Like many of the Downtown East Side SRO rooming houses, The Cobalt Motor Hotel was built a century ago as working men’s housing. Nowadays, the 92-room motel generates hundreds of emergency calls a year.

It once had a strip bar and a flashing neon sign that said “girls girls girls” but later the bar was one of the bastion venues for punk and heavy metal concerts, hosting bands like Anthrax, Agent Orange, SNFU, and DOA.

It is still billed as a live music venue featuring live music, DJs, and even comedians on some nights.

Acrylic on canvas, 10″ x 10″
Summer, 2010
Located at: Private Collection