Best cheap rock venues

This eatery, bar and stage, located on a happening little Williamsburg strip, is well on its way to becoming a local musical institution with its lively schedule of au courant musical acts and DJs that range from experimental (Pharmakon) to the voguish (Ariel Pink). And the food's pretty good too.

This Lower East Side hot spot features a big bar and a small back-room stage. Expect to be squished if it’s a popular show—but hey, you’ll still have a great view.

Enjoy indie-rock up-and-comers, excellent DJs and a sweet (working) photo booth at this Williamsburg staple. Beware the hipster crush on weekends, though.

Upstairs, lip-smackin’ coffee and cake. Downstairs, a small but perfectly formed music venue with noisy rock bills and Christmas lights.

Cameo Gallery is a performance space situated behind Williamsburg's Lovin' Cup Cafe, typically hosting bills of up-and-coming indie-rockers, booked by local-scene enthusiasts. Though the sound isn't exactly the greatest (the venue's sound engineer has been known to scamper onstage during performances to quickly squash problems), Cameo's a decent place to catch a show and observe that slice of life on the hipster fringe. In between sets, you can take advantage of the café's full bar and menu.

It's simple: Saint Vitus is heaven for headbangers. Catch world-class acts from all over the metal spectrum: black, death, doom, thrash—you name it. Good sound and cheap beer sweeten the deal.