Gussy’s Bar

Great place to see and support awesome local bands.

Love. This. Bar. Go with friends who want an experience. They recently renovated the stage and music in the back, the sound system is amazing. The drinks are cheap. Cheap enough that if you are paying cover then it is still worth it to buy drinks at the bar even if you do not care what the music is. The set up of this bar is great– if the music is good you can join but it is separated enough that if the music is awful you can just hang at the bar. I’ve gone a couple times and have always been impressed by the variety of music, they had death metal with a guy all in white satin fake cutting himself with blood pouring from him. They had Korean rock. Then they had a Harlem gospel group. This place is 2 blocks from the subway, you should at least check it out and if it is not your thing then go to single cut brewery or no partners around the corner. If you are into history: as the oldest bar in astoria it looks or of place on a now residential block. It also has a coveted cabaret lisence grandfathered in, so it can have dancing and music much later than most other places.

I have never seen this place open, never. I have been by at all hours and they are never open.

It’s been around since 1939 and I’m sure they built all of the homes around it, preserving this place as a small haven for the neighborhood. From the outside, you feel like you’re walking into a VW Post, then you get greeted by the locals and it’s like a hug from your big gruff uncle. It looks like a metal bar, but it hosts all kinds of music every weekend. I stopped in to see a dear friend play an acoustic set. The drinks are inexpensive and you can order a pizza and eat at the bar with no problem. Did I mention how friendly the crowd was in this place? Hi Gussy!

Gussy’s is A-​Ok.
It’s a hole-​in-​the-​wall bar, and when you walk in here, and what you see is what you get.
There’s usually a cover charge to see bands on Friday and Saturday nights.
The bartenders and bouncers are incredibly sweet.
The bathrooms are incredibly clean.
The people here are usually quite nice and down-​to-​earth.
The down points are that it’s hard to get to via public transportation, and that the beers are overpriced at $ 5 for a bottle — even for a low-​priced beer like Coors Light. The bottled beer selection is very small and they’ve got no beers on tap. They only do bottles, shots, and mixed drinks.

I got on the Q train last Friday night, rode to the last stop and saw Hlidskjalf and Spectral Voices at Gussy’s «Brooklyn Attacks Queens Show». There were some problems with the sound but the bands played great, the bartender and other staff were very friendly, and the atmosphere was relaxed – perfect for a good time.

A Bar that is actually a bar, where people in the neighborhood hang out, and some damn good rock and roll acts play on a good sound system. And I could still sit at the bar, enjoy my cold drink and have a chat. I was there for the first time, with someone who recently moved nearby, we were greeted by the bartender (a woman) and I think maybe the owner. Everyone friendly, nice crowd, great bands. Don’t miss out on a taste of a real NY bar and genuine music scene.

Though they could use a little work with the sound, the venue is quaint and friendly. I saw an amazing band there, GunMan Voodoo, and loved the vibe, atmosphere, affordable drinks and pleasant Bartenders. Check this place out!

My band (Gotham City Mashers) had a great night playing Gussy’s. We thought the sound was great, and everyone in the place was super friendly. It’s a locals bar, but one where the locals are totally welcome to new faces. I would definitely play there again, and I’ll probably start hanging out there sometimes too.