The Court | |
Address | 124 Church Street New Brunswick, New Jersey, US |
---|---|
Location | Corner of Church and Spring Streets |
Coordinates | 40°29′45″N74°26′43″W / 40.49571°N 74.44521°W |
Type | Music venue, dive bar |
Genre(s) | Punk, hardcore, hip-hop and indie rock |
Seating type | standing room |
Capacity | 185 |
Opened | 1981 |
Closed | 2019 |
The Court Tavern was a live music venue and bar located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Home to local and national acts across all genres, including punk, hip-hop, indie, and hardcore, it has stood closed at 124 Church Street since 2019. [1]
In 1961, Bob Albert Sr. bought the Court Tavern, then at 149 Church Street with a partner. [2] He told a reporter in 1977 that the bar dated to 1902, having operated illegally through the Prohibition era. [2] In 1981, upon being forced to move on the building of a parking deck, the tavern moved across the street to its present location. [3] [4] [5] [6] From 1981 to 2012, the venue, run by Albert Sr. prior to his passing in 1997 alongside his son, Bobby Albert Jr., became a notable location for live music in New Brunswick. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
The venue ran into financial trouble, [12] and Patti Smith and her band as well as The Smithereens played a fundraiser for the venue in 2010 at the State Theatre. [13] [14] Bobby Albert Jr. closed the venue in 2012. It was purchased by Michael Barrood at a sheriff's auction in March 2012 and opened in November 2012 after completion of renovations. The club saw closures in 2015 and 2017 before closing indefinitely in 2019. [2]
While DIY underground all-ages live music shows continue, no live rock music venues akin to the Court remain open in the city as of 2024. The Court Tavern was the last venue of its kind following the closure of other popular New Brunswick live indie and punk rock clubs of recent decades, such as the Melody Bar, the Roxy, the Budapest Cocktail Lounge, Patrix and Bowl-o-Drome. [15]
As of March 2024, the building is scheduled to reopen as a 100%-vegan venue, Veganica, that will offer a vegan bar and restaurant, as well as host live music. [16] [17] [18]
Acts like Pavement delivered its first show at the Court, and the bar was home to touring acts like the Butthole Surfers, Mudhoney and The Jesus Lizard. During a tour stop in New Brunswick, The Replacements did an interview with MTV at the venue. [19] The Flaming Lips, Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Ween, NJ Bloodline, X and Henry Rollins also played the venue. [20]
A number of bands from New Brunswick got their start at the venue, the Smithereens considered it their home venue, and it was seminal according to a number of commentators on the New Brunswick, New Jersey music scene. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]
New Brunswick is a city in and the seat of government of Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. A regional commercial hub for central New Jersey, the city is both a college town and a commuter town for residents commuting to New York City within the New York metropolitan area. New Brunswick is on the Northeast Corridor rail line, 27 miles (43 km) southwest of Manhattan. The city is located on the southern banks of the Raritan River in the heart of the Raritan Valley region.
Asbury Park is a beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area.
The U.S. state of New Jersey is located in the Northeastern United States and is part of the Mid-Atlantic region.
The Smithereens is an American rock band from Carteret, New Jersey. The group formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, Mike Mesaros, and Dennis Diken. This original lineup continued until 2006, when Mesaros left the band and Severo Jornacion took over on bass guitar until Mesaros' return in 2016. After DiNizio died in 2017, the band continued performing live shows as a trio with various guest vocalists.
Lifetime is an American melodic hardcore band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. It was formed in 1990 and disbanded in 1997. In late 2005, they announced their reunion.
Mrs. Jay's was a popular bar and restaurant located in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Jim Babjak is an American guitarist and ex-banker. He is the lead guitar player and co-founder of The Smithereens. Babjak has written and sung several songs for the band. He also is the leader of the band Buzzed Meg.
Meet The Smithereens! is the seventh studio album by Carteret, New Jersey-based rock band The Smithereens, released in stores on January 16, 2007. The album features the band covering The Beatles' 1964 American album, Meet the Beatles!.
Patrick Michael DiNizio was the lead singer, songwriter and founding member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros from Carteret, New Jersey.
Live in Concert! Greatest Hits and More is a live album by New Jersey rock band The Smithereens, released in 2008 by Koch Records.
Asbury Lanes located in Asbury Park, New Jersey is a vintage bowling alley and bar with live performances ranging from live musical acts, burlesque, hot rod, dance parties, film and art shows. It is one of the many historic music landmarks located within Asbury Park. These include The Stone Pony, the Wonderbar, the Saint and the Fastlane.
The Saint is a music venue located in Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States. It is reminiscent of places like The Cellar Door in Washington, DC, CBGB, CB's 313 Gallery, and The Living Room in New York City, and features live, original music. The Saint was founded by Adam Jon Weisberg along with business partner Scott Stamper, and opened its doors on November 18, 1994. Stamper bought out Weisberg in 2013 and became the sole owner. He is also a co-founder of the Wave Gathering Music Festival.
Scott Stamper is an American club owner, booking agent, and talent scout. He is the owner of The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ and founder of the Golden T-Bird Awards, currently known as The Asbury Music Awards. Stamper also founded the Wave Gathering.
Yawn Mower are an American rock band from Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The North Jersey Indie Rock Festival is an American annual concert in Jersey City, that showcases artists primarily from New Jersey.
tomfoolery is the second studio EP from the American rock band The Vaughns.
BlowUpRadio is an American internet radio station based in New Jersey.
The North to Shore Festival is an annual three-week-long music, comedy, film and technology festival in New Jersey. The event is hosted in June by three New Jersey cities: Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark.
The Melody Bar was a live music and dance club on French Street in the 1980s and 1990s in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
QXT's Nightclub is a live music and dance club on Mulberry Street in Newark, New Jersey catering mainly to a goth clientele.
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