Darker and grungier than its above-ground counterparts, Underground’s musical offerings lean toward rock, especially the loud, energetic, raw-garage variety. This guarantees undergrounders a night of high-octane head knocking that they’ve come to expect. While the sound at Underground is a bit muddy owing to the acoustics of the narrow room, it packs plenty of punch.

“I like bringing first-timers here,” says Carol, the girl dancing on the bar near the back. She comes here once or twice a week to get her rock on, each time bringing a new crowd with her.

“When the taxi drops us off, they’ll inevitably say ‘Oooooh, no, this isn’t my cup of tea.’ But I know if I drag them down here, slap a beer in their little hands and let them unleash their inner rock star, it won’t be long before they too become regulars.”

The owner, Rob Picken, echoes her comments. “There’s no advertising for the Underground Garage. We just open the doors each night, crank the tunes and pour the beer. The right crowd finds us.”