VENUE: KAFE KEROUAC

Written by Meghan Kelly

Photo courtesy of Writers' Block Poetry Night

Photo courtesy of Mike Heslop on Facebook

Mike Heslop is the backbone of a local café you might have heard of: Kafe Kerouac, (www.kafekerouac.com) the best coffee shop north of Lane Avenue. How did it all come about, and how did such a small place remain open during these harsh financial times? Mike’s answer, “I’m stubborn and I don’t like to give up.” Really, is there any better business plan than that?

After graduating from The Ohio State University, Mike bartended at the airport while playing music and writing on his own time. That is when he got the idea to open a café’… but this wouldn’t be the standard coffee shop, instead there would be books, games, records, and beer.         
 

“I had this idea to open a café which would be a place that wasn’t just a coffee shop, but also a bar and bookstore. A place where artists and writers go to hang out, that was the original concept.” –Mike

            Mike envisioned a place where everyone would be welcome to hangout, share ideals, ideas and debate. Think of a typical Parisian café gathering spot for artists and writers in the early 20th century; now change that French to English, throw in 50-80 years of progression and what you have is Mike, and Kafe Kerouac. How did the vision become a reality?

The cafe opened in May of 2004, as it took about a year and a half to go from conception to actually being open. Since then, the space has been forever changing and evolving. For instance, after a year they expanded into the room next door, which had been originally used as an extra study and additional storage space. 

            “The second room provides a muting between the rooms; it’s like a sound proofing. So in the front room people can be reading or studying and the sound of maybe a play next door doesn’t disrupt. Plus you have that great ambiance by having books around. We added track lighting for the stage; we added a larger P.A and bigger mixing board. So now we can offer more, and cater to a bigger audience.” –Mike

            What type of crowd will you find at Kafe Kerouac? Just about anyone. You’ll find mostly 20 something grad students working or studying, and the occasional vagabond just passing through. However, what is most noticeable, are Kafe Kerouac’s strong supporters - people will drive across the city regularly to come back and work here. Many customers have developed a strong sense of loyalty, and seem to feel as though they are a part of the coffee shop success.

            “We are considered the ‘hipster hangout,’ the disenfranchised middle class white kids who ride up on their bikes with their tight jeans and All Stars. Those people are great but I never meant it to evolve to one group or social group, that wasn’t my vision, I just wanted a mix of people who are looking to express themselves.” –Mike

            To succeed in the middle of recession (upon recession) Mike keeps his prices low, buys local and has friends that routinely help out. To some it may feel ‘clique-ish’ but Mike and his employees work hard at trying to make everyone feel welcome. I having been going to Kafe Kerouac since about the time they opened and in that time, I have never felt anything other than welcome.

            Mike is not very political, but Kafe Kerouac stands out as a leftist place and so he ends up working as a middle man between heated discussions a lot of the time.  It’s a creative way to go grow academically, to be surrounded and a part of scholarly conversations.

            “Typically coffee shops are known as a meeting place to discuss current issues. I can’t find anywhere else in town that matches the type of intimacy we provide. So after about 5 years it is finally turning into the space I had wanted.” –Mike

            It has been a learning experience, but making a lot of money was never the idea. Instead as a place that provides people a platform, Kafe Kerouac has succeeded.

Every week:
            - Tuesday is game night
            - Wednesday night features poetry slams brought to you by Writers Block.

            - Thursday night is Comedy night.
            - Local musicians and fundraising groups often use the space on Friday night.

Once a month, Kafe Kerouac has a ‘First Draft Poetry” event, which normally has a theme.

Scott Woods, Writers Block Poetry

            “It’s fun to see a group or person start out here and then watch as they sign with a label and their careers really take off.” –Mike

            When Mike isn’t behind the counter you may see him onstage with the “Shazzbots” a kids musical group that Mike started out with some friends. They played over 50 shows last year and are on track to put out their 2^nd album in 2012. (www.theshazzbots.com.) A newer project Mike is working on, called the “Black Ties,” is a rotating group of his musician friends. Everyone gets a song list the day of performance and they wing it. It seems as though Mike is like the energy bunny, he just want stop.

            Over the years Kafe Kerouac routinely transforms itself to meet the needs of students, artists, musicians, spoken word or live theatrical plays, and the wait was well worth it. What started out as a one room coffee shop with a few desks and comfy over-sized chairs, now presents itself as a living room (set up to the left), books lining the walls and a classic record collection (to your right).  This adds to the ambience Mike strives to create. Inspired by the people who perform, Mike takes their suggestion and is routinely moving furniture, books and records to change the physical scene and to make things a little better and flow more smoothly. 

