Annie’s Social Club

found the place by accident the summer before it closed, as it was within walking distance to our hotel… checked out a show there by the young offenders and another group from austin, forgot their name, but they did cover a wipers song… great crowd, great atmosphere, and probably the best sound for a small venue — i did compliment the sound person…
very sorry to hear that it’s gone.

Annies Closed? That sucks, it was a cool place.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, the sun will come out tomorrow. you’re only a day a-​way!
Except 6 tomorrows from now mark the final comedy show at Annie’s. Like always, signups begin at midnight on Monday so you can join the final kickass show on Tuesday night.
It’s the hard-​knock life for us. Would’ve been a whole lot better if Daddy Warbucks would’ve stepped up to purchase and save this place.
Ok, sorry about the cheesy Annie’s lyrics but it’s not everyday that I can showcase what I learned from my sister at a tender young age.

The rooms with a stage makes it more than a bar. It’s dark and divy though the vibe is cool goth/​punk/​metal. The bar is big and is to the right immediately after entry. The front room to the left has a big stage and there was a smaller room with another stage in the back. There is a curved couch and table right outside the bathrooms. Odd but it’s useful if the place gets crowded, which it was not on a Sunday night.
Went here for something called «Bakchoo Comedy & Comics with Will Franken» which was basically a comedy show. It was organized by the very funny Amir Malekpour (
). It was unique, with regular standups, with some comics that kind of have props, and with a comic artist, Lev Yilmaz (
), who showed a video of his drawn comedy. Lots of polite laughter, though there were a few LOLs. The headliner, Will Franken (
), had a stream-​of-​consciousness riff going, but that was on purpose I think. More hits than misses but his jokes were flying.
Overall, not sure if this a one-​time event or a weekly/​monthly thing. Will need to return on free open-​mic comedy Tuesdays. Near the corner of 5^th and Folsom streets so lots of parking, but then again it was a Sunday night. Not too much going on in the area, though there are a couple of restaurants around the block.

I came here on Tuesday night with Aaron for open mic comedy night. When we first entered the club, we thought the comedy event was cancelled. No one was on the main stage and a motorcycle was parked where a crowd would be standing at. We were about an hour late, so I thought it was finished. I asked the bartender if open mic comedy night was going to happen tonight and she told me it’s in the back room. Sure, enough it was still going.
We got a couple of beers ($ 4 a pint) and parked ourselves along the wall. A lot of the comedians were testing and practicing new material because they were holding notes and recording themselves. I even recognized some of the comedians when I went to the Purple Onion a month or so ago. If you are starting out, this place is great because no one is going to heckle you because you are surrounded by your fellow comedians and their friends. The worst thing can happen to you is that no one will laugh at your act.
If you want to check out free comedy, come to Annie’s on Tuesday night.
Took public transportation: Caltrain to SF 4^th and King.

So I went here for my BFF Caroline’s bday on a bloody Wednesday. We decided to walk from her apartment on New Montgomery down to the bar… yeah not a good idea… its a bit far. The place is kinda «GOTH» and I am so NOT GOTH but it was for my BFF so I put on my happy face and went along for it anyway. Plus side of the bar:
— they had red stripe & fat tire beer
— an old skool b&w photo booth
— kareoke with stage… that was interesting to watch.
…while I wont be celebrating my bday there this year it was nice to try something new (which I like to do regularly)…but I don’t think I will be a regular there… the bartender with the ugly dreads scared me!

Just a couple of weeks ago, my band, An Isotope (
) played at Annie’s Social Club with Commissure and Room for a Ghost. My profile pic was actually taken from that gig. ;)
The stage set up is a bit small with an awkward pillar in the middle, but we all settled in fine after designating our spots. The sound guy (sorry, I forgot his name) was very helpful in setting us up for the show, so props to him for that. It definitely felt great playing here and listening to the other bands perform, and as we chatted with everyone after the gig, they appreciated our sound as well. Kudos all around!
Oh yeah, and the karaōke nights are entertaining too. Personally, I would like to see a bigger selection of songs, but after flipping through the song book, I could usually spot one or two tracks that scream, «Pick me!»

Definitely not my standard bar selection– but a friend’s friend’s band was playing here last night so we showed up to support.
Way, way cool place. I don’t know if it was a special night, but never have I received so much female attention!
Attentive and chill bartenders, good music, and a pool table! All big pluses in my book.
Will be back for some more lovin!

