MERCURY LOUNGE

Drawing lofty comparisons to Seattle’s Crocodile Café, Mercury Lounge has perfected the recipe for booking up-and-coming acts at affordable prices, housing them in an intimate-enough atmosphere and consistently attracting high-energy crowds. The Lower East Side location doesn’t hurt either—attracting an eclectic mix of neighbors, artists and music lovers alike, Mercury also reels in an interesting fringe following—bankers and bridge-and-tunnel types sneak in here for their occasional rock fix, too. With CBGB’s gone, this is one venue that is still all about the music—the kind of place where you’re likely to share a lager with the bassist before the show—and your best bet to catch the next best band before they hit the big-time likes of Madison Square Garden.