            If you are looking for a place to relax, Kafe Kerouac can provide you with that. If you are looking for a place to hold a meeting, Kafe Kerouac can provide you with that. If you want to hear some quality local music and eat some local goodies, Kafe Kerouac can provide you with that. You get the picture. If you’re looking for any or all of that, head to Kafe Kerouac @ 2250 N. High Street and Northwood. 

Grazie’. 
Special Thanks Mike Heslop, Kafe Kerouac

Read more »

VENUE: NEWPORT Music Hall

VENUE: Newport Music Hall
Written By Josh Weiker

 Location:  1722 N. High Street (between 12^th and 13^th Ave.)

Events Calendar: Link

 Genres:  Variety - Nationally touring acts

Cover:  +$20

Drinks:  $5 - $10

 Perks: Balcony

        

Sitting just off the heart of the Ohio State campus is the Newport Music Hall. With its giant billboard promoting upcoming shows, and the almost ritualistic line of patrons awaiting entrance, it’s almost impossible to not notice this place. 
Primarily an outlet for nationally touring bands, this is a venue’s venue. The interior is very spacious, with an upper balcony for your alternative viewing pleasures – but don’t let the space fool you, this place gets packed. The main pit is usually the most crowded and rowdy, and if that’s not really your thing, rest assured, there is usually enough room to dance in the wings. Again, the balcony is a great spot for getting a good look at the band, people watching, or trying to find somewhere to sit down for a bit, but most of the fun is being had on the ground floor. 


There isn’t really a patio, as much as a door that takes you out to a small, semi-fenced area, where you can get some fresh air and/or smoke between back-alley buildings (but be advised, you can’t take your drink with you – lame, right?)

Beginning as a movie theatre, and then spending a short time as a ballroom, the Newport officially became a music hall in the mid-80s. After one look, it’s not hard to tell that this place has been arranged for one thing – live music. With a very simple bar set up (pretty much domestic draft beers), and minimal options for sitting, this probably won’t be a place to hang out all night, or frequent on a regular basis. If you happen to attend a show at Newport, then definitely make post-show plans. 

Most shows let out kind of early, and it’s usually nice to go to a bar where you can unwind and cool down after a show, not to mention get some liquor for a decent price. The Newport Music Hall is tied in with PromoWest Productions, which also manages the stages at The LC, Stage AE, The Basement, and the A&R Music Bar. Additionally, CD 102.5 (previously CD101) helps coordinate their shows, which occasionally gives local musicians an opportunity to play on these bigger stages.

The radio station also frequently uses this venue to present its “Low Dough Shows;” in which a better known or rising band is featured, and tickets are usually around $5 - which is a steal, being that the average ticket price for a show at the Newport falls within the realm of more than twenty dollars.

Read more »

VENUE: DICK'S DEN

Written By Josh Weiker

Location:  2417 N. High Street (between Maynard and Blake Ave.)

 Events Calendar:   http://www.dicksdencolumbus.com/

Genres:  Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, R&B, Funk, …

Cover:  $4  

Drinks:  Under $5

Perks: Patio, Pool Table  

        




 If you feel comfy in a dim, hole-in-the-wall bar with chill people that just don’t give a damn, then you should ask yourself ‘Why Not?’ Far away enough from the hustle and bustle of the OSU campus crowd, Dick’s Den is one of the best kept secrets in Columbus. Just located just off the corner of High Street and Blake Avenue, Dick’s Den is easy to miss with any run of the mill passerby, but it only takes one glimpse to notice.

         On any given night, Dick’s Den provides a stable platform for local Bluegrass, R&B, Jazz, Blues, and Funk music (just to name a few).  The true gem of the Den is the virtually non-existent separation from the performers and audience; the stage sits right on top of you - and more often than not performers end up on the floor, in front of what is surely to be a crowd of enthusiasts, dancing.

Even if you might happen to stumble in, and not necessarily dig the bands, (you may) wander out to the patio (just beyond the pool table) where I promise, an interesting conversation awaits you.  Feel free to chat with the amazing musicians that just consistently deliver your multiple ‘eargasms’ and breathe life into BusTown. There aren’t many places where you can take advantage of this opportunity; and it’s extraordinarily refreshing to hear that they enjoy playing for you, as much as you enjoy listening. 

         There is almost always a $4 cover (except on Tuesdays), but once you’re in, the drinks are cheap, the bar staff is excellent, and the bands are outstanding. Go to Dick’s Den, meet the people, listen to the bands, and enjoy yourself … I mean, why not?

