Okay, so I finally have some down time to put type this up. I've been extremely busy over the past 5 days, so I apologize for not posting this sooner. I was also still dealing with this issue behind the scenes. So, as I stated before; my work speaks for itself...so if I am reporting that someone is doing shady business it's for the betterment of this touring community. A lot won't speak up due to backlash or not wanting to look like a complainer. I am not one of them. I choose to do things differently and share my experiences so it can help you make your decisions moving forward. So let's jump into it... The Fire is a venue in Philly, which is a very dope venue for the small to mid sized touring act. The sound is solid; the sound man is solid and very competent. The issue isn't the venue. The issue is most definitely the new owner and his name is Derek Dorsey. He has a very hard time honoring agreements he makes with artists, agents and labels. He makes them and either disappears before the show ends to fulfill them or sticks around (drinking) then plays your night off as a "failure" and tries to re-structure the deal in his favor. Let me be more specific. I booked a tour stop there for last Friday night that had a guarantee (not a door deal). I asked for a # + a hotel room, he volleyed back with a lower # and no hotel room. Typical back and forth to come to a # that could work for both. Needless to say we agreed on a # plus a back end. He asked me to assist with local support, I did. I provided all of the locals, a DJ and a host for the night...he was simply to setup a ticket link, promote it through all the venue social media accounts and print the normal hand bills to hang at the venue to let folks know there was a tour coming. I had a discounted guest list of $8 provided from each local (minimum of 20 people) so to avoid the whole "pay to play" thing. In regards to payment, he was to pay 1/2 at load in and the final 1/2 at the end of the night...because in his words, "we typically don't do guarantees with deposits...we pay the night of". (Side Note: Never do this, that was a mistake on my behalf and I knew better) Philly was where the group would be to end the tour, so it wasn't an issue to pick up the show...(or so I thought). I was told the load in was 8:30pm from Derek and was also told I would be fwd an advance for the night (which never happened). The group showed up for load in sharply at 8:30pm and there was a live (alternative) show going on. I was told this show would promptly be ending and doors for the tour stop we booked would be at 9pm (as stated previously and as stated on the flyer and ticket link that Derek himself created on ticket fly). As you can imagine...this is a bad start. At 9pm there is a new group tuning guitars on stage and questions begin to fly as to what is going on? The door man tells everyone, the show is running a bit behind because of technical difficulties with the power earlier but should end soon. As you can imagine...people are now outside wondering what's going on and if the show is even happening. Some are coming and going, and some are just flat out leaving because it is now about 9:45pm and begins to rain a bit. The host for the night finds the owner (Derek Dorsey) after the door guy has no answers for him. Derek then says, "this should be the last song let me go see what's up". Read full review: www.facebook.com/408inc read more

This is a great place to see local talent and bands running through the area. They also have an open mic night on Mondays which is cool for up and coming musicians. They keep it real with local brews: Yards, Philly Brewing Company, and Schmidt's on Tap. This place is kinda filthy too, occasional puke in the urinal and graffiti everywhere. But that's what one can expect from a good ol' dive like this. They also show the bands simulcasted on TVs at the bar while they are playing on stage in other section of the Fire, so if your a cheap bastard, or a bum and cant afford 7 bucks you can watch on the TV screen while you toss back a few. read more

The last time I played there, we were ready to go, except teh sound dude fell asleep, and let this band play for like over two hours. How the hell could you have fallen asleep to that shite? bro? 'cmon. We played for like 20 minutes and that was that. The bartender consoled me with a slice of pizza, which, despite being complimentary, was quite lackluster. The updated sound system makes it that much better, but so could a better beer selection. read more

I have stopped in this place for a beer occasionally. However, my last experience left a bad taste in my mouth so I will not let it go. I stopped at 8:41 PM on Weds April 4th. The bartender was waiting on someone else to my right. He completed that transaction and I know he saw me standing there. He then went back and brought out a case of cans and proceeded to load the cold box-right in front of me. By now I am here more than 5 minutes so i walked out. The lack of respect for not serving me is inexcusable. Further, I am a senior citizen. Is that the reasoni=I am not in their obviously younger demographic and they don want "my kind" in there? Shame on these people. I will never return thats for sure. read more

Love this place. If you are like me and like local live music for under 10 bucks, you will too. I went here last friday to see a band i am familiar with, and found two other acts to like. This place is also within walking distance to my boyfriends place so i can drink and not worry. cool. read more

great spot.. I stopped by "The Fire" to check out a band "st. James and the apostles" ..Great music .. Well, this place is pretty cool, it reminds me of HOGS and Heffer in NYC. The bartenders and patrons are pretty down down earth just as a true bar should be. I had a blast here and I will be stopping by here again. read more

