The Mercury Lounge

217 East Houston Street, New York, New York

Opened in 1993, this small, storefront music venue on the Lower East Side can accommodate 250 fans. Doors separate the full bar up front from the venue in the back, where a stage, elevated only a few feet off the ground, promotes an intimate connection between audience and band. Live shows are held every night of the week with few off-night exceptions. Many indie groups haved stopped here on their upward ascent to fame including Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, the Strokes and others.