Dead Ringer

The analog bar that Reno turned into a dance floor

Before the posters spoke of house, techno, or bass, Dead Ringer introduced itself as an analog bar: a spot for quick cocktails and music in analog formats, with a cassette and vinyl mural —Dead Man's Hand, by Joe C. Rock— painted on the wooden facade of East 4th Street. That image, a skeleton holding a ribbon with the bar's name, remains the venue's calling card in Reno's brewery district.

An intimate box on a tough corner

The venue occupies the southwest corner of East 4th Street and Valley Road, an old building on a stretch that for years had little foot traffic. In 2020, its owner, Bryce Tomberlin, then a newcomer to the city's bar scene, insisted on not compromising on the product or the atmosphere: strong cocktails, vinyl, and a crowd that didn't arrive by chance, but by the programming. In 2023, the City Council processed a permit for live music after 9:00 PM. Today, creative director James Rowen presents it as a bar, venue, and social club: informal, focused on underground electronic music, community, art, and culture.

Ritual, house, and bass in the same room

The night revolves around the dance floor. Ritual, Reno's gothic night, takes over the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM, featuring gothic, industrial, post-punk, darkwave, and EBM. The rest of the schedule is built by local and touring promoters —Fresh Bakin', Hydra Records, Desert Hearts, Mioli Music— with house, techno, disco, drum and bass, and bass music. The likes of The Crystal Method, Lee Reynolds, Mikey Lion, or Butane have passed through that box, in addition to series like Habitat and Reality Check, which starts on the patio and ends inside. Access is 21+.

Patio, mural, and a custom Danley

In addition to the room, Dead Ringer opens an outdoor patio that hosts food trucks, open-air sets, and the start of long parties. Hydra posters advertise a custom Danley sound system and original visuals. It is not a high-capacity venue: it functions as an intimate club, with a bar, stage, and a visual identity anchored to the analog, although the current night is unequivocally electronic.