Velvet Underground

Hands down my favourite dancing spot in Toronto. I’ve been going to the Velvet for more years than I care to admit and it has never let me down.
The main reason to go to the Velvet is the atmosphere. It’s a place for everyone. Misfits, freaks, weirdos, preppys, hipsters, students, grown-​ups, mods, clean cut, sleazy, whatever you are you fit in at the Velvet.
If you like non stop good music and dancing with abandon this is the place to be.
The bar staff are quick and friendly.
Don’t bring any attitude or judgment here and you’re guaranteed to have a really fun night out.

The music is always good, the drinks are always cheap, and they have 2 pool tables.

The goth in me loves this place.
While I might not wear black matrix overcoats and boots with more holes than I can actually count, or have any tattoos or piercings, I am a goth at heart. I love all goth tunes and love dancing to them.
But it’s not strictly goth, more of just a leaning. I have a hard time not dancing a lot when I’m here.
Drinks are a fair price, but the crown on this Friday night was pretty lacklustre. At 1:30am there were maybe 35 people in the whole bar. I read a review that said the crowd gets better after 2, but why do I wanna pay $ 5 cover to not even be able to drink? Plus, I’m no longer going to bars to pick up.
Anyway, I would hang here again. Some nights are better than others, but the tunes are always solid and I suppose that the old lady in me liked the lack of a crowd once in awhile.

They have a fun & loud 80’s retro night on Saturdays. Very mixed crowd, lots of dancing space and good music. No coat check.

Some of my funnest Toronto nights have been at Velvet. But you have to go for specific DJs.
Last year there were a few nights devoted to Madchester, Britpop and shoegazer. Oh the joy of hearing the Boo Radleys on the dance floor.
But this is a review about the venue, not my obsession over pop music made in England durings the 90s and the few good souls in this city who still play it for our dancing pleasure.
As a venue, it totally works – I have no complaints at all. Good sized floor, loud sound, easy to get to washroom and billiards in the front. Staff are all fine.
Being on Queen street, this is one of those places that people just go to because they want to drink, dance and meet people – they don’t care what is playing. I have noted a lot of foreign students here and people on pub crawls. Oh, and a lot of Bachelorette parties spend time here too. it is especially funny when these people are on the floor and Mike has played some Jesus and Mary Chain and they have no fookin’ clue that this screeching guitar is some of the best music Scotland has ever produced – they just run away.
Actually, come to think of it, the bar could often use at least one more server – it can take forever to quench your thirst here. (But, the drinks are cheap and served in plastic cups). Bad beer selection – bottles only and very common.
I’ll go back – but only if the DJ is somebody specific, playing something I specifically want to hear.

I love this place. Generally great music, friendly bartenders and a great place to dance without the meat-​market atmosphere or the judgement. this is one place I can hit and I’ll be sure to get a friendly smile rather than the elevator stare from other girls and a high five rather than a «how YOU doin’?» from the guys.
Cover is usually not bad, $ 5 – 10. Drinks are not memorably expensive.

I went last night to the Panic night at Velvet Underground: spotlight was on Pulp vs Blur. And when you advertise as such, I really expect to hear only them (and maybe bands that are similar or inspired by them). I know that in the case of Pulp, they have a vast catalogue from the early 80s!
But does it make business sense when possible not everyone in attendance knows these bands’ catalogues? Probably not and explains why there was an odd mix of retro songs. My friend and eye kept side-​eyeing the musical selection! After all, it’s a retro alternative night and I respect the dj for what he’s doing.
The Pulp songs he played were the staple ones that most people can sing out loud (as evidenced last night). He played a couple of His N Hers songs: Do You Remember the First Time (I requested) and She’s a Lady. I don’t know if he played Razzmatazz (again, I requested), which would have been so much fun!
From Different Class, he played Common People, Sorted for E’s & Wizz and Disco 2000… I keep thinking he played Underwear, but maybe I am wishing. I also wished he played F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E To be frank, that whole album is excellent and one hour is spent on Pulp songs.
I did not hear any song from This is Hardcore and We Love Life, which is a shame, but in some respects, not songs that would have you jumping and shaking on the dancefloor.
From Blur, as far as I can remember, he played the following songs: Beetlebum, Song 2 (but of course), The Universal, Coffee & TV, Parklife, Girls & Boys, Charmless Man, Country House. Again, there are so many other beautiful Blur songs but don’t lend themselves to the dancefloor (despite him playing The Universal).
But in the end, I had a great time, shaking it and jumping to Pulp and other songs. The dance floor is wide enough. Can’t speak for the drinks since we both had water. We were there for our collective love of these bands and Britpop. The club itself is a bit grungy but that’s alright. Not planning on making this my weekly ritual!
And I agree with Evelyn W, if you feel the need to fit in, dress in black. It always amuses me how subcultures go to great pains and efforts to differentiate themselves, yet they all manage to look alike. No individuality or creativity. Being different or eccentric lies in your choices, and not in your dress style (the choice of how to dress is excluded from this scenario).
Well played DJ Lazarus, but could it have killed you to play Panic by the Smiths?

