zak's and that fun drug addict asshole Sal owned the joint. Ah, how I miss the camera in the ladies room. Oh wait....
I barely remember any of the nights spent at Funhouse, but I almost always wake up the next day feeling like I had a great time. Jesce and Holly are awesome gals and the regulars make me smile. The addition of the photobooth really is the cherry on the sundae for me as I am horrible about taking pictures with my camera while I'm out and the shots done in the photobooth are the only hint at what went on when I trying to retrace events later.
One of the best places I've ever seen a show. Why you say? Because it's teeny. I got to see one of my favorite musicians this week in a tiny club for $10, and that is fucking awesome.
What is not fucking awesome is the tall guy who pushed his way right in front of me and blocked my fiew of the short stage. Or the two ridiclous idiots that kept dancing around like they were on ecstacy. Come on! This was not that kind of show! I hate assholes. That is not the Funhouse's fault, though. That's my fault for allowing assholes to irritate me so much!
I feel like I have a special connection to the funhouse. Mostly because one of our first posters is still hanging in the band room in the back. They painted over it with a clear gloss or something, and it's always cool to come here and head in back and look at how stupid we were for booking three shows in a week. Well, live and learn right?
Our first show at the funhouse was cool in that there wasn't a stage built yet. So we stood on the floor, eye to eye with our crowd. I could walk out hang out with people without having to worry about breaking my ankle jumping off the stage.
We've played there twice more since, (they have a fully functioning stage now, no worries), and I've gone to see a couple shows there now. The Funhouse is like Seattle's premiere punk venue. For whatever reason we fit right in. Bands can park in back and load right in -- there's a huge storage area between the band room and the stage with plenty of space for three bands to stow their stuff.
The bartenders are always awesome, they make killer drinks and are totally friendly. One of them is the artist who designed and created most of the decor hanging in the place. She also drew the big clown face that hangs on the side wall, over the tables. If anything, go there just to check it out.
There is a patio out back with a half court basketball hoop and some tables. You can escape to go have a smoke and shoot some hoops if you need to. A pool table is always hosting a game, and there may be a dart board somewhere, but I'm not sure on that.
Sound is good, the audience area is small enough that people generally wind up right in front of the stage which gives great energy to the bands.
All around a killer venue both to play and be in the audience.
From a band's point of view I'm torn.. There was something charming about playing on the floor of The Funhouse back in the day - you were asses to elbows with the crowd. Face to face. So close you could smell the fragrant aroma waft in from the patrons - the musk of Drakkar Noir mixed with Big League Chew. Maybe that's just our audience.
On the other hand, now that they've got a kickass stage, monitors, lights - the whole nine - it's more of a "proper" venue and, as a performer, I can't say enough about a decent sound system. Plus I don't have drunken muttonheads grabbing at my keytar (you know who you are, Melvin).
The bartenders there are great. Personable. Fun. Quick with the refreshing, hoppy beverages I like so much. A great place to kick back with a beer and watch some local punk or eclectic hard rock. It's refreshing to have a venue in town that doesn't book the screaming death metal that's so popular with them meddling kids nowadays. They book good quality rock. The place has got a great atmosphere and if you're drunk and hungry afterwards, there's a handful of local, late night eats in the area.
So why didn't I give it five stars? I think it's the lack of chiliburgers. Or maybe I'm just braindead tonight. Either way, great place to perform or to check out some good live music.
We went here for a show a few weeks ago and were turned away. Why? Because it was so popular that they had reached full capacity. But we were waiting for an act so we grabbed a drink at the 5 point nearby and returned later to find almost everyone gone, which was great.
The place has so much charm. Posters and pictures everywhere and this feeling that you are in someone's basement at a private party. We were there to see "Captured by Robots" and were not disappointed. A great intimate setting, a bunch of drunk happy people and cake. Incredible.
Definitely a good place to catch a show but know that it is small and you may have to wait for people to leave if you arrive late.
I cant even believe how great this bar is!
The shows are always great and the bartenders are a bunch of older ladies who i guarantee will not forget what your drinking.
Parking kinda sucks, but what kinda parking is good in Seattle.
They also have this great outdoor covered area for smoking.
All in all probably my favorite bar in Seattle.
Not being a native I had a hell of a time getting to this place from "University Village" at 11 pm on a rented scooter in the rain, seeing as your shitty city doesn't seem to like the idea of marked streets. Furthermore, when you have an overpass, isn't it traditionally the polite thing to do to tell people what exactly is overpassing you, so that if you needed to take it you might know what it was in advance?
