Lykke Li at Webster Hall: A Show Worthy of the Landmarked Space

Sporting a leotard, black cape, tights, high heels and sometimes a black veil, Lykke Li, the singer from Sweden, got a sold-out crowd in Webster Hall dancing on speakers. Two drummers, guitar and others back-up the live set, which moved between indie-rock to dance to electro with ease. She even did some covers of Kings of Leon, Lil Wayne and A Tribe Called Quest.

Long black curtains hung down from the rafters, blowing around the stage with a frenzy equal to the performance, and she emerged from layers of fog and smoke.  Webster Hall, with its storied history and quirky interior decor, also seemed a perfect fit for the artist.

This captured the energy and the anticipation of her show, as it spilled into the stairwells:

I also thought it would be fun to take pictures of Webster Hall after the concert, so here are a few snapshots of a hall as it empties:

And just some fun details from the hall, including old wall designs creeping from behind newer paint:

WH logo, for Webster Hall, amidst the fun gold and maroon theme:

One of the rooms wasn’t being used, so I snuck in to snap some photos:

And finally, the cool bathrooms, velvet curtains at the entrance, the ceiling of the hall and one of the amazing black chandeliers:

Webster Hall was landmarked in 2008 and was built in 1886-1887, with an annex completed in 1892. The architect was Charles Rentz, Jr. According to the Landmarks Preservation Commission Report, “The Queen Anne style original structure and Renaissance Revival style Annex are clad in red Philadelphia pressed brick with brownstone trim, and effusively ornamented with unglazed red terra cotta…Throughout its history as one of GreenwichVillage/East Village’s leading public rental halls and social centers, Webster Hall has been the venue for countless balls, dances, receptions, lectures, meetings, conventions, political and union rallies, military functions, concerts, performances, festivities, and sporting and fundraising events, particularly for the working-class and immigrant populations of the Lower East Side.” In the Gilded Age, it was particularly known for its masquerade balls and was nicknamed “The Devil’s Playhouse.”

Webster Hall is a true New York heterotopia, enabling the mixing of celebrities with ordinary citizens, with the building serving multiple functions and ultimately, fostering creativity, the promotion of culture and the advancement of society.  

125 E 11th St
New York, NY 10003