When you come to a city in which lots of peripheral (non-infrastructural) information has yet to be translated to English, there are two possible reactions: 1) panic, or 2) brace yourself for excitement. Back in the USA, I don’t think I ever went to a concert unless I knew at least some of the particulars about who/what I was going to see. In Prague, that’s possible to do, of course, but not as fun. Sure, there are major concert ticket portals like www.ticketpro.cz for scheduled, international or regional acts, but when it comes to day-to-day great music you’ll be hard-pressed to find better alternatives than wandering into one of my favorites (if I tell you about these, you’ve got to promise to save me a seat):
Limonadovy Joe’s
Photo: Nax_cz
Limonadovy Joe’s, Revolučni 1, Prague 1, is likeable for several reasons, including its mix of proximity (a few blocks from Old Town Square) and affordability. The last night I was there, a Czech band played numerous hits of “Western” radio, and I must say that they played several ZZ Top covers better than the originals (and I’ve actually seen the real ZZ Top, and even sort of like them).
Photo: Elizabeth Haas
Also, Limonadovy Joe’s does not cater merely to teenie-boppers but seems to draw a broad spectrum of ages – this is important to someone like me, in my 30s, as I tend not to like going places where I’m considered “the creepy old guy in the corner.” Overall, it’s a cool, urban place that draws more locals than tourists – which is what anyone in his or her right mind would prefer. In summer, the ceiling even retracts for a bit of fresh air.
Vagon
My favorite spot to descend into the depths of musicdom would be Vagon Music Club/Pub, Narodni 25, Prague 1. An ex-musician myself, I am consistently amazed by Vagon’s live sound, which offers the best acoustics for loud rock, without having to yell at the person across the table to be heard. Despite its perfect location in the center (close to Tesco), inexpensive pivo (pilsner) still flows, drawing (like Limonadovy Joe’s) a diverse crowd that is difficult to stereotype. A typical night can feature international acts (e.g., Ten Years After) or might showcase Czech “revival” bands playing tribute to the Rolling Stones, U2, Guns & Roses, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Hendrix, Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, and more.
My favorite show at Vagon, however, was the classically trained Slovak keyboard wizard Marian Varga, who started the former Czechoslovakia’s first art-rock band, Collegium Musicum, in 1971, and who sounds a lot like he’s still got a strip of blotter paper under his tongue (think ELP, only more twisted). If you want Czechoslovak rock history, murals and a series of wall displays document a Bohemian arts and music scene dating back to the ‘60s.
Main acts start around 21:00, but special events may see dawn’s electric crack ravaged.
POZOR! (Beware!): Singing and/or dancing can occur at any time in most of Prague’s evening-oriented establishments.
Go futher: Find out about Francis' favourite music venues in Stockholm here and where in Paris Meg goes for the the best free concerts in town.