Underground rock finds refuge in the resurrection of Harley’s Bar. Well, sort of.

For the uninitiated - Harley’s was a stomping ground for Shanghai rock and rollers of all ilk from 1996 up until the beginning of 2019, first residing on Hongqiao and Yili Road and then relocating in 2006 to Xujiahui. Talk to any band who’s been around the block and more often than not, their first show was at Harley’s Bar. Tucked away in the dingy yet snug basement in downtown Xuhui, the venue was a place where bands could cut their teeth, gain experience, and rock out without repression.

The bar itself has remained in its Xietu Lu location but its stage was sold off at the beginning of 2019 - eventually becoming reconfigured into current day ELEVATOR (which sadly will be closing at the end of the year). So instead of reclaiming its old dig, Harley’s has taken over its other next-door neighbor - a gym - and now we’ve got The Back Room.

With a capacity of around 150 people, a perched stage lined up a couple amps, and a no-nonsense fridge and bar that serves dirt cheap draft (or 25rmb Asahi bottles) or 30rmb mix drinks (folks who prefer something with a bit more class can walk the two meters to Harley’s Bar) - The Back Room looks to bring a much-needed rugged rock and roll experience to Shanghai - a place where patrons could throw caution to the wind, indulge, and headbang alongside musicians and like-minded gig-goers.