A chaotic blend of tie-dyed Doc Martens, torn denim, faded tattoos and zebra guitar straps commanded the attention of the crowd at The All-American Rejects’ concert last week. The set list was a seamless mix of old and new songs, each one injected with an equal dose of the band’s signature spunk. This concert was not just 100 people standing around listening to music — it was a party.
The show did not take place at one of New York’s typical concert venues like Irving Plaza or Webster Hall. The All-American Rejects played at the MLB Fan Cave on the corner of West Fourth Street and Broadway as part of the new MLB Fan Cave Concert Series, which is quickly becoming a popular of Greenwich Village venue.
The series, which began in April, proves there is more to the Fan Cave than the baseball-themed events it usually hosts.
“The Cave is where baseball meets pop culture,” said Lauren Verrusio, producer of the Concert Series. “It’s got something for everyone.”
The venue, which stands at the old site of the iconic Tower Records, has hosted some of the biggest names in music. OneRepublic, Young the Giant, Daughtry, Neon Trees, Jason Aldean and The Fray are just a handful of the artists who have graced the Cave stage over the past few months.
“Artists want to perform here because it provides a really fun, intimate setting,” said Lauren Verrusio, the producer of the MLB Fan Cave Concert Series. “The Fan Cave is the only venue of its kind, so the concerts it hosts are equally as unique.”
Over the next few weeks, the Fan Cave will feature three diverse acts. All Time Low will perform on Sept. 26, Talib Kweli on Sept. 27 and Lifehouse on Oct. 1. These shows, like all shows at the MLB Fan Cave, are live, free and open to the public.
CAS sophomore Anna-Lisa D’Onofrio attended The All-American Rejects concert and plans to attend shows at the Fan Cave in the future.
“The All-American Rejects show was insane, so I’m excited to see how [the Fan Cave is] going to top it,” D’Onofrio said. “I’m already counting down the days.”
Check out MLBFanCave.com for full-length recordings of all past Fan Cave concerts from April through August are available.
A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Sept. 20 print edition. Ayden Rosenberg is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].
