BY WILLIE CLARK
Music: the life blood that pumps through any college town, or
any city for that matter. Rochester
is no exception to the rule. Maybe you want your music loud (and the crowd
louder), or perhaps you want some java with a side of programs and pamphlets
while somebody plays soulful acoustic guitar. Either way, Rochester’s
live music venues have you covered.
We’ve got
massive stages that have been home to myriad national acts, cool clubs
sprinkled with local acts you haven’t learned to love just yet, and cozy
coffeehouses for the crooner set. This guide is limited to some of the more
prominent local venues that regularly host live music; check City Newspaper
every Wednesday for a full list of that week’s concerts, or go online to
rochestercitynewspaper.com to search the events calendar.
In the
meantime, sit back, keep your arms and legs inside the newspaper, and dive into
the wonderful music venues that you should call home for the next four years
(or five or more, if you’re going to be one of those fancy doctor types).
ARENAS
Auditorium Theatre
885 E Main St
| 585-222-5000, rbtl.org
A home to Broadway spectacle and touring comedy and music acts,
the Auditorium Theatre brings in something for everyone. Past musicals have
included “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Disney’s The Lion King,” and “Wicked.” Musicians
such as Kenny Rogers, B.B. King, Tom Jones, and AniDiFranco have hit the stage recently, and big-time comics
such as Bill Cosby have also packed the place. The future of the Auditorium is
murky, however, as the Rochester Broadway Theatre League — the organization
that books the Aud — is currently actively seeking a
new venue in which to present its many touring shows.
Blue Cross Arena
1 War Memorial Sq | 585-758-5300, bluecrossarena.com
The bigger they are, the louder the hall. Or something like that. The Blue Cross Arena, the venue with the largest
seating capacity in Rochester, is
the place to go for the biggest touring acts that come through the FlowerCity. Bringing in names such as Bruce
Springsteen, Rush, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Carrie Underwood, and even the
duplicitous Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus duo (just a
tip: don’t wear the t-shirt from that show to class the next day), the Blue
Cross only hosts a few shows a semester. But with names like that, who can
complain?
Gordon Field House
1 Lomb Memorial Drive,
RIT | 585-475-4121, rit.edu/fa/fieldhouse
While you won’t find many women at RIT (while the
male-to-female ratio isn’t quite 99:1, it might seem that way sometimes), you
can still find good concerts. Gordon Field House brings in its fair share of
touring acts, and students get discounts at most shows, which is always a plus.
Recent acts at the Field House include Snoop Dog, Maroon 5, Panic!
at the Disco, Kanye West,
Sum 41, and even 50 Cent. RIT also brings in big-name comedians as well
throughout the year, rounding out the venue’s appeal.
Main Street
Armory
900 E Main St
| 585-232-3221, rochestermainstreetarmory.com
Yes, you are in the right place, and yes, it looks like a
giant castle. And you’ll be spending many nights here enjoying the big names
that the Armory brings. Reopened as a music venue and sporting arena in 2006,
the Armory has again set itself on the Marauder’s Map that is Rochester’s
music scene. The venue continues to bring in big names, with the likes of
Modest Mouse, Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed, Busta
Rhymes, Shinedown, and the locally connected Flogging
Molly all having laid siege to the mighty Armory over the past few years.
CLUBS
Abilene Bar and Lounge
153 Liberty Pole Way
| 585-232-3230, abilenebarandlounge.com
Relatively new to the club scene in Rochester,
Abilene has made a name for itself
with its combination of live music, atmosphere, and drinks that it brings
together under one roof. Embracing styles such as country, rockabilly, and
reggae, Abilene also hosted the
Americana/Roots stage for this year’s Xerox Rochester International Jazz
Festival, a testament to its growing place in the local music scene. Abilene
also keeps prices low, with many shows being completely free. And with open jam
sessions every Wednesday, Abilene
invites you (yes, even you) to join the musical camaraderie.
Bug Jar
219 Monroe Ave
| 585-454-2966, bugjar.com
Nothing buggy about this venue and bar rolled together, as
the Bug Jar brings in just about as many shows every year as there are days on
the calendar. You can almost always count on a band playing every night, and if
you do the math, that’s a lot of shows that you can’t keep making excuses to
miss. Shows are usually cheap (and the drinks cheaper), and with names like The
Arcade Fire, The White Stripes, Ninja Academy, and Vampire Weekend to its
credit, the Bug Jar is a great place to catch smaller acts on the brink of the
big time. If you are just too damned hip for your own good, you’ll fit right
in.
