Zebulon

Too bad it’s closed. I liked this place and its interesting live music.
:-(

Good music venue, but drinks are a bit pricey.

This place is a south side staple. What would we do without you, Zebulon???
Amazing taste with who they have play here, always free shows, nice dranks and seating like a classy joint. Good sound and in a cool location not on a strip. The Zeb stands alone…
The only draw-​back is its very VERY popular, so if you want a table to sit or see the people playing, prepare and get there early enough. Or suffer the noise and crowdedness. Totally worth it though, I’ve seen killer bands here for free (bonus!)

I have literally wanted to go to Zebulon for two years, after I saw a video online of Holly Miranda doing an acoustic performance there. Finally got a chance to stop by, and you know how high expectations are never met? Well, Zebulon delivered.
It was exactly what I imagined. No cover for free live music. Cool bartenders (one with a wicked mustache). Girls with obscenely stupid thick rimmed glasses. A bathroom fit for shooting up heroin or having unprotected sex.
Basically, it felt like an LES bar classed up and more suburban. No crazy crowds on a Friday night, just a super chill atmosphere.
Minus half a star for subpar draft selection, and minus another half for only accepting American Express.

I LOVE YOU.
Seriously never had a bad or dull moment here. Great shows, fun folks, hot as balls but somehow it fits the vibe, and the Nigerian disco dance party that’s been happening recently on Friday nights… my favorite thing in the world right now.
See you tonight, sugar.

I’ve never been here for a show, but I’ve had a drink or two here and it’s a lovely place. They’ve got a very unique drink menu, some items you won’t see around Williamsburg which is saying something!
It’s very cozy here, and I found the noise level perfect. Awesome music, but they’re not blasting it into your ears. You can actually hear the person next to you!!!

So I actually resurrected this account to write this review. The bar is fine. I live in the neighborhood and have been a handful of times and seen a few shows, etc. Nothing crazy great, nothing to complain about.
But, this was my experience on Friday night. I go up to the bar and buy 5 pints which comes out to $ 31. I give the bartender $ 40 and tell her that just $ 5 back is cool. She leaves the $ 5 on the bar and goes, «only a $ 4 tip for 5 beers? there’s an ATM in the back if you need more cash.» I was convinced I misheard her and my buddies agreed that there’s no way that she actually said that, so I let it be. Then, my friend goes up for a round of drinks and nearly the exact same thing happens, except, this times she goes, «there’s an ATM in the back, you can get me next time.»
I have been in and out of the service industry for a good chunk of my life and I tip really well for great spots and service, and even too generously for average spots and service. But I take care of people that work in the hopsitality industry because it’s important. Really important. But this was shocking to me. For starters, tips are not a given, they are earned. And to prance around with this ridiculous, classless behavior is unbecoming of any decent person.
I’ll be back to the place at some point but I will surely avoid this absurd bartender. I mean, christ, this chick must be a terrible friend and pet owner and sister and daughter. Bummer.
Tip away

Came in here on a Friday at about 7pm and it was pretty empty. It was dimly lit with only the projection screen showing some old film set to music. Good place to have a nice conversation. The happy hour beers come out to about $ 4 a pint. They also provide free trail mix to munch on.
I should probably come in and stay for the band. I’m a bit confused though because on the website it says no cover, but as I was about to leave someone from the band walked up with a cash box. He asked if I was there to see the show and I said I wasn’t. He let me know that if I’m there at 10pm they’ll probably walk around again and donations are appreciated. He then walked to the guy next to me and found someone who was there for show and promptly said that there’s a $ 10 cover charge that night.
Is or isn’t there a cover charge for the shows? Guess I’ll have to come back another night to find out.

I finally made it to Zebulon and am so glad I did. The bar is beautiful– the lighting is perfect, there are well-​placed mirrors to make the smallish bar seem larger, and it was cozy but not too packed. The vibe of the place was also really relaxed, which is great for Williamsburg. The waitress was really on top of things and always came by at the right times.
I went for the Lagos Disco party and it was amazing. The music was stellar and the dance floor was perfect. The dance floor has perfect polished floors for dancing, just the right amount of slickness. I could see this being a weekly hang-​out spot since the music was so amazing, the sound system is all right, and it has such a good vibe.

One day I had the feeling that I needed to go out, probably because I’ve just finished a few projects up. I sorta wanted something inspirational too. I checked The Skint (’cause I’m a cheap), found a show that sounded cool, and I ran there (no bike =()!
I’ve only listened to one of the bands previously (Fred Nicholaus of Department of Eagles). The others included an experimental ambient jazz quartet (Little Women) and an indie synth pop band (Glass Ghosts). AWESOME.
The décor is what you’d imagine for a European café/​bar. The menu is extremely simple and a bit expensive – brie and apple, mozzerella and tomato, and similar sandwiches for $ 9, or snacks for a little less. But there was no cover charge! I was able to order iced coffee, which isn’t on the menu.
The show is one of my favorite experiences. I personally enjoy experimental/​avant-​garde shows in which the artist spills their heart out at a tiny venue to an audience that barely cares. It’s sad yet amazing. Very inspirational. Maybe it’s an assurance for me that taking the artist path is okay. It was exactly what I needed.
Fred started the show being the least experimental, playing songs that would make you jealous if you had brought your girlfriend. The jazz quartet started grouped together singing as if they were in a quire, then played the poop out of their instruments for two hours non-​stop. I’m not sure how their lungs survived. It was already 12AM before the headliner Glass Ghosts even started. At the end of Glass Ghosts’ show there were surprise guests: dancers; Dancers that fit their dark music, complimenting the atmosphere. All of this. For what? They simply wanted to do it, and so they did.
I didn’t have a problem with the venue. Sure it gets a little crowded. They’re probably your neighbors anyway; talk to them. The audience was divided into people who are there for the show and people who were bar hopping, so there were people in the back drunkenly talking. Gladly the music was louder then them.
As this was my first time at Zebulon I can’t say if their shows are consistently great, but when I need some inspiration, I’m coming back here again.

