Dave’s has all the music you’ve heard on the radio throughout your life packaged into a jukebox, but without the cheese factor you see in, say Mission jukes, where for some reason everything seems ironic. Maybe because most of the clientele on this particular night at Dave’s was the same age as the artists?
It’s cool that it’s brightly light and I felt like I was waiting for a tuna on rye. It’s total deli counter with its bright lights, round cluttered tables and TVs. But the TVs cannot be heard, the music is crisp and perfectly loud.
There’s chips and salsa in the corner, and hasn’t been obliterated yet! The atmosphere of this place reminds me of visiting bars on vacation and not knowing what crowd “owns it”. So you drink, chat, munch, and play some tunes. What an un-intimidating place! So I choose three un-intimidating songs: Gumboots (Paul Simon), Under My Thumb (Rolling Stones), Peace Love & Understanding (Elvis Costello).
Like I’ve said, there’s great selections that aren’t the “cheesy” hipster classic rock. Selections include Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Bob Marley, The Mamas & The Papas, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Bowie, The Police with recent alternative like Belle & Sebastian, The Killers, Beck, The Cure and then the regular soul like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations.
The music here reminds me of my pre-pubescent days of listening to
Adult Contemporary & Classic Rock stations, rollerskating in the garage on Saturday
mornings.
If the selections sound boring or parent-ish, I can imagine that from the likes of Rihanna, Madonna, and the 1/2 of Outcast who isn’t cool, that it gets wild in here later on when the young-uns or bridge & tunnelers escape from their parents hotel room after a day of eye-rolling and sight-seeing or bro-drinking in North Beach.
But I’m here on a cold, wet, rainy Tuesday at 7:30. I would love to come back on one of those hot San Francisco days when you’re really sticky and you think like the night will never end, so you venture out of your neighborhood to drink to further enhance the feeling like you’re on vacation.
This is a strange daydream for me, since I visited when it was pitch-black outside with 40 mile an hour winds and rains, I’ve worked overtime, I just inhaled a Stone IPA, so my night has basically ended. Maybe I just need a vacation. I’ll definitely be coming back when it’s warmer, so I can get drunk and belt out some Boss.
Where: Dave’s (29 3rd Street)
Good for: People who like listening to radio hits
Bad for: People who like wearing wayfarers
Cost: $1 3 plays, $2 7 plays, $5 18 plays
