 Ottobar wall, June 2017 | |
| Location | 2549 North Howard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 |
|---|---|
| Type | Music Venue |
| Genre(s) | blues (music), blues rock, rhythm and blues, punk rock, hip hop, singer-songwriters, rock, Folk, heavy metal |
| Opened | 1997 [1] |
| Website | |
| http://www.theottobar.com | |
The Ottobar is a legendary music venue located in the Charles Village neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. The club was named one of the top music venues and one of the top indie and alternative music venues in Baltimore, Maryland. [1] [2] The Ottobar claims to be the “premiere venue for live sub-mainstream music.” [1] The Washington Post describes it as a "bastion of sub-mainstream music...where the insular community of artists and scenesters flock to hear the best touring bands." [3] It also hosts dance parties and an occasional burlesque show. [3]
The Ottobar originally opened in Downtown Baltimore in September of 1997 at 203 East Davis Street in the former Chambers Nightclub. [4] It was a very small venue which provided an intimate setting for live music and performance art. Despite its size, it attracted national acts such as The White Stripes, Le Tigre, Fear, Bright Eyes, Lamb Of God, Death Cab For Cutie, The Rapture, Jimmy Eat World, Of Montreal, Blonde Redhead, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Spoon. It also supported local artists of the time, such as Goliath, Oxes, The Oranges Band, Lungfish, Daybreak, and The Goons. [4] Performance art showcased included The 80's Prom, Salute To Satan, Tiny Couch Night, and The Death Of Vaudeville Night. The Davis Street location closed on November 17th 2001. [4]
The Ottobar reopened the same month at its current 2549 North Howard Street location in lower Charles Village, south of the Johns Hopkins University campus and the Baltimore Museum of Art. The Charles Village location is considerably larger, but still provides an intimate listening experience by permitting fans to be much closer to the bands than do other venues. [4] The venue is valued by artists for the nature of its clientele, its sound system, and having "Natty Boh" on tap. Natty Boh is slang for National Bohemian beer, which was originally brewed in Baltimore. [5] There is a bar and concert area on the main floor, a balcony with seating and a good view of the first floor, and an area for dance parties on the second floor. [2] It has been reported that there is a secret passage to the apartment next door which functions as the dressing room. [5]
The new Ottobar also showcases emerging musical artists as well as national acts. [2] The Ottobar has booked more than 12,000 acts since it opened in 1997. [1] Some of the artists who have performed at the Ottobar include national artists Death Cab For Cutie, Jimmy Eat World, and Queens Of The Stone Age. [2] Others include Animal Collective, At The Drive In, Atmosphere, Bouncing Souls, Coheed And Cambria, David Cross, Dinosaur Jr, Drive-By Truckers, Jonathan Richman, KRS-ONE, Maroon 5, The Melvins, Michael Ian Black, Quiet Riot, Supersuckers, TV On The Radio, The Breeders, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The venue also supports and showcases local artists such as Celebration, Lake Trout, Misery Index, Ponytail, and Thrushes. There are theme nights such as Underground Dance Party, Pet Wedding, Butcher Knife Throwing Contest, Spelling Bee, Ottobar Boys and Girls Choir, and Book Burning For Peace. [4]
In 2014, tragedy struck when Thomas Malenski and another employee were stabbed by Nicholas Heath after they escorted a friend of Heath's outside. [6] Malenski later died of his wounds. Musicians, patrons and employees were surprised and said they had never felt unsafe coming to or being inside the Ottobar. The only other reported issues had been neighbors occasionally complaining that patrons were noisy as they left the bar. [7]
The Ottobar also hosts fundraisers and other events for various causes. In 2017, supporters of Planned Parenthood of Maryland met at Ottobar in Baltimore the day before the Women's March on Washington. [8] [9]
References
- ^ a b c d Staff (22 May 2011). "Baltimore's Best In Indie & Alternative Music". CBS Baltimore. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d Staff (5 August 2012). "Baltimore's Best Live Music Venues". CBS Baltimore. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ a b Ramanathan, Lavanya (5 December 2013). "A side of Baltimore you've never seen: where to eat, sip and see art now". Washington Post. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Staff. "History". Ottobar. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ a b Staff (29 June 2007). "Big Business". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Jessica (2 December 2015). "Trial opens in fatal stabbing at Ottobar concert venue Murder trial under way". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ Staff (27 September 2014). "Man arrested in fatal stabbing of Ottobar employee 2 stabbed outside popular north Baltimore bar". WBAL TV. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ WMAR Staff (20 January 2017). "Planned Parenthood of Maryland supporters rally before Women's March". ABC News. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ Mayhugh, Jess (29 September 2014). "After an Ottobar staffer was killed, the bar releases a statement and hosts a fundraiser". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 18 June 2017.