On Avenue A, Coney Island Baby transforms into Lola; live music to share stage with club nights

After 15 months as primarily a live music venue, Coney Island Baby recently switched up concepts — and names — here at 169 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street.

As noted on July 29, the space was undergoing a reboot, which included the removal of the Coney Island Baby name from the marquee.

The space is now known as Lola.

Tom Baker, one of the original partners at Coney Island Baby, chalked up the change to the "seven-night-a-week band mill."

"You basically need the venue to be packed for the live shows so everyone goes home happy," he told me. "You have to pay the rent."

The CIB team partnered with downtown nightlife veteran Travis Bass to run public (and private) functions.

"The new vibe is more clubby in a sense," Baker said.

Here's how Bass described the space/scene at Lola in an interview published July 26 at WestwoodWestwood:

We’re keeping the stage, but incorporating it more into a dance floor with beautiful herringbone wood floors, carpeting in the front, lots of palm. It’ll have a very art-fashion world collisions. It can be very fashionable, but janky and artsy and not so perfect. There’ll be a lot of layers to this space. Decorative fabrics, bathroom tiles. We can have shows sometimes early and then turn into a party. The stage could be closed or turned into a VIP room. The various rooms give us options for variety.

The venue will still host the occasional live music and comedy nights, at which times it will go as CIB presents: @ Lola. Tonight, local rockers The Liz Colby Sound begin a Thursday evening residency here. (Find the full schedule of bands here.)

Lola takes its name from the 1961 French romantic drama directed by Jacques Demy.

"A close friend of the CIB family chose the name," Baker said. "She got the inspiration from the film — a testament to the resilience of the heartbroken."

Coney Island Baby debuted on April 26, 2018, with a show by hardcore legends Murphy's Law, HR of Bad Brains and Craig Finn of the Hold Steady. Recent highlights included a Sunday matinee featuring arena band The Raconteurs.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• A 'quick reboot' for Coney Island Baby on Avenue A (July 29)

A 'quick reboot' for Coney Island Baby on Avenue A

[EVG photo from July 13]

We heard from a lot of people over the weekend about Coney Island Baby, the 15-month-old live music venue at 169 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street.

For starters, the name is no longer on the recently renovated exterior...


[Photo Friday by Shawn Chittle]

And the show scheduled for Saturday night had been moved to Berlin at 25 Avenue A while Wednesday night's EP release show is now at Bowery Electric.



A co-owner described the temporary closure to me as "a quick reboot," with more details coming soon. Another tipster with knowledge of the club offered that "they’ve decided to do a different concept in that space" with more events and fewer bands.


[Reader-submitted photo from Saturday]

Coney Island Baby debuted on April 26, 2018, with a show by hardcore legends Murphy's Law, HR of Bad Brains and Craig Finn of the Hold Steady. Recent highlights include a sorta secret Sunday matinee featuring arena band The Raconteurs.

The venue's partners are reportedly Laura McCarthy, former owner of indie-rock club Brownies (in this space from 1989-2002), Jesse Malin of Avenue A's Niagara, Berlin and Bowery Electric as well as Tom Baker and Don DiLego of Velvet Elk Records.

A bluegrass brunch option

On Saturdays (like today!) this April, live-music venue Coney Island Baby is hosting a Bluegrass Brunch at 169 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street... 2-5 p.m., and no cover charge... food service is via the recently opened Chinese Graffiti next door.

Foxy Flea & Festival this evening at Coney Island Baby on Avenue A

Coney Island Baby is playing hosting this evening (starting at 5) to Foxy Flea & Festival, where you'll find vendors selling a variety of vintage clothing and assorted records ... there'll also be a handful of live performances and DJs at the venue, 169 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street. There's a suggested $5 cover.

On Avenue A, Coney Island Baby debuts tonight; live music returning to the Pyramid

[169 Avenue A last night]

Coney Island Baby opens its doors tonight at 169 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street with a set by Murphy's Law and other special guests TBA.

This was the first look at the live-music lineup for the bar-venue...

