The Club & Music Scene

I discuss the top venues, both large and small. But there are many more than the ones I list, and new ones are popping up all the time.

Midsize & Multigenre Venues -- Also see what's on at the stellar Joe's Pub, a top-flight cabaret that hosts intimate shows by pop acts. Spring 2007 saw the opening of a new venue on the far West Side: the Highline Ballroom, at 431 W. 16th St, between 9th and 10th aves., tel. 212/414-5994; www.highlineballroom.com. It opened with a series of sold-out shows (it has a capacity of about 700) from acts ranging from Lou Reed to Amy Winehouse and Disco Biscuits.

(Mostly) Rock Clubs -- Live music at rock clubs usually begins around 9pm, but check sources for up-to-date starting times and prices.

In addition to the choices, rock fans on the hunt for diamonds in the rough might also want to see what's on at folk's legendary Bitter End, 147 Bleecker St., between Thompson and LaGuardia streets in the heart of the Village (tel. 212/673-7030; www.bitterend.com).

Jazz, Blues, Latin & World Music -- Be aware that a night at a top-flight jazz club can be expensive. Cover charges can vary dramatically -- from as little as $10 to as high as $65, depending on who's taking the stage -- and there is likely to be an additional two-drink minimum (or a dinner requirement if you choose an early show). Call ahead so you know what you're getting into; reservations are also an excellent idea at top spots.

For those of you who like your jazz with an edge, see what's on at The Knitting Factory. Swingsters should consider Swing 46. Weekends at Carnegie Club are ideal for Sinatra fans looking to relive the moment.

Despite its name, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill extends well beyond the blues genre to embrace over-the-hill acts of just about any ilk, from Morris Day and the Time to Blue Oyster Cult. Still, the venerable bluesman does take the stage from time to time, so you might want to see what's on.

You might also consider Jazz at the Kitano, in the mezzanine of the Kitano Hotel, 66 Park Ave., at 38th Street (tel. 212/885-7119; www.kitano.com), for some first-rate jazz in a casual, comfortable setting. The Kitchen, 512 W. 19th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues (tel. 212/255-5793; www.thekitchen.org), has a full slate of live music and performance art. In association with the 92nd Street Y, Makor offers a similarly eclectic mix, as does Joe's Pub, which adds a cabaret spin.

There's also world-beat jazz every Friday and Saturday from 5 to 8pm in the rotunda at the Guggenheim Museum. And don't forget Jazz at Lincoln Center, the nation's premier forum for the traditional and developing jazz canon.

Some of the bars mentioned also have occasional live music. For an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, and R&B, Creole in East Harlem offers a full schedule.

Jazz in the Afternoon -- I personally like my jazz in the evenings or the wee, wee hours, if I'm ever awake for them. But I like jazz enough to dig it in the afternoon as well. And in Harlem, you can get your jazz pretty much all day and night thanks to the emergence in 2006 of Ez's Woodshed, 2236 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd, between 131st and 132nd sts. (tel. 212/283-5299; www.bigapplejazz.com/ezswoodshed). At Ez's the gigs begin every day at 2 until 5pm and then again from 5:30 until 8pm. Thursday through Saturday, Ez's has nighttime sets from 8:30 until 11pm. Ez's features up and coming talent, but if you are lucky you just might be there when local talents like Bill Saxton or Eric Reed stop by and sit in a set or two. There is never a cover or minimum, but there is a "suggested donation" of $10 to $15 dollars to keep the music flowing.

Ticket-Buying Tips

Tickets for events at all larger theaters as well as at Hammerstein Ballroom, Roseland, Irving Plaza, B.B. King's, and S.O.B.'s can be purchased through Ticketmaster (tel. 212/307-7171; www.ticketmaster.com).

Advance tickets for an increasing number of shows at smaller venues -- including Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge -- can be purchased through Ticketweb (tel. 866/468-7619; www.ticketweb.com). Do note, however, that Ticketweb can sell out in advance of actual ticket availability. Just because Ticketweb doesn't have tickets left for an event doesn't mean it's completely sold out, so be sure to check with the venue directly.

Even a sold-out show doesn't mean you're out of luck. There are usually a number of people hanging around at showtime trying to get rid of extra tickets for friends who didn't show, and they're usually happy to pass them off for face value. You'll also see professional scalpers, who often peddle forgeries and are best avoided -- it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell the difference. Be aware, of course, that all forms of resale onsite are illegal.

Online Sources for Live-Music Fans -- These websites are your top online sources for live-music schedules:

Clear Channel Entertainment: www.cc.com

Ticketmaster: www.ticketmaster.com

Additionally, Web sources Citysearch (www.citysearch.com), Time Out New York (www.timeoutny.com), and all of the hard-copy resources (and their corresponding websites) listed at the start of this chapter offer a wealth of live-music listings.