dead night in the dena
sorry but old towne pub in pasadena is the best bar in the LA area
Okay it’s been decided: Old Towne Pub in Pasadena, a place that hosts Grateful Dead cover bands, is the best bar in LA. I went back there recently to check out the nascent LA Dead Night, which had its first show since Covid. Los Angeles has never really been a hotspot for Dead heads, but over the past few years a regional Dead scene has come to the surface, and Old Towne Pub is the staging area for this extremely chill meeting of the minds. Like someone said, the Dead are uncool again. It’s a tiny place in the old town section, but inside exist whole little worlds. It’s where a Pasadena dad with a tucked in tie dye whom his wife unleashed for a few hours on a Friday night mingles with fashion hype beasts, locals, acid casualties, and followers of Time Crisis. It’s where Ezra Koenig rediscovered playing guitar while watching Richard Pictures. It’s like any other utterly normal bar. Sometimes you show up for the music. Sometimes you just show up to drink.
The first time I went there, pre-pandemic, I couldn’t even find it. I spent 15 minutes walking around in circles bumping into people on my phone. Google Maps will not help you. Eventually, I found a brick building contained inside a courtyard. There is a sign, but it’s so unassuming it might as well be taken down.
The place is out of time and doesn’t feel like modern Pasadena. It’s not one of those trendy, minimalist spots that have taken over every city in the world, or a chain, or even really a bar. I think they only serve beer. I don’t think they even have a full liquor license. Basically it’s a place to put on shows, stuff like Tiki surf rock night that busy parents who are looking to unwind would love. Then, once every few months, a guy who I call by his Instagram handle, bluesforsallah, infiltrates the area by hosting LA Dead Night.
Looking more like your cooked uncle’s garage, the pub is outfitted with flickering Budweiser signs, and lots of flags and license plates. It fits maybe 75 people. In the corner is a tiny stage next to a courtyard. Outside, we climbed a fire escape leading up to the roof, and returned kings. People started asking us questions and we made friends. The cool thing is you can hang outside the whole time and still hear the music very well. And they let you smoke. Lightning Dan and the Crawdads absolutely crushed it. Of course, there is a mini Shakedown Street. Usually people selling knick knacks and t-shirts. My friends bought tie dye underwear. I bought a Richard Pictures concert tee. They’re a Dead cover band, and the back lists just five tour dates spread out over six months. One is a speedway in Ventura, and two are at the Old Towne Pub. I crack up every time I look at it.
At Dead shows it’s always a little weird to see how homogenous the crowd is. It’s like observing a white cult of privilege. I mean, this is Pasadena, after all. But the crowds for Dead Night have been surprisingly diverse in gender, race, age, identity etc. I love depressing bars where no one talks to each other as much as the next hater, but Dead Night is filled with an overwhelming sense of optimism. Strangers actually talk to each other. People remember you. What you do for work is never the first topic of conversation. Some just come to dance and are impossible to engage with. Your boss who is usually an asshole has come here to unwind, and he’s sorry for everything. A taper hangs out alone, but it’s enough. There are no pretenses.
See ya out there.