To the important bits, this seems like a lot of Chicago music oriented bars with less standing room for seeing music and more high priced beer. I wouldn't mind the slightly inflated beer price if the sound was amazing and there was standing room for a bunch more people, but this wasn't the case.
The Funhouse is a "Funhouse" themed bar, plain and simple. Clowns on the walls, etc. Booths, bar seats, beer, some PA's and a deaf sound guy. Not complaining, its standard fair and rightly so for a cheap shitty bar, I just regret paying 12$ to see Annihilation Time and only catching their last song because I am an idiot and got turned around on my miniature rained-through hand drawn map.
Quite a nice little blip on the radar and if you leave while its still raining and look directly up the space needle has a neat rainy halo effect going on.
I got drunk last night and watched this unusual blues band fronted by some 50 year old black lady with huge knockers & boogied out in the first row. Yahhh 'twas fun.
Oh my this place is divey. It's also my de facto watering hole. Live shows almost every night of the week, fifty-cent pool, and cheap beer make this place a great hangout if you're into the local punk scene at all. Granted, the walls are so close to the pool table that some shots are impossible, the bathroom is pret-ty sketchy, and there's not a lot of seating, but they have $1 PBR on mondays. One dollar PBR! Also the bartenders are great and really friendly, and there are some truly strange and awesome people who frequent this place so it's a definite stop for me on a drinking night, if not the only one.
Just found out that the Lobo is closed due to gentrification or something (at least that's the rumor why it's closed). That leaves us with just a few remaining bars in Seattle where you can swill Pabst AND pour it on your friends.
I moved to Seattle several years ago not knowing anyone in this town. I met a fella who brought me to Zak's (now Funhouse) and I fell in love with Seattle. Pretension is laughable at this place, and the folks are friendly if you're not annoying.
I have never had a bad time at The Funhouse, including that time I flicked a lit cigarette in a girl's hair (woops).
I LOVE the Funhouse.
It's small and a bit of a dive but not so much so that it's gross, just comfortable. It's a great place to see shows, the drinks aren't too expensive, the location is surprisingly enjoyable, and it's unlikely that you'll be seriously annoyed by any other patron no matter who you are. Everyone from bikers to bums to hipsters to yuppies are all a milder version of themselves upon entering the Funhouse doors and we can all drink in harmony because whoever you are, it's cool. Just having a few drinks, maybe watching a few bands, it's all good.
the funhouse is like a good drinking buddy.
no matter how much of an ass you make of yourself in their presence the night before, they will welcome you with open arms the next day. maybe even give you cheezits.
i'm glad that i now live within stumbling distance, or a $5 cab ride home, from the funhouse. the bartenders are the sweetest ladies in town. i swear. ...and they come up with the best drinks (orange slice thingy *drool*).
don't ever go during the day though!! it's inevitable that you will end up drinking there all night. you'll wake up the next day in your urine soaked jeans, spooning a bag of mcdonalds chicken nuggets, and clutching photobooth pictures of yourself and somebody you've never seen in your life. if that's your thing...they open at 3pm.
Never before have i heard the words "volcano" and "vagina" uttered in the same sentence, let alone screamed into a crackly microphone at 130 decibels. Never before last night. I love this place. The bartenders are friendly and for the most part, so are the punky patrons. I'm not a big drinker anymore, but if i were, I'd come here just for the heavy pours of booze. Or a can of Oly. If you have a fear of clowns, and I'm sure many of you do, just try and focus on the plethora of punk rock stickers and graffiti scribblings on the windows and door on your way in. There's an even scarier clown painted on the basketball court on the patio. Check it out on a weekend night if you love punk rock, and if you forget your earplugs, they have them at the bar.
Though the drinks here are overpriced and the sound sucks dog ass, The Funhouse consistently books shows I want to see. Largish semi-covered back patio for simultaneous smoking/drinking. The draft beer has a dirty, sweaty taste to it and therefore cans and bottles are recommended. I don't suggest going on nights without shows, unless you want to kick it with burned out punks talking about the good old (read: heroin) days they can barely remember.
