Shonali Bhowmik has been storing up a lot of songs over the past five years.

The Manhattan-based musician and songwriter, who was in the bands Ultrababyfat and Tigers and Monkeys, says her record features songs written over the past five years during an emotional time: the pandemic and the passing away of her father.

“The music that I had just sort of stockpiled on my garage band, I started listening to it, and it was really personal, and I felt like the only thing that described it was my name, so I just went for it,” Bhowmik said.

Bhowmik is one of the many performers who have graced the stage at Bowery Electric since it opened in 2009. The venue is co-owned by singer and songwriter Jesse Malin, along with partners Johnny T. and Laura McCarthy.

Diane Gentile, who leads her own band, has been managing and booking bands at the venue since the beginning. The club is located near the former site of the legendary CBGB.

“We benefitted from a lot of the bands that used to play at CBGB. They came here, they were excited there was another club on the Bowery to carry that torch,” Gentile said.

On any given night, you could find Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day at the club performing with Norah Jones. It’s a place for longtime rockers to play. There’s free all-ages Sunday hardcore matinees, plus a new generation of performers.

“A lot of the newer, younger, hot bands that are coming in to play here are pretty spectacular, and we feel good about giving them a home to be seen,” Gentile said. 

For Bhowmik, Bowery Electric is the perfect place to launch the tour supporting her new record, "One Machine at a Time,” which is close to her heart.

“The room is built around the stage for the music, and that’s not how every club is set up, you know, but the other part is everyone feels like they are part of the show," Bhowmik said. "You are not in a distant space away from the band — you are right there with the band."

For more information, visit The Bowery Electric's website.