Knitting Factory

I couldn’t really decide on 1 star or 5 stars. After working there for four years, there were good, bad, exciting and terrible times. However, i guess the good outweighs the bad a bit so I went with the 5.
Oh knitting factory. So many nights of intoxication, most of them work nights. So many fun staff members that came and went during my time.
Loved all the Three Floors of Ska there. Met and saw tons of great bands. Also met a lot of asshole musicians… Even attracted Dave Atell as my stalker!

Decent.
Went here for a Family Force 5 concerts. Filled with wannabe young punks. Really small. Had a good chance to meet the band afterwards.
Yeah.

I am very sad to hear that The Knitting Factory closed this location. I saw Efterklang with Slaraffenland there in May of 2008 and also Machinedrum with Theophilus London.
It was a cool, comfortable, laid back place. The stage was way too small to fit Slaraffenland and Efterklang on the stage all at once when they joined together for a couple songs at the end. There was a trombone, violin, guitars, drums, trumpet, horn, a pianist, a clarinet, a bass, and there is probably something I am leaving out…
There was not a whole lot of room to hold the crowd that came either, but it was still an amazing show. The sound was not the greatest, but the band being so badass made up for that.
It was awesome how it had 3 floors and something different going on on each floor.
Definitely one of the more unique venues I have been to.

It is a shame that the Knitting Factory is closing shop next week. I’ll miss the three stages and the eagerness with which the club encouraged up-&-coming musicians, both locally and internationally. I’ve lost track of how many fantastic acts I’ve seen there over the years (along with some mediocre ones), but the Quasi showcase last week capped off my experience perfectly. It was one of the rawest and purely enjoyable rock-&-roll moments I’ve had in my life, and I’m grateful to the Knitting Factory for bringing it to me.
The concept will be back in a trimmed down version this coming March, in the space where the Luna Lounge used to be. I’ll still miss the three stage structure and the Knitting Factory was always worth the trekk out to TriBeCa, but at least the new venue will be even more convenient for me. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that they carry off the transition well.

I used to come here a lot when I was younger as a patron, it was always a fun time but had not been there in several years… Recently, we did our World Zombie Day closing party here, the Zombie Nation Tour with the Living Dead Girlz, Strip For Pain: America’s Most Dangerous Game Show and much more… it was a great time and the staff could not be more helpful… there was even a guy with a free photo booth that was getting tons of great pictures but I didn’t get his contact info! He does different shows there, does anyone know who he is?
Check out the wrap up of the events at
!

I was greeted with a «Hey mami, what show are you here for?» by the guard outside. It was probably the first time anyone has ever called me «mami,» but all’s good because it was said in a friendly/​totally non-​disrespectful way.
Anyway, yesterday I braved the horrible weather (gusty winds and pouring rain) in order to attend the free brooklynvegan CMJ showcase. All three floors were open to visitors which was pretty great.
Things to know (just to reiterate some previous reviews):
–There are bars on every floor and relatively clean bathrooms for ladies and gents on the 1^st level down.
–Performance/​viewing space decreases as you make your way down the stairs to the Tap Bar and then to the Old Office. It can definitely get cramped in there if the act you are seeing is popular.
–The Old Office has quite a bit of lounging space (chairs and sofas) which reminds me of an old furnished basement.
I’ve only been here a couple of times but my very first impression of the place sticks. The Knitting Factory, with it’s weathered, but sturdy wooden floors is like an old mansion-​type house that just happens to showcase live bands and serve alcohol.
This location will be closing in January and the Knitting Factory will reopen in Bklyn. www​.tribeca​trib​.com/​n​e​w​s​/​n​e​w​s​s​e​p​t​0​8​/​k​n​i​t​t​i​n​g​f​a​c​t​o​r​y​.html

This venue hosts small startup bands where musicians can make their mark in hopes of being signed-​on to reputable record label companies. The stage is small but the height of the stage gives depth and size. Indeed, as per a previous reviewer there are pillars around the stage and floor area that obstruct guests’ view of the stage. The floor is small which becomes uncomfortable for fans/​guests to saunter.