BusTown Reviews was produced by Joey Gurwin 

BusTown Music General Manager is DP Krukrubo

Shout out to the BusTown Music Family

Special Thanks to the great Columbus folks

Read more »

VENUE: KOBO

Written by Raad Shubaily

Address:  2590 N. High St, Columbus, OH 43202

website:  http://www.kobolive.com/ 

Genres:  Funk, Hip-Hop, Alternative/Indie, Country, Rock …  

 Cover:  under $5 

Drinks:  under $5

 
On a fine piece of real estate near Hudson St. & High St. lies a music junkie’s mecca. Kobo, which is the Japanese word for an “Artist’s Workspace,” seems to have found its niche in Columbus.  Usually booked for months in advance, there are few venues in town with such an intimate aura.

The stage is very small, giving fans a rare and original opportunity to interact with performers.  There’s live music almost every day, with a 90’s night on Mondays and karaoke night on Wednesdays. 

The bands that come through Kobo’s doors usually fall under the blanket category of rock/pop.  Some local favorites that appear fairly often include Ghost Shirt, Karate Coyote and the Phantods.  There’s also a monthly dance party called Dance or Die, hosted by DJ Self Help and DJ Barticus. 

Kobo has become a staple of local music, hosting events with the Hot 17, the Columbus Music Co-op and various other local sponsors. When it comes to keeping up on the hottest bands in town, Kobo keeps a close eye on the pulse of the city’s ever changing, diverse musical tastes. 

If you’re interested in local music, you’re going to find yourself here one way or another.  It’s a fantastic location to catch your favorite bands because, one day, you might not be able to walk right up to the stage they’re playing on.  Though this venue can be considered small in square footage, it’s quite sizeable in the local music scene.

Read more »

VENUE: BROTHERS DRAKE MEADERY

Written by Raad Shubaily

Location: 26 E. 5th. Ave., Columbus, Ohio.

Cover: $0

Drinks: $6.25-$7.25/glass
             $24-$28 per bottle

Specials: $15 for tastings (5 different types of mead)

Website: 
 http://brothersdrake.com/wordpress/



      





 Try telling your friends you’re going down to the local meadery for the evening.  The quizzical faces come on swiftly: “The what? Meatery?,” “Something about meat?”  The answers to these questions are simple, if I wanted to purchase some fine cuts of beef, I would go to the butcher.
The Brothers Drake Meadery is Columbus’ first and only meadery, which explains why few people seem to grasp the concept of mead.  To be brief, mead is wine made of honey.

Raad Shubaily interviewing Oron Benary

    Brothers Drake was co-founded by Woody and Eric Drake in 2007 at a location in Worthington.  Oron Benary helped oversee a transition to the new location on 5th Ave. in September 2010, where he took on the position in helping to manage and grow the business.

     Bustown Music was lucky enough to have a tour of the back room, where the mead is actually made.  They receive their honey from local honey producers while the product is very much in its raw state, including a dash of the noble bees’ wings. 
    






 The first process in making mead is fermentation, where the ingredients are compiled and fermented for 6 to 12 months.  The next process is filtration.  At the end, there’s the maturation process, which takes the most amount of time.

In the front room, there is a bar offering five different types of mead.  Brothers Drake is currently looking to double the mead selection and get ahold of a liquor license.  After obtaining said license, they plan on selling only locally made alcohol.  



    



The idea is to create a self-sustaining local economy by using only local products and selling only to local clients.  They won’t ship outdise of greater Columbus as a matter of principal, it’s a philosophical idea of supporting Columbus’ vibrant nature.  Also in the front side of the building is a performance space.

  There’s usually a performance every week, including improvisational jazz performers, dancers, painters, musicians and V.J.s, or visual jockeys. Outside of some touring and local bands, there are also a few bands that come through every couple weeks, the Devil Doves and Rawkadeus. 

    



 Brothers Drake Meadery is very welcoming, staff members are both friendly and very informative of their product.  They even have something that looks like a mad scientist’s laboratory in the back, where they create and test new flavors to keep the vibe fresh for the regulars.  With an artistic, west-coast vibe and a positive outlook on building local relationships, it’s obvious why the clientele keep going back for more.

 













  

Read more »

VENUE: RUMBA CAFE

Written By Josh Weiker
LISTEN NOW 

         Rumba Café is a cool little bar with a new-bohemian vibe. Showcasing a variety of local acts and musical genres, the most constant and perhaps best known feature at Rumba Café is the Hoo Doo Soul Band, which plays every Sunday. While this venue is somewhat isolated from the constant traffic of High street, and away from the lights of Downtown, taking a trip to Rumba is a must.