A fun atmosphere
For drunken karaōke
Annie’s Social Club
_​_​_​_​_​
I’ve been here a few times now and I love it. They have main stage karaōke on Monday night, which unfortunately might not be around for much longer, but it is a blast. Their machine is kind of jacked up for some reason and skips beats randomly, but you will hardly notice or care after a few drinks, and at least it gives you something to blame for your poor singing. Besides, it kind of adds to the environment.
What I love about Annie’s SC and what I think sets it apart from all the other seedy bars in the neighborhood is its character. If Annie’s Social Club were a person, she’s be a Punk Rock Girl with spikey hair, obscure tattoos, and enigmatic piercings. Not someone to take home to the parents, but boy is she fun for those hot and crazy nights you need in your life.

Gooferman Circus Antics on April 1^st? Who would miss it? I surely couldn’t. I found my way to Annie’s on a weeknight and it was packed. The parking was easy peasy and the crowd was friendly++. My G&T had some very serious pucker power too!
Color theme is black and red with a toss in of hard core biker bar. Def part of the LOUD scene and I ain’t referring to patrons clothing choices. Good sized dance floor and smallish stage make for an intimate setting.
I will be sure to come back here. The very fact that they support raunchy clowns is all I really needed to know.

So… apparently people still «mosh?» Yeah, they do at Annie’s Social Club. I was surprised too… although I don’t make it out to many punk, metal or hardcore rock shows so what do I know.
I went to see «Arnocorps» with a gal pal on Saturday evening. She intrigued me with tales of a band that produced all Gover-​nator themed songs. Seriously, every song is inspired by one of Ah-nold’s movies. The lead singer speaks with an Arnold accent, the fans wear camo face paint and the bassist surfs the crowd a-​top his guitar case. It was worth the ten bones entrance fee! The other earlier bands were great too… I’m sorry I didn’t get their names.
Long story short, this is a good spot to see a show like Arnocorps… it’s edgy, punk and loud but without making newcomers and hard-​rock rookies like myself uncomfortable.
Kudos to their bartender (blond friendly gal) who made me an awesome drink when I couldn’t make up my mind… I’m still not sure what it was… vodka, ginger ale, bitters??? Whatever it was, it was delicious and I didn’t get a hangover! Yippee. Make friends with her people, and tip her generously!
Lastly, it was easy to find a cab out front… even on a rainy night at 2am… I’ll be back Annie, but this time I’ll be prepared in my leather and eyeliner!
P. S. again… lost stars for cash only. It just bugs…

Last Friday night I straightened my blonde, highlighted hair. Like a good Marina girl.
Last Friday night I tucked my skinny Hudson’s into my slouchy black boots. Like a good Marina girl.
Last Friday night I put on gold hoop earrings and a long gold necklace. Like a good Marina girl.
Last Friday I went to Annie’s Social Club for a friend’s birthday party. Like a good Marina girl?
No. LIke a Marina girl out of place amongst the tattooed and pierced.
Last Friday I sang Killing Me Softly and Like a Prayer to a packed house of hipsters at Annie’s Social Club. Like a good Marina girl.
Last Friday, I drank way too much top shelf vodka and ate a really disgusting piece of pizza at 3am. Like a good Marina girl.
Last Saturday morning, I puked my guts up and didn’t have to go the gym. Like a good Marina girl.
The transformation is almost complete.
Look out Daily Method. I’m coming for you next.

Now don’t get me wrong, I have an extremely open mind. Sure I don’t fit the steretype of a hipster/​goth/​whatever, I guess i’m just your average guy. So when I came here with a bunch of friends, I was pretty interested by what I saw and observed.
Out of a hundred maybe more people in the club, my ten friends (including myself) were the only people in there wearing button up colored dress shirts. Yup, everyone was wearing some sort of black garment and not drinking beer. Boy did we stand out, we attempted to make the most out of it, we did hip hop on karaōke while no one clapped or sang along, we pounded beers and attempted to have people join in. Nothing, no reception, very odd sense that I was in some sort of a vampire movie.
Tips and Pointers:
–Don’t wear J. Crew colored button down shirts
–Don’t wear boat shoes
–Cover is $ 5
–Beer is plentiful, because apparently thats not what’s popular here
–Hip Hop is not welcome
–Be a hipster
[APPROVED FOR HIPSTERS!]

