The Blank Club

About

After improbably becoming the sort of 'elder statesman' of the San Jose live rock scene, it looked like the Blank might get soft. It didn't help the outlook when longtime booker Larry Trujillo left. And yet, the last year has seen probably the best run of shows the club has ever had. The show featuring ex-Stooge James Williamson playing with Careless Hearts was widely lauded as the greatest Blank Club night ever, while Channel 92.3 has been bringing in acts like Passion Pit and Cage the Elephant just as they're on the brink of music stardom. Add to that the Eric Fanali-booked Wednesday showcases which give stage time to some of the most interesting and eclectic local bands (and are still free, somehow), and it adds up to a rock club in its in heyday. -- Metro Bars & Clubs, June 16, 2010
 
2009 BEST OF SILICON VALLEY Reader Survey Winner - 1st - Best Live Music Club
It's always darkest before the dawn, and back when the outlook for the local scene was pitch black a couple of years ago, the Blank Club was starting to look like live music's last stand in San Jose. At least we've still got the Blank Club was a common refrain, often used to punctuate a remembrance of venues past. Now that things have been looking up, the Blank has continued to innovate, showcasing local bands and artists with the free Wednesday Night Live! series, inviting Suicidal Barfly to take up residency and recently proving its relevancy once again with one of the best Blank shows ever: James Williamson and the Careless Hearts burning down the house to the songs of the Stooges.

The absolute last place left in downtown San Jose where you can catch local live music acts in the punk and rockabilly veins is the Blank Club, truly the last of a dying breed. The Blank Club usually books both local and nationally recognized talent for its thrashing, moshing patrons and when it doesn’t, they hang out there anyway because everybody needs a local bar to call their own and there is no place else where you can prove your punk rock chops with karaoke. Really, nowhere, we checked.

2008 BEST OF SILICON VALLEY Reader Survey Winner
Winner of Best Live Music
Runner-up Best Dance Club
Runner-up Best DJ Night (Atomic)
Runner-up Best Nightlife Vibe

2007 BEST OF SILICON VALLEY Reader Survey Winner
Winner Best Live Music
Winner Best DJ Night (Satori)
Runner-up Best DJ Night (Atomic)
Honoree Best Dance Club
Honoree Best Nightlife Vibe