The Satellite

Entering into the venue one night, I really didn't know what to expect. Although I love to try new things, I didn't really see the charm in this place; that is before I walked in. Once you are inside your eyes will draw slow past the darkness and straight to the back room to the satellites hanging from the ceiling. It's unusual, but the music seems to lift up the soul and make you want to dance. The new bands are awesome, and the parking isn't too bad if you look around; just cruising on over to this place is a nice respite from one's busy life. Even the drinks turn out to be really cheap, and not half bad, although they could probably serve better food.

The Satellite gives truth to the expression "if ain't broke, don't fix it," better than any beloved institution I've counted among my favorite places. When the venue transitioned from being Spaceland a couple of years ago there was a collective feeling of anxiety among my fellow music heads and I. We couldn't imagine living on the East Side, let alone Los Angeles, without Spaceland. The fear of a void left in Spaceland's absence, or seeing it mutate into something insufferable was very real. After all, Spaceland was the place that provided the soundtrack I was weaned on in my early twenties; it also deserves credit for helping to initiate me into the part of Los Angeles where I would settle down for the next half decade. Only once I had returned to the venue under new ownership, and with trepidation in my heart-newly christened as The Satellite-were all my concerns put to rest. I found that all the things I loved about Spaceland (i.e. the music, the acoustics, the blue and silver curtains) were by and large well-preserved. I could still work my way to the front of the stage with relative ease, or take it easy in the back room and enjoy the music while hearing my conversations. Apparently The Satellite retained the same booker that worked for Spaceland. This has proven most crucial in guaranteeing the venue hasn't skipped a beat in transitioning from one owner to another. When you go to The Satellite you can really tell that the new ownership at 1717 Silver Lake Boulevard has a lot of love and respect for what Spaceland was. In a town like Los Angeles, not known for its preservation, The Satellite sets a great example for the rest of the city. Monday nights are FREE, there are great drink specials on booze, and the mission of the venue remains the same: to showcase the best indie rock music locally, and to feature artists making the most exciting music at any give time from out of town and abroad. If you're new to the East Side, or Los Angeles for that matter, or if you've been here for years and want to make a new discovery then make it out to The Satellite. You need this place to add to your authentic appreciation of one of the most influential cities in the world.

If you’re a sentient earthling wanting to enjoy a night out and listen to some great music, then make sure you orbit over to The Satellite in Silver Lake. Speaking of sentient, your senses are awakened as you enter by the tacky silver metallic curtain that decorates the main stage, giving the place that “Space Race” era feel to it. Renowned for giving any band a break, The Satellite have played mission control for acts such as the Foo Fighters, Foster The People, Beck and even some international bands like Biffy Clyro. Heck, they’ve even shot a Hanson music video there just last week (remember them?) Simply put, they let bands come in peace on their quest to intergalactic stardom. A small venue with a capacity of around three hundred, you’re guaranteed a good view of the action on stage, unless the LA Lakers are in attendance. There’s a wide main bar serviced by friendly barmen that like to crack as many jokes as they do beers, so you’ll always have a good chance of getting your order in. A second upstairs bar services any humanoids that want to take off their moonwalking boots and play a few games of pool or foosball. Apart from having acts play every week of the year, The Satellite mixes things up with themed party nights, drink specials, tribute shows (Dolly Parton is going down soon!) and a seasonal cocktail menu. I recently went there to watch Biffy Clyro and it was such a good experience. They’re an alternative band with a heavy feel, so I thought my wife and I would be moshed out in no time, but all the patrons were only there for the music and it was great to just leave sweaty and hoarse, with no incidents. The Satellite is definitely a bar to begin launch sequence for: check it out!