I went to a show here last night (first time in about two years), and I really enjoyed my experience. The bouncers at the door were really nice and helpful, much more so than the ticket people who seemed so over everything. Nevertheless, I learned my biggest lesson about the Knitting Factory from them: tickets are less expensive day-​of-​show than online because of the service fee (in my case, $ 12 day-​of vs. $ 13.25 online). If you want to risk it, do so.
The bar prices seemed high, but it was ok because even sober, the show was fantastic. For such a small venue, the Knitting Factory has really good acoustics, even all the way up by the speakers. The stage is raised up high enough so that shorties like me can still see, and its tiny size, though probably annoying to the bands, means that the band gets pretty close to the edge so that you can actually say, «I was a foot away from [insert hot lead singer’s name here]!» The fact that the Knitting Factory is so small and only books smaller acts means that the crowd is often filled with either hardcore fans or people who are open-​minded about new music, making for a great experience.
The two biggest pluses, however, were the fact that the main stage area was air-​conditioned ridiculously well and pictures were allowed. I can’t tell you how awesome it was to not have my bag rifled through.
Bathroom Grade: ⁹⁄₁₀. Oh my God, why can’t every concert venue bathroom look like this? Surprisingly clean, it’s decorated in marble with incredibly spacious stalls. The lock on the door was broken and the faucets look like Kohler knock-​offs, but still. Any place where I don’t feel like I’m about to get hepatitis is tops in my book.

I’ve been here a few times, the last two times were to see Melt-​Banana and the last time was Peelander-​Z. The stage isn’t that big, but it’s nice and high. There are pillars that are huge and can get in the way, but I like to hide behind them to avoid the moshers (when I’m not in the pit, ha). I’ve only been to the main stage, I haven’t been to the one downstairs. The sound is pretty good, no complaints.
There is a bar to the right of the stage, I’ve never purchased anything from there. You are free to leave the venue so it’s worth it to check out the little grocery shop for a quick bite.
There is a room to the left of the entrance where I believe is another bar and all the merch tables.

Once upon a time, I went to see a show at the Knitting Factory, which consisted of several men dressed as bumble bees smashing television sets and record players while loud, deafening static blasted from speakers far too large for the LES-​style studio apartment I was crammed in. At the same concert, another showed clips from various episodes of The Simpsons at seizure-​inducing speed, also while blasting static. The final act featured an obviously drunk, too-​cool-​for-​school woman lounging on the speakers, doing her best impression of Courtney Love, and then screaming at the top of her lungs for several, godawful minutes.
What I’m saying is, a noise show downstairs here (or anywhere. sorry!), is certainly a missing layer of Dante’s inferno. The Knitting Factory, on the other hand, is pretty cool.
There are three floors at the Knitting Factory, all which serve their purpose. I like that there’s so much going on at once. I am partial to larger, but still intimate venues, which this place definitely has – they’re small enough so you can see and feel everything, but not so tiny that you can’t move around and have more fun. The Knitting Factory has a consistently diverse line-​up; go check out something worthwhile, and it will rock your socks off.

This is not so much a review of the knitting factory, as a review of their bar. The bartender at the Knitting Factory made me quite possibly the strongest gin and tonic ever to still qualify for the name. I mean it was basically a glass of gin with a lime in it. Negligible tonic.
For some people an $ 8 glass of gin might be the best time ever…
For me it meant I barely remember anything else about this experience.
…I think it was fun? Music is good?
One neat thing that I do remember is that after the opening act finished they came down off the stage and hung out in the crowd to party. Always a nice touch.

Ugh. Did I go to the same place as other people? Hot, bad acoustics (or maybe the opening acts were just bad.?), ugh.
I also have a gripe with their online ticket reservation system. Contrary to what the website says about saving $ 2 by booking online, the service fee tacked on made buying tix in advance more expensive than buying them at the show, and on top of that everyone had to wait in the same line regardless of whether you had a ticket or not.
Maybe the larger spaces within are nice, but the ceilings were low and felt like they were descending upon me and it was so hellishly hot that I just thought it was an all around crappy venue.

The Knitting Factory wins my award for favorite music venue.
A very intimate venue that attracts good national (and international) bands. The venue picks up a wide variety of music — I’ve seen punk/​ska shows and bluegrass.
The balcony is the best when not in the mood to strain your neck by looking up at the stage. They even have theatre seats on the balcony (although they may have removed it since I did not see them the last few times I was on the balcony). The accoustics are excellent and for the most part there’s no bad spot.
The staff very friendly and they have a good selection of beers.
It’s a combo of two of my favorite venues in SF — Bottom Of The Hill and The Hotel Utah Saloon — plus more.

