First look: Lo-Fi Social Club

Club re-opens with a rocky start

By Molly O'Donnell

September 10, 2007

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Opening night at Lo–Fi Social Club was a hot one, both inside and out. The building is a cross between an abandoned home and a boarded-up business. The only indication this might be a rock club is a banner that hangs above the door advertising what's hidden behind foggy glass. Inside, the lack of air conditioning is abrasive, but if you walk toward the performance area, the art space gives way to a decent-sized bar and an air-conditioned room with a stage at the far end.

Things got off to a rocky start for Neil Freebairn, the Lo–Fi owner, when he lost his first space in Brooklyn and was forced to borrow Read Street Tattoo's second floor for gallery shows. The new digs are far from chic, but you get what you came for: good art, by the likes of local poster-art illustrator Alex Fine, and good music, by popular bands like Two If by Sea. Plus, it's cheap—if not free—and will be for a while due to Lo–Fi's lack of liquor license.

A nice place to feel the full force of Baltimore's vie boheme, the new Station North Arts District locale is a plus given the hike most folks made to reach Lo–Fi in Brooklyn. (That location's parking lot will be sorely missed though.) Lo–Fi now has a large backyard area, where club-goers stretch their legs and breathe in smoky air.

Unfortunately, the Lo–Fi owner's woes continued on re-opening night. The police forced everyone inside, purporting that the reprobates crowding the sidewalk were in fact loiterers. (We would've thought that a city as crime-ridden as Mobtown would offer up more serious problems requiring police attention.) After everyone was forced inside, the police shut down the show, alleging Lo–Fi was then over capacity (which is yet to be determined). Seem like a catch-22 to anyone else?

Although bands endured the heat along with the crowd, three of them (Pariah Piranha, Heroin UK and Two If By Sea) performed great sets before the night's festivities were broken up. Three bands were sadly left waiting in the wings (Thrushes, Squaaks and Durden). Works by artists Fine and Nolan Strals seemed appreciated by the crowd, even if they weren't purchased.

Despite the tribulations Lo–Fi has faced and the bad luck it endures, we think it'll get its act together and eventually enjoy some success. With noted local artists and photographers like Sam Holden and popular local bands queuing up to put on shows there, there's no way it can't. Hopefully, by the time Lo–Fi opens its doors for the Black Metal Fast Food Fight show Oct. 13-14 (which features countless bands, artist and women wrestling in McDonald's meals—yikes!), the air will smell of hamburgers, not bacon.

Food: If you see food at Lo–Fi, don't eat it. It's probably trash or someone's leftovers. Lo–Fi doesn't serve food.

Booze: Wine and beer are usually free given that they don't currently have a liquor license. Ample free booze is always a good thing. Beware, under-aged hipsters, they do card vigorously.

Digs: Anything this close to North Avenue is not for the upper crust, but the space has potential with the right TLC.

Vibe: There are so many varieties of people at Lo–Fi, it's difficult to classify. However, if forced to choose, we'd say it's not a yuppie hang out, but has more of an art school attendance. It's cool, without being too cool.