Dirty dive bar you just gotta love! Great local brews and music! Occasionally when there aren't any bands playing they put out a ping pong table in the back room. All around love this spot for its rugged character and lack of fanciness, I'd drink here anytime! read more

An excellent music venue to say the least. The staff is awesome and the shows are excellent. The stage is in a small room towards the back. Its a great place to see an intimate show, or also a great place to get your socks rocked off! The crowd is cool and I love how they support their local musicians!!!! read more

Bartenders are ok. Sound is good. But this place sucks. Everyone that works here is rude.

From the cheap Kenzingers and dim lighting, to the furry air conditioner and raw music, the Fire is everything a dive represents. I come here often to just have a pint and to win at Word Dojo (someone else took first place, but enjoy it whoever you are, cause it's not gonna last.) I just wish they had a city special for $3. That would be the tits. read more

A good place to go when you don't feel like dealing with a packed house or searching 45 minutes for a parking spot. It's a dive, of course. Kenzinger and Walt Whit on tap, only 3 bux i believe. Good menu. A separate, small show area with a cheap cover. Bands i've seen ranged from Kimya Dawson to Smoke or Fire and Far From Finished. Down the street from Johnny Brenda's, M Room, Kung Fu Necktie. A lot more low key and less pretentious than those places. You won't feel like you have to try hard to fit in at the Fire. read more

Only been here once, but I really liked it. When I was there last, before the show a couple of firefighters from next door sitting at the bar drunkenly singing along to "Behind Blue Eyes" playing on the jukebox. Drunken sing-a-longs to classic rock is the hallmark of a good bar. read more

I am still new to the city, and still getting to know my new neighborhood. Fire, I hear has a good music scene, which I can not tell you about but I was there for quarter finals of the World Cup in the afternoon. The bar is great a dive, unassuming, unpretentious, and exuding a vibe of being comfortable in its own skin. The great thing it has for me is that it has natural light. It is not dark place with customers and the bartenders equally sunny and friendly. It is a good bar for a beer and to meet up with friends. read more

For all the whining, insulting complainers, all I can say is that their experience at The Fire was tailor made for them - so that they don't return. Everybody else - right on! read more

Good place to see a show. Dino Lionetti is the best sound guy in Philly!

Went to The Fire with some friends for first time. Only $10 to get in the music room to see the bands. Had a great time, Saw Eagle Road and they sounded amazing...good sound quality in the music area. read more

If you're a fan of nerdy, scrawny Italians, then the Fire is for you. The beer selection is adequate, the environment appropriately divey, but it's the service that really makes the difference. Did I say service? I meant Fall-time hay bales. And the projector in the alley ain't half bad either. read more

I'll go anywhere that served you a ginormous dill pickle with a shot of whiskey. But that's really all its good for.

I went here for open mic night recently and it was fun. Loved the Ms Pac Man table the drinks were decent, loved the art, vibe was great! Reminds me of Dahlak just chill easy fun. read more

This place is pretty divey, but I love dropping in to see who's playing! The covers are never too pricey so it's a cool venue to discover new bands. It's also an easy place to chill and meet new people. read more

Dive bar, cash only. Visited for a show with multiple bands. Great for a kick back and relaxing night. I appreciate the atmosphere of the fire. Small but not too small that you can't move. The local beers are great and the sounds coming from the concert area are great. Hats off to a crew that can work in right spaces on stage. read more

The promoter DJ, is the best talent buyer in Philly. The door guy with the glasses was in the sandlot too!!

I'm really interested in this place. Mostly because it has stood the test of time without conforming to the standards of the unfortunate consistency of No Libs' pretentious attitude. It's annoying that there are enough people who require this attitude in their understanding of a good bar to leave The Fire with a less than deserved legion of dedicated show-goers and drinkers. I admire their continued efforts and trust there will always be a place in the Northern Liberties/Fishtown area of Philadelphia for an old-school rock club like this fine establishment. keep it up, friends. read more

As dive bars in philly go, it's a dive bar. Theres nothing special here. From the appearance of the bar itself, i've never tried the food due to fear of food poisoning, however. The Beer- Selection is pretty limited. Beers are pretty costly for a dive bar, even during their happy hours. The Venue- My real want to post this is their music venue. It's one of the worst places to see a show in the city. From the acoustics to both of the sound 'engineers' I've seen work there. Sound carries very poorly due to the unused space behind their stage. Guitars are inaudible, and out of the 9 bands i've seen play there, the bass and drums are consistently overpowering. Fortunately, this place is rarely busy (weekend night shows see less than 20 people), so you'll never had an issue getting a beer! read more

