From the Subway to the Spotlight

Giving NYC’s Talent a Stage Above Ground
By Skip Brevis

At BoPeep Cocktail & Highball Store — a speakeasy-style piano bar tucked beneath The Ragtrader in Midtown Manhattan’s Garment District — music is at the heart of everything we do. It’s where stories unfold, friendships form, and voices rise above the city noise. Every night, our intimate underground bar in NYC fills with laughter, clinking glasses, and live music that turns strangers into regulars.

Most nights, I take the Q train from the Upper East Side to play piano and sing at BoPeep. But sometimes, the subway delivers more than just a ride — it delivers a moment you’ll never forget.

One evening at 72nd Street, waiting for my train, I heard a voice that stopped me cold — raspy, soulful, pure. The kind of sound that cuts through the hum of the station and makes you look up. I dropped a $20 in his guitar case, took his number, and invited him to audition at BoPeep.

A week later, he showed up. His name was Ryan Brahms, and by the end of his first song, the crowd was hooked. The room was packed that night — a noisy, happy crowd of locals, tourists, and regulars who had no idea they were about to discover their new favorite performer. When the last note hit, the applause said it all.

Today, Ryan performs at BoPeep three to four nights a week, sharing the stage with some of the city’s most talented singers and musicians. His voice has become part of our identity — raw, honest, and uniquely New York. It’s proof that this city still has magic waiting underground; sometimes, you just have to listen.

For me, that’s what makes BoPeep so special. It’s not just a Midtown bar or a live music venue in NYC — it’s a place where discovery happens. We’re proud to give incredible voices like Ryan’s a stage above ground, right here in the heart of the city.

So, next time you’re looking for a romantic night out in Midtown Manhattan, or a spot to enjoy world-class cocktails and live music near Madison Square Garden, come find us beneath The Ragtrader. Step through the velvet curtains, grab a seat by the piano, and let the music take over.

Because in this city, you never know who you might hear next — maybe the next great New York story, echoing from the subway to the spotlight.

🎹 Catch Ryan Brahms performing live at BoPeep Cocktail & Highball Store — one of the best speakeasy bars in NYC, located beneath The Ragtrader at 70 West 36th Street.