California
Brew Haus
402 W Ridge Road | 585-621-1480, myspace.com/californiabrewhaus
Although it’s not an actual brewery, Calafornia
Brew Haus does offer a braggingly high 250 different
types of beer. And what better place to go for live
music than a brew house? Offering bands almost every weekend, it is open every
day of the year, including holidays, giving you no excuse not to check it out
at least once. You’ll have to navigate the venue’s MySpace or Facebook to find
shows, but with the prevalence of music, taking a shot in the dark to enjoy the
food, drink, and music is a guten way to experience Rochester
firsthand.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
99 Court St | 585-325-9127, dinosaurbarbque.com
This regional chain started in Syracuse
before bringing its unique twist on bar-meets-restaurant-meets-music-venue to Rochester
more than a decade ago. Featuring rootsy acts that
are as good as the food, Dinosaur has hosted Redline Zydeco,
The Buddahood, Les Dudek,
and many other blues, jazz, or like-minded acts, and almost all the shows are
free. So grab some ribs (or the Devil’s Duel wings) and be sure to check it
out. Just don’t drive your stolen cop car through the doors on your way out.
The DubLand
Underground
315 Alexander St
| 585-232-7550, http://dublandunderground.wordpress.com
Another two-for-one venue, the Dub Land Underground hosts a
full bar on its first level, while the “under” level holds the music hall, and
why yes, a second bar. With a name like DubLand, the venue brings in more than
its fair share of DJs, as well as other electric acts that are sure to hit that
specific musical need of yours. Names that might ring some bells include Slick
Rick, DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5, and The Brown Bag All Stars.
The German House
315 Gregory St
| 585-442-6880, thegermanhouse.com
A 100-year-old theater, the German House, much like the
Armory, is a reminder of Rochester’s
great history. Bands such as Reverend Horton Heat, Enter the Haggis, and GreatBigSea
have all played at this historic venue. Fitting roughly 400 people at its
larger theater stage, the German House also holds the aptly named The Keg
(a.k.a. Downstairs at the German House), a smaller area for more intimate
shows, meetings, or performances. Find the upcoming concert schedule at up upallnightpresents.com.
MontageMusic
Hall
50 Chestnut St | 585-232-1520, myspace.com/themontagemusichall
The MontageMusic
Hall fills in the gaps between places like Water
Street and the smaller clubs on the list. Montage
tends to gravitate toward the more hardcore and metal ends of the musical
spectrum, but also hosts shows for the massive local jazz festival as well.
Bands like Clutch, Stemm, and Otep
have all graced the Montage stage. If you’re looking for shows you’ll have to
navigate the venue’s MySpace (that thing you used to use in high school), but
the club-like atmosphere of the venue is perfectly suited for the college-aged
and aolder crowds.
Water Street Music
Hall/The Club at Water Street
204 N Water St
| 585-325-5600, waterstreetmusic.com
A double threat, Water Street
houses both a large-stage music hall and an intimate club stage for smaller
acts and acoustic sets. Giving you the best of both worlds, Water
Street is able to cater to a wide range of acts.
Chances are you’ll find at least one show on the venue’s sprawling schedule
that will suit your musical tastes. Bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Ben
Folds, The Derek Trucks Band, AFI, and hometown favorites Giant Panda Guerilla
Dub Squad are among the many groups to have called Water
Street their Rochester
music home.
COFFEE HOUSES
Boulder Coffee Company
100 Alexander St,
585-454-7140; 955 Genesee St,
585-287-5210 | bouldercoffeeco.com
College and coffee seem to have been fused together like Sauron and his ring, so much so that many can barely think
of one even existing without the other. Now with three locations (a third
operates with limited hours at the Rochester Public Market), locally grown
chain Boulder Coffee Co. offers you that college coffee-shop. With open mic comedy, jam nights, and plenty of indie, folk, acoustic,
and even piano-based acts, Boulder gives you a great chance to pick up some
coffee (or something coffee-adjacent) while checking out local or national
singers and songwriters. Serving both the Brooks Landing developments and the
South Wedge, Boulder has become a
part of both neighborhoods’ distinct flavor and atmosphere.
Lovin’ Cup
300 Park Point Drive
| 585-292-9940, lovincup.com
It seems that just about everything you could possibly want
is located within the Park Point college town at RIT, and Lovin’
Cup is no exception. Music, food, and the café
experience are all combined with a unique attitude and flair. With food
selections such as “I’m Hot for Teacher,” “Baby, Now that’s I’ve Fondue,” and
“Rage Against the Green,” Lovin’
Cup is a unique and musically obsessed venue that you won’t want to miss. Live
music and open-mic nights abound, and make sure to
check out the art and the fanciful wine rack and other surroundings. It all
adds to the creative atmosphere at Lovin’ Cup.
This article appears in Aug 18-24, 2010.