The Satellite is a fun place to see a show. It’s an intimate room (capacity under 300) with a stage that’s about 15 people across and wonderfully tacky metallic blue and silver curtains lining the performance space. The main bar is long and well stocked, though the view of the stage from the bar is limited, and there’s a back room with a second bar, pool and foosball tables, and screens showing the action on stage. The sound system (or their sound tech), however, isn’t so great. I saw Biffy Clyro here last night and found the sound to be overly bassy, which drowned out the vocals quite a bit. It wasn’t enough to ruin the experience, but it was definitely noticeable all the same. All in all, The Satellite is a really fun concert club, and they book a lot of quality acts; it’s definitely worth checking out next time one of their shows catches your eye.

Two words that always grab my attention - 1.) Free 2.) $3 PBR I guess that's more than two words, depending on how you look at it, but who's counting? I guarantee it's not the musician in the bunch. They're usually the cats who dip out of math class, catch a ride & bolt from the school parking lot with a burning.....desire to seek refuge in the wonderful world of music. At the Satellite - you'll find just that - music. End of sentence. New paragraph. The inspiring two words came about as I began to frolic around this joint for Monday night residency. I've seen a ton of shows here - some bad, some good, some great and some were just plain awful, which keeps me pondering "how did your band get booked here?" Nonetheless, I can assure you Monday admission is free and my question will quickly drown in a $3 dollar beer as I get my mojo workin. It's all about the vibe & lay out - it's dark, a bit sinister at first, but then you feel compelled to kick back on the space like furniture and embrace the local Silverlake scene. It's almost like the Jetson's decided to stop by for a drink and decorate the place, but on acid. Some use the phrase hipster central, which is true in way, however I look at it as a group of music lovers who enjoy music. I guess that's why Silverlake and/or the Satellite have become such a hit due to it's music history and growing list of bands. The Satellite clearly has a musical atmosphere to it, but I'd have to say the reason I'm giving it a lower rating is because I tend to hear the same ole indie rock time and time again. What ever happened to the day of dangerous rock & roll bands? The earth shattering riff masters or intricate song writing capabilities? Yes, I know they exist and I'm know the Satellite will find them and put together a good gig, but I'm quite harsh on opinion when the bands consistently look and sound the same on any given night. I started with two cheesy words and I'll finish with two cool quotes. Rock bassist Duff McKagan (G&R, Velvet Revolver, Loaded) said it best "America isn't very rock & roll anymore." You can feel the spirit of music at the Satellite and see it through the eyes of it's followers, but there's a major lack in balls to the wall rock music. If that's what you're looking for then you should probably go elsewhere, but where? I felt like spanking Mitchell Frank (owner of Spaceland/Satellite) when he decided to change the name and open up a new joint that housed electronic/dance music. I wasn't shocked by his plan, it's clearly the trendy thing to do now a day - what's wrong with that? Bob Dylan hit the nail on the head saying "The times, they are a changin" which still rings true almost 50 years later. I'll just accept the fact that our music world is changing. Satellite, I'll always love you for your cheap beer and free Monday nights, but give me something that's naughty, not always indie nice.

The Satellite stands apart from other east side venues in its booking and because of added features of the space itself. The space usually hosts rising or local bands, but even when you've never heard of them it's a recurring feeling for me at least, to be pleasantly surprised time and time again. For the most part the Satellite draws a local crowd in a wide age range, but is a 21+ venue as far as I know. It's pretty well located, close to sunset blvd and the silverlake reservoir, and sits on silverlake blvd near the silverlake liquor store. Indoors there are 2 bars, which is pretty convenient when it's busy. The back bar sits in a glass enclosed upper level, so you can still see the show and even play pool. The stage is decorated with what now seems like an iconic metallic blue/silver backdrop, and it kind of lends the place a quirky low-fi atmosphere, but one that's endearing. I would recommend dropping in for the weekly monday night residencies to scope out great acts and get an early deal on drinks: $2 beer, $5 well drinks, and $6 cocktails.

