On a given night, John Henry’s can be dark, cavernous and loud. If this doesn’t sound appealing, don’t worry; much like the variants of alcohol the bar serves, there will always be a different flavor.
John Henry’s opened the doors to its new location at 77 W. Broadway on Dec. 5. Construction on the building — which was originally an art gallery in the 1970s, and was most recently occupied by Greater Goods — began May 3 and ended the day of its opening.
Greater Goods vacated the space two years ago, and the building was dormant until December. The electricity has been rewired and new plumbing has been installed. Velvet Thunder created the sound system to fit the room.
One notable design element of the bar is its stadium-tiered seating, which, on its higher levels, allows customers to see the entire expanse of the oblong building.
John Henry’s has a history deep-rooted in punk rock and do-it-yourself culture. It was opened in 1992, at 136 E. 11th Ave. A few of the original performers were The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and Billy Jack. The venue remained at that location for 10 years. However, the original building, owned by St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County, was in a state of disrepair that made a move necessary.
Despite John Henry’s punk roots, the bar is designed as multipurpose facility and focuses on music of all varieties, primarily local performers.
Michael Lobb and Carly Teller kick back and enjoy refreshments at John Henry’s.
“We’re keeping it fresh — there’s always something different going on,” owner Keith Martin said. Martin co-owns the bar with three others, including his brother Mark Martin.
“We don’t cater to any one group of people,” he said.
The venue runs a bevy of weekly events. On the first and third Monday of each month, John Henry’s hosts deejay variety nights. Tuesdays typically feature rock ‘n’ roll records. The Martins encourage customers to bring their own vinyl albums to spin. On Wednesdays, the bar presents a “Dance Hall Reggae.”Then, of course, there’s the popular 80’s night every Thursday. Touring performers entertain on Friday and Saturday nights.
“People come here to see whatever freak show we put on stage,” Mark Martin said.
On Sundays, the bar usually plays host to a night of new bands, with three or four local bands booked on one ticket. Sets for each band typically last 40 to 45 minutes. The requirements for bands looking to play are that the performers be older than 21 and provide a press kit or demo.
While the bar occasionally hosts more expensive shows, performances typically cost $2 to $5. The Martins said the establishment is in its nascent stage, a springboard for the larger things to come. Planned additions to the building include murals from local artists, sound-absorbent wall materials, video poker and a checkerboard dance floor. Earlier shows and open mics are also in the works — an effort to appeal to a wider audience.
The brothers remained elusive about the etymology of the business name.
“John Henry was a working class guy, and this has always been a working class bar,” Mark Martin said.
Both brothers maintained that it’s best to “just ask around” for more specific details.
John Henry’s is open from 5 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. seven days a week.
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