Electric Owl Social Club

Monday night.
Good space. Nice stage. Decent show.
But the beers were pretty expensive and they shut down the taps half way through.
Was it Monday’s fault? Is this typical of Vancouver? I do not know these answers, but I do know it wasn’t particularly pleasing.
Could be good eventually.

I have seen some pretty awesome shows here. The atmosphere is relaxed and fairly rustic feeling. Since it is on Main, you do get a Main-​street crowd though it is often a dynamic mix. They also have a back room incase you don’t want to be right in the swing of things. I recommend this for a cheap local show for sure. Recently I saw Trust here, which was a great venue for their style and sound and Brother is playing on july 10^th! If their recent concerts have been any indication, its going to be a hoot!!!

If your looking for a place thats not too crowded and too crazy then electric owl is the place.
Staff is really cool. Music is great the vibe is awesome.

This is one of my most frequented music venues in town.
It seems a good majority of bands I (want to) see that aren’t metal bands play here. Why exactly this is, I’m not sure. The venue itself is rather non-​distinct. Yes, they do have quite the eye-​catching (and distracting) piece on one side of the bar, but most of the time I’ve come here that area is closed anyway. Aside from that the décor is basic, but not divey. Utilitarian would be an apt descriptor. It’s cohesively unremarkable. What it does accomplish is the creation of an open space, unencumbered and conducive to watching a good band play. The side area is great for having a merch table out of the way and for sitting out the opening bands you don’t care to watch (not that I’ve ever done this myself).
Sound wise, it’s functional. I mostly stand near the stage, where the acoustics don’t make much an impact. The size of the venue allows for a good vibe from the crowd without the noise of the crowd overwhelming the artist or the volume being too extreme.
Overall, I wouldn’t ever discourage someone from seeing a show here, they do have a very good mix of local and touring artists worth seeing. On that note, they often have free shows which are a great place to check out new artists in town. I haven’t been to Slave to Love yet or the Geeks vs Nerds events, but both seem promising and earn the venue huge bonus points. As for the venue as a «club», I’ve only had the misfortune of attending one event here, and it was the most disjointed, uninteresting event I’ve ever been to, so much so that I walked out shortly after arriving. The dance club niche is already well served in the area, by venues with sound systems much more appropriate for electronic music. I get that these events make money, but to me it’s a waste of a valuable Friday night to push something that’s so out of step with the overall vibe of the venue. When they figure out something better for Friday, I’ll reconsider that 5^th star.

It‘s a hoot.
I‘ve been to two concerts in the last month at the Electric Owl. As such my review is focused on it being a concert venue.
It‘s a small venue yes, but ever so intimate. Plenty of seating around and a large enough dance floor area so that you can get close to your favorite small bands and brag that you got to see them before they got big.
Bar is very efficient, I‘ve never had to wait more than 3 minutes. Washroom facilities are well kept compared to other comparable places.
Sound system is not bad given the size of the place. I‘d say the feel of this place is kinda like a junior commodore with hipster flavour.
In my opinion, there are not enough places in Vancouver like this joint. Keep it up Owl.

The Karaōke @ The Electric Owl has been switched to Monday Nights! 9pm start.
Hosted by someone different with a HUGE songlist.
Great venue for Karaōke in Vancouver. Huge Stage, big sound!
Definitely recommend.

There is so much about the Electric Owl that I am on board with. First of all, it would be hard to choose I name that identify more with; the name alone made me think that this would by my kind of bar before I had ever stepped foot inside. Secondly, I love the space and the lounge/​club/​music venue concept that the owners have chosen. I have enjoyed several awesome concerts and karaōke nights here and will keep going back for the entertainment.
As much as I like this place, and find myself drawn to it by its promise of fun times, I find that I am almost always disappointed by the lack of service once I am inside. Not bad service necessarily, just lack of. I have been here about half a dozen times, usually on weeknights, and every time it has been a struggle to get drinks. The most recent visit was on karaōke night for a friend’s birthday. The lone bartender was working his tail off, but just couldn’t keep up with the constant crowd of 15 – 20 people standing at the bar. Also, their scotch selection was so out of stock that they were down to just one option, which was something along the lines of Famous Grouse. Ah, no thanks. I’ll just take a cheap pint instead.
Like I said, I will be back. The Owl really is a cool joint and is conveniently close to home. However, I hope they reconsider their current weekday staffing situation, otherwise I fear I will have to resort to pre-​drinking before my next visit.