A post shared by Coney Island Baby NYC (@coneyislandbabynyc) on Apr 17, 2018 at 12:53pm PDT

The Coney Island Baby website has the updated list of bands here.

The venue's partners reportedly include Laura McCarthy, former owner of indie-rock club Brownies (in this space from 1989-2002), and Tom Baker and Don DiLego of Velvet Elk Records. Jesse Malin of Niagara, Berlin and Bowery Electric is also involved.

HiFi closed last October after 15 solid years at the address.

Meanwhile, over at the Pyramid, the club at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, announced the return of bands next month ... via Instagram...

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT** We’re excited to announce that starting May 20th we’ll be featuring Live Bands on our Main Floor, every Sunday! We’re kicking it off in a HUGE way (those details will come soon). If you’re in a band, or know someone in a band, reach out to us! We’d love to have you perform on the same stage where Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed their first time in NYC! You may send your social media links, videos, and/or contact information to: thepyramidclub@gmail.com Rock On!! See you on May 20th!! #pyramidclub #pyramidclubnyc #thepyramidclub #thepyramidclubnyc #nyc #nycnightlife #nycdj #nycnightclub #nycdjs #newyork #newyorkcity #darkwave #synthpop #goth #punk #punkrock #postpunk #livemusic #liveband #rock #rockband #rockers #drummers #nyclivemusic #nyclivebands

A post shared by The Pyramid Club NYC (@thepyramidclub) on Apr 24, 2018 at 4:12pm PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
Coney Island Baby opens on April 26 with Murphy's Law

Bar taking over former HiFi space on Avenue A is called Coney Island Baby

Coney Island Baby opens on April 26 with Murphy's Law

As noted back on March 8, Coney Island Baby is the name of the bar-music venue taking over the former HiFi space on Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Since then, Coney Island Baby's Instagram account has shared more details on upcoming acts, including its opening night — April 26 with Murphy's Law...

Opening night of @coneyislandbabynyc ! April 26th with @murphyslawnyc. Tix available now: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/opening-night-event-with-murphys-coney-island-baby-tickets/8279015?pl=coney

A post shared by Coney Island Baby NYC (@coneyislandbabynyc) on Apr 1, 2018 at 5:08am PDT

Other upcoming shows for the 200-capacity space include Alejandro Escovedo on May 2 (sold out) and Bash & Pop with Johnny & The Bootlegs and the Liza Colby Sound on May 10, per the Coney Island website.

Brooklyn Vegan says the "the venue is from the folks who run Bowery Electric, Niagara and Velvet Elk Records."

HiFi, which also hosted the occasional book readings, comedy shows and acoustic bands, closed last October after 15 years at the address. The space was previously Brownies, the live music venue, from 1989-2002.

[Updated] Bar taking over former HiFi space on Avenue A is called Coney Island Baby

[Photo from Jan. 20]

Work continues at the former HiFi space on Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Not a lot is known publicly about the new venture just yet. However, the place does have a name — Coney Island Baby... not to mention an Instragram account, which I discovered last evening...

A post shared by Coney Island Baby NYC (@coneyislandbabynyc) on Mar 7, 2018 at 8:08am PST

Per Instagram: "Coney Island Baby NYC. Newly unearthed East Village bar and performance venue, overlooking the denizens of Tompkins Square Park."

HiFi, which also hosted the occasional book readings, comedy shows and acoustic bands, closed last October after 15 years at the address.

In his closing announcement, HiFi co-owner Mike Stuto wrote that business had been off, noting that the weekend bar crowd was "mostly indifferent to the place." He also stressed that the closure had nothing to do with the landlord, a management company that he said has been "ideal ... in pretty much every sense of the word."

Stayed tuned for more on Coney Island Baby, which presumably is named after (or for!) this. Or this! No word on an opening date just yet.

Updated March 25

The bar's website is live now. Coney Island Baby describes itself as "a new 200 capacity live music venue and bar in the heart of the musically historic East Village in NYC. Booking now."

Alejandro Escovedo is headlining the first show on May 2.