When James & the Ultrasounds kicked off their spring tour at Lafayette’s Music Room last month it was my chance to see the venue for the first time.  As they say – if I haven’t seen it, it’s new to me.  I’ve only heard  stories of the location’s historic status, mostly from their website.  It was there I discovered the two historic locations coming to Palm Beach & Orlando. So maybe they mean esoterically historic – like an if-you-build-it-they-will-come thing?  The rapid expansion all along Madison Avenue provides an endless supply of places to try only once.  Staking their claim for well over a year, Lafayette’s has created a unique space with cool ambiance.  And the Square deserves that excellent outdoor balcony.

The place is eerily clean for a music venue. Then again, the P&H technically started out clean too. The stage sparkles like a freshly waxed bowling lane. The indoor balcony dresses up an otherwise typical stage/bar setup.  I didn’t personally try every seat, but there didn’t seem to be a bad one in the house. Even the sports televisions are situated behind the music so dull-eyed TV watchers tend toward the back of the audience.

I was particularly delighted by the sound booth attached to the corner of the balcony. It reminds me of the Orpheum mezzanine where, as a child, I wondered at the lighting equipment within arm’s reach of my seat.  A simple cylinder of light made the difference between show or no show.  For me, the technical gear is sometimes more fascinating than the stage.  It’s a shame I have no luck with machinery – my sister was blessed with stage management skills in high school.

Lafayette’s creates an intimate environment that transports listeners to a time when small venue stages were more than open mic nights.  The audience is there to listen and the stage gives musicians a commanding presence.  The audience at a free Tuesday night show was sparse but we were pretty much all there to see the music. The guys there for the drinks were just lucky.  Overall, It seems moderately priced but my income bracket can’t read menus. Fortunately, I can make a $5 can of cider into a meal under the right circumstances.

The show was outstanding.  James & the Ultrasounds has undeniable talented and the acoustics of the venue only accentuated that.  My only real problem with the place is the 8pm show actually started at 8pm. I’m not used to this, so I showed up around 9ish, per usual. I managed to catch the band’s second set but the venue closed soon after that.  This is not an actual problem for anyone that can read the hours-of-operation, I’m just a first-world ditz.  This place is great spot to go hear some good music and get out on a dance floor.  I’ll totally go there next time I have some money and don’t want to go to Mollie Fontaine’s for some reason.