When singer/songwriter/producer and Animal Flag mastermind Matthew Politoski isn’t writing and recording soulful indie-folk jams like the ones found on last year’s The Sounds of Sleep, he’s playing some pretty rad venues up and down the East Coast.
Check out Matthew’s favorite spots below, and be sure to pay at least one of these venues a visit on your next road trip. And if you need some tunes for the drive down, check out Animal Flag on bandcamp.
The Elephant Graveyard – Chester, NY
In Chester New York there is a barn attic-turned DIY venue called The Elephant Graveyard. The shows here span everything from hardcore to punk/pop punk to indie rock to folk to poetry to everything in between. Bands on the bill for any particular night are always treated to a home cooked meal prepared by the owners of the barn. The space can hold about 100 people. 120 if you squeeze into the rafters. One of the best DIY spaces on the east coast run by some of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet.
Elephant Graveyard on Facebook
Studio Luloo – Oaklyn, NJ
Studio Luloo is a DIY space in Oaklyn NJ, which is a small town right outside of Philly. During the day the space serves as a day care center for small children but at night it serves as a place for people from the age of 16-28 to come and get angsty to super loud live music. You can get some kick-ass semi authentic Philly cheese steaks in the place next to Studio Luloo. Also, if you are looking for another awesome place to eat while you are in the area, you should check out The Pop Shop in Collingswood NJ. It’s a Dr. Suess themed restaurant/diner that has this amazing invention called “Pancake Fries” and they are literally the most beautiful things you will ever put in your mouth.
Studio Luloo on Facebook
The Pop Shop Website
The CD Cellar – Arlington, VA
The CD Cellar is a record shop located right outside of DC in the city of Arlington. The vibe of this place is awesome, the people that run it are great, and if you get a show there on a weekend with some local bands there will be a good turn out. Down the street and around the corner is a pretty sweet little cafe as well called Java Shack.
CD Cellar Website
Java Shack Website
The Saloon – Charlotte, NC
In Charlotte NC there is performance complex called The NC Music Factory, and it features venues suitable for all types of bands, from major label acts to DIY touring bands. One venue in the complex that is great for touring bands is called The Saloon. Although it is technically a bar venue, this is one of the nicer bar venues you’ll ever play. You get a full soundcheck, ample time and space to load in and setup merch/equipment, and a discount off the great food. If you play here on a summer weekend night you are most likely gonna be playing to a good crowd. So basically if you don’t have any contacts in Charlotte who can book you a super trendy basement show and you really need a spot to play, this is the place. Also, a part of the Charlotte experience that will probably wind up being better than your show is a place called Amelie’s. Amelie’s is a 24 hour pastry shop located on the outskirts of the city. The vibe of the place feels like you are seeing the inside of a bakery in Paris through the eyes of someone who is tripping on acid. They have sold over 1 million of their signature Salted Caramel Brownies. Definitely worth the couple dollars to get one of those.
North Carolina Music Factory Website
Amelie’s Website
Sweet Melissa’s – Savannah, GA
Sweet Melissa’s is a pizza place in the heart of downtown Savannah, Georgia. Shows are regularly hosted in the basement of the pizza shop, and the bands who play here get a free pizza. The sound system in the basement is surprisingly impressive. Some of the best sounding shows I’ve been too/played in terms of local and DIY shows have been in this venue. Lots of hardcore bands come through here, but they are open to many styles of music. You can park your giant van around back and after the show there is plenty do in the downtown area. The bar scene is pretty good. This city is also a prime “people watching” spot because of all the strange characters that come out of SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). If you aren’t into bar hopping or creepily watching other humans live their lives, take a walk down to the river and just go exploring. Savannah is by far one of the most beautiful little cities on the east coast.
12th & Porter – Nashville, TN
Nashville, being Music City, is full of amazing places to play/eat/crash. But because of that, it’s a city that can feel over saturated at times. A venue that stands out to me as an ally to touring bands is 12th & Porter. It’s located right downtown, and will most likely be the nicest venue you play during your sketchy-east coast-discover yourself-in-a-van-with-your-best-friends-tour. You have ample space and time to load in/set up, you get a legit and thorough sound check, and best of all, you are treated like a professional regardless of whether or not you are filling the 325 capacity room. You don’t have be a huge band to play this venue either. Hook up with a couple of local bands and you have yourself a great night. On top of having kick ass sound, your show will also have an extremely professional visual aspect. The backdrop of the stage is a state of the art LED board that you can project whatever image you would like during your set. You also get an amazing light show that reacts to the dynamics of the songs you are playing. And to top it all off, there is a gourmet pizza restaurant attached to the venue where musicians can get a 25% discount on their food.
The Goat House – Odessa, FL
The Goat House is a DIY venue in Odessa Florida. The space is part of a small complex of random buildings attached to a gas station. Directly behind the venue, in the rear parking lot, you will find the largest Goodwill super store you have ever seen in your life. For these reasons, this spot is a touring bands dream. You get to fill up your tank at the venue after the show, and you also get to go thrifting. Another plus is that the people who run the venue are in bands themselves, so they understand what it’s like to be on the road and are devoted to giving touring/local bands a place to play. The shows here range from hardcore to pop punk to indie rock to acoustic bands. The sound system here is not the best, but the overall great vibe of the place makes that fact almost not matter.