The Bell House
(From the people who brought you Union Hall)

Grand Opening
September 18th, 2008
FREE live show
Details: TBA
(The Bell House is located at 7th St b/w 2nd and 3rd in Brooklyn, NY)

Rogue Wave

I have long been a fan of the pop stylings of Oakland’s Rogue Wave and I kind of wondered (not out loud though) why their last album, the excellent Asleep At Heaven’s Gate didn’t get a little more attention or recognition from the people in the know. Anyway, the band is on tour right now and they are playing the All Points West Festival on August 10th and the curiously named “Endless Shovels: A Rogue Wave Tribute Band” are playing Union Hall on August 9th (buy tickets). A Rogue Wave tribute band, who knew?

All Rogue Wave tour dates after the jump.

“Rogue Wave Tour Dates, Endless Shovels Playing Union Hall” continued after the jump

Metronomy

UK’s Metronomy are playing the late show (11:00) tonight at Union Hall with very special guests, I Will Waste Him. Metronomy will be releasing their second album Nights Out on September 8, 2008.

More Metronomy tour dates after the jump.

PS Eli “Paperboy” Reed and The Teenage Prayers are playing the early show (7:30) at Union Hall tonight.

“Metronomy Tonight at Union Hall w/ Special Guests” continued after the jump

Here I am, finally getting around to posting my pictures from the Fleet Foxes late show at Union Hall (July 12).

Fleet Foxes at Union Hall (Late Show) (07/12/08)

View the full Flickr set over here.

Union Hall is celebrating its 2nd Anniversary in style this week with a three night stand filled with big shows from Mia Riddle, Wye Oak, and two performances by Seattle’s Fleet Foxes. That’s right, an additional Fleet Foxes show has just been added for tonight (Thursday night) at midnight, tickets for that show go on sale today (Thursday, July 10) at noon on Ticketweb.

Union Hall’s 2nd Anniversary
July 10, 2008 8:00 PM
FLEET FOXES + THE DUTCHESS & THE DUKE
SOLD OUT

July 10, 2008 Midnight - Just Added!
FLEET FOXES
$12 BUY TICKETS (Tickets on sale July 10, 2008 12:00 PM)

July 11, 2008 8:00 PM
MIA RIDDLE & BAND + GREAT LAKES + SISSY WISH (Just Added!)
$10 BUY TICKETS

July 12, 2008 8:00 PM
WYE OAK + BEAT RADIO and THE SECRET LIFE OF SOFIA
$10 BUY TICKETS

July 20, 2008 8:00 PM
TEARING THE VEIL OF MAYA
LINEUP TBA

But wait, there’s more… A special surprise guest has been added to the July 17
SPINTO BAND/EMILYN BRODSKY show. I can’t say who the special guest is, (because I honestly don’t know), but I strongly feel that there’s something vaguely Russian about them.

Last but not least, Tearing The Veil of Maya is also having a big 2nd Anniversary show on July 20. Unfortunately, I’ve got no info on this one, but believe me, as soon as I find something out, I’ll let you’ll know.

The Bell House is the new venue brought to you by the owners of the Union Hall. It’s located Located on 7th street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in Gowanus, Brooklyn. As you may recall, we gave the (then unnamed) Bell House a first look at the beginning of the month.

The Bell House

Photos: Bryan Bruchman

The Food of the Future also has some more pictures over here.

Young Knives @ Union Hall (06/07/08)

I snuck out Saturday night to catch the Young Knives at Union Hall and though I wasn’t able to take in their whole set, what I saw was pretty enjoyable. If you’re a fan and missed the UH show, you can still check them out tonight (Buy Tickets) at the Mercury Lounge with The Postelles, Magic Wands and Gustaf Heden. Check out the whole (D80) flickr set over here.

DOWNLOAD: The Young Knives - “Up All Night”

All Young Knives tour dates after the jump.

