Gabe’s

Pretty good dive bar far as I know. I vaguely remember a rock band playing. I vaguely remember walking back to my hotel which must mean I had fun. I have heard a lot about this place over the years and was excited to finally visit. I met up with some friends after a concert in town. Seemed like a great late night spot. Perhaps it was a little too late in the evening for me that night. Wish I could remember more. Will be back next time I’m in town.

I attended «Gabe and Walker’s» from 1973 – 1984 (I think they changed their name to «Gabe’s» prior to 1984, can’t remember), which coincided with my undergrad/​grad years at U of I. This place has always been A DIRTY, NASTY DIVE BAR with freaking disgusting restrooms and good music, make no mistake about it. Thankfully a move back to CA and ultimate enlistment in the Silicon Valley tech industry saved me from the relentless Dime Beer nights and their seductive clutch. .. that being said I could always walk in and let them know I was in the Writers’ Workshop/​Undergrad edition and get a free beer, now that was pretty cool.

Gabe’s downtown in Iowa City (formerly The Picador and Gabe’s Oasis before that) has always been a prime spot to catch a show and most of the time that becomes a great night even without knowing who’s playing on the card. They have a pool table and a couple of video games if you’re with friends as well as hosting free shows downstairs occasionally.

Gabes is legendary! Everyone from Pavement, to Jeff Buckley, Guided By Voices, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Flaming Lips, to Bright Eyes, etc have all played here.
The bathrooms are a gross. The drinks are cheap! It’s loud, dirty, and most of all really really fun! One of the ultimate dive bars in the country!
There are two bars one up stairs where the main stage is. And one down stairs where they also have a pool table and smaller shows!
They have a great patio area out back for sitting under the summer sun.
I have been lucky to play here over 15 times and have gone to at least 15 shows here where I was just a spectator!
Some of my fave shows ever have been here, I have met some of my life long friends here, and had some very fun drunk and sober times here!
This places bleeds rock and roll history!
Maybe it’s gone down hill a little from the glory days, but hell everyone one always says remember when… I still feel a great historic vibe when I walk through those poster covered doors!

Growing up this was the place I always dreamed about going to shows at. The huge list of all my favorite bands that played here… astonishing. So before I moved to IC I only had been to gabes a few times and it was this mystical place.
Gabes was the first place I went the day I moved to the city and I had so many good times here. It’s changed a lot but the memories remain and will never leave me.
Definitely a treasure that has proven it’s need to be kept afloat.

We’d run into other bands on the road as far away as Roswell, NM and San Diego that could only remember Gabe’s for its terrifyingly horror-​show sketchy bathrooms and death-​defying load-​in from the back. It’s since been refurbished nicely.
Depending on who’s running sound it can be spot on or waaaaaay overdriven.
Loud, wall of sound music and bass tones that slice through my guts is what I need in live shows, but there’s a difference between loud music and music that sounds like it’s coming from blown speakers. Gotta have an appreciation for the acoustics.
That said, they continue to bring in relevant acts at decent prices.

Its a small venue bar/​concert location. The bands play upstairs with sticky floors and funky bathrooms. As dive bars go, this is it. The bar downstairs has an indoor and outdoor locations. Its like a saloon in its long hallway styled bar.
The sound stage is loud and you get to stand close… spit on your face close. Some people like it, I didn’t care for it so much. I just wished they would have cleaned up the place a little. In trying to make a statement that «its all about the music», they didn’t have to forget hygiene.

Good for cheap pitchers of beer and loud rock and metal, and of course the live shows. Nice and grungy and not a hint of the lame Iowa City sports bar trappings.

saw lucero as my first concert at the picador — excellent experience. felt like being at the metro/​doubledoor in chicago.

Damn it Teri S! You stole FTR from meeeee!
Anyway, Gabe’s Oasis is the original hole-​in-​the-​wall dive bar indie venue for great shows. Bands I remember seeing here before they made it big include:
DCfC, Minus the Bear, Troubled Hubble, The Walkmen, The French Kicks, Ester Drang, Mates of State, Of Montréal, to name a few. There are tons more but I can’t remember the countless shows I saw on the cheap here during my college years. The acoustics are great, and it’s always fun getting to chill with the bands in the back when you buy merch from them. I wish there were something similar here in Santa Cruz.
My only real complaint is the smoke. But that’s the Californian in me.

Gabe’s was cool. I’d heard so much about it – even way out here in California – and finally got to see the Bellrays there last summer, and another band I love but whose name I never remember. Great venue. They had some great bands play through there, and were a staple of the Iowa City music scene for years.
When I was there it was decaying – they were going to close soon and everyone knew it, so I felt no guilt decorating the women’s bathroom with nail polish. The building has apparently reopened as a venue called the Picadoro, which is cool, but it’ll take years before it has the gritty rock & roll charm of Gabe’s.