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Coffee Break

Coffee Break: Celebrate a venue

The First Avenue Mainroom sits empty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The First Avenue Mainroom sits empty during the COVID-19 pandemic.Daniel Corrigan

by Anna Weggel

July 24, 2020

This morning we had a representative from First Avenue stop by to talk about Save Our Stages and The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).

It's got us thinking about what our favorite venues are and how hard it would be like to see them go.

So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs would you like to hear that mention a music venue?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs played

Talking Heads - Life During Wartime: The line "This ain't no Mudd Club or CBGB" refers to two New York music venues at which the band performed in the 1970s.

Chic - Le Freak: The lyrics invite the listener to "Come on down to 54", a reference to Studio 54, which was a popular nightclub in New York City at that time.

That Dog - Minneapolis: "i was at the jabberjaw / cutest boy i ever saw" a mid-90s rock club/coffee house

NOFX - Seeing Double At the Triple Rock: "It's 3 o'clock at the Triple Rock"

The Shackletons - Minnesota Girls: 7th street entry

Ella Fitzgerald - Lullaby of Birdland: George Shearing wrote "Lullaby of Birdland" in 1952 for Morris Levy, the owner of the New York jazz club Birdland. Here is Ella's version.

Fog - What's Up Freaks: "Me and Julie were in the parking lot / Of the Turf on a summer night."