Kilowatt Bar

Kilowatt has been a Mission District institution since 1993, operating out of a former firehouse on 16th Street that once housed Engine Company No. 14. The building's history runs deep: Green Day played some of their earliest shows here, and the venue has maintained its punk and indie credentials ever since. The room is small, holding maybe 250 people, with a floor-level stage and the kind of sticky-floor atmosphere that punk rock demands. Shows happen on a small stage in the back, while the front bar area keeps the neighborhood regulars supplied with cheap drinks and good conversation. The booking focuses on local and touring underground acts, with an emphasis on punk, garage rock, and metal. It's not fancy, but it's authentic. If you want to see where San Francisco's underground rock scene lives, start here.