I
know it takes a little more than turning on the tube, but heading out for live
music is so good for you. Plus the audience (you) is an integral part of each
performance. You’ll help the performer avoid philosophical conundrums like, “If
no one’s here to hear me, will I still make a sound?” and, “Were my parents
right about that whole job thing?”
So
curb your boredom while saving our many talented entertainers from these
torturous questions at any number of live joints sprinkled throughout
Rochester. Here is a partial list. You can find all the info in the music pages
of the weekly issue of City.
Acoustic
and folk
California Brew Haus (402 Ridge Road West,
627-1480): one of Rochester’s older bars, in the Kodak Park area; acoustic and
louder rock entertainment on weekends
Daily Perks Coffeehouse (389 Gregory Street,
271-2340) folk, rock, spoken word, poetry, comedy; open mic night every
Wednesday; a coffee house with a real stage
Earthtones Coffeehouse (1217 Bay Road, 671-3060):
live acoustic; intimate, caffeinated
Spot Coffee (200 East Avenue, 232-7768):
spacious atmosphere offers anonymity in the cavernous art-deco echoes; coffee
and food accented by stripped-down acoustic talent
Starry Nites Café (696 University Avenue,
271-2630): jazz, bluegrass, acoustic, and blues complement nights of tealeaf
and tarot card readings and homemade desserts
Blues
Beale St. Café (689 South Avenue,
271-4650): blues (with some Zydeco thrown in) Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
along with delicious Cajun cuisine
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (99 Court Street, 325-7090):
blues (from rookie to royalty) from next door and around the world
NOLA’s BBQ (4775 Lake Avenue,
663-3375): New Orleans fare with a recent stab at live zydeco and blues; near
enough to the Lake to walk it off
Rab’s Woodshed (4440 Lake Avenue,
663-4610): blues with a roadhouse feel; near the lake
SmokehouseBBQ (48 Merchant Street, Brockport, 637-6020): the new kid on the
BBQ and blues block — but hell, there’s always room for more
Smokin’ Joe’s (425 Lyell Avenue,
647-1540): live, local blues; Some of Rochester’s heavy hitters are there on
Thursdays for open-jam night
Country
Josie’s Country Jukebox (5435 Ridge Road West,
352-4505): a real live-music roadhouse that caters to the whole family, not
just the rowdies; only 20 minutes from downtown
The Roost (4853 West Henrietta Road,
321-1170): karaoke, dancing, and live entertainment all centered on country
music.
Sandra’s Saloon (276 Smith Street,
436-1929): live country music in one of Rochester’s oldest bars
Jazz
Bop Shop Atrium (274 North Goodman Street,
271-3354): national and international jazz heroes, from the traditional to the
insane; some of the best talent brought into Rochester, for free
Horizons at Woodcliff (199 Woodcliff Drive,
381-4000): rotating roster of local jazz piano talent, with the occasional
national act thrown in
Java’s (18 Gibbs Street, 232-4820):Often taps the talent in the Eastman
School of Music’s jazz department; dark, eclectic, downright cool; lots of
older-acting kids, and vice versa.
Little Theatre Café (240 East Avenue, 258-0412):
an intimate spot to catch some great local jazz before or after your movie
Pop
and rock
The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Avenue,
454-2966): Underground, independent rock ‘n’ roll from Rochester and around the
world is alive and well; local and national DJs on Wednesdays and Fridays;
frequent all-ages shows. If musicians aren’t playing here, they’re at least hanging
out. Wake up on the floor and you’ll think you’re on the ceiling.
Honeoye Pub (125 East Lake Road,
229-4535): live music and American fare in a rural setting; This joint jumps in
the summer.
Johnny’s Irish Pub (1382 Culver Road,
224-0990): acoustic, light rock music and friendly folks; nice neighborhood
feel, even if you don’t live nearby
McGhan’s (11 West Main Street,
Victor, 924-3660): rock and blues on weekends; 20 minutes outside Rochester
Milestones (170 East Avenue, 325-6490):
all live-music venue with something for everyone: rockers, hippies,
swing-dancers, yuppies, and freaks
Monty’s Krown (875 Monroe Avenue,
271-7050): live, local rock ‘n’ roll in an intimate, pro-drinking establishment
with a nice Blue Velvet feel
The Penny Arcade (4785 Lake Avenue,
621-7625): a Rochester institution; huge national, cover, tribute, and
throwback metal bands mixed in with a lot of the younger, heavy bands here and
there
Richmond’s (21 Richmond Street,
454-4612): They may apologize for being open, but c’mon in anyway. This is
downtown’s mucho-cool neighborhood bar. Great bar food, parlor games, and a
deck. Uncle Ralph’s Steakout is a Sunday tradition, replacing church for many.