Went to a live show here the other night and I was pleasantly surprised.
Pro’s: Good (moderately priced) drinks, plenty of booths and sitting room, and a nice vibe. The neon owl sign at the back was just an added bonus ;)
Not a place I’d frequent (not close enough to my place), but I’ll definitely be back if there’s another show I want to check out!

I went to an event here on Saturday night and I couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I didn’t eat though so I’ll reserve the 5^th star for food another time.
The staff were really friendly and this was definitely not their average crowd. The space feels really sexy and the booths are great for relaxing if you need a break from dancing. I had a Steamwhistle, a Brooklyn Lager and a Jagermeister and at the $ 6.50 the B. L was the most expensive. Seems like decent prices to me. My husband was surprised to find out bottled water was $ 4 but I did notice a water cooler outside the upstairs bathroom so guess you can easily refill which is cool.
I liked that food was served all night and plenty of people were eating. I hate having to leave early because I’ve danced up an appetite. One of my friends had the poutine and told me it was only $ 4 — it looked like a big bowl too!
The stage was great for the DJs and burlesque performance. The washrooms were big, well lit and clean. It’s also easy to get a cab at the end of the night as so many cabs travel down Main St back to Gastown at night. I will definitely go back here.

Electric Owl is not only a great live music venue, it also has an amazing restaurant built in that serves Asian Fusion cuisine that’s to die for!
Following great food and live bands later in to the night is a great selection of DJs spinning everything from NuDisco, funk and house to hip hop and indie rock.
This place is usually occupied with trendy hipsters, eastsiders, westenders looking for a change, queer, straight and everything in between giving the room a nice eclectic vibe.
The Electric Owl is my new favorite venue in Vancouver!
Go check it out for your selves :)

The Electric Owl is the new intimate venue that is replacing Richards. Smaller than Richards with a nicer décor that doesn’t make you cringe when you sit on the seats. It was a perfect intimacy to see the School Of Seven Bells.

I haven’t ever eaten here but I attend their Karaōke night that is run by my friend Drew. The room is great and we are often there on a Tuesday night belting out the tunes. Cheap draft and tequila shots alongside a variety of awesome music equal win. They used to sell food on these evenings but as no one was buying it they closed the kitchen.
Apparently events here are quite fun. I always have a decent time. The two bars make for easy access to drinks. The service can be spotty so try to just grab drinks from the bar when you need them. One day I might try the food. Till then just 3 stars.

I can’t believe it took me as long as it did to check out the Electric Owl.
I first heard about this place from my parents, I know. right? They’d gone to see some guitarist and hd raved about how great the venu was, how cheap the drinks were and how lovely the stage was. From that point forward I’d made a mental note to check it out.
It wasn’t until I won tickets through twitter that I actually managed to get there. We showed up at 9 on a Wednesday for the burlesque show and oh my gosh, I have to say it was one of the best nights I’ve seen in Vancouver.
A full band plays with singing and the girls all sing and dance and I just adored it. I will recommend hitting the Wednesday night at Electric Owl it’s a great evening, with fantastic live music and even better dancing entertainment.
The drinks aren’t bad, average price for a pint anywhere in town and the staff are all super friendly.
The layout is really great, the booths and tables are all centred around the stage and from everywhere you can see. There was more then enough space to pick a table and sit down. The washrooms are downstairs and they are great, big cement walls with cushions, not sure what they’re for but they’re attractive.
At the far end of the bar there is some great neon.
I’m a huge fan of the whole place and I will go back to burlesque that’s for sure!