Deets: Jump Little Children Farewell Tour ’05, 8 pm, decision to go with two almost strangers, made last minute amidst [my] hysterical excitement
Thought process: Fuck fuck are we going to make it? What if we don’t make it? They’ll never play again must see must see (which classes do I have tomorrow? What time? 8.30? No problem must go must) go go go D train WHY don’t you move faster? Must. get. below. Bleecker. soon. What if tickets are sold out? GUYS, what if the tickets are sold out? We should’ve left earlier. Dammit. Where IS it?
Facts: Dragged a sickly boy and some girl living in the same dorm to see a band they’d never heard. $ 10, moderately damaged hearing, auditory orgasm compliments of one Matt Bivins be-​still-​my-​heart singing «Body Parts», a once-​sickly boyfriend, a break up, a Jump Little Children t-​shirt, and my first article for my school’s pretentious shitastic paper later and
oh man that was still one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Small venues rock my socks.

Saw my friends’ band play in the Old Office space, but got to explore all three floors before they went on. Crowd was an eclectic mix of club kids (and I do mean kids, they looked 16) there for the dance party on the second floor, brooding artist types who were early for the first floor show, and stoned NYUers drinking PBRs in the Old Office. All was well, everybody got along, and I got to see a great show in a very small space.
Thank goodness for a bar on every floor. Drinks were relatively cheap. Bathrooms left a little to be desired, but what club bathroom doesn’t?

The concert was schedule to be at 7:30pm and i arrived at at 7:30. There was a long line outside the Knitting Factory and I was worried the concert would start without me! But the line moved fairly quickly — no problems and staff were friendly and helpful. I half expected to be shouted at just because things can get tense whenever there’s a crowd but everything was under control.
The concert was at the Main Room (There are 3 spaces) and as I got there late, it was already packed. but discovered there was a balcony, which was much less crowded and the view was good!
Its an intimate way to watch your favorite indie act perform. didn’t know NY had something like this!

Saw Pansy Division here Saturday night.
AWESOME!!! Nice staff, nice space, the intimacy really works with bands and fans like PD’s. The band was really responding to and working the audience, the crowd was really into it and literally within spitting (or sweating) distance from the music. The band was even among the crowd in the bar before and after the show, which was cool as $#@&!!!
The one weird thing is how the neighborhood around The Knitting Factory has transformed over the past 20 years… we ended up walking all the way up into the WV to find some quick affordable eats when we found out that PD was going to be the second to the last band of the four playing in the main space.

So seeing an indie rock show has been on my «to do» list and my «make it a habit» list for a few weeks now… So when the opportunity to see the Umbrellas last weekend came up, I was really excited about it.
When we entered the place I was a bit skeptical. Well actually even the location was a bit obscure and there was not much around. Upon entering you understand why the name of the place is called «Knitting Factory.» Actually I don’t know what a knitting factory would feel like, but it felt like some kind of factory or mill. The wooden floors were old and they creaked with every step. Okay it was almost like an old dormitory. You can go upstairs, downstairs, into the room, whatever. We went downstairs for the show, and you pay for the particular show you’re seeing before entering that room.
The room was not that big, and I’d say it could accomodate 50 people max. There was a bar, and a small stage. I’m not an expert at telling if sound systems are good or not, but from what I heard, it was good enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the Umbrellas, but the band that came on afterwards, Lola Ray… I’m not too crazy about. The lead singer of Lola Ray did seem to enjoy many female fans though, lol. So does the Knitting Factory book great bands? That’s for repeat visits to find out…

Very intimate and you can walk right up to the stage. Went to go see Man Man and everyone was just going crazy.
Recently went back for the Meat Puppets. Another insane show. You can stand anywhere and still get a good view. Staff was friendly including the guys at the door + bartenders.

While visiting a friend, we decided to check out some progressive jazz/​rock bands. As we were sitting enjoying our Guinness out at the bar, we realized that the band playing on that floor was the same band we had seen years ago in Santa Cruz, when my friend was last out in CA. Funny how a few years and 3000 miles still sometimes produces the same result.
We then proceeded to the downstairs area and caught the band down there. I have to say the show we caught was quite ecclectic. Avant garde, whacky, dissonant jazz. Can’t say it was quite my cup of tea but still entertaining nonetheless. After several drinks and the grand total of the show being $ 8 it was fairly decent price to entertainment value.
Great venue for some unique and experimental music and very affordable as shows go these days. Multiple show stages/​bar areas make it nice for either show hopping and/​or catching multiple bands with ample access to booze.