Friday Five: Live Music! Bars Edition

I'd like to start off by apologizing to the editors of Go Go Grays Harbor. They assigned me the task of writing a Friday Five post about the notable animals of Grays Harbor. Asking me to write about animals is like asking a woodpecker to perform a rhinoplasty. It could be done, but it wouldn't be pretty and it wouldn't be neat. However, it would be enlightening- in a "we should NEVER let that happen again" kind of way. So I'm going to write about something I love- watching people get drunk and dance. Let's go!

1. Galway Bay Irish Pub (880 Point Brown Ave. NE. Ocean Shores. 360-289-2300)
Galway Bay has Irish music most weekends. They serve wonderful food and have a great alcohol selection (Guinness anyone?). When it comes to dancing, Galway is the tamest of bars on my list, but the sing-alongs are a hoot. The more you drink, the better they sound.


One Guinness.


Two Guinness.


Three Guinness.


You get the idea.

2. Quinault Beach Resort and Casino (78 State Route 115. Ocean Shores. 360-289-9466)
The casino is the biggest bar on my list. The lounge itself is reasonably sized but since its a casino, you can drink and smoke all over. I have played out here many of times with the Bruce Hughes Band. I have seen the best dancers and the worst dancers while playing in the Ocean Lounge in the casino. Everything from break dancing to ballroom, from the sprinkler to the worm. The folks who can and the folks who THINK they can. I've seen the old guy who asks all the young ladies to dance then looks innocent as he gropes them until the girls stomp off the floor in disgust (don't play dumb ladies- you've watched the guy pull this stunt all night). You know the person who is so drunk their idea of dancing is to hump EVERYTHING? I've seen that person in the lounge. A LOT. Bonus: the security is awesome- so go have fun!


Seen it.


Lived it.


Love it.

3. 8th Street Alehouse (207 8th St. Hoquiam. 360-612-3455.)
From the folks who brought you Galway Bay, its the Alehouse! The 8th St. Alehouse is in a small building. How small? 12 people and the place is hoppin'. 13 people and the place is packed! 40 people?! At that point, the fire marshall has to come over and notify the barkeep the place is over occupancy. But, as soon as the fire marshall walks in the whole place bursts at the seams! They have to rebuild every week. That's how I see it in my head anyway. Okay, maybe I understated the numbers. Its really not that small, but it is the smallest bar on my list. It's great to play at the Alehouse. You always play to a packed house and that feels good. Plus, they have open mic night! Sweet!


I'd like to play another Hanson tune for you.


And they're all in line for the bathroom.

4. Gepettos (126 E. Pioneer Ave. Montesano. 360-249-4445)
Gepetto's is a good place to get Italian food and it has a sweet bar too. Beer and pizza truly is a match made in heaven. Acoustically, its one of the best rooms on the harbor. The dance floor is front and center of the stage, with seating all around. If you get there early enough to get a table, there's not a bad seat in the house. Also a reasonably sized establishment, it fills up quickly which builds band confidence. If the crowd is having a good time, the band is having a good time and vice versa.


Hey Macarena!

5. NW Passage (617 W. Curtis. Aberdeen. 360-532-0161)
Also a good sounding room, the NW Passage has been a live music staple on the harbor for EVER. Seriously, since the beginning of time. I've seen some great dancing here too, but more in the "I can't believe they're dancing like that...in public" category. Some dance to the beat of a different drum. The kind of beat that puts countless shots of alcohol in your bloodstream and inspires you to move in gyrating motion, a la Pee Wee Herman. Not familiar with that beat? It sounds a little like this:



Go out this weekend!