You've probably read a hundred articles about why CBGB's was a New York City cultural institution, or why Madison Square Garden is amazing (or sucks, depending who you ask).

You may have even seen our list of 10 awesome venues to experience live music.

You've probably also heard how Rough Trade's venue space is, "like, the best place to just, like, stand still at an indie synth-pop show" while participating in an unspoken "who's got the best red beanie pageant." (It is a beautiful space, though...)

  So instead of rehashing all of that noise, we're bringing you our list of underrated NYC venues.

These are generally cozier joints, places with less than 200 person rooms. They have very low cover charges, budding talent, small stages, and the type of intimate experiences you may have thought didn't exist anymore, or were worth seeing.

We're not ordering these venues by amazingness; they're alphabetized because they all have their high and low points. Put on your headphones, SoundCloud links are included. Let's get into it.

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1. The Bitter End (147 Bleeker Street)

The Bitter End has been around forever. It's as much of a comedy venue as a music venue. The stage has seen the likes of George Carlin and Joan Baez in past years.

It's a sit down spot, so don't expect to have plenty of room to dance. Though, when we saw jam-funk/electro psychos Space Bacon, no holds were barred and their singer was dancing on tables causing an uproar, so you never really know what you're going to get.

The main drawback is that there is a minimum to sit at a table, something that amounts to about two drinks, but still, that isn't so bad.

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2. Cake Shop (152 Ludlow Street)

Cake Shop on Ludlowe has a unique vibe. On the ground level is a coffee shop/bar where you're encouraged to chill, maybe read a book, or have a vegan muffin.

Downstairs is a dark venue space. You'll usually catch punk and rock 'n' roll bands there, though they do have a bit of everything from time to time.

It's not unusual for the whole basement venue to erupt in a mosh pit given the right band; we've definitely had our fair share of throw downs. Sometimes, a girl just kicks your ass (See: Sharkmuffin). 

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3. DROM (85 Avenue A)

DROM's entrance is not on street level. It's one of those spots you'll miss if you don't keep an eye out for the sign.

Once inside, you may be surprised at the size of the place and the sleek interior design. Their stage-side lounge is pretty cool and drinks are reasonable.

We've caught a multitude of sick bands at DROM over the years. We've seen Cedric Burnside rock North Mississippi Hill Country Blues and NYC natives Consider the Source kill it under DROM's roof.

We've also been subject to a audience-wide ejection due to poop water flooding out of the bathrooms, so there's that. Some genius made stepping stones of bar stools and most of the crowd made it out without poop-foot.

That was only once, that we know of; don't let it sway you, DROM is cool as hell.

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4. Fontana's (105 Eldridge Street)

Fontana's is cool because it's three levels, which means THREE BARS. Yes, it doesn't matter how crowded it really is, you can always get a drink pretty quickly. Bathrooms on the other hand, are a completely other story.

They have pool and other games, as well as a venue downstairs. It's something of a tight space down there but that means that dancing is more fun and you're going to rub elbows (maybe more) with some hotties.

We've caught a young Teddy Midnight earlier in their career down there in the Fontana's basement, and it was a filthy gnarly electro-jam get down. 

All in all, this place is fully worth checking out, the cover is never too much and once again, drinks are reasonable.

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5. Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Ave - Brooklyn)

Knitting Factory has featured a pretty diverse line up in the past. Maybe the screwiest band of scallawags we've seen there are Cousin Earth, a moderately theatrical progressive rock band featuring virtuosic ukulele shredding (no really, shredding, on uke bass too) and some ill melodica dub medleys.

Any given night at Knitting Factory is divided into two shows, an early and a later one. This is good and bad. 

For one, you only pay for what you're there to see. If you happen to be there for both shows, then you're losing out on a little value as you have to buy two tickets.

There is a pretty chill bar in the front of the space that has no cover charge, no ticket, just a bar. The back wall of the bar is a window looking onto the stage, so you can kind of see the show, but the bar does not play the music from the venue; they have pretty good DJ's.

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6. Nublu (62 Avenue C)

Nublu popped up in 2002 thanks to Swedish-Turkish sax player, composer, band leader and entrepreneur, Ilhan Ersahin, and it's been a dope spot ever since. It's definitely a place to soak in some of the more unique vibes the NYC music scene has to offer.

We were last there for an ungodly, but oh so sweet, amalgam of funk, metal, electro and groove called lespecial. There was something like a ten dollar suggested donation at the door, which if you ask us, was too low for the musicianship on stage that night.

But that's part of what makes Nublu dope, you're not going to pay a lot and you're going to get a sick show. Not only that, BUT THEY HAVE NO CARD MINIMUM AT THE BAR!

So if you're broke and only have $10 on your debit card, don't worry, they got you.

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7. Piano's (158 Ludlow Street)

Piano's is right near Cake Shop, and if you have any sense, you'll go to both in one night because there's no reason not to. They're both generally pretty cheap to get into and handle some pretty cool bands/DJ's, so it really is a win/win.

Our favorite Piano's set thus far was Chromatropic. They're something of an amorphous force of dance. They can cover Daft Punk and do it justice, or they can go down original composition rabbit holes that stay interesting the whole time-- a feat not easily managed by most dance outfits.

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8. Shea Stadium (20 Meadow Street - Brooklyn)

No, not the stadium the Mets used to play in. This is a semi-dingy DIY spot in BK. But like the old Mets stadium, it's by no means glamorous, and that's part of the appeal.

Perks include super cheap bottles/cans chilled to perfection in a cooler (they don't have a bar, per se...) and their handy smoking balcony. Though, truth be told, like many venues, the smoking isn't contained to the outdoor spaces.

We recommend not pushing your luck indoors, but it's likely you might see Weird Womb on stage and 50 people romping cigarette burns into each others' torn tees. It's a good time at Shea Stadium.

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9. Silvana (300 West 116th Street)

Silvana kind of follows the Cake Shop paradigm as it is a cafe on ground level and a live music venue downstairs. The cafe is reasonably priced and a great spot to hang out or get some work done during the day.

As evening rolls around, you'll see people smoking hookah on the patio, and a small crowd socializing at the door.

Our best nighttime experiences at Silvana occur every 4th Monday, called Funkaholics Anonymous, hosted by uptown consortium The Saturators. It's something of an Afrobeat/funk/soul/R&B/hip-hop open mic, though delicately curated by The Saturators.

It's not a free for all, but it is a great venue to express yourself if you've got sufficient soul. Silvana hosts a variety of bands, from Latin to blues and everything in between.

Each night is ususally closed out by a DJ spinning reggae, dub, and downtempo dance tracks. It's all good at Silvana, order the falafel.

Honorable Mentions: Mercury Lounge, Bar Matchless, The Delancey, Bowery Electric, and The Shrine.

Check out 8 Underrated Outdoor Patio Restaurants to Cross Off Your Summer Bucket List in NYC.

[Feature Image Courtesy: The WG News]