The Blank Club

Alas, the historic Blank Club has closed, but the owner has opened a new club in SJ called the Ritz. Haven’t been yet, but I expect great things!!!

So sad to this place go, can’t wait until the new venue opens !
The Ritz on South First Street, across the street from the old Cactus club will be the new location.
Bigger place, same great people running the show. Can April get here soon enough?

So sad to hear this place is closing. This was the only place that didn’t have any of the pretentious San Jose d-​bag crowds that surround downtown. So many great bands played here which meshed with the great club atmosphere.

I love the Blank Club for several reasons: 1.) there is no dress code required; 2.) they serve some pretty damn good stiff drinks (not watered down like most places); 3.) Thursday nights are the best nights (80s and New Wave); 4.) they have live bands perform on Saturdays; 5.) surrounded by free street parking. I only have great memories of this place :-) I am a little saddened that it will be closing down soon, but excited to maybe check out the new/​bigger venue when it opens up.

EDIT: They are now closing in February, so we bought ourselves a few more weeks! BAM!
I am going to miss this place!!! Just found out that Saturday, January 31^st is their last day. After 12 years, The Blank Club is closing! BUT. it will reopen (under a new name) in March at the location of the old F/​X in San Jose! A bigger place! Wonderful!
I will miss the old Blank Club and I would encourage everyone to come check out their last Thursday night modern/​punk DJ night as well as THE last show on Saturday.
Thanks B, it’s been fun!

Sinfully red, one open space, incredibly intimate, distracting disco ball, affordable cocktails, clean bathrooms. Came here the other night to experience Happy Body Slow Brain (my husband and friends basically worship them) in San Jose. I last saw them at Bottom of the Hill in SF, and The Blank Club is actually *almost* as cool. The only complaint I have is that when the second band was playing, the music was almost so loud that I couldn’t hear it properly. Also, the show started at 9:30, so this made a pretty late night, heading back to Oakland around 12:45 am. I know, I’m an old lady.
The club is easily accessible (It’s right by 87, amongst other freeways) and there’s a decent amount of parking around the area. Also, the Caravan Lounge is just around the corner if you want a play some pool and grab a beer before going to the show.

This club plays the best punk bands! It’s not a fancy place. Its a small venue for local bands. There is not much seating, it’s standing room only when a really good band is playing. If you are lucky you can get street parking, otherwise you have to go find a parking garage.

I went here on 10/​25/​2014 for the 90’s music Halloween party.
I didn’t dress up though I wish I would have now :(
I absolutely adored this place though.
It’s a very «live and let live» type of ambiance.
Everybody does their own thing and doesn’t judge you for doing yours.
This is a place where you can be as weird as you want and nobody will take a second look.
Not your lame typical Top 40 night club that all play the same songs and are all basically the same.
The dance floor was fairly spacious and there’s a cool disco ball.
Music was pretty good and there was a variety of different selections (rock, hip hop, pop).
I only payed a $ 5 cover, which was pretty awesome as well.
The only con I will point out was the speakers. They’re slightly harsh on the ears when there’s a strong bass, but other than that it was a great experience and I will definitely be coming again. :)

So on occasion, I’ll go out and see what San Jose has to offer in terms of entertainment, and this place is hit or miss.
This hole in the ground club will sometimes have a cover no more than $ 5-​$ 10 which sometimes deters me, however, on the day I do decide to pay, this place has come to show me there is a place with something new everytime! They have an 80’s night which I believe is on thursday evenings which is a blast, and also has a cover of $ 5. The beers on tap are reasonably priced for a club, the selection however isn’t all that great with some low end light drafts. There is PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) memorabilia EVERYWHERE which is amusing.
In all honesty, I have had more good times here than boring times, and the place has it’s hip young crowd and older folks too. This place I feel doesn’t really know what it wants to be, which in all honesty, I am okay with! It keeps me guessing. This place is run down! A facelift both inside and out wouldn’t hurt.
Overall; Something new everytime, cheapish drinks, rundown establishment. A cheap thrill!

80’s night at blank is where it’s at! Great music, chill people and a very laid back atmosphere. I don’t usually like bars at all, but this is one place I’m almost always down to make the trip downtown to. Never had a bad night at the blank club.

Club experience is usually quite consistent, but I’ve had it with DJ Basura. I’m frustrated that this skilled professional is more interested in how he mixes the songs versus what he is mixing or his inability to read the floor and see what the people want and need. To see a club floor clear due to low BPM and have customers leave becasue they can’t get their dance on is upsetting. Downtown SJ is lacking fun places like this and Blank Club has a real opportunity here. Better DJs, PLEASE!