“Young Knives at Union Hall (Mercury Tonight)” continued after the jump

Hard to get a sense of it from these, but check out some construction photos of the new Gowanus music venue (from the owners of Union Hall).

Friends and supporters of Union Hall came out in large numbers last night to the meeting of Community Board 6 and in the end, they did not walk away disappointed. The motion put forth by Lou Sones, owner of The Brazen Head, to disapprove Union Hall’s application to renew its liquor license was soundly defeated by the board. In fact, a second motion was made during the meeting in support of Union Hall’s application for its liquor license renewal, which passed overwhelmingly. Ultimately, the State Liquor Authority (SLA) will decide whether or not Union Hall’s Liquour License is renewed, but now at least they can proceed safe in the knowledge that they have the blessing of the local community board.

See Bryan Bruchman’s badass flickr set over here.

“Union Hall Wins!” continued after the jump

Tomorrow (05/14) could change Brooklyn nightlife as we know it.

Community Board 6’s advisory board lead by Lou Sones (the owner of Brazen Head) is taking action against Union Hall of Park Slope. They are recommending the removal of their liquor license based on a group of about 5 people from Union street, with no facts generated to prove any violations. I repeat… THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY UNION HALL’S LIQUOR LICENSE WITHOUT A SINGLE VIOLATION! If this is allowed it could set a chain-reaction through the night life scene. If they can deny the renewal of a liquor license for an establishment with no violations they will be able to close down anyone they like.

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN!

The General Board will be meeting on this and other matters at the address and time listed bellow. Show up in numbers with signs stating your support for Union Hall and Brooklyn Nightlife. The press will be there and we have to put the pressure on

Borough Hall Court Room / 6:30PM
May 14, 2008
209 Joralemon St
Brooklyn, NY

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

On Thursday of last week, members of Community Board 6 of the City of New York, voted 6 to 2 in favor of a, “motion that denies Union Hall a renewal [of its liquor license] unless the business’ owners sign a contract stipulating that they will take measures to ameliorate noise, such as stopping the sale of alcohol after midnight. Although the motion is ultimately only advisory, the committee member who introduced it—Lou Sones, who himself owns a bar, The Brazen Head on Atlantic Avenue—described it as the community board’s “nuclear weapon” in terms of being a powerful indication to the State Liquor Authority that Union Hall is disturbing the lives of nearby residents.” [Brownstoner]

As a resident of the neighborhood, and a frequent patron of Union Hall I fervently believe that the board’s decision couldn’t be more wrong headed, short sighted, or reeking with the appearance of conflict of interest. Since its inception, Union Hall has become one of the premier venues for live music not just in Brooklyn, but in all of the five boroughs. In addition to being a great place for music, it’s a much loved community gathering place, it plays host to a top notch comedy night (Tearing the Veil of Maya was voted Best Comedy Night by New York Magazine), and it brings in internationally renown scientists for The Secret Science Club (which has presented talks by three Nobel Laureates). In its short existence, Union Hall has vastly enriched the cultural landscape of the Park Slope and any entity that wants or purports to change it, should be met with a healthy degree of opposition by the community and the public at large. In short, if Union Hall loses its liquor license, it will be a travesty of justice.

To write CB6 and voice your opinion, you can go here.

To call CB6 and voice your opinion, you can use this number 718-643-3027.

To take a look at what Union Hall has done to address the concerns of CB6 up to now, (and their associated lack of response), you can go here.

You can view some video of last Thursday’s meeting after the jump.

“Why Union Hall’s Liquor License Should Be Renewed” continued after the jump

While I was at home watching Blow Up on Saturday night, apparently things were blowin’ up just down the street at Union Hall when Sharon Jones joined the Sweet Divines for a one song impromptu set.

She came in and hung out ALL NIGHT at the bar. Then, when the Sweet Divines went into their last two songs, she got up there and freestyled for a song. Was amazing. The place went bonkers. [Anonymous]