Steel Music Hall (1509 Scottsville Road,
436-7573): live, local, and national hard rock and alternative bands; if ’80s
hair metal is going anywhere, it’s here; killer sound system and stage
Water Street Music Hall and The Club at Water Street (204 North Water Street, 325-5600): best
place to see larger bands, national and larger regional talent, and, of course,
Rochester’s favorite bartender, Chops. Usually, ages 18 and up admitted. The
Club hosts open jams and local and national shows when a smaller room is
appropriate. Combined with the main room, it can handle multi-staged events and
festivals. Rattlesnake Pete’s portrait oversees the goings-on at the bar.
Etcetera
Bullwinkle’s Café (627 Lake Avenue, 458-5530):
Part David Lynch movie, part MGM musical, this is the place of eclectic,
noirish dreams, with big hats for everyone, cabaret-style sing-a-longs, and
fun, all led by an enchanting, accordion-playing hostess.
Six Pockets (716 East Ridge Road,
266-1440): great prime rib and tons of pool tables; live blues and rock. Rock
’em while you rack ’em.
Classical
Home
to the renowned Eastman School of Music, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and
the Hochstein School, Rochester is spoiled by a huge number of top-quality
classical concerts. In addition, there are many community choral, instrumental,
and operatic ensembles that perform in venues throughout the city and
throughout the year. Here is a sampling of what you might hear.
SCHOOLS
Eastman School of Music (26 Gibbs Street, 274-1100,
www.rochester.edu/Eastman/concerts/): vocal, choral, chamber, orchestral, and
other ensembles; opera, organ, jazz, contemporary music performances by
students, internationally known faculty members, and guest artists from around
the world; Notable Eastman groups include Musica Nova, the student-run OSSIA,
and the popular Ying Quartet.
Hochstein Music School (50 North Plymouth Avenue,
454-4596, www.hochstein.org/calendars.htm): Catch Live from Hochstein, the free
lunchtime concerts on Wednesdays; many other concerts by faculty, students, and
guest artists
Orchestras
Chamber Music Rochester (244-2554,
www.chambermusicrochester.org): performs at the Hochstein School and the
Memorial Art Gallery
Equinox Orchestra (264-1705): freelance
orchestra; performs the Mostly Mozart Festival
Rochester Chamber Orchestra (328-5895,
www.roch.com/rco/): 40-year-old group; concerts at Hochstein School
Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestra (454-2100, www.rpo.org): classical, pops, and Casual Classics concerts;
OrKIDStra series for children; mainly in Eastman Theatre (26 Gibbs Street),
summer series at Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua
OPERA
Mercury Opera (473-6567): Newly formed
opera company with inaugural season in spring 2005
Choruses
Irondequoit Chorale (266-5018): Irondequoit
United Church of Christ, 644 Titus Avenue
Madrigalia (234-4283,
www.madrigalia.org): 18-voice chamber ensemble, various local venues
Musica Spei (www.musicaspei.org):
sacred choral music of the Renaissance
Rochester Oratorio Society (473-2234, www.rossings.org):
usually at Hochstein School
Schola Cantorum (454-3878): Medieval and
Renaissance music Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. in Christ Church, 141 East Avenue
Early
music
Publick Musick (671-6612,
www.publickmusick.org): Baroque vocal and instrumental music on period
instruments
Rochester Bach Festival (377-3537,
www.rochesterbachfestival.org): weekends in March
Community
orchestras
Genesee Valley Orchestra and
Chorus (223-9006, www.gvoc.org); Roberts
Wesleyan College-Community Orchestra (594-6008); symphony orchestras in Brighton (248-0680,
www.brightonsymphony.org), Penfield (872-0774),
and Greece (234-5636).
This article appears in Mar 23-29, 2005.
