New underground venue in Madrid
El Sotano (which translates to "The Basement") is a recently-opened music venue and night spot in the heart of Madrid's La Latina neighborhood, an area known more for tapas and the Sunday Rastro market than hip, Malasaña-style nightclubs. The concept behind El Sotano is simple: to become a city-wide reference for live music, especially underground acts ranging from indie pop to punk to electronica. The space itself is small and intimate with an ample bar, a stage, a dance floor, and comfy sofas lining the walls (hey, you don't always feel like dancing!). I went there to see Tremenda Trementina, a Spanish indie group and the sound was great and the stage is low enough to where you can get up close and personal with the group. Oh, and it's free until 6:00am!
