O'Briens gets 5 stars out of me for being 110% of what it sets out to be...a straight up, hole-in-the-wall, punk/rock dive bar and exactly what I set out in search of. Â
I transplanted here from L.A. a couple years ago and finally got my best friend to come out a couple weeks ago. Â Either of us would take a bullet for each other and it's been that way for nearly 2 decades, but we're like yin and yang...I'm black, he's white. Â I'm usually chilled out, he's got a typical Irish temper. Â I'm soul/hip-hop, he's metal/punk. Â
Anyway, on his visit, I wanted to give him a real Boston experience so we did touristy stuff (Fenway, Duckboats), cultural (ICA, SOWA), and even hit Revere beach to relax. But for music I wanted to take him somewhere he'd really appreciate as truly Boston. Â I hit Yelp for help (yes, I was that square, searching online for punk venues) and decided on O'Briens.
As soon as we walked up, I knew I made the right choice and once inside, we were not disappointed.  Pretty tiny, a faint odor of sweat and beer, ear-splittlingly loud bands where members of the next band are standing in the crowd next  to you waiting for their turn and appreciating the act on stage.  Drinks were pretty cheap and we managed to get in a fair few of them in us, served up by the solid bartenders.  Squeezed in shoulder to shoulder, it was one of those moments where you really get something that you for some reason never could.  I GOT punk, and I have O'Briens to thank for that.  Needless to say, my buddy had a blast and his Boston experience was complete!
Went here a few weeks ago looking for a good show. Just recently moved to the area and had no idea of where to go or anyone to go with for that matter, so I just searched some local shows for the night. Ended up having a really awesome time. The crowd was really cool, $3.50 for PBR tall boys, and I met a bunch of cool people. Great place for shows, especially if you grew up in small venues where it was tough to tell where the band ends and the crowd begins. Decent sound for a small venue too.
Review Source:Sometimes I look at a listing for a place I've been to frequently and I sa "huh, why haven't I reviewed X yet?!" So... here I am.
At various points in the last six or so years, I've been to O'Briens to see either my husband, my friends, or my friend's friends in bands. That's the only reason people come here, right? And for that, it's a pretty good spot. The sound is LOUD inside, but it's just small enough to make it seem like a moderately attended show is packed, and the bar prices are reasonable (a gin and tonic and Sam Summer was $10.50).
The one big downside to this place is that they don't take cards. I get it, you're in Allston, you have to deal with a lot of crap. But so do the other 294848 places around here and they take cards. And don't get me started about how much it costs - I know! I work for a credit card processor, so I assure you that I know how much it costs. I'm just saying I'd likely spend more if I were able to use my card. I don't want to pay the price of a beer just to use your ATM, O'Briens.
I have mixed feelings about this bar. Â It's definitely a boston landmark, and has some cool shows. Â My only complaint is that the sound system is too loud for the size of the room. Â (I'm not an old man, I play in a band and can handle noise) Â I like good loud shows, but it can get painfully loud in there if the band sucks or the sound guy isn't paying attention. Â
I went in there once, (and this totally isn't the fault of the bar) but there was this metal band playing, this specific sub-genre of metal I like to call "Jug-Jug-diddly-diddly-Jug-Jug" because of how the guitars sound, and their bassist had an 8x10 (that's eight 10 inch subwoofers) tack cranked up as loud as he could get it!! Â I was effing shocked. Â he could have had a 2x10 and rocked the place. Â It was pretty painful and I had to leave cause it wasn't worth losing my hearing to this kids overdriven, low-tuned 200 dollar ibanez bass. Â
on the flip side, I've seen some really good shows there where the levels were fine and the band was awesome and I had a great time. Â Definitely worth checking out, but if you see an 8x10 stacked amp, get the hell out of there before someone turns it on!
I went to O'Briens for a show-first off, I love the Christmas lights. Yes it's September, but it adds a nice atmosphere and reminds me of one of my favorite times of year.The sound was good, and it's pretty small place  so if you want one of the three or so tables get there early. But, all the same it makes shows there that much more intimate. Also-and this is a big plus for me-CLEAN bathrooms! (well-the girls anyway!)
Review Source:I had seen this place many times, and wasn't sure what to expect. well, yes, actaully i was. and i was right for the most part.
Its a bit of a cross between dive bar and small music venue (and its right next to a tatoo parlor in LA (lower allston). )
That being said, and having walked by it several times, i knew what i was getting into, nontheless, when i heard that two hip-hop acts that i had listed to back in college were playing there i had to check it out.
Its cash only, but cheap, the sound quality was horrendous (at least for hip-hop). not sure if it was the sound man, the speakers or what, but it was awful. (you could really tell the good acts from the bad acts this night though, seeing that th ebad acts just did their songs, and sounded bland, while the better acts, got the crowed involved, and made them enjoy the show.)
anyway, there is also a pretty grimey back patio if your into that.
Our band played at O'Briens a few months ago. Â It's a small, simple, open layout club with a few standing tables, a fully stocked bar, and (when we were there) a great sounding system. Â They seem to get really good mid-level bands in there, and the guy doing sound when we played (gary? dreadlock guy) knew the room acoustics really well, and made all the bands sound great. Â
It's definitely not a bar to go on a first date, as you can't hear anything over any band that's playing. Â But, if a band you love is playing there, do not miss the show, because it's as intimate a show (no backstage or second room) as you can get while still enjoying a powerful, great sounding PA system. Â
The staff, while surly looking, wound up being friendly, helpful and fun to hang out (and do shots) with. Â
Oh, and they have a pinball machine.
O'Briens is a smaller place with live music 7-nights a week. Â They have cheap drinks and a nice atmosphere for a local-concert style scene. Â
O'Briens has an awesome Sunday residency series over the summers. Â Prepare yourself for a mid-day show and an evening show on Sundays, usually complete with a bbq out back throughout the day!
It's a combination small-concert venue and dive bar, so don't expect any crazy bells and whistles, but do expect a good time.
I'm only giving it less than the four to five range because of a personal beef I have.
I only went once. I went to support a friend's band. (Ara Vora. Great show.)
The "specials" sign said "Vanilla White Russians." I LOVE White Russians, but this was a new experience for one buck more.
I ordered my Vanilla White Russian. I got milk and vodka, no kahlua.
What the fuck. I haven't been back since. It was a tight place otherwise, but they seem to have bougeoisified it for the hipsters and students. I hate when a great bar sells out. Maybe it's still great. I dunno. I'd rather go to Deep Ellum or just stay on the Cambridge side of The Rivah instead.
Live music 7 nights a week, with cheap drinks and even cheaper cheap beer. Good place to see Rock, Metal, Hardcore, heavy stuff, etc. Sometimes there will be like 7 bands on the bill, and it will start early and be packed all night. Sometimes the opening bands don't show, and the only band left plays 2 sets of covers to their friends and the staff. Either way, PREPARE TO ROCK. The cover has been about $6 - $8 during the week, more on the weekends. They cleaned up the inside a few years ago, and freed up some extra space in front of the stage.
You can't really escape the band anywhere if they are ungodly loud. Bands usually like to turn way up here, even though it's pretty small. I always feel bad for the soundguys here. Every night there's a guitar player who'll crank up his full Marshall stack to 11, and wonder why you can't hear anything else. The place sounds alot better when there's a pro band playing, who is loud but controlled, and who understands the room's limitations.
Even if you don't drink PBR or High Life, chances are you've had one at O'Brien's. Everyone that knows someone in a band has had to sit through three or four drunk bands on a Tuesday night, waiting for their friends to go on. Every Boston rocker has played here. Â I played here before I was even allowed to drink in bars.
Good place to get trashed, yell out obscene things, take shots of something random, and get on stage and try to sing words you don't know. You used to be able to smoke here like most bars in Boston, and the place would smell like a Pabst can that was being used for an ashtray. Your eyes would have to adjust to the haze and stinging. The places smells better now. Well, a little bit...
I love the reviews about this place. Â People, this is a ROCK AND F'ING ROLL BAR. Â It is exactly what it is supposed to be. Â If you feel like someone there is "profiling" you, it's in your head. Â Really. Â If you feel "out of place," that's an insecurity issue you need to work out on your own. Â This is not your chi-chi Alley bar or the Four Seasons, and you know what, it's okay to go out in a t-shirt and shorts sometimes. Â If you feel judged, it probably says more about you than anyone else.
This place is just plain awesome. Â Live music every night, cheap beers, good people, and LOUD, LOUD, LOUD the way metal and rock are supposed to be. Â Do yourself a favor and get some earplugs, toss back a high life, and step out of your comfort zone for an evening of rock.
small place... live music every night. if the band is too loud it's the bands fault. the only thing that goes through the P.A. is vocals so don't blame the house for the shitty sound, it can be managed! i will give O'briens credit for having Long Trail Ale in the house. and if they could put a sign up that said O'briens it would be easier to find!
Review Source:I went to O'brien's Pub tonight and it was awful. I went to see my friend who is in BLOWW and arrived at 9pm as the website informed us that 's when BLOWW would start. Â Unfortunately, there were three bands beforehand, who were so repulsive that they caused us all to buy earplugs, which they sold at the bar, for $1, because they know their bands suck that bad. I still can't believe that they got any piece of the $7 cover charge. Â During the second 'band', my brother showed up to come in and hang out. The nazi bouncer informed us that they were at capacity, which was clearly a lie. I would almost classify this as a hate crime, since he had a nicer shirt on than almost everyone there. I ended up meeting him outside and went to the draft with him, since he said we could come back after the next set. We came back after a text from my girlfriend, saying they were letting more people in, just to have him again say, "full capacity", which i'm sure is one of three phrases he knows. Apparently, capacity at O'briens is 37 people, I counted. The end, don't ever go there. It's awful.
Review Source:First off, I'm not a big fan of shows in general. Â They're alright but I only really go when a girl I'm into wants to go or a friend's band is playing. Â The latter is what brought me to O'Brien's. Â Its probably because it was the band's own equipment but the sound was pretty poor. Â Given other descriptions, you'd think it was because of being too loud but that's not the case. Â It was just poor quality sound.
In brighter news, the service was good. Â Whoever the 35+ guy behind the bar was with a shaved head and zz-top goatee, he gave damn prompt service. Â I was impressed to be treated that way there given that the bar wasn't dead and I was the standout yuppie in the room.
Overall, not the place I would hang out but nothing distinct would keep me from coming back.
I felt bad for the first band I saw here; they were finishing up a fairly long tour in our fair city, and I was one of maybe 10 people there not in one of the other bands. And for some reason, even in such a small room, there's no way to make that crowd seem large.
At any rate, O'Brien's is a pretty small joint. It seems like the kind of place you'd see a band play their first show. I found the sound to be better than I had expected; the punk rock being played on stage thundered and raged through the system and got those of us who did show up to move.
The drinks are reasonably priced, I guess. They compare well to the area. And the selection is solid, though let's be honest. You're eyeing that PBR tallboy just like the rest of us.
I enjoy dive bars as much as the next guy, but cash-only bars are a bummer, especially since half of the little bit of $$ I did have already went to the cover charge. Other downside is that whoever was in charge of the sound booth didn't realize just how tiny this place is -- it was pretty much impossible to communicate with anything other than charades while the band was playing. At least the band was really good!
Review Source:I must say, I do strangely miss the smell of piss, broken things and splintered wood that so seemingly epitomized Allston to me in the years i lived there. BUT times and things do change and O'Brien's seems to have had to too.
The remodel turned it into a nice bar that's probably easier to clean and definitely opens the space up to a wider range of events and clientèle. The space is laid out essentially the same with some good, logical changes like taking out that divider thingy they had and putting the sound board against the front window by the door. That frees the space up a lot. The men's room leaves a bit to be desired... like... oh, PRIVACY! I don't mind pissing in a urinal next to another guy minding his own business doing the same but c'mon, a toilet with no stall? No way man, no way.
Other than that, the place still has good shows, big burly bartenders and the same drinks. At least that's still the same.
It's the kind of place where the performers spit out PBR on the audience and then the audience takes a swig and returns the favor. Entertaining as long as I'm not caught in the crossfire.
O'Brien's may be on the smaller side but like many Boston venues it's a divey place with decent sound. A few high tables and seats at the bar, but mostly room for the crowd to flop around. They have a decent beer selection (not sure if I'd get mixed drinks) and the bartenders are friendly. It's about a block away from the 66 bus.. it's also close to the 57 and a bit of a walk to the green line.
4 stars for achieving what the venue set out to be.
If you're lucky, you'll hear a hardcore band sing a tune about Michael Dukakis and the song will get stuck in your head for weeks. WEEKS.
Tell me you don't like this place and I will fight you...
On my birthday I brought a couple of close friends and yelpers here to enjoy redbull, flat soda, beers (for those who imbibe) and having our ears blown out by the acts in front of us.
While standing there one of my comrades looked up and said: "you know what? this is Boston, here in this room."
He's damn right.
O'Brien's isn't just an Allston landmark, it's a Boston institution. Â One of the best and only places in the city to see true rock, hardcore, punk and metal as it should be: loud, smelly, and in your face.
The staff are also awesome - some of the realest and most friendly people in Boston. I love seeing shows here or just stopping by to grab a drink and see what's happening. The people watching is quality, the conversation inaudible, and the bands a mixed bag. But it's worth the $7-8 every time.
The littlest venue that could!
Scenester central for underground Metal and Rock in Beantown.
I have seen and played a ton of great shows here, the place is tiny, the folks are rowdy, the drinks are mean and the bathrooms some of the worst east of the Mississippi.
Loved it.
*I haven't been there since they revamped the place, but I'm sure not much has changed and the walls are still covered in cheap-ass tacky (but appealing) 70' wood paneling.
*Oh yeah, parking is a bitch. You will have to try really really hard not to get towed!
I know what you're thinking. "Daniel C," you're wondering aloud, "where in Allston can I eat free hot dogs and see eight shitty metalcore bands all play their first show on a Tuesday night?"
Well.
Recently renovated, O'Brien's is still one of Boston's great shitholes. Beers are still cheap, acoustics are still hilariously terrible, daytime barflies are still mysteriously there all night, the bands on any given evening are still all liable to have songs with jud-jud breakdowns called "You Fuckin' Bastards."
a dive with decent music, updated bathrooms that don't smell of urine (most of the time) and tall boy pbrs. the sound isn't so good - the speakers sound a little blown out, but oh well. the patio out back is a fantastic thing...not sure if it's always open - but it's rare these days that you can drink and smoke at the same time!
Review Source:this will eventually be a 2 part review but for now it is for the old o'briens, i loved it here cheap drinks and good metal shows and darkbuster had there hometown throwup shows here before the abbey, they closed for renovations this winter and i've yet to go in since it reopened probably be there for the watchmaker show coming up, the bathrooms could have definetly used some attention and i'm sure that was a big part.
Review Source:Going to O'Briens reminded me of getting drunk in a bowling ally back home on karaoke night only amped up a little more.
If you think it looks shitty on the outside I promise it looks equally shitty on the inside. The acoustics suck but when you bring in regular boston metal acts like "we're all gonna die" it doesnt really make a damn. It doesnt pack alot of people (small space), but on a given night about a third to a quarter are women. Pabst is sold for 2 dollars in clear plastic cups. Age range 20-40. They let me in at half cover the first time I went without me even asking when I simply expressed genuine interest in the bands playing that night. Possiblity of excessive beards, leather, and long haired men and short hair women runs high depending on the night...
I was having a smoke outside with some people between acts when two girls in club gear were standing there trying to figure out where Wonder Bar was. One guy tried to give them advice but they first ignored him and then just walked away in the middle of him talking. He looked at me, shook his head, and said "man, sometimes I think people are just assholes.. fuck 'em"
Fuck 'em indeed. I get that attitude when I get tired of being places where people throw up airs and try scout one another out for an evening of intoxicated genital meshing.
Sometimes I just want to get drunk cheap and be moderately entertained- At least at O'briens no one usually gives a shit. Its generally assumed that if your drinking the same swill, pissing in the same hole, and having your ears blown out by the same noise that you probably dont either.
O'Brien's is wikkid scuzzy, and a fun place to see heavy rock and metal bands, even if you would never sit down on the toilet. The drinks are Allston Rock City average price, and the new bartendrix seems like a nice gal. It's a real downer when a show goes bad here - the room is so small that a band's poor showing (e.g. less than 15 people watching) can be downright embarassing.
Review Source:Dingy dive bar of the first order, the nightly live bands inside O'Brien's can be heard about a block away. Â Since smoking's illegal in Boston's bars, the front doorway is constantly littered with both butts and post-college kids from all walks of life: grungy punx, too-cool-for-you scenesters, matty-haired metalheads, they all meet in O'Brien's. Â The bar itself is spare, dark, and freezing cold---I have to wonder if they even use refrigeration for their kegs, especially in the winter. Â O'Brien's is the malt liquor of Allston bars---not pretty, but it'll certainly get the job done.
Review Source:I love O'brien's. During the day or early evening, the locals gather to drink away the day and listen to the Stones over and over again on the Jukebox-- at night it becomes a great dive for bands to play at. I've played here probably a dozen times and it's always a good time. Cheap beer, gruff but fair bartenders and best of all, O'Briens books bands that you aren't going to see at the Middle East. Don't come here expecting much more than bands and cheap beer, but for some of us, that's more than enough.
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