Despite an abrupt change of name, The Satellite, the venue formerly known as Spaceland, has retained its boyish charm. When entering The Satellite, you are overcome by the feeling that you are undoubtedly about to glimpse the proverbial “next big thing.” Cosmic light shows illuminate the profiles of ethereal twenty-somethings swaying to the sounds of bands toeing the precipice of fame and hailing from cities like Brooklyn, Austin, and neighboring Echo Park. Unsurprisingly, executives from many of Los Angeles’s top-tier record labels frequent The Satellite like a veritable mine of talent. Should you need to quench your thirst, meander to the venue’s unintimidating bar in search of a cocktail. The Satellite’s bar area is sectioned off from its stage and main floor and features several tables and couches conducive to relaxation. Don’t be surprised when the hunky lead singer from the band that just finished its set sexily settles in for a post-show beer beside you. Yes, it’s really him. Ginsberg’s angel-headed hipsters have grown up – if only slightly – and they’ve made The Satellite their meeting place.

My first visit to The Satellite was to see and indie band (Danieleson) I was not only sure none of my other friends had heard of before, but I wasn’t even sure that they toured outside of their home state, somewhere out East. A random Google search later and not only are they touring, they’re playing at this great little venue. It’s small but not cramped, the crowd was filled with people who were just as excited to be there as I was, and my brother and I enjoyed a couple of Pabsts, which I normally don’t drink but, when in Rome… If you’re looking for a chill place to check out musical hidden gems, The Satellite is an easy-going, fun night out.

The Satellite built quite a reputation in certain circles as Spaceland and that tradition continues unchanged with the new name. The folks there continue to bring in great unknown bands and local opening acts that make it worth showing up on time for whatever show it is. The stage is barely elevated above the floor and as you face the stage the bar is to your right and easily accessible if you need to refill during the performance. There are few tall stools along one wall (sometimes) and a few more in the bar area and then a completely separate room in the back with a pool table. Drinks are not as cheap as you might hope, but not unreasonable - though beer is better priced than mixed drinks. Valet parking is $5 so just do that, I searched for street parking the first time and it was a big hassle. I saw Chicago indie-folk musician Joe Pug here twice. The first was a Halloween night when every other bar had a theme party and it was a small but enthusiastic crowd. Towards the end, Joe just unplugged, got off the stage, and sang to us. After the show he, like many other artists the perform at The Satellite, was at the merch table but really open to just chatting with fans. My fiancee and I asked him to play at our wedding and he graciously declined. Last time I saw Monsters Calling Home and Bailiff open for Joe Pug. Bailiff is another Chicago band with some hard-pounding rhythms but could use some work on their stage presence to become a great act. Monsters Calling Home was a local band I'd never heard of, kind of like the Head and the Heart if they were Asian and a lot of fun. Hoping to hear more from them. Overall, The Satellite is a great spot to check out unknown bands and many that play there go on to bigger things. They often have bands do a residency for 4 Monday nights in a row and more than once this has exploded for a band with the final show selling out and catapulting them to indie fame.

The Satellite is a refuge for rising indie artists. While most LA bars and clubs are riding the EDM wave for all it's worth, The Satellite rolls out a consistent line-up of eclectic indie rock bands. Recent acts include Terraplane Sun and NO, which was just listed as one of Time Magazine's 11 Great Bands You Don't Know. If you like discovering new music it's the perfect place to grab a cheap beer, $2 pack of cigarettes, and hear the next big thing before the rest of the world does. Mingle with the bands, play some pool, and in between sets, be sure to step outside to sample the gourmet food trucks that specialize in everything from tacos to lobster.

A cool intimate space in Silver Lake, the Satellite is a solid live music venue if you're looking for unknown and up and coming indie and alternative music.Obviously the crowds here are as far from mainstream as a crowd can get and the music mirrors those sentiments. The Satellite used to be called Spaceland, though not much changed with the change in name. You can still play pool if the music becomes a drag, and the back room gives you a chance to talk during intermissions. I'd recommend the Satellite for anyone who likes the indie scene - the music however can be hit or miss depending on 'how' up and coming the bands of the night really are.