One of my co-​workers arranged for our work holiday party here. Unfortunately, she’s a bit naïve, and set it up sight unseen.
It was «dinner and a drink» for 30 people, at $ 50/​head.
She specifically and repeatedly asked «will it be loud? we can’t have it be loud» when she called to reserve for our event (which started early at 6:30).
She was repeatedly assured it would be quiet.
The other party there was hosted by the owner’s brother. They were also starting early. They were way into the karaōke, so no one in my party could hear a thing.
There weren’t enough seats in our area, so people had to eat on their laps.
There weren’t enough servers, so people were waiting forever for food and drinks.
The organizer spoke with the owner at least eight times about the situation, no solutions were forthcoming.
My salad and entrée were TERRIBLE, completely inedible. I left before dessert.
I never got my glass of wine and I gave up before trying to deal with it.
Again, my co-​worker is naïve, and shouldn’t have set up a party without scouting the place first. That’s her part in this.
However, the management of this restaurant/​club deliberately and clearly lied to her about the sound situation and the owner’s brother’s karaōke night.
Flat out lying … for a measly $ 1500.
Super classy, Electric Owl, super classy.
This place is on my permanent no-​go list.

So we were gallivanting around Chinatown on Friday night — from the car, I spotted a dark space and unmistakable dance floor lights. Of course, I had to investigate — when we approached, the bouncer confirmed there was no cover. It was after 10PM, but it was half empty at the time.
They were playing some kind of techno/​hardhouse/​DnB stuff — I normally can’t get down to this at all. But I figured the crowd looked friendly enough and *one* drink can’t hurt — especially with no cover.
Ended up closing the place out — drinks were pretty reasonable ($ 5.50 Kokanees and ~$ 6 well vodka). They did have some good beers (i.e. Propeller ESB) but they were sold out and they have a large selection of Asian lagers (meh).
Lots of booths and tables and a large dancefloor flanked by two bars. ATM, coatcheck and washrooms are downstairs — this place is pretty new so it’s pretty spotless. It’s a hipster type hangout. Lots of skinny jeans in play and awkward, but exuberant dancing. People are having a good time.
Shit got real at about 12AM when DJ Seko (of HHK/​Fortune/​DipT fame) jumped on the turntables. Unfortunately, I guess the crowd wasn’t really feeling it and most of the floor cleared before he brought it back to more mainstream hip-​hop. Oh well — it’s okay, Seko — I’m not the only one knows hip-​hop survived in the past 10 years.
There’s a pretty big stage and judging by the posters, it’s mainly a performing venue. I’m probably spoiled rotten by the sound system at Fortune (just a few blocks away) — but the highs sounded muddled to me. SQ suffers a lot due to the large rectangular ‘lounge’ area,
Overall — not bad. Good enough to drink and dance — or just chill in the booths and take in some entertainment if you miss the end-​of-​show dancing segments on «The Buzz» like I do. With no cover, convenient access to public transport, dancing and reasonably-​priced drinks, wish this place was around when I was 21.

Went to see the Fresh & Onlys here on Saturday night. $ 18 bucks at the door, not sure what these people were smoking but the band even announced their dismay to the crowd about the redic cover price.
If you like stark souless club looking venues that likely cater to a douchebag crowd this seems like the spot.
It’s Vancouver’s equivalent to Tattoo Rock Parlour in Toronto. I think on a non indie band night I’d expect to see a lot of Tap Out and Ed Hardy wear.
BOOOOO.