It’s dirty and filthy and the bands that play are cooler and louder than I understand. But, I like it.
The drinks are still cheap like you remember, and it didn’t make me feel as old as I thought it would.
I like that they have pool tables.
This review isn’t my finest. I’m still hungover from being at The Velvet Underground.
PS: If you’re someone who finds it important to fit in, wear black.

The Toronto Lover system:
5 stars = Must visit!
4 stars = Really good. I take my friends here.
3 stars = Somewhat worth it… if you have nowhere better to go.
2 stars = Below average. Attend only when necessary.
1 star = Do not visit!
Velvet Underground is a Queen West staple that’s outlived a lot of similar clubs in the area.
It’s really loud, they serve a lot of beer, and there’s a dance area. It’s walking distance from Bathurst, or Spadina, or anywhere else that’s worth being. It’s like every other bar/​club in the world, except this one has a slightly nicer clientele and a little less attitude. I often end up here.
A billiards area is up front, and there’s some couch space in the back. Apparently they have a $ 5 cover now… Such a shame.
Get drunk and go dance!
3 stars

Oh… the Velvet will always and forever have a special place in my heart.
It hurts me a bit that this bar is now associated with 102.1 the edge and that they now charge $ 5 cover (used to always be free!!). The music and crowd has definitely changed a bit over the past 7+ years I’ve been going. Its a little less hard core and is now more main stream, but I still dig it. I love the vibe and the unpretentious crowd. You won’t find top 40 music here. Also cheap drinks and billiards. Love it!

I went here on Saturday night to escape from the mind numbing top 40 at most Toronto clubs. And I got what I came for: good music, ie: nirvana, Florence + the machine — the rock staples and some hits from today. I also got something unexpected: the crowd — middle aged men who are the worst for wear, what looked like high schoolers and cougars. Crowd gets better around 2am, twentysomethings and young professionals show up. Apart from the superficial, the crowd at this place are GENUINELY kind people. I was a smoke bum and had three people (male and female) offer me smokes and I shared some fun laughs and light conversation with these people. If you can get over the apparent greasiness, this place is a gem for the warm hearted crowd and staff.

Good crowd, decent music and average bartenders

This place is great. Sure it’s not nice inside, and you don’t go here if you’re trying to be seen, and the bathrooms don’t smell very good but I’ve never not had a good time when I go.
Dance floor is roomy, the music is rockish, with a hint of the harder stuff at times.
never too busy, never totally empty. In fact i was there last night.

It may be because I went on an off night, but the place was decidedly quiet and had the feel of places that used to be really good and now have lost their boil and are hoping the hipsters come back. It’s a decent bar, with a very cool if not slightly outmoded name, but regardless of the veneer, it’s got a great stage for music. I hope the Cure cover band that played there had a good time with it.
With a band with a big following, you could well imagine the place bouncing. The bar is right beside the stage so it may be good that the bar was somewhat quiet. Chaos could definitely ensue. There’s small conversation nooks available as well as two pool tables at the back if that’s your game more than the music.
I truly wish I’d been able to see this place back in the day when it was choked by Goth kids when Goth was actually Goth.

DO GO IF:
1. you want to shake your groove thing with friends in a not so completely packed venue
2. which plays a mix of current alt./rock, 80s, 90s & oldies
3. like to have billiards as an option
DON’T GO HERE IF:
1. you want to chat it up with friends, music is far too loud for that
For the most part the staff has been STELLAR. I have had a few misunderstandings and witnessed a hand full of altercations in the past, though never a consistent problem.
I’ve been going here for well over 7 years…
(*thinks about that, ummm eh… anyhow)
On average, it’s never so crowded I can’t move. (as Anna V. mentions)
I guess this place is my old reliable of bars in Toronto. The company you keep and the consistent music selection is what makes it fun IMHO, oh, decent drink prices too ;)