Located downstairs from The Echo, the Echoplex is the perfect spot for drinking, dancing and covers of "Subterranean Homesick Blues."

Located downstairs from hipster nightspot The Echo, the Echoplex is kind of like the basement of that cool kid we all knew in high school, full of smuggled six-packs stolen from various fathers. Here, luckily, there are two full-service, leather-adorned bars; leather banquettes and ottomans are a nice improvement on the smelly couches of our youths. But the thing that probably sets the Echoplex the farthest apart from those basements of yore is the entertainment. Instead of foosball, the venue books acts like British dance sensations Klaxons and New York's experimental indie rockers The Walkmen. But much like its upstairs counterpart, the venue is also dedicated to fostering local talents like folksy duo the Watson Twins, indie collective Sea Wolf (who might just be better than Bright Eyes) and quirky '60s-inspired locals The Parson Red Heads, who enjoy performing in head-to-toe white. And since Franki Chan has just moved his popular DJ and music night Check Yo' Ponytail to the Echoplex, LA's 18-year-old set won't have to resort to bumming around actual basements to get their kicks. —Elisa Jacobs