Nublu promises genre-defying performers

Very little about Nublu lends itself to rigid classification.

As its name—derived from “new blues”—suggests, fusion and fluidity are key at this East Village venue. From the décor to the music, Nublu rejects the cut-and-dry in favor of a chilled-out, improvisational vibe.

Owner Ilhan Erşahin founded Nublu in 2002 as a casual space to play music with friends. The venue currently runs three live shows a night, seven nights a week. It featuring bands and DJs that tend to straddle genres and melt through categorization.

Nublu hides in a nondescript building on Avenue C, indicated by a tiny sign, behind two doors and two sets of curtains. A red neon glow bathes the entryway, and the hot, lightly incensed interior is a welcome escape from the chilly outdoors.

The venue’s dim nooks and crannies are filled with whimsical bouncy-ball chairs, amoeba-shaped tables, and potted plants, giving the feel of a tricked-out tropical greenhouse. As fans trickle in before shows—which start at least an hour later than scheduled—musicians, bartenders, and regulars greet each other with hugs and chat like old friends at the bar.
Many of Nublu’s live performers take inspiration from Brazilian music. Every Wednesday, Nublu hosts Forro in the Dark, a group that flavors traditional northern Brazilian party music with far-flung influences including American country and jazz.

Wax Poetic, a group that performed with Norah Jones prior to her 2002 breakthrough album “Come Away With Me,” combines trip-hop with acid jazz. 3 Na Massa, another regular, cites Brazilian music, electronica, and the films of director Federico Fellini as influences.

Nublu Records, also owned by Erşahin, occupies the storefront next door. It has put out records by Forro in the Dark, Wax Poetic, and 3 Na Massa, as well as other groups such as Love Trio and the Nublu Orchestra. Erşahin plays saxophone and composes for several of the bands on his label.

Students seeking a pocket of untouched authenticity in the rapidly changing East Village probably won’t find it at Nublu. The music is free, but drinks are fairly pricey and small. Organic cotton t-shirts on sale for $25 imply a certain target demographic, and the bathroom is way too clean to be edgy.

That said, Nublu’s unabashed delight in forward-moving fusion might appeal to those tired of mourning the death of “what New York used to be.” At the very least, it offers a loud, sweaty escape from the straight lines and right angles of the Columbia daily grind.