If only there was a bar where I can get drunk, see Japanese punk bands, and play half-court basketball. Oh wait, there is. The Funhouse (formerly Zac's). WOO HOO!! Granted, the PBR is $2.75, but that's ok. The bartenders are cool, and those ladies don't take any crap from you. They've got a pool table, and Area 51 (you know you love that shoot em' up game) and it's not as scary as it looks... Unless you're afraid of clowns. Sometimes, during the afternoon, one of the bartenders will bring in her juicer and use fresh squeezed orange juice and grapefruit juice for drinks like Screwdrivers and Greyhounds. Awesome. By the way... If you want food, you'll have to either go to the 5 Spot or McDonalds cause they ain't got no food. How's that for a double negative?
I love this bar. If you like punk, garage rock, and other such noise, this is the best venue in town... (although I hear the comet is catching up...) Don't drink the well whiskey.... it will make you go poo in your bed in the middle of the night. It's the only place I see shows anymore.
The Funhouse is everything any self respecting punk rocker could ask for in a venue. Consistently great shows, reasonably priced beer and drinks(considering that it is a venue, after all) and good natured, friendly, no B.S. bartenders and door guys/gals. Yes, it smells kinda' sweaty/beery, but so do punk rockers. No, the sound system isn't going to knock you on your ass, but the techs do a good job and the bands that play there are plenty capable of doing that on their own. Great jukebox, too. And basketball!
If you want to see a great punk band, rock band, or a good taste of local music go to The Funhouse. Great bartenders, a basketball hoop on the patio,and now that they put in a bigger sound system you can hear the music well too. The only drawbacks are the bathrooms are bad. I mean it's a punk club and those kind of bathrooms are only going to get to a certain level of cleanliness, but they are so tiny, and dirty, it kind of creeps me out. That aside, I've seen more than my share of great shows(probably 10 in the last year). Brian Foss, who books the bands and runs the club, knows what he's doing. He always has something to say and he always represents good punk, metal, kinds of music we don't even have names for yet. There is usually parking available, it's underneath the Space Needle, and you'll always find something interesting.
When it comes to dive bars, this one really fits the bill! When it comes to seeing local shows on a tiny stage for very little money, this one really fits the bill! When it comes to getting really cheap pitchers of PBR on a Monday night? Yup, it fits the bill. And let's not forget the $1.75 Schmidts in a can! It's refreshing to know that you can still find a cheap little hole like this right within walking distance to Belltown, downtown, and lower Queen Anne. It's right next to McD's across from the Space Needle. It's got a pool table with little room against the wall, but what can you do? It's got a patio that's really cool with a covered area and a basketball hoop. You get a crazy mix of people all hanging out and drinking that you'd never see hanging out in the "real world" and it's all good. Down-to-earth place with friendly service, cheap beer, and very intimate shows (it used to be even more intimate when bands played right on the floor instead of the little stage they've got now).
Formally Zak's Fifth Avenue Saloon, this is Seattle's oldest surviving punk bar and a good one at that. I frequented it when it was Zak's and since the change over, they've made huge improvements. Its the best punk dive bar in town in my opinion. Miller High Life's for $1 from 5-7 before every Sonics homegame and a chance to win tickets. That and Naked Karaoke on Sundays you can't go wrong. They also have the best bands coming through Seattle almost every night of the week.
Don't let the scary clown head fool you! This is one of the friendliest coolest bars in the city. For about $5 you get to see 3-4 bands pretty much every night of the week. Combine that with a great atmosphere, great bartenders, and a basketball hoop and you've got a perfect place to grab a beer, hang out with friends or meet new people.
The Funhouse is my favorite place to see live music in Seattle. It's not huge, the sound system doesn't blow you away, and they rarely have big bands... and that's half of its charm. It's smaller, comfortable, broken in, well-layed out, has a nice outdoor patio, has friendly and fast bartenders, and it's just about the perfect place to catch a touring punk or garage band or a bunch of local bands play their hearts out on it's small stage. Brian Foss, who books and runs that place, has been doing this shit since Gibson's. He also DJs the punk show on KEXP and is the nicest guy and tends to put great bills together. This is not a hipster scenester joint at all, it's a kind place where you see a garage rocker, mullet guy, hipster, some UW girls, someone in a crazy costume, and a dude with a mohawk all having fun and drunk talking to each other. Some nights at Funhouse seem more like being at a house party than being at a local club.
prices seemed high, but that seems standard for the city. cover on the other hand was standard for any weekend show. had a good time seeing a friends band play while i was in town. decent amount of booth seating and a fairly long bar. they have a large covered porch and an adjoining half basketball court. indoors there is a pool table and photo booth for entertainment. bartenders seemed unnecessarily sassy, but maybe they were having a bad night. i would probably go again if i was in the neighborhood.
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