By Ron Bishow
Special to amNewYork
What’s a musician to do with money to burn and time to kill between recording and touring? Why, open a bar, of course.
Unlike impersonal chains such as the Hard Rock Cafe, many of NYC’s musician-owned establishments dapt the feel and style of the artists who own them, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your taste.
Here are a few places you might want to check out for hero worship — or at least a beer.
Southern Hospitality
1460 Second Ave. at 76th Street
212-249-1001
Though Justin Timberlake has been busy bringing sexy back, on the side he’s also been trying to bring Southern etiquette back — up North. The food at this barbecue bar/restaurant is down home good (fried chicken, ribs), and it’s relatively cheap. Just be prepared to lose your voice, as the place is loud with blasting music and teens thinking they just saw co-owner JT or girlfriend Jessica Biel.
Snitch
59 W. 21st St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues
212-727-7775
Snitch is owned by former Velvet Revolver bandmates Scott Weiland and Duff McKagan and former Fuel vocalist Brett Scallions. Considering Weiland has just left Revolver and rejoined Stone Temple Pilots, it’s doubtful you’ll see the gang doing shots at the bar any time soon. Snitch has live rock music almost every night, and has instruments on hand in case any rockers want to do an impromptu set. Maybe Duff will get Guns N’ Roses back together one night.
National Underground
159 E. Houston St., between Allen and Eldridge streets
212-475-0611
Taking over the space Martignetti Liquors used to occupy, National Underground is an unprentious rock ’n’ roll club that is all about music. It has live acts seven nights a week, and the basement plays host to an additional band every Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday. Owned by singer songwriter Gavin DeGraw and his brother, Joey, Underground is refreshingly easy on the wallet. Even the curtained area in the back is open to anyone, and there isn’t bottle-service anywhere to be found.
The Bowery Electric
327 Bowery at Bond Street
212-228-0228
Jesse Malin has been a New York indie legend from his time with the bands Heart Attack and D Generation to a solo career. He’s also turning into quite the bar proprietor. Already part-owner of the popular East Village bar/music venues Niagara and Black and White, he recently helped open The Bowery Electric in the former Remote Lounge space. It is a simple, dimly lit bar with stools and beers on tap — no frills, just like Malin.
Angels and Kings
500 E. 11th St., between Avenues A and B
212-254-4090
Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz (Ashlee Simpson’s hubby) opened this bar in 2007 with his band and members of groups he helped launch — Gym Class Heroes and Cobra Starship. Kings is basically a one-room dive bar, in a good way. If you want to take a step further in your musical journey and pretend you’re in Fall Out Boy, play your heart out Wednesday nights at their weekly “Rock Band” battle.
40/40 Club
6 W. 25th St. at Broadway
212-832-4040
Jay-Z’s sports bar isn’t the kind of place you go to have a few beers and watch the game with friends; it’s the kind of sports bar you go to be seen watching the game. More of an opulent lounge than a typical sports bar, 40/40 has plasma and projection TVs, leather eggcup chairs suspended from the ceiling and $14 drinks. There are also three private rooms. A tip: Don’t show up in your baseball cap. Patrons are always dressed to the nines.
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