The All Shook Down blog over at SF Weekly has an article today about the Best Jukebox in the Tenderloin and their ‘winner’ turns out to be the one at the Hemlock Tavern. Their two runner-ups are the Geary Club at 768 Geary, which is described as “precisely what an outsider might imagine of a typical Tenderloin bar. It’s dim, smoky, and a tad ominous” and 21 Club at the corner of Turk and Taylor, described as “the diviest of dives” respectively. They are both quintessential Tenderloin bars (although for some reason the author of the article thinks the 21 Club borders Civic Center, wtf?), unpretentious, old-fashioned and with a clientele full of rough edges and zero vintage irony. That’s why we’re not surprised that their top pick was the Hemlock Tavern, not only because it’s free but because as they put it “compliments the usual Hemlock Tavern crowd: young, hipsterish, party-inclined”.
Jonathan Hirsch of The Tenderloin Reading Series, who is a fan of the Geary Club’s jukebox (pictured here) tells us that the jukebox at Hemlock is not at all handpicked, “you can buy one of those things out of a skymall catalogue” and that the editors at SF Weekly probably love Hemlock because it’s the kind of place they would want the Tenderloin to be, not what it actually is. Jonathan adds that if the Kum Bak Club still existed he would also add their jukebox to the list of his favorites. Unfortunately, some of the better jukeboxes in the area have gone digital (Whiskey Thieves, Edinburgh Castle), so it’s hard to find any original jukes remaining.
As a side note, thanks to the article we learned that the very first jukebox ever was installed in San Francisco 121 years ago, at the Palais Royale Saloon. Of course, it became an overnight sensation and spread around the world, although back then it was called the “nickel-in-the-slot player”. It was only around the 1940s that it came to be known as the jukebox, apparently derived from the familiar usage “juke joint”, a slang reference to bawdy house, where music was not unknown. Very similar to how I just refer to my bathroom as “neighbor’s pot den” nowadays.
6 Comments until now
Hemlock? I only go there when I want to visit the Mission and don’t have bus fare.
Another great jukebox now long-gone was The Owl Tree’s, back when the old man ran the place.
I should probably actually visit the jukebox before I comment on it next time. Still I think the Geary Club is tops!
A few notes:
1) It’s an ongoing column meant to examine the precious few traditional jukeboxes left in the city. So there really isn’t meant to be a “winner” here, especially not by neighborhood, as this installment simply looks at the Tenderloin’s offerings (as yes, some places may border the specific lines of the neighborhood at hand, but I don’t always have a lot to work with)
2) I tried to stop by many of the other bars in the neighborhood, places I recalled having traditional jukeboxes at some point or another, however they had all been removed or changed to a digital box.
3) I grade (admittedly, subjectively) on diversity of the records and mood-setting capabilities. Also, I take note of whether the music choices reflect the general patronage (or vice versa).
4) Suggestions of other important jukeboxes around the city are greatly appreciated (except for those in Haight/Mission/Castro, as they have already been written up in this column)
I don’t understand the point of this blog post other than to spread negativity. As the writer of the article points out, and even as the blogger points out, there are so few remaining traditional jukeboxes. Hence the column title: Juke Hunt. Seems especially fitting here.
Hemlock’s juke is a little obscure for me. R Bar’s juke is a traditional one and has a great mix of new stuff and classics. Where else can you find Eagles of Death Metal and Marvin Gaye in the same juke? Ed will even throw in free credits for you on Saturday afternoons.
lol I was going to say that Hemlock is Mission Outpost North. I only go there when I’m meeting Mission friends who think they are “hanging out in the ‘Loin” that night. Geary Club defeats Hemlock any day. Lillian the cougar bartender at Geary Club gives me every 3rd drink for free. Even rounds 1 and 2 are cheap.
Hemlock is just a mess of plaid.