         With both cover charges and drink prices ranging from cheap to mid-range, this quaint little bar offers a very intimate musician-to-audience environment. The stage is slightly elevated yet relatively small, and the bar itself doesn’t offer much room for a venue - but that doesn’t stop the patrons from having a good time. If you get there early, you can secure a table and some seats (seating also available alongside the bar) but as the show begins people will stand (and/or dance) right in front of the stage – almost assuring to block the view for anyone sitting (just a warning). So get up and dance!

         Like most great bars in Columbus, Rumba offers a fantastic patio – probably one of the most comfy in the city – It’s like you are in your friend’s backyard, at a cookout (which they have been known to do from time to time). Fanciful lights are strung about the area, creating a dim yet substantially illuminated kingdom of happiness. Luckily, there seems to be more room on the patio, than inside the bar - you can almost always find somewhere to sit outside, gather around a table, and have a crazy conversation with great people.

         Rumba Café has also recently made outreaches to local artists and creative organizations. One recent event combined elements of live music, art installations, and a live interactive mural demonstration (which was created throughout the night during the performance, with audience participation). By doing events like these, the folks at Rumba have truly stepped up to provide an outlet for the next level of expression, interacting within the physicality of your night’s experiences.

                                Location:  2507 Summit Street (near Hudson St.)

                                Events Calendar:   http://www.myspace.com/rumbacafe39/shows

                                Genres:  Jazz, Blues, Funk, Alternative/Indie, …

                                Cover:  $5 and up

                                Drinks:  $5 - $10

                                Perks: Patio

 BusTown Reviews are produced by our Assistant Executive Producer,  Joey Gurwin

 I am Josh Weiker,  Chief Columnist for BusTown Music

Special thanks to the BusTown Music Family, 
Very Special thanks to the people of Columbus, 
we'll see you soon...

Read more »

VENUE: RUBY TUESDAY

Written by Josh Weiker

Location:  1978 Summit Street (near 19^th Ave.) 

Click Here for Event Calender  

Genres:  Jazz, Funk, Hip-Hop, Alternative/Indie, …

Cover:  under $5

  Drinks:  under $5

Perks: Patio, Pool Tables

     Tucked away on Summit Street between 20^th and 19^th avenues, you’ll find Ruby Tuesdays - a decent size venue in the middle of Ohio State’s residential area, and yet this bar is surprisingly barren. Despite a great line-up of musicians regularly scheduled throughout the week, it would seem that this venue almost blends into the scenery too well. Aside from the fencing around the front patio area, it can be hard to spot, and it doesn’t help that it looks very similar to many of the houses up and down Summit Street.

  
  
      Inside, you’ll find two pool tables, a good sized wrap-around bar, a relatively large stage (I’ve once counted 11 musicians on the stage at once), a small dance floor, and ample seating. The setting at Ruby’s is very laid back – musicians will often wander on and off the stage during songs, as many of the shows are open jam sessions, or composed of a collective of musicians that are comfortably interchangeable. Despite the seemingly amateur appearance of a show at Ruby’s, the sound and performance qualities are amazing.
     This venue offers a stage to many local artists, and because of that you can catch a variety of styles. Soul, funk, jazz, blues, hip-hop, rock, alternative, indie, whatever kinds of music, however you care to label it; and you can probably find it here at some point during the week.

     The cover charge is usually four or five bucks, and drinks rarely go above five – always a plus. Right now, Ruby’s is a great spot to go if you’d like to catch some shockingly impressive live local music, without having to worry about the hassle of crowds. If you like enjoying some live music while you study or get some alone time, this is your place. It is also a fantastic spot for a date – not too crowded, good music, and it’s inexpensive. While Ruby Tuesdays may take an acquired taste, or particular show to be truly enjoyed at its utmost dimension, it is loaded with potential and constantly promotes the area’s most passionate musicians.

VIDEO: EVAN OBERLA'S JAM SHOWDOWN @ RUBY'S

BusTown Music Reviews are written Josh Weiker

BusTown Music Assistant Executive Producer is Joey Gurwin

BusTown Music Executive Producer is Aaron Oakley

 BusTown Music Artistic Director is Evan Oberla

BusTown Music Managing Director is DP Krukrubo

 Our Visual Director is Ollie D Bahba Hightower

BusTown Music's Social Network Coordinator is Nimi Krukrubo

Aaron Quinn is Director & Host of BusTown Music Jazz & Improv.

SPECIAL THANKS TO...

COLUMBUS MUSIC LOVERS!!

Read more »