Fun place but too damn hot when there is a crowd. Air conditioning or fans needed.

I have been here a few times for Thursday 80’s music and some things have changed since last year. The $ 1.00 PBR beer special before 10pm has now changed to before 9pm which I am not a fan of. I got here last night at 9:40pm and they charged $ 5.00 so no more free cover, who knows what you will be paying past 10pm. The music is great and the crowd is fun but I really don’t think it is worth paying more than $ 10 personally because the booze is limited ($ 10.00 minimum to use card btw so bring cash) and the bathrooms stink. I can understand charging cover for live music but for a DJ that just plays music on his laptop ehh…

Fairly laid back, small club. I have been here a couple of times for concerts and have always had a good time. The club is basic with a small area for standing room and nowhere to sit really, a bar, and bathrooms of course. The last time I was here I didn’t like the sound system; it was really loud and just really off with the vocals vs. other background music. Hopefully that was just last night and not a common occurrence.
What I love most is that there is parking right next to the club (technically right around the corner, but right there). It’s paid valet parking but only $ 10 and they do it for you. Super easy.

I love this place. Cheap drinks, divey atmosphere, and intimate to say the least: in front of the stage you can feel whoever’s playing practically breathing on you. Also: shows rarely sell out here. I saw Lee Ranaldo play the other day and maybe 15 people showed up. I thought I’d have to line up around the block :)
Only thing is in winter it can get pretty cold in there; the curtain system they’ve got going at the entrance really doesn’t work. But that stops being a problem after a few drinks, I guess.

This place is very cool.
Not in a hipster pretentious way but a laid back friendly way. The crowd is diverse and probably depends on who’s playing that night.
I came for a concert and before the guys came on stage, it felt like a «divey» (i hate that word) place where locals hang out. This place is a super intimate place for a concert. No matter where you are in the bar, you’re probably less than 20 yards away from the stage.
Had fun.

Hell. Fricken. Yes.
This, my friends… this is what I’ve been looking for. A no-​bullshit, no-​pretense, no-​frills spot to drink cheap beer and watch intimate music shows. Is that so much to ask for? Clearly not, because The Blank Club hits the nail on the head! This just became my new favorite spot in San Jo.
They show up-​and-​coming indie bands, have an «Atomic Thursdays» with and 80’s DJ, and have a goth night 1 Saturday of the month.
Looking forward to the Burlesque show on the 31^st! Who’s joining me?

I had to lanesplit pretty much the entire distance from San Rafael to San Jose in the rain, so by the time I got into town I was in a foul mood. But The Blank Club helped restore my spirits and then The Supersuckers revived my soul.
What a fantastic little club. The sound setup is impressive as hell. Kudos to whomever put that together. In any rock venue, there’s a sweet spot where things sound the best. The sound here defies that in essentially making the entire room the sweet spot. You walk around the whole place and the sound is about the same and it’s all good. The sound guy is great.
The bartenders were helpful and friendly. The place is well run and clean. I’m in love with this little club. I hope the locals appreciate what a treasure this place is.
No matter how miserable the ride, I’d be willing to make the trip to San Jose any time there’s a band I want to see playing at The Blank Club.

One of the few intimate music venues left in San Jose, Blank has long been one of the go-​to spots for seeing bands [of all sorts!].
The place itself is a small and dark, laid out in a straight-​forward and utilitarian way — entrance, bar to the left, stage to the right. No flash, no undue flair, no pretense. Music, up close & personal. Drinks, served fast and affordable. BOOM.
That newly-​signed group on the verge of breaking into stardom because they’re on a movie soundtrack now? They headlined here. That local girl on the come-​up with the silky soulful voice backed by a five-​piece band and a DJ? She’s played here and probably will again. Your friend’s cousin’s ex-girlfriend’s classmates brother’s mom’s other son is in a Duran Duran X Snoop Dogg tribute ska band? They’ll be here next week.
Keep your ear to the ground, the good stuff isn’t always in plain view.
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Okay, they might not feature *every* genre of music *cough*no hip-hop?*ahem*, but broaden your horizon…

She Wants Revenge 3÷27÷11
«The lights that move sideways and up and down
The beat takes you over and spins you round
Our hearts steady-​beating, the sweat turns to cold
We’re slaves to the DJ and out of control»
My first time at The Blank Club and I’ve gotta say I’m impressed. Nothing like seeing bands that I love in little hole in the wall joints like this. The drinks were strong, the sound system was crystal clear and the vibe was excellent! We even had time to make some new friends before She Wants Revenge hit the stage.
Come here for live music. I don’t know about regular DJ nights; I may be a lover but I ain’t no dancer…