Annie’s rocks my little world. In a city where it’s very difficult to find good karaōke (suck it, Mint), Annie’s has everything I want and need when it’s time to sing my heart out. Now, let me put you straight here — I am not looking for a venue that takes singing seriously, or even worse, where the singers take themselves seriously. Please give me cheesy, guilty pleasure songs, and give me a room full of drunken hipsters singing along because they totally know all the words to Journey’s «Don’t Stop Believin’» by heart. This is where I am happiest, and this is what I get at Annie’s Social Club.
Eileen and Reby Rae are perhaps the most badass KJs I have come across in all my karaōke travels. The rotation is always fair (so important), and the song selection, though not astoundingly huge, is a good one. They call it «Punk Rock n’ Schlock Karaōke» and there is a good bit of both of those genres to choose from. The bar itself is not so much a dive bar as it is a bar that looks like a dive bar. I’m not saying that Annie’s is posing by any means — it’s more like a big scary biker who carries a teddy bear around with him. I am a tiny, white, middle class chick with no visible tattoos or interesting piercings, and I always feel comfortable here.
So, if you want to blast out some Bowie or Bonnie Tyler, head down to Annie’s on Friday or Saturday night (or main stage on Monday!), get yourself in the door, and grab a beer on your way to the back of the joint. Go through the mysterious door directly to your right, and find yourself immersed in some of the best karaōke in San Francisco.

Pros: Magners Cider on tap, punk rock karaōke, quick bartenders, plenty of space.
Cons: Goths, a $ 5 cover.
I would go again on their famed brit-​pop night, I think!

As far as bar/​clubs go, the gothic/​trip hop/​ambience scene is in full effect @ Annie’s SC. I have to say I was smitten by the trip hop, catered sushi, and friendly folks that enjoyed creeping on the dance floor with yours truly. Aside from the fact that there is a pathetic coverage charge after 10pm, a little bargaining with «L» will get you a long way. Add to the fact that it’s cash only and you’ll even end up saving if you’ve set a limit on the ATM.
Nice touch. I wouldn’t change a thing here, except for parking.

Do you like karaōke? Do you like intimate karaōke? Do you like off the beaten path karaōke lists? If you answered yes to any of the above questions you need to go to Annie’s for their back room, you guessed it, karaōke!
I came with a friend for a birthday party and man did I have one of the best nights in SF. It was rumored the birthday girl usually sang, «Baby got back» and I thought, «Baby got back» what type of karaōke joint is this? Well its a place where you can sing whatever the hell you feel like. I saw some great renditions of George Michael, Def Leopard, and Styx. The crowd is chill, outside you can hear death metal and inside you can sing the Divinyls. If that doesn’t sound like a good time to you, then I don’t know what is.

Finally got to check this place out, after hearing tons of stories involving NoFx.
I liked it.
The bar is separate from where the band is playing, which is rad. I hate when the two areas converge upon one another. It felt pretty open and I didn’t get all claustrophobic. An interesting mix of people… I saw all types in the course of an evening.
I’ll be back.

It’s my home away from home!
First off, it’s a live music venue WITH karaōke. It’s not a karaōke bar anymore as it was at the Boardman location. As a matter of fact, it never was a karaōke bar to begin with. It was originally a bar WITH karaōke (and that was only on Tuesday and Saturday at the old locale).
Karaōke at the Social Club is free on Monday’s and it’s in the main room. On Friday’s and Saturday’s, it’s in the backroom «parlor» and there is a cover. People, the cover is there for the benefit of the bands that are playing. Don’t be stingy.
As for the music, it ranges on the night. Usually it’s Punk, metal, garage, rock-​a-​billy, country or pop. Dance nights are the begining of the month with the kids from Leisure. No rap, trance or whatever… it’s a rock venue.
Many years ago, the place was called the Covered Wagon Saloon (I actually first saw Nirvana on the stage there in the early 90s). It was later called the Cherry Bar, but now as Annie’s Social Club, it’s bringing back the old spirit of the CW with a different twist.

If you know me even just a little, you will not be surprised to learn that Tuesday morning at 1:30 a.m. found me rocking out to karaōke at Annie’s. With a big group of rowdies and a mean case of regret for not showing up here for Leisure on Saturday like I told a bunch of people I would. If you are one of the people I flaked on, accept my deepest apologies. Next time drinks are on me. Maybe.
Monday night is apparently karaōke in these parts. I am sorry to say that while fairly entertaining, this karaōke night doesn’t measure up to Glen’s karaōke Tuesdays at Amnesia or Saturdays at Napper. That’s the damn truth and you heard it here first.
On the upside, the bartender is HOT. Like HOTT. HAWT. However you spell it when you’re trying to convey the idea that someone is so hot, you just want to drink enough to make some bad decisions. Drinks are cheapy and strong enough to give you the courage to sing your tone deaf heart out in front of a bunch of drunk strangers. The bathrooms are a freak show of lights and mirrors or maybe my eyes were just really sensitive after a night spent in dark bars. There was ample parking when we cruised up around 11 but you should probably take a cab if you’re going to be out drinking all night.
James J also does Leisure here on some Saturday of the month but that’s an entirely different review soon to follow. You should really go to that too. Because he’s also pretty hot. Hott. Hawt.