ALARM’s ongoing series exploring the best grassroots, non-traditional music venues
Dan Deacon surrounded by sweaty fans (credit).
Venue: The Silent Barn
Founded: 3+ years ago
Location: 915 Wyckoff Ave., Queens, New York
Booking: Silentbarn@gmail.com
What attracted you to this DIY venue?
If artistic expression is an integral part of a community, what more personal and intimate way to experience it than in someone’s home?
Describe your typical crowd.
A pretty diverse one, we run the gamut of many different genres and styles. For the most part, I’d like to think of us as a home for those acts that are a little more fringe than is accepted in more established venues but we do noise, performance art, lo-fi, pop punk, math rock, marching bands, garage, experimental electronic, blah blah blah. We get a lot of awesome people from the neighborhood as well as kids from all over the tri-state area.
Do you believe your venue has been an attribute to your community? If so, how?
New York is a really harsh and cold place to tour through. We try and give bands on the road a more welcoming place, where they not only get paid what they deserve, but get a place to stay and maybe even some breakfast in the morning if we all get along.
How does a band book a show? What can they expect when they play?
If you live in New York, come to a show. There’s no reason for us to be talking over the Internet when you can just come over and say hello. If you’re a band on tour, send us an email. Don’t make it too formal, as that’s not what we’re looking for. You can expect to play in the kitchen.
Have any musical acts or artists had a particularly noteworthy performance?
Uh, yes. Deerhunter was a particularly notorious night. So was Dan Deacon last year. Black Lips played on New Year’s awhile back. We’ve had a lot of really amazing musicians, and many packed shows.
Do you plan on expanding or modifying The Silent Barn in the future?
We’re thinking about rebuilding our kitchen sink area.
What events do you have coming up?
A self-taught taxidermist named Nate Hill is unveiling a full-scale woman built out of animal parts on Halloween.
The Silent Barn: www.myspace.com/thesilentbarn