Red Hook Roxx, by Leo Liebeskind

Three great bands for $5 in a beautiful, old-school venue in Brooklyn is almost unheard-of these days. However, that’s just what Jeannie Fry and the good folks of Red Hook Roxx offer every Friday night at Rocky Sullivan’s.

Fry first set foot in Rocky’s about three years ago, when the bar was still at its old location, just a block from its current one, down the road from IKEA on the corner of Dwight and Beard Streets. Jeannie was there with her friend, Robert Maloney (Moe), when the two discovered that the back room of the bar had a small stage, some guitar amps, and a piano, but that neither the stage nor the equipment was often put to use. Eager to make something happen with the space, Jeannie (a member of a slew of Brooklyn bands including her own project, Jeannie Fry and the Lifers) and Moe (a lifelong promoter of live music) hatched a plan for a weekly Sunday afternoon series, aiming to “make being an artist easier for musicians” and for “bands around the world to come and get a decent audience even if they’re relatively unknown.”

While it was initially tough to get the operation off the ground on Sundays, Jeannie and Moe moved the event series to Friday nights, and were able to enlist the help of a few key friends to kickstart the series. Bob of the Brooklyn band The Shirts, who used to book bands at Lauterbach’s back in the’ 90s, proved to be a big help with booking, bringing bands in from around the country and even Canada to the venue. And David Gonzalez, music director and co-manager at Rocky’s, has been invaluable in encouraging the series as well as in assembling a drum kit and amps for the shows. The team has been running Red Hook Roxx at Rocky Sullivan’s for three years now, and though Jeannie sometimes worries that the remote location will dissuade attendees, people continue to flock to the bar every Friday night to get a dose of good music in a fun and humble setting.

Rocky’s inclusive, old-school vibes are a perfect place for the friendly and supportive DIY atmosphere that Red Hook Roxx provides its patrons. A mom-and-pop operation, Moe emcees and broadcasts the shows to Facebook Live while Jeannie and Bob book the bands and work the door. They charge $5 and give 100 percent of the money collected at the door to the bands in an effort to better support musicians. Bands play at 9, 10, and 11pm, and genres from rock to noise to country have all been featured at the weekly events with the first metal night even set to take place on July 12.

While lovers of live music are frequently oversaturated with options in New York City, $5 for three bands in a laidback and inviting environment is a deal that is hard to beat. And with 100 percent of the door going to artists and a full backline, it’s a pretty sweet gig for musicians too.

Rocky Sullivan’s is located at 46 Beard St. Brooklyn, NY 11231. Bands interested in performing can send a sample of their music to [email protected].

Leo Liebeskind is a singer, writer, and musician born and raised in New York City. He is the lead singer and principle songwriter for NYC-based rock & roll band Lovechild. You can often find the him gigging around Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the rest of the East Coast. Leo is also currently studying creative writing at Columbia University.

A Star-Revue Contributor