JB's Down Under

JB’s Down Under
Location
Address	244 N. Water Street
Opened	1990s
Closed	c. 1999–2000
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★ Ohio Venue Verified ★
Verified by the OHMS Archive Foundation.

JB’s Down Under was a live music venue located in Kent, Ohio. Active primarily during the 1990s, the venue operated as a basement club on North Water Street and was known for hosting local, regional, and touring acts across alternative, rock, punk, and metal genres. It is remembered as an important underground venue in the Northeast Ohio music scene, particularly within the Kent State University area.

History

JB’s Down Under operated in a below-street-level space at 244 North Water Street in downtown Kent. During its run in the 1990s, the venue became known for its intimate setting and loud performances, attracting college crowds and underground touring bands.

By the late 1990s, the venue ceased operating under the JB’s Down Under name. The space later housed other music venues and clubs, including Fat Jimmy’s and JB’s Concert Club, before eventually closing as a dedicated live music venue.

Music and Events

• Live performances by rock, alternative, punk, metal, and indie bands
• Frequent stop for regional and touring underground acts
• Popular venue among Kent State University students and Northeast Ohio audiences

Legacy

JB’s Down Under continues to be referenced in band histories, archived setlists, and local music discussions. Many artists list performances at the venue as part of their early touring histories, and it remains a notable entry in Ohio’s live music archive.

Gigography

• 1984 07 26 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with JFA
• 1984 07 26 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Sun City Girls (1984 US / Canada Tour)
• 1984 08 19 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with The Gun Club
• 1984 08 30 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Die Kreuzen
• 1984 09 27 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Hüsker Dü
• 1984 10 13 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Black Flag (Fall ’84 Tour)
• 1984 10 17 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with MyDolls (Go to Fish Tour)
• 1984 10 17 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Ragged Bags
• 1984 11 17 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Red Hot Chili Peppers (Debut Album Tour)
• 1985 02 08 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with The Crucifucks
• 1985 02 08 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Plasma Alliance
• 1985 08 22 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Murphy’s Law
• 1985 09 01 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Kilslug
• 1985 09 02 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Aggression
• 1985 09 02 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Civilian Terrorists
• 1985 11 13 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with D.R.I.
• 1986 01 28 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Descendents (Bonus Winter Tour)
• 1986 05 25 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Starvation Army
• 1986 06 29 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Th’Inbred
• 1986 06 29 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Hyper as Hell
• 1986 09 06 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Starvation Army, Lose This Planet, Payback, City as a Ghost, Drinkin’ Dog, Bastard Town, Tarantula, New Way to Burn
• 1986 09 20 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with MDC
• 1986 10 22 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Agnostic Front (Cause for Alarm Tour)
• 1986 10 25 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with Starvation Army
• 1986 12 23 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with SNFU
• 1987 01 11 – at JB’s Down Under, Kent, Ohio with SNFU
• 1987 02 28 - with Ice Cream Blisters and The Diffi-Cult

External links

• Past shows and setlists at JB’s Down Under

References

• https://www.thirdav.com/hd_discog/clubs/V_jbs.html