The Rusty Nail- Ardmore, PA

Head out to the western suburbs of Philadelphia and in the town of Ardmore you will a little place that situated around car repair shops and with SEPTA's high speed line zipping along behind it. This is the Rusty Nail.

Music
From a musical standpoint, unless you are a fan of amateur metal, it may be a stretch for your musical brain strings. Don't let that stop you, though, as you never know if you have that inner metalhead just waiting to come out. 
Thursday through Sunday are your main nights for music. Every Thursday is open mic, bands every Friday and Saturday, and Sunday being more of a mix. Sunday varies between different types of open mics, such as blues open mic (contrary to what was said above about the music being metal, genres can vary). Every few weeks, Sunday will also feature the Live at The Nail radio show, recorded live at the Rusty Nail.  

The Venue
Its not the most encouraging looking place from the outside, but its a good size for its intended purpose. The Nail is split into two sides: the bar and pool/stage. You can easily pull up to the bar (beer selection isn't to bad) and still have a good be able to feel part of the music. On the right side is the pool table and up toward the front is where the bands set up. Nothing fancy, but it works.

Details
Location- 2850 Haverford Rd, Ardmore, PA 19003
Phone- (610) 649- NAIL (6245)
Website- www.thenail1.com

Sources

1. The Rusty Nail website. Accessed 8/8/2014.

Mock Crest Tavern- Portland, OR

Mock Crest Tavern in North Portland describes themselves as a place friends come to meet, which they are proud to have been doing to for over 66 years. There are many good reasons to make a visit to Mock Crest Tavern, for both the local and out-of-towner, and music is certainly one of them.

Music
There is never a cover for music at Mock Crest, so leave those concerns behind here. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights are your main music slots, with Tuesday nights making an appearance here and there. Check the calender on their website for official times and bands. Mock Crest has an assortment of regular bands that perform, also listed on their website.

The Venue
Mock Crest is not large by any stretch of the mind. Right when you walk in the bar is on one wall, tables line the other, with just enough room to wiggle through. The band is always set up along the left wall about midway between the front and the back of the place. There's no stage or official location; that's just the best place I assume. If you find you need some space from the packed quarters, head out the back door to the deck.

Details
Location- 3435 N. Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217
Phone- (503) 283-5014
Website- www.mockcrest.com

Sources
1) Mock Crest Tavern website

LaurelThirst Public House- Portland, OR

Opened in 1988 in the Portland’s Kearns neighborhood, Laurelthirst Public House has strived to bring together what they see as the best in local music in a relaxed atmosphere. Based on how packed this place can be any night of the week, people seem to think they’re living up to that goal.

Music

Anytime they have happy hour music at 6pm, it is always free. Later shows (usually 9pm or 9:30pm) are usually between free and a $5 cover. They have music every night of the week, which can feature both regulars (for example, at 9pm every Monday you can check out the gypsy jazz swing of the band Kung Pao Chickens), local bands, and small touring acts.

The Venue

They label themselves at a public house and you should expect nothing less. Except for a small stage in the back, no attempt is made to make this anymore then a bar with music. Booths and tables in addition to spots at the bar are available for those who wish to sit. For dancing action, people often squeeze into the small space in front of the stage.

Details

Location- 2958 NE Glisan, Portland, OR

Phone- (503) 232-1504

Website- www.laurelthirst.com

Sources

1) Laurelthurst.com home page, music schedule. Accessed 8/11/2014.

Goodfoot Lounge- Portland, OR

The Goodfoot Pub and Lounge in Southeast Portland is an art covered, music emanating hub. All types of music can be found here, although the dedication and love of funk is evident here from the start as it is widely assumed the name a reference to the James Brown song "Get on the Good Foot". (2)

Music

Music will be issuing forth from Goodfoot most nights of the week, with cover ranging from free to around $10. Expect open mic night each Monday with bands every other night of the week (except Sunday). Expect all types of genres to come through, but as indicated, funk will be one of the main features.

The Venue

The Goodfoot is separated into an upstairs and downstairs, both of which can only be reached via outside.

Upstairs is large bar with pool, pinball, and other games. The music is all downstairs, but this is a convenient spot to hang out before and/or after a show.

Downstairs is where the music making happens. The roof is low, there are no windows, and while it is a fair sized space, it can feel cramped. Basically its a basement. Its decked out with some artful flairs and ultimately is fun and unique place to catch a show.  

Bench outside

Details

Location- 2845 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97214

Phone- (503) 239-9292

Website- www.thegoodfoot.com

Sