Let me start by echoing what others have said- if zero stars were an option, I'd have picked that.
My band played at PA's several months ago. In advance, I asked the booking agent if they had three DI boxes as this would be necessary for a band. DI boxes are needed for bass guitar, keyboards, and basically anything that does not use an amplifier. He assured me that our technical needs would be met and that we were ready to go.
We arrived at the venue at the load-in time mentioned by the promoter. The sound guy was nowhere to be seen. A half hour later, the sound guy is still nowhere to be seen. "Doors" are allegedly at 8 (I say this loosely, because this place has been open all day and some people have been there actively drinking all day; they saw the show for free) and it was 7:30.
At 7:45, the sound guy strolled in. I went and asked him if there would be a sound check. He asked when we were slated to play, and I said last. He said there would be no sound check but there would be a line check (a polite way of saying "we'll make sure everything technically works, but your first two songs in your set will be your sound check." I voiced concern that we had an atypical (but easy) setup, and that it may make sense for us to do this before the show. He assured me all would be well.
Throughout a too-loud show wherein microphonic feedback (ring out your damn room) and a complete and utter lack of vocals, the bartenders clung to the regulars, and when someone there for the show approached they'd give condescending looks and act like they were doing a favor by serving drinks. Thanks, guys. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your hectic schedule to serve me a warm and watered down PBR.
We were finally up at the end of the night, and got our equipment ready. We had our three lines for DIs ready and I handed them to the sound guy.
"What are these?"
"They're our DI lines. The first one is computer, and the last two are the synthesizers."
"We only have one DI."
"Are you kidding? The guy who booked the show said you had three?"
"This one has two inputs though. We can plug two things into it and it'll sound really good."
I need to stop the story here. I have a degree in audio engineering, but anyone who has ever used a DI box knows that this is NOT the case. Seeing a lack of options and an increasing delay in our start, I acquiesced and plugged two things into the DI box. We borrowed our first amplifier from another band, then he started checking the signal, and it was coming through very distorted and low in volume through the monitors. He walked over to us.
"Huh. I guess using two signals in the DI won't work."
We borrowed our second amplifier.
He started raising up the computer volume in the monitors. It provides our drums, so it's a necessary part of our show. He could not raise the volume, which was maxed out on my end, beyond what amounted to the volume level or someone speaking loudly. My amplifier was on 2.5, where it always is, and it easily drowned out the monitors. He turned it up as loud as he could, and it just kept distorting.
"Do you have some kind of limiter on the monitors? It's definitely turned down far too low, and this is what it sounds like is happening." I got a blank stare in reply.
We continued to struggle with the levels, and I was growing increasingly furious. I was assured that the venue was equipped to deal with the not-too-crazy demands that we had, and here we were struggling with a guy who had an entry level grasp of audio equipment (and I am being polite in saying so) to get things working to a level where we could actually perform. In our practice space, it takes us about five to ten minutes to get set up from zero. We were now in the 15-20 minute range. That's when one of the bartenders got involved:
"YOU'RE CLEARING THE BAR!" she yelled directly at me, making eye contact. She would heckle us later between songs, as well.
I approached my bandmates and suggested we walk the hell out, but we had a good number of friends there who had all paid to get in. They outvoted me and made the right choice to slug through it.
The show itself was nightmarish. The monitor situation was never resolved, so we played quietly and still managed to hear nothing but a wash of distortion coming from the monitors and my quiet amplifier masking all detail, so the rhythm was all but lost from us. I apologized to the audience at one point in the set for the terrible sound issues and the awful performance we were giving as a result, but I realized at this point that the sound guy could actually STILL make things worse for us. I backtracked quickly and apologized, hoping he wouldn't intentionally sabotage us further than he had already done so unintentionally.
At the end of the evening, we had the pleasure of getting paid $20 for bringing in 10-15 people at $8 each. I strongly recommend no musician ever play at this anti-musician venue unless you're ok with being treated like trash.
Third stop on our bar crawl, and I'm a bit more observant that I anticipated. It was a late Saturday night and I think they closed at 1, so we had the tail end of a crowd. Space for a live band, though we missed that. Bartender was hilarious, drinks mediocre. No problem moving on to our next bar.
Review Source:Echoing what others have posted, I'm embarrassed to say that I attended a well-attended show at PA's Lounge this week, and messaging with the band the next day learned that NONE of the bands were paid. When I pay a cover I'm contributing to the band -- the establishment makes money off the drinks sold to the crowd the band draws. The booking website has so many warnings, you KNOW that there is a history of mistreating bands. An owner doesn't post such a detailed policy unless s/he's received MANY complaints (there were definitely more than enough attendees to surpass the door fees... unless the bouncer was pocketing cash).
That cover charge is the last money that sleazy place is getting from me. I refuse to support an unscrupulous establishment.
I would give this place zero stars if I could. The staff is unbelievably rude. It's all charming at first, until you realize they aren't being ironic; they simply don't care about the space or its customers. The bathrooms are disgusting, the bartenders obnoxious. They turn the games up while quiet bands are playing in the room, as if the wall was still up--for anyone who isn't aware, there used to be a wall separating bands from the bar. The doorman is usually sleazy and and/or drugged out and they treat bands like shit--you pay THEM for your drinks, and then they always find a way not to pay you at the end of the night. Any band I've talked to that plays here usually vows to never come back.
The beer is crap and the taps are dirty, and clearly the owners couldn't care less. I heard they served food for a while, and I can't imagine how awful it must have been. Note to bands considering playing here: DON'T; you'd be better off holding out for a show at almost any other venue in somerville/cambridge/boston. Note to people wanting to see a show: DON'T; even if the band is amazing--and they do have some great bills here once in a while--because the night will more than likely be ruined by all the factors listed above.
If I could I would give this place zero stars!
My boyfriend is in a band and they played their first show at PA's Lounge a month ago. The owner is very rude and the sound tech was 30 minutes late...Nothing was set up so the bands had to start playing almost an hour late! The cover charge to see the 3 bands playing that night was $7, but somehow after 4 hours of preforming the owner claimed the bands only made $90 in tickets altogether. I was present for the entire show and I counted at least 3 times that many people in attendance. They owner clearly STOLE money from all of the bands (including one of his resident bands) and each group of 3+ people only walked away from 5 hours of work with $30.
A friend's band played at PA's last night and had a similar, if not worse, experience. The sound guy was 2 hours late (he needs to be fired immediately) and once again the owner was extremely rude.
Not to mention that the place is dark and creepy and they don't serve food. Complete rip off! I suggest that if you are a band that is considering playing here...DON'T!!! And if you're looking to listen to some great local music go elsewhere as the show is likely to start hours late!
Went to see my friend's band play and loved the whole lineup. Blue Moon was $5 on tap, the bartender was really nice, didn't ignore my short frame behind the bar and didn't give me a hard time about getting an ice water every time I got a beer.
$10 cover wasn't astronomical and it was well worth the amount and quality of entertainment inside. I would not feel weird coming here alone, depending on the type of crowd, but it's a great place for groups, especially if you can claim a table in front of the stage.
I love love love PA's! Â Besides the cheap beer great drinks and the easy going atmosphere..there's quirky bands, a fun open mic..and great sarcastic but hilarious bartenders. Â They just recently tore down the wall that separated the bar side from the stage side and I thought it would make it intolerably loud, but its not. Â It's nice to not have to choose between hanging at the bar or watching the bands (which they have a pretty eclectic mix of ). Â Even if I have plans to meet someone somewhere else or what not I always stop in here first for one. But it is a great place to just sit and hang out watch a game.. Talk to the other patrons and the bartenders or sit quietly with a beer and do a crossword.
p.s-I think they have plans to reopen the kitchen in the future, which would be great. But don't quote me on that!
I wish the kitchen stayed open. Mostly because I was hoping some of the Con Sol menu would make its way onto the PA's menu a they're the same family. Alas, no more food, but that's ok. I'm usually there too late to get food anyway.
This place has its own definite ambiance. The venue side used to be the dining room and its large and really open, which is good for the shows that happen there. What's really nice about PA's as a venue is its roster of shows. Smaller bands who couldn't book at places like the Middle East can play at PA's. Its definitely has found a niche musically and that's great. Noise bands, experimental bands, emo bands, they all have a place at PA's. I've never seen any stand up or open mic nights here, but its nice to know they do that, too.
Want an unfriendly bartender and an uncomfortable performance room? Â Here you go!
The bartender acts like he's doing you a favor to serve you unless he knows you, and I believe this is the owner (at least on Mondays). Â Furthermore, what kind of bar in the Boston area doesn't have Guinness? Â
On the performer's side, there is one booth and a pile of chairs. Â Guess you got to pull one up. Â Or maybe you are expected to break dance?
They have started a Monday open mike which has a diversity of talent, if you catch my drift.
For beers, a better bet is Bull McCabe's down the street.
pa's is cool. Â the beer is cheap, the vibe is laid-back and the venue side usually smells like sweat socks. Â go here if you want to watch hipsters in their natural environment - the place is thick with plaid shirts, skinny jeans, thick black glasses and beards. Â i've been here for both music and comedy shows and have enjoyed both... Â though beware, there are like 10 seats in the place, so comedy can be a little weird. Â i saw eugene mirman while leaning against a wall (and sweating my butt off - the place gets HOT in the summer). Â go early and claim the single booth in the back if you're going with friends! Â this is my dream, not yet achieved.
can't speak for the food - i am vegan and their menu is most definitely not.
Only been a few times in a few years. Last time I was here we stayed on the bar side eschewing the musical entertainment. It was pretty dead so I didn't encounter any of the oft mentioned smelly hipster dufuses. I'm old enough to remember when bars like this littered Somerville and Cambridge and frankly I find it a breath of fresh air. Wine in plastic cups? So what. No 22 seasonal bullshit beers to choose from? Good. So you have to pay, on the spot, for every round or drink? Fine with me. Sometimes a bar simply needs a be a place with low lighting, no frill, no bullshit, sit down and talk to your friends with some cheap libations kind of place
Review Source:I love PA's. Â The bartenders are friendly, the beer is cheap (PA's brew, whatever that is = 3 bucks), the mixed drinks are strong, and the door guy, Gerry, will remember your face. I'm a little partial to the bands there because some of them are my friends, but you're guaranteed a good, diverse show at PA's for a low cover. Â And you didn't hear this from me, but I swear one of the bartenders was on What Not to Wear.
Review Source:I went here to see an aspiring rock star, and aside from him, and his opening act, there were about 10 of us in the performance-side of the bar. The guy has gone on to play much bigger venues in NYC and beyond, so it's pretty cool to say I saw him at a dingy place like PA's Lounge.
It's like a dive bar with a performance space. If you've ever been to Sligo Pub, imagine that place with an area for a band.
I think it's a great venue of you're looking for a random band to play. It's tiny, and the beer is cheap!
While I didn't spend much time here, I did come for some post-celebration tunes. Finding my way here was not the easiest, all I remember is going down Prospect past All Star and winding up in some construction and parking next to a church on Somerville Ave. The road is strange here, we had to walk in a U shape to get to P.A's. I'm not sure I could do it unguided or without a map.
We enter the performance room and it's pretty sparse, a couple chairs along the wall, one round booth towards the back. It's a Saturday night, where is everyone? The only patrons here were the 15 or so that came with us, and then a few stragglers from the bar that wandered in. Outfitted in San Jose Sharks and Mighty Ducks Starter Jackets with accompanying Asics hightops and a pack of Dorel Lights hanging out of his back pocket. The bar is pretty typical, and semi reminiscent of my favorite dive from college, The Sports Page. It feels unfinished and sparse. For whatever reason, I didn't end up drinking here, but as far as scene goes, just ok.
I reviewed PA's many many moons ago only to discover that the review had mysteriously disappeared. Perhaps it was my offensive comments directed towards dirty smelly hipsters and indy rock kids (what, I live in Allston, I'm allowed to say these things), perhaps it was my commentary about the lonely lady bartender, working solo, who tried to keep me engaged in conversation all night. Maybe it was too irrelevant since the review detailed an adventure between myself and three now defunct, no longer yelping, peoples.
Whatever it was, it's probably good that the old review is gone as it was a bit mean spirited. Still, whatever I may have detailed in that old account hasn't stopped me from coming back to PAs since.
Now on to some PA's facts and etiquette.
1. teatotallers be warned, they don't have juice - only concentrate. So don't order it. Just man up and stick to tonic water or something instead.
2. You have to pay for the show. You do so by walking into the bar area (if there's no one at the door) dropping your cash, getting your hand stamped, then tromping on over.
3. On the venue side the womens' room is not a ones-y so go ahead, walk right in.
4. during the summer there's no AC. Bring ear and nose plugs. You'll thank me I promise.
5. Walk down the street to the cab stand after show's end - it will take you five minutes and save your sanity.
So bad, it's good. Well, not really. More like, so bad that it's laughable. Yeah, that's more like it. The venue side of PA's literally looks like the owner got in a fight with somebody who ran a AM-Vet's or VFW and took the keys to their building from them and slapped the PA's name on it. The bar side is a functioning bar complete with plenty of local color. They have some decent stuff on tap so you will find something beyond Bud to drink for cheap. I would never come all the way out here just to drink for the 'divey coolness' that is PA's but if I had to come out for a show again I wouldn't say no because of the fact that it was at PA's.
Review Source:The sound at P.A.'s is ALWAYS bad. Â I've seen wonderful bands here (or bands that USUALLY sound wonderful) but the sound is just not right. Â And they even have a sound guy, though the sound guys are almost always half asleep. Â It kind of bums me out. Â I want to like the place, but I just can't. Â Also, there's this one bartender there who doesn't do a very good job pouring beer. Â It's like 50% head. Â Unfortunate.
Review Source:I was just in Boston for a couple of dyas and needed to find a place near to where I was staying.
I found PA lounge online and checked out the bands on msypace that were playing. Â At first I thought it was going to be a big venue with a danceclub athmosphere.
When I got there it was smaller and was actually a restaurant that was converted in an 18 and up place at night. Â
Nontheless, there was a good beer selection and the music was exactly what it had promised. Â I had a great time, and it was even better that it is in walking distance in sommerville.
I have to give PA's five stars because I love it, because it is my Hang Zone. Â I played my first show here about four years ago, I've played many since, and I'm playing one on Monday. Â Tony, the guy who does the booking, is an awesome guy, and he manages to get some fantastic acts in there (Jens Lekman, Jason Anderson, Secret Stars, Mark Robinson, I love it). Â This is the best place to see bands in Boston. Â I think.
The relationship between the bar and the venue is totally sweet because if you aren't in to one, you can be in the other. Â The people who run the place are all good people. Â It is somewhat (only somewhat) hip and divey, but more importantly it is comfortable and fun. Â And cheap. Â And I like that there are still plenty of middle-aged people who don't give a hoot about the music next door and are just there to have a beer or a brandy or play Keno.
I had read a few reviews for this local dive and all seemed to point in the positive direction. I wasn't overly impressed. Packed with old sports cards and 70's baseball pics this place looks sharp. A super small bar side can host about 50 people tops and the venue half has been rumored to fill out with about 175. There was no music when I showed up, some sort of poetry reading, either way it was lame. By the looks of the place the beers should be cheaper with the low end PAs Brew (AKA High Life) tipping the scales at a not so meager $2.75 per plastic 12 oz solo. This place is definately a "hey I'm cool because I'm at a so-called dive bar drinking cheap beer with all my ecclectic friends, did I mention three of us are vegetarians, neato". Its only open till 1. I gave 4 stars because it is definately an interesting place and the owner poured our beers and had some small talk.
Review Source:PA's is a really interesting place. Â I enjoy it. Â I love its VFW Hall charm and its general indie grittiness...or what cuddly indie kids can pretend is grittiness. Â I like that you can take a break from watching bands to go socialize at the bar, which is separate from the venue-- it's helpful if you're only really interested in the opening and headlining bands at a 4-act show. Â And I also really appreciate that they're trying to improve the place-- minor renovations have taken place, including an expansion of the postage stamp-sized stage. Â I recently played on the new stage and had much more room than before, yay!
One small drawback is that it's sometimes hard to hear the monitors when you're on stage. Â It's also out in the middle of nowhere in Union Square. Â Sometimes the venue room gets really hot and pretty stinky for some reason during shows. Â But so go rock shows. Â For all of that I can only really deduct 1 star.
It's always great times playing here, and definitely fun to see shows here as well. Â The staff are really nice, and so is the owner. Â My opinion must be shared by the local music scene because PA's is definitely attracting increasingly better acts. Â Go PA'S! Â Check 'em out.
P.A.'s has managed to do everything extremely wrong. The venue space is nearly completely separate from the bar. The stage doesn't deserve the name. Beer selection? You're joking, right? The entire vibe of the place is that of a VFW hall for  music dorks.
The thing is....P.A.'s is doing everything extremely right, too. Earnest describes this venue. This isn't a competitor for T.T.'s or O'Briens, it's more a "designated basement" for a shell-shocked DIY music scene.
It really depends on the band and your mood. Â The staff are always friendly, the bottled beer is always skunked, and a tiny bit of whiskey in a plastic cup is $5. Â But - they book music. Â Lots and lots of music. Â I can't believe Thurston Moore is playing there next week, but he and friends are. Â We danced our asses off tonight and it was fun because music was good and crowd was sparse and not dancing at all. Â I guess it was paralyzed 30something zombie night, but that's how it's going to be sometimes.
Review Source:P.A.'s Lounge ... what can i say really? i performed there a couple of times back in 2003 thanks to Leah Callahan ... and a little timetrip back brings many pleasant memories ... very cozy space with decent sound for both music and performance art ... very unpretentious, casual and welcoming ... open-minded regarding the style of act ... perfect for cabaret-style variety, rock, comedy, performance art
Review Source:I agree with just about everyone below. Â They really need to do something with that band space -- add some tables, more seating options, and -- I can't believe no one mentioned this, yet -- they need to do something about the air circulation in there. An AC system would be great. Â Something. Â And I'm not talking that huge, utility fan they had in there this past summer. Â You get 75+ people in there on a muggy Friday night in July and you just about die. Â
I've been in the MidEast upstairs, TT's and the Abbey, jammed together with about 100 other people and I don't die of dehydration like I always do at PA's. Â I've actually left shows early because it became so noxious in there.
PA lounge includes two rooms: One with a corner bar that serves alcohol in plastic cups, with a smiling bartender and cheap beer, as well as several high tables in a Bostonian sports bar setting. The other room is as big, with a stage large enough for 3-people band fit, gloomy setting. I saw a live show last night, which was awesome. The crowd here is pretty eclectic: music appreciators in mid 20s, who are comfortable enough to dance whichever way they'd like. Usually, this second room doesn't fill up, therefore the atmosphere is so so. Â
Nevertheless, I am looking forward to another show at P.A. Lounge.
I've never seen a show here, but one time [before I moved here] I was visiting and a group of friends decided that we had to be at the "dance party" that was going on in the entertainment room. Nothing makes you feel more like a squeeb than you with 3-4 of your friends dancing with no "body buffer" around you. Well, maybe some hot pokers jammed up your rear. But when you're dancing and the closest person to you is the bouncer watching you and his watch and those tiny heads peeking through the bar window, you can't help but feel a little Madonna-in-Open-Your-Heart-music-video without all the dollars and trampy clothes.
In any case, the thing that sucks is that if you want a drink, you have to exit briefly outside to enter the other part of the establishment where the drinks are.
The last time I was there was last year during the What the Fluff? festival in honor of Marshmallow Fluff. There was a list of bars that had Fluff themed drinks and P.A.'s had a Fluffaccino drink. Nothing makes you feel more like a skirt than ordering a frou-frou drink that comes with a tiny spoon and seated next to a few mechanics who were grousing over the spoken-word garbage in the entertainment room. But then some tourists came in after us and were excitedly recanting the day's events at What the Fluff? I tipped my cup to the mechanics, gave them a sidelong glance, commented about how lame spoken word was and felt less like a douche and more like a comrade.
It's like a mile from the T so it took me until last year to check this place out. You've got to have wheels. As far as I know no parking permit only areas? but parking around here is an art-
Great neighborhood bar!!! And great place to see eclectic ,or should I say, bizarre rock shows. Saw ManMan and Gil Mantera's Party Dream here--I guess some say the sound isn't the best. But I love me a friendly dive.
$2.75 Pa's "Special Brew"
The bartenders are fast and friendly. You have to call out at the bar -don't wait to be noticed!
There is a machine full of $5 scratch tickets. I heard the Mayor of New Bedford recently won hundreds of thousands of dollars on a scratch-off ticket. Â Maybe tonight is your lucky night-
P.A.'s::Union Square
The Middle Eastern::Central Square
Unassuming, laidback, small, not trying to be anything it isn't. I saw David Pajo here a couple months ago, and got to sit on the floor right in front of the "stage," all of 3 inches off the ground, relaxing, and taking it in. Pajo watched his openers from the back of the room, sold his own merchandise, and set up all his own equipment (which included a set of foot-bells...quirky) in three minutes flat. I'm sure that's not the way all P.A.'s shows go, but it was really refreshing. No pretentious B.S., just sincere musicians playing their music. A lovely Australian named Holly Throsby opened for him, and made me a fan with her intimate and soulful performance. I'm really worn out by the hipster scene, and was so glad that P.A.'s wasn't playing that game.
If you're not paying a cover to see someone play (which was very reasonably priced, anyway), it actually seems like a fun bar, too, with friendly bartenders and isn't as loud as some other places nearby.
Bravo P.A.'s.
What do cheap beer, the Red Sox, and emo strippers have in common? Â PA's Lounge, an amazingly laid-back Union Square venue with a two room setup: Â on one side, there's a well-lit bar with lots of stools and standing room. They carry their own house brand of beer, priced at $2.75--which means your beer money is worth roughly TWICE AS MUCH here as other bars. Â Score! Â They also have a few good quality but unobtrusive televisions showing baseball, and you can maintain a conversation without losing your voice.
On the other side is a large room with a low ceiling and a stage--it does have an Elk's Club feel, but it's also really homey. And the acoustics were great for a small place, I thought-much better than TT's dreadful sound. Â
While others have dissed the dual setup, I think it works well--more rock clubs should have a neutral space like PA's bar where you can come in out of the sound for a few minutes while you chat up your date, especially if he or she doesn't relish the often outrageous (but fun) acts that frequent the Lounge. Â
Did you still want to know how the emo strippers come in? Â Okay. So last night's headliner was Gil Mantera's Party Dream, an insane pseudo-Foreigner/Buggles/Postal Service/Norwegian barbarian duo of brothers from Ohio, who had some great music to begin with, then upped the ante into an entirely different dimension by donning, respectively, leather pants pulled down to expose leopard-print underwear and a loincloth with knee-high moccasins. Â During the show, Loincloth Guy removed his already skimpy costume to reveal a G-String, all without missing a beat. Â I'd like to say we were shocked, but the opening act, Cassette, had done the same, stripping down to a polka-dot headband and salmon-colored cotton briefs, so we were properly acculturated to this phenomenon. Â
I remember thinking: Â so this is the natural consequence of raising a generation of kids entirely on sex and Nintendo--emo strippers of course! Â But I'm also not afraid to admit that I was strangely turned on, to the point where I told my friend, "I promise to get you this for your bachelorette party."
So I say, go to PA's with a sense of humor, a hankering for a cheap beer, and a very open mind, and you'll have an awesome time. It's cheaper than Chippendales and a much better kind of awkward.
Gotta disagree with Emily on this one (sorry!). Â But P.A.'s is a pretty excellent place to see that band you got hip to before anyone else -- before they sell out the Middle East or T.T.'s the next time they come through town.
The music room is what looks like a converted buffet room. Â There's a small raised platform up front that the band squeezes itself onto and a random booth and the bathrooms in the back. Â Now while it is a bit annoying to have to leave the room and the band altogether to get a beer -- to be able to stand six feet away from the lead singer and not have to be squeezed unmercifully between two sweaty dudes -- well, that's a price I'm more than happy to pay. Â And the band I saw play here was a seven piece (keyboard, violin, trumpet, guitar...) and they sounded great -- much better than the usual muddled, feedbacky sound I get from T.T.s.
The bar area has a nice comfy homey feel to it (before the hipsters crowd the place up on the nights of shows). Â The friendly bartender, the cheep beer, the old dudes playing chess in the corner, The Modern Lovers on the juke, can't complain. Â And if you don't dig the scene at the bar here you can always get your pre-show drink on at Tir Na Nog across the street.
Let me preface by saying I don't drink beer. Unless I'm at Bukowski's (check them out if you've somehow missed that buzz). So I'm giving P.A.'s 2 stars for it's capacity as a music venue - which is crappy. It's a small room, with no order though not a cool "chaos" to it either. The stage may indeed BE a desk as someone else suggested. The sound is horrible and if you want a beverage, you have to leave the show and go to the other side where the bar is, leaving you missing the show. I didn't use the bathrooms, but I would venture to guess that they'd get a 2/5 stars as well.
Review Source:Being a JPer and terrified of going across the river, I ended up here this past Friday and fell a little in love with it, even though Union is even further than Inman (but bonus for being near toast for lesbian debauchery!). If I lived near here, I would be here regularly. Really not much to write about in terms of 'decor' or style or ambiance-just a good solid neighborhood bar-just the way I like 'em!
Review Source:PA's has an interesting combination of live local & off-beat indie music. The lineups are only getting better. The staff is superbly friendly, the bar is decent, there's plenty of cheap beer, etc.
My only problem with the venue is the lack of effort they've put into changing what looks like someone's rec room into a performance space. The stage is too small to accommodate anything larger than a 3-piece band, there's no decor or color, the seating is limited to one booth in the corner so everyone tends to just stand around the edges of the room.
Regardless, they have some of the more interesting acts to come to town, so I go whenever I can. Hopefully they'll do some basic renovations when they have the time & $$.
Music Selection: 4/5
Staff: 5/5
Sound: 2.5/5
Ambiance: 2/5
If you like:
* eclectic local rock 'n' roll
* friendly neighborhood people
* cheap beer
then PA's is right for you.
Much like the Abbey was before their renovations, PA's is a local bar with a separate room for live music. You can either go and sit and have a beer with people from the neighborhood, or you can pay the cheap cover and check out the bands on the other side. PA's does an excellent job of booking local indie acts, and the simple and extensively informative calendar on their web site (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpaslounge.com&s=4536b603a6e1d2fcc62290599bd1053b01d72b58da27353867b5a1c11141d216" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://paslounge.com</a>) should be an example for every other bar and club that features live music. Not to mention that there's a really impressive broad selection in the jukebox, a sign that the bar really does know and respect its customers. Plus Jerry can tell you the story behind just about any of the many pieces of memorabilia lining the walls.
A great place for either catching a beer and the game, or a night of home-grown rock 'n' roll.
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