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Inside: Floristree

DIY space focuses on the music

By Molly O'Donnell

Special to Metromix
July 25, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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You'll find plenty of live music at Floristree, and not much else. (Credit: Molly O' Donnell)

Photos:

Vibe: Floristree, for all its big acts and fun events, is still a warehouse space. It's hard to call it a venue unless you mean in the very broad, Baltimore sense of the word. The type of underground mystique that follows a warehouse venue—plus its pseudo-secret location—contributes to it being a place where the best new acts in town want to play. That said, the laid back vibe is still hipster grunge, with a splash of art school added to taste.

Crowd: If you've never owned a pair of skin-tight white jeans, you may feel a little out of place in this crusty crowd, but no one seems judgmental or much interested in anything aside from the music.

Libations: Floristree serves free water, but everyone who is drinking there is doing it BYOB style. Occasionally, there's beer for certain events, but in an underground venue like this, it's probably better to be safe when it comes to booze.

Sounds: The sound system itself is pretty high-tech, and if the huge stack of extra speakers and amps is any indication, there is a back-up plan. The bands and acts that play there are a truly eclectic mix ranging from screaming bands to tender tunes. There are DJs and more standard set ups that you'd be used to seeing at venues like the Ottobar. On a recent night, Ponytail rocked the house, but they were preceded by an emo-esque group that was preceded by an experimental guitar soloist.

Service: Apart from refilling the water, stamping your hand and restocking the toilet paper (too infrequently), there's not much in the way of service. Toilet paper situation aside, the "staff," or residents, manage to pull it off pretty well. They are friendly, though the use of a frowny face as a hand stamp as opposed to a happy face is somewhat disconcerting.

Bottom line: If you're up for something out of the ordinary, go downtown and check out Floristree. Just don't expect us to publish the address and ruin everyone's fun.