A great dive in a growing hipster neighborhood
June 27, 2010: Off the train at 14th St and 1st Ave, I head east. The further I walk, the more I seem to go back in time. Less crowded, quieter. Feeling like the city prior to the upscale, over-entitled hipster invasion. A family plays dominoes under a lone incandescent bulb in the heat outside of a housing complex. I swear it’s the same family I saw years ago.
But as I get closer to my destination, a certain hip factor starts to swell off the asphalt of Avenue C. Fashionably skinny couples enjoying dinner on the sidewalk. Overly well-dressed kids standing online to get into some joints. And then finally the welcoming dive called Banjo Jim’s (700 E 9th St, NYC) comes into focus.
It is part paradise, part paradox with its amorphous bar, Christmas lights, no cover charge, cheap drinks and great service. The way a bar should be. The multitude of handmade gig flyers and band stickers plastering the walls and windows hints at this place’s true attraction.
The growing reputation as a choice, intimate spot to see great music. Blues, rock, country, folk — it’s a songwriter’s dream. the place is small enough to ensure an attentive audience. This could be intimidating, but it tests the true performers.
Tonight I was here to see my friend Jon D’Angelo and his band with Doug Shank (bass), Jaime Chan (drums). A great night of rockin’ blues jams. At one point Jon said it was gonna get loud. And he was right.
More whiskey! More beer! This was a good night!
There are few true city joints left. Banjo Jim’s is one for sure.
See Also:
Banjo Jim’s
Jon D’Angelo
