Hot rods and Harleys don the dimly lit parking lot and if you don't know where you're headed, you might drive right past.
If you're early enough, you could catch a glimpse of Franco (the Jar's Manager) with his entourage of beautiful women and his funky shoes...actually they are clogs; yes the open backed, wooden soled shoe.
I do remember on one or more occasions, hearing Franco's surname...but much like Madonna, Franco traveled and was recognized simply by his single first name, Franco.
Franco's infamous and strange attire coupled with his thick accent, the famous, not so famous and soon to be famous bands that he put on stage at his club, made him somewhat of an icon himself...
A Night in the Jar
It's a Friday night; there's a line out the door, spilling into the parking lot. Scantily clad gals with big hair are standing in line with boyfriends and husband's who boast sleeves of blue ink.
You have your money in hand because it's cash only..a five dollar cover per person. The man at the door is big, bald and also covered in ink. He takes your cash and checks your identification to make sure you're twenty one. If you're not, you're not coming in, NO exceptions.
Past the door man and into the bar, grab a table if it's available, because you know it will soon be standing room only. Head to the bathroom to pee and "touch up" your makeup before the music starts, because when you come back, the que will be astounding. It's already starting to build.
The bathroom is painted basic black, ceiling to floor, including the stalls, with splotches of florescent pink, yellow and green on the walls.
You hear your friend's band doing their initial sound check. You and your friends are here to support them. They are the opening act tonight for Phoenix's own Meat Puppets.
When you return, a girl pushing Jagermeister shots approaches and offers shooters in medical vials to the table.
Five or six shots later, your friend's band sounds better then you've ever heard them before and you're, once again, looking for the bathroom.
While in line to the loo (bathroom), you notice the girl two people ahead of you is wearing an awesome pair of boots. You tap her on the shoulder and ask where she got them. She can't hear you, so you signal to the gal in front of you, who obviously understands obsessions with footwear and grants you safe passage (in elementary school this is called "line cutting").
Ten minutes later, you spot a gal three people ahead in line whose outfit you know would look smashing on you (you're about the same size). The tapping begins, and of course the gal behind her understands cool clothes... well maybe not (you think as you look at her haphazard Garanimals gone wild outfit) but it's definitely cool of her to concede to your whims.
The Jager girl has been by three times since you started standing in the bathroom que and you have accepted two of the three shots she's offered. You begin to get a slight bit dizzy, but simply lean back against the wall and wait your turn. You look up and see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel...well at least you can see the light in the ladies room as the door is held open..at this point, THAT light will do just fine.
The "Garanimals" girl and her friend help you up and get you to the bathroom, moments before the last shot of Jagermeister is leading your Taco Bell to the porcelain throne. You make it but just barely before catching the shoes of the girl in the "smashing outfit." You now have a pretty good idea of why the bathrooms are painted black.
Nearly forty minutes later you make it back to the table and realize that you've missed most of your friends band, and the Meat Puppets are finishing their first song and announcing, their next gig on this very stage with
Nirvana
The Mason Jar, or as many called it..the Jar, which did eventually change it's name to just that, was not well known for it's great stage, great sound, or fabulous ambiance. Naw, it was just "the place to be."A great hang out for musicians and friends.
You agree to let your friends drive you home and promise you'll be back again when they are opening next month for another of Phoenix's favorite sons, Linkin Park (well the Chet Bennington part of Linkin Park anyway).
Epilogue: The Mason Jar survived the 1980's and 1990's and was renamed the Jar in 2000. Think of any Rock, Hip Hop, Punk, Alternative or Funk band that came through Phoenix to get to L.A. and they may have played the Jar.
In 2006 The Rock and Roll Icon known as the Jar was laid to rest..but will never be forgotten by those who were a part of it.
The former Mason Jar or the Jar, recently reopened in 2015 as the Rebel Lounge. It is with great hope that the once iconic stage will abound again with great local, unknown and well known talents. At least that's my hope :)
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