Mercy Lounge

I have visited Mercy Lounge several times and even played there a couple, but had my first experience with 'The Cannery' tonight and I must say I am disappointed. The Cannery has the same atmosphere as Mercy Lounge but the acoustics and/or sound personel are lacking. Myself and 4 other friends paid the hefty price of $25 to see J.T. Earle and Dan Auerbach tonight and ended up leaving only 5 songs into Dan Auerbach's set. Why might you ask? Because we couldn't take the poor sound quality anymore. Imagine listening to your favorite album. Now turn the treble and volume up to 11. The screaming high pitched frequencies were more than we could handle having already endured it for about two hours. When you pay $25 to see a show and especially a show featuring the amazing talent of J.T. Earle and Dan Auerbach you expect things like sound quality to be a given........ come on this is Nashville, if you can't get it right then who can? Neither myself nor my friends will be returning to see a show at The Cannery anytime soon. I've heard better sound quality come through a Behringer board and a pair of Peavey speakers than the sound being produced by the thousands of dollars worth of equipment they were using tonight. Pros: Atmosphere. Bar. Plenty of Parking Nearby Cons: Sound. Sound. Sound more

Great place to hang out for music lovers to see big-name along with up-and-coming bands. Lots of room even when it's packed. The crowd is diverse which adds to the appeal of the atmosphere - everyone is welcome. Bartenders amazingly handle large crowds with a wink and a smile. Don't get there before 9. Parking was no problem at all to the side, back, even side streets and well lit. Sound could be a little better but I am not complaining. This did vary with each band slightly and I saw three last night. This building has alot of character but not originally built with acoustics in mind. As you top the stairs after entering, straight ahead is the long bar along the wall on a raised platform. Watch your step! (It's lit so you don't trip). Nice big, long bar to accommodate the patrons that offers mixed drinks along with beer. To your left is the back of the main room with bathrooms and table for vendor selling the band's cd's, etc. Further back to the left is a smaller lounge (but still a nice big area) with pool tables, small bar in the very back corner, table and chairs, and an exit to the outside balcony. Really cool. To your right at the top of the stairs is the main stage. Lots of room in the middle for standing. Chairs and tables line the walls on a slightly raised platform. Next time, I might get there a little early to snag one of these and watch a show from this angle. Otherwise, I was standing in the middle in the front close enough to touch the lead singer. Wow! Puts you up close and personal with the band. Mercy Lounge is a GREAT PLACE FOR A GREAT TIME. A true asset to Nashville's music scene. I will go back again and again. Pros: Great local, out-of-state, and big name bands, Service, Atmosphere, Bearable even when crowded Cons: None more

I love this place. Very broad selection of shows/events and even when the place is jam-packed I always manage to feel relaxed and have a good time. Bartenders are very skilled and the overall atmosphere is great. I love the booth seats & pool tables for taking some time out to chill if necessary. Just wish they had better acoustics considering some of the big names they have there and that parking was more convenient! Pros: amosphere, event types, bartenders Cons: parking more

I love this place. Very broad selection of shows/events and even when the place is jam-packed I always manage to feel relaxed and have a good time. Bartenders are very skilled and the overall atmosphere is great. I love the booth seats & pool tables for taking some time out to chill if necessary. Just wish they had better acoustics considering some of the big names they have there and that parking was more convenient! (considering the Cannery Ballroom and Mercy Lounge are basically the same place, my review stays the same!) Pros: Atmosphere, bartenders Cons: parking, acoustics more

Comfortable place, great vibe, laid back atmosphere, diverse crowd, cold beer, the nicest - HOTTEST bartenders in town, interesting shows, pool tables. What a great place to hang. The outdoor shows last summer were excellent. Great shows - MINI KISS ROCKED! The Dirty Dozen Brass Band was the best. The Fourth of July fireworks from the deck was awesome. I LOVE THE DECK! The Mercy is a happy place for happy people. (The Ballroom too.) Pros: great shows, atmosphere, diverse crowd Cons: they don't serve -, breakfast yet! more

I went to the Mercy on New Year's this year to find one of the greatest bands ever and two bartenders behind the bar? I was thinking...no way are they going to handle this crowd. Unbelievable, not only did they handle the crowd, they remembered my drinks and those of my friends without even asking me! There had to be something like a million people there (no really 500 or so) and I would wait no more than 5 minutes for a drink! Hats off to the ladies and gentlemen at the Mercy...will be coming again and again! Pros: Great Service, Great Vibe, Great Music more

I recently moved to Nashville and have been to the mercy lounge several times. It is without question one of the premier venues in the country. Great bands, great vibe, great staff. I have not encountered any of the problems that the other review had. Service was great, sound was great. I have lived all over the country and think the mercy lounge is up there with the best of them. The new Cannery ballroom is great too. They just updated their sound system and increased the sightlines. Highly reccommended. Pros: Good music, Good sound, good Parking more

I attended a concert last night at the Cannery Ballroom. It was the worst concert experience I have ever had. After standing in the cold for 45 minutes (doors opened 20 minutes late) we got in to discover no seating, standing only, a tiny stage and show that you could not see, terrible sound system, and the rudest people on the planet working the door and bartending. I will not be attending any thing else there. Pros: Nothing, Nothing, Nothing Cons: Sound System, No Seating, Visual of stage more

impossible to get a drink - every night there are too few bartenders and the ones that are there are complete jerks - they could easily add three bartenders and it be perfect - this is not a good place to run a tab either Pros: cool music, good parking more

I think the Mercy Lounge is a great, laid back bar. It's in the old Cannery building, which brings back great memories from 10-20 years ago when it was a hopping venue for some of the best bands around. The Lounge is very large and open, which accomodates smokers and non-smokers. They have pool tables, two bars, a deck, a stage and a few comfortable sofas to hang out on. The owners and staff are great and don't have the attitude that blemishes so many bars in Nashville. My only suggestion is they replace some of the cheap diner tables/chairs with more sofas. Check it out... Pros: laid back, large, not smokey more

I spent my 21st birthday at Mercy Lounge. I had a great experience there. Very awesome place and the bartenders were very cool. I highly recommend experiencing this new place. Pros: atmosphere, lots of room, decent parking more

I went around 9pm and was able to grab a beer, a pool table, and a great view of the skyline with no hassle at all. The place is very laid back and the bartenders were top notch! I'm looking forward to going back! It was a refreshing change from the same places/crowds everywhere else. Pros: Great Parking, Great summer patio!, Well decorated more

If you ever ventured to Miko's, you can find this place pretty easily. Its right in the heart of the old "Adult Entertainment Overlay" district. Mercy Lounge has a lot of space and hasn't ever been too crowded when I've been there. Its got an East Nashville feel to it so fortunately it will probably never be a huge "hot-spot" on the Vandy bar tour. The red lighting throughout the place is pretty cool, and they have the best pool tables in Nashville. Pros: great pool tables, pinball, roomy Cons: hard to find more