As two of Shimokitazawa’s most stalwart music venues, it’s hard not to mention the neighbouring Basement Bar and Three in the same breath. Shimokita is home to countless small, underground indie venues, but few have been as significant to the district’s music scene as these two local institutions.
Set below a liquor store and a doctor’s clinic in a nondescript building on Chazawa Dori, the twin venues’ cheap rental fees and liberal booking policies have made both staples of the city’s ‘live house’ circuit. While Basement Bar has a slightly heavier rock-oriented bent, both venues feature a variety of up-and-coming domestic and international artists.
Basement Bar will be the first spot you see as you head down the stairs. At a capacity of around 200 and little more than a bar and a corner stage, the venue has an unassuming charm that ensures nothing pulls focus from the artists performing. With cheap drinks, upbeat staff and a packed schedule of indie, punk and rock music, you can pretty much wander in on any night of the week and discover your new favourite local band.
Down the hall, you’re likely to hear Three on your left before you reach it. As you pass the smoking corner behind the door, you’ll notice a small bar on your right and a narrow lounge area stretching out towards the stage on your left. More segmented than Basement Bar, Three often hosts events that feature DJs in the lounge and live acts on stage. The venue has limited sight lines, so you’ll need to pack into the small stagefront area for the best view of the bands.
Three’s capacity is a little larger than Basement’s, maybe around 250, and it serves as a more multi-purpose, multi-genre venue where you can expect to catch experimental jazz, rockabilly and hip hop as much as indie and punk.
