National Underground 159 E. Houston St. (@ Allen St.)
Lower East Side
212.475.0611
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National Underground:
“I’m surrounded by an identity crisis everywhere I turn.” Seems like singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw took inspiration from his own lyrics when opening up a bar on the Lower East Side. (Trust us, you'd remember the song if you ever watched that shit show One Tree Hill.) How else do you explain a rock 'n' roll club that boasts a pair of longhorns above the bar, books bands with tubas, blares everything from blues to cock rock, and hosts a brothel-like space with black leather banquettes in the back? We'd make a joke about the red light special here, but truth is, even the Miller High Life will set you back almost five bucks.
So why does his bar charge a $12 cover and serve $8 beers?? Even though there's an upstairs and downstairs performance space, the place is really cramped. It was poorly lit, the drinks were watered down, and the cover charge was just outrageous. The bartenders had holier-than-thou attitudes. On a side note, my boyfriend's band performed in the basement, and the sound guy was rude and unprofessional. I would stay away from this bar if I were you. Just not worth it!
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