This is the perfect neighborhood bar--cheap booze, chill bartenders, and a great location. Certainly nothing fancy, but that's the way I like it! read more

The bartender was more than drunk serving obviously over-served customers. The bathrooms smelled like a mix of vomit and feces. I saw mice on the counter coming out of a hole behind the bar by the nasty pizza they serve. The bands were loud and obnoxious. Who does the booking in this place? waited for a drink and one of the bartenders was dancing drunk on the bar. Just stopped to watch the Phils game couldnt see a thing on the tvs from 1980. Never step foot again in this place read more

i still absolutely adore this bar. living around the corner for the past 5 years i've gotten to know the owner and several of the employees well and it's become the spot to go after a long day at work when i've already changed into my lounging clothes and swore i wasn't going out again for the night. i am craving a hoppy beer right now and i'm in cutoff shorts so i know exactly where i am heading when i finish this beer. read more

Sooo this will be my 3rd update of the fire, and I frequent here so much because I basically live next door and its just so convenient. Management switched hands and it's definitely headed in a better direction with everything they have going on. Different beers, fitting into the NoLibs scene more, its great. I really only have complaint and feel bad for even saying it, because its about the one bartender whose extremely nice. Elisa, Alyssa? Not sure her name exactly, im not sure if she just fills in or does have a permanent shift because she's not there too often, but I always know when she is because the bar is always unattended when she's working. Like shes always in the back room when shes working, when she comes out shes super nice but it takes her forever and the bar should see that as a problem because they could definitely get robbed blind thats how long she takes being in the back. Shes always talking about music and working music so maybe she should work in the music scene full time instead of tending bar. Today (halloween) i walked in after work around 9pm for a 6 pack for my roommate and I, no exaggeration it took her 10 minutes to come out from Open mic while the bar was half full with patrons waiting and noo bartender in sight. I was going to leave but like i said, i live a minute away so I wasnt going to walk out of the way almost 15 minutes to grab a sixer elsewhere in the cold. I just dont get how its okay for that happen. Shes super nice but just not good at staying behind the bar at alll. read more

This place is awesome and Marilyn is wonderful! I keep meaning to go back there, but am shy. Marilyn is the coolest barmaid ever!

The Fire's one of the few legitimately "divey" bars in Philly. Besides being an awesome place to see a variety of music acts, this is FANTASTIC spot to just grab a beer and have a conversation (i.e., on the bar side). It's rarely overly-crowded, especially on nights with no music, and this is one of the last No Libs establishments that hasn't been inundated by the Old City crowd. The service can border on the "i'm-too-cool-and-hip-to-be-interested", but at least there's little overt attitude. What's best is that it seems to not be a "scene" bar. Most other "hipster-ish" bars in No Libs and Fishtown are overrun by the haircuts/glasses/fixies/skinnies set who're always sizing up what someone's requested on the jukebox, what kind of bike you're locking up outside, and keeping their ears perked for "hip" buzzwords (e.g. 'postmodern', 'performance art', 'no-wave', etc..), but somehow The Fire is thankfully lacking in that! read more

If you're looking for a fancy beer selection, swanky atmosphere or a Northern Liberties-style hipster spot, you should look elsewhere. The Fire is a total dive, but it's my friendly neighborhood dive, and I really like it. I live one block away, and find myself in this dingy yet cozy little barroom 2 or 3 times a week. Their canine-friendly policy allows me to stop in for a couple pints of Magic Hat or shots of bourbon while out walking the dog. There are always some interesting local characters hanging out at the bar, and they often have pretty cool shows in the back venue room. That being said, I do wish that they had a better beer selection for take-out, and i think their taps need to be cleaned more often. read more

This rating is for the food. There's a new chef here that has a small, unique menu. I had the chicken kafta and the Peking duck sandwiches. $5 each and amazing. Definitely give this new menu a try. Much love xoxo ASF read more

i went for the music, which was awesome btw. don mccloskey is amazing, you should check him out. the venue itself is ok. kinda dumpy, which is fine b/c i wasn't expecting too much. the bartenders were nice, but they kept running out of beer. how do you only have coors lite left at midnight? overall i'd go back to see another show, but not to solely hangout and drink. read more