I have lived in Vancouver for most of my life, and in the past few years I’ve noticed that this city has really started to flourish. It’s no longer just «beautiful;» it’s becoming «cool.» A HUGE part of this is due to the creative-​thinking, risk-​taking entrepreneurs that go out on a limb to open fresh new businesses that are unique to this city. One such business is the Electric Owl.
I visited for the first time on Sunday evening, and I must say that I’m totally impressed by the space. Although it was very slow when I was there (it was a Sunday night, after all), I can see how this place would be amazing for intimate concerts and shows by up-​and-​coming bands. Even though it is a relatively big and open space, the seating is set up in such a way that there are intimate pockets throughout where you could enjoy conversations with friends. In fact, if the Owl would consider renting itself out for the occasional private event, I could see how this would be a great venue for charity events or even a hip wedding reception.
The staff that I interacted with were all very friendly. Our waiter was great, and I could see the proprietress running around getting things ready for the show. When the show was delayed, she even came by each table to let the guests know what was going on. It’s obvious that they’re working hard to make the Owl a success, and while it’s clear they’re still trying to find their feet, I sincerely hope they do well.
Now for the food: the menu looks amazing. Although we had just eaten, my husband and I ordered some gyozas and they were great! Mmm… gyozas drizzled with bacon sauce. Yum! Their menu is very interesting, and I’m looking forward to trying more of it in the future.
One thing I didn’t realize before coming: the Electric Owl does weekend Japanese brunch! They’re open from 10:30−3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and their brunch menu is filled with interesting items such as a seafood crêpe (with bonito flakes) and pork kakuni croquettes. Although I’m a traditional eggs benedict kinda girl, it may be worth checking out.
Overall, the Owl is an amazing space in a neighbourhood that, despite being a little rough, I love. I definitely intend to go back here to check out a show on a Friday or Saturday night. This place has so much potential, and it’s a place that Vancouver sorely needs.

I was so pumped to hear a new (alternative) music and arts venue opening outside the downtown core and in East Vancouver across the street from The Cobalt.
Hopefully anyone familiar with the whole anti-​punk, No Fun City documentary saga of the city will be somewhat heartened by the opening of the Electric Owl Social Club. I know it’s not exactly a basement, underground skate park, garage, or illegal operation type thing, but it’s still something different.
There were a ton of hip, indie music lover types. The spot was an impressive joint perfect for less mainstream musical acts.
I sampled a few items from their menu including curry chicken, ahi tuna bits, and spicy shrimp crackers, going for an Izakaya restaurant experience. I enjoyed a specialty mango mojito, taking in the vibrant atmosphere.
I really hope the Owl becomes a successful fixture on Main Street. They face challenges like any entertainment venue in the city, particularly in the first six months or so.
I can see it as a perfect alternative but still mainstream friendly venue for eclectic musical acts. I think the floor, booths, bars, and restaurant are open, spacious, fun, and promising, serving a different, hipper crowd on the Eastside.

OK I have only attended several Canucks games, that they handled very well. The food was very good to meh. I recommend the Ika, the eggplant and the raw beef. The Poutine had several people in big smiles. The spicy beef satay was great for me too spicy for my friend who likes spicy food. They had Devil Elbow IPA from Squamish Brewing in the litre bottles so I say, bring on the music. This may be the great new live music venue for the city.
All the 1 review wonders and opening night complaints here should be filtered out. If you wrote more than 1 – 2 reviews I would respect your snide opinions, get over your overly hipster selves.

I love this new space! It’s gorgeous inside, smells of cedar from the panelling, and the room layout is awesome! The stage’s sight lines are amazing. The poutine and tuna dishes here are insane, and drinks are tasty too! (Phoenix Lager on tap — yesss). The sound is really good, not too loud, but the levels seem awesome and there was a good amount of bass.
I was in on a busy night and all the staff members I interacted with were super friendly and fun. I saw them nodding along to the music when not chatting with customers. I never had any problems with security guards which it seems a few other folks did. I’m friends with a staff member and one of the reasons they have that seemingly excessive army of security guys is that they’re from a well-​respected company, and Electric Owl wants to expand their capacity and put an awesome patio in back. I for one support this as a new sunny brunch patio is always a good thing. However there is some opposition from the city and the neighbors so they have to show their presence won’t disturb the area. Sounds like the guards went too far with it and got personally insulting («hipsters»? Really? Get off your high horse) but I don’t think that attitude is shared by the business.
I think a place as rad and with as much potential as this one will be an amazing contribution to the food and music scene and should be supported rather than criticized. It’s already pretty great and can only get better.
Also my friends watched a Canucks game here and had a great experience — except that we lost, boo.