Asylum

There is but one Portland venue that has the same name, in the same place, with the same ownership as it had in 1999. The Asylum's stewards — Krista, Valerie, and Laurie — have kept the massive space and three bars (the main one, the sports bar, and the downstairs lounge) rocking for the past decade with an eclectic mix of local and national music acts ranging across all genres, but with special focus on goth, hip-hop, and pop-rock bands.

Whether it's Plague Night (the every-Friday Goth-fest), karaoke (Wednesdays), or the less-regular shows from frequent visitors (Sam Kininger Band, Rustic Overtones), the crowds keep coming, and the formula's working.

That's not to say change isn't good. The sports-bar renovation is complete now, and, with its wireless Internet access, is what may be Portland's only blog-it-as-you-watch-it watering hole for all the Sox, Celts, Pats, and Bruins action. But that just makes everything better; too much change and we'd start to get worried for what would become of the Asylum in the next decade.

Asylum | 121 Center St, Portland | 207.772.8274 | portlandasylum.com

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