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Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center

3301 Lemp Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63118

314-771-1096
Website

For the most part, if it’s avant-garde or DIY, it’s at the Lemp. This multipurpose space is a frequent host to both art and music shows, and the door prices are always respectable. Couches are scattered throughout the one open room, and there's a good sense of community among the art-damaged regulars.

Best Of 2007: Best All-Ages Venue
Best Of 2004: Best Underground Club
Best Of 2003: Best Underground Club

Hours: Call for hours.

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Overall:

The only positive aspect about the Lemp Art Center is that it is cheap. You won't be paying an arm and a leg to see performers. But that's really the only good thing. There's no smoking, either, which doesn't bother me since I don't smoke, so maybe that's one extra bonus.

Aside from that, the place was not very friendly and the atmosphere was very elitist and uppity - which is amusing as said atmosphere is juxtaposed with a run-down environment, old stale furniture, scattered bits of artwork that hangs crooked on the walls, and so on and so forth. If you even make a sound during one of the quieter songs, people stare at you - more so glare at you - as if you just farted in church. It's kind of annoying because the musicians should be used to crowd interaction/interference. People shouldn't be up on tables screaming and shouting, but soft discussion in the very back or the rustling of one's purse should not warrant dirty looks.

People are not allowed to come in through the front during songs, which there's hardly that many people who need to do so, however they can go around the back. The only problem with that is that the back area is very dark - no lights - and there's garbage scattered all over the place just waiting for you to trip on it. It's not a very safe area downtown on Lemp so pretty much any weirdo could be waiting around back along right side of the house (oh sorry, I mean the Lemp Art Center).

Some of the talent that rolls through there is okay (nothing amazing), but for the most part it's terrible. One performer in particular likes to mess around with this ambient sound-box prior to his exceedingly dull acoustic guitar act. The box makes it sound like you are sitting in the 7th ring of hell, surrounded by catatonia and lifelessness, and the acoustic guitar music all sounds the same. He claims that each song has a different name, but it's all the same and it's very bland and very boring.

The whole place is dead silent as he plays - which I can understand ... this is being done out of respect for the performer - but it leaves some of the more restless audience members feeling like they are being forced to listen to an hour-long church sermon. It's very boring and very quiet and very uncomfortable.

There's no bar, no real tables or chairs set up, the place is pretty dirty, and the last time I was there I noticed mice running up and down along the walls. Yuck.

I really don't understand what this place is going for. It's not a coffee shop. It's not a bar. It's not an art museum, and it has no stage.

Also it has little to no ventilation (which thank god for the no smoking rule), and it has really...no personality at all.

I suppose this place is perfect for trendy, hipster urban college kids looking to be part of a crowd that is lifeless and dull.

But hey...it's cheap I guess. And I can safely say you get what you pay for.
Review by TmD
Overall:

The only positive aspect about the Lemp Art Center is that it is cheap. You won't be paying an arm and a leg to see performers. But that's really the only good thing. There's no smoking, either, which doesn't bother me since I don't smoke, so maybe that's one extra bonus.

Aside from that, the place was not very friendly and the atmosphere was very elitist and uppity - which is amusing as said atmosphere is juxtaposed with a run-down environment, old stale furniture, scattered bits of artwork that hangs crooked on the walls, and so on and so forth. If you even make a sound during one of the quieter songs, people stare at you - more so glare at you - as if you just farted in church. It's kind of annoying because the musicians should be used to crowd interaction/interference. People shouldn't be up on tables screaming and shouting, but soft discussion in the very back or the rustling of one's purse should not warrant dirty looks.

People are not allowed to come in through the front during songs, which there's hardly that many people who need to do so, however they can go around the back. The only problem with that is that the back area is very dark - no lights - and there's garbage scattered all over the place just waiting for you to trip on it. It's not a very safe area downtown on Lemp so pretty much any weirdo could be waiting around back along right side of the house (oh sorry, I mean the Lemp Art Center).

Some of the talent that rolls through there is okay (nothing amazing), but for the most part it's terrible. One performer in particular likes to mess around with this ambient sound-box prior to his exceedingly dull acoustic guitar act. The box makes it sound like you are sitting in the 7th ring of hell, surrounded by catatonia and lifelessness, and the acoustic guitar music all sounds the same. He claims that each song has a different name, but it's all the same and it's very bland and very boring.

The whole place is dead silent as he plays - which I can understand ... this is being done out of respect for the performer - but it leaves some of the more restless audience members feeling like they are being forced to listen to an hour-long church sermon. It's very boring and very quiet and very uncomfortable.

There's no bar, no real tables or chairs set up, the place is pretty dirty, and the last time I was there I noticed mice running up and down along the walls. Yuck.

I really don't understand what this place is going for. It's not a coffee shop. It's not a bar. It's not an art museum, and it has no stage.

Also it has little to no ventilation (which thank god for the no smoking rule), and it has really...no personality at all.

I suppose this place is perfect for trendy, hipster urban college kids looking to be part of a crowd that is lifeless and dull.

But hey...it's cheap I guess. And I can safely say you get what you pay for.
Review by TmD

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