This is simply the best no-​cover music venue in all the five boroughs. And I’m not just saying that because I’ve performed there!
On any given Friday or Saturday night, they always have a great band playing some dance-​friendly music until the wee hours of the morning. During the week things can be a little more hit or miss, but I’ve never been disappointed on the weekend. Drinks are very reasonable, and they are usually serving some kind of food if you want to nosh on something while tossing back a few.
Only real drawback is that it can get really crowded making it tough to move around what is a pretty small club. But in my experience this means you end up bumping into people and making new friends, so I see this more as a positive.

Came here last night to see a live band, headed up by the gorgeous Lovey-​Liar. Wow, what a treat that show was. Plus my friend was Danish, so I got an intro to the whole Danish posse while I’m at it.
I went with a Chimay Ale, and the hipster mustached bartender was anxious to chill the glass. He told me «if you’re gonna order a $ 9 beer, the least I can do is chill the glass». My sentiments exactly!
There aren’t a lot of places where you can see free live music in New York anymore, and this act was the first from 10 – 11:30. Looked like they were lined up for two more later in the evening, so not bad at all…

Get your friends together, get a drink, listen to some chill shit, dance, repeat, profit.
It can get pretty loud so it’s definitely not the place for extended conversation. The night I was there they had an afropop DJ and the room was groovin pretty hard.

Good bar. Live music every night, but the music can get so avant garde that only the hippest of hipsters could appreciate it.

Totally love the vibe, free music and dance parties here! Though the shows are free, they kind of charge you with the drinks. The best they could do on a Friday night was a crappy beer and a shot for $ 6, and that was their only drink special. Though a few beers and shots definitely get the job done, and will eventually motivate me to try to join the dance party, I have to frown at how Zebulon might be without that one drink special.
I love the atmosphere here though. Its dark, fun, and careful. You can watch shows here, dance your butt off, or sit at the bar/​table and have a good conversation. I will come back here for sure, and hopefully get to try some of their food. Who knows… I’ve never had a cheese plate while watching a show.

I liked Zebulon alright until exactly 30 minutes ago. During a break in the music, their French bartender exclaimed: [Shouting] «WHAT YOU JUST DID WAS RUDE!»
(Female bartender with dark hair and bangs laughs loudly; other patrons turn around to gawk.)
Me: «What???»
Bartender: [Still shouting] «SITTING LIKE THAT. WITH YOUR BACK TO THE BAR. IT’S VERY RUDE. [Pause] YOU SHOULD SAY ‘HI’. BE FRIENDLY.»
Me: «…»
(I had come in with a friend, and casually leaned on the bar to watch literally the last 2 minutes of a shitty acid jazz band set.)
Me: [Almost thinking this is a joke] «Uh, hi??? I come here all the time. What’s the problem?»
Bartender: «It’s just rude, what you did.»
And I stared in wonder at him as I backed out the door, slowly.
Had this bartender focused on good service – instead of letting out his bad night on the pretty girl – he would have sold that one precious drink.
Zebulon, you have lost my patronage. Publicly embarrassing your frequent customer and neighbor… For what? A jolly? Stress relief?

I thought my friends were taking me to meet the leader of an alien planet. It turned out that Zebulon was a venue. I was sorely disappointed.
Really crowded. Sound was doodoo. Hot. Only one potty per sex. Drinks were eh. Atmosphere was okay.

Still looking for a someplace to replace Black Betty.
Maybe I was a bit off thinking this place would have a similar vibe.
I came in here with high expectations, never good for a someone like me who hates untill impressed.
Maybe I came on an off-​night, but its the only thing I have to go by, and for that reason its a 2 star non jump off.
Been to many places like this around this area, was kinda, no actually, ignored when bartender talked to the others.
Usually I dont mind this, but from working in the service industry I know you have to balance your attention, which means check over at the other every 5 minutes and keep track of beer height in glass– esp. when theres only 6 peeps at bar.
If this is what the Parisian vibe is, Ill stick to Krakow uptown

Such
A great
Bar to chill
With lots of free
Live music and generally a good crowd.

I’m amazed that few people can report about the unprofessional staff.
Go on an uncrowded evening (meaning empty stools and unused tables) to see your friend’s band play while waiting for your other friend (who will buy you a drink on arrival).
Expect the sour waitress to offer you a menu and then talk behind your back for declining it. In minutes, the waitress will boot you off the stool claiming «someone else who might come in will need it.» Who said that waiting 5 minutes for a friend to arrive to buy you a drink (or not) wasn’t allowed? Also, if your wallet was recently stolen/​lost, she won’t care since she’ll give you a blank, mean expression. Seriously. To me, I take it as her being deaf, dumb and stupid.
Talk to the manager/​owner and he’ll just tell you this world needs to be a better place. Not exactly what I want to hear after being treated with complete disrespect. I don’t need the staff to force feed me their liquor or «drinks». Another friend told me the wine was terrible. Staff acts like high school brats with their fingers in their ears.
Completely unprofessional. Never returning.
I found out that the bartender is named Nicky who is in a band called Hiro Kane. I’d avoid every place she works at. She deserves no customers. She needs lessons on customer service. She sucks and other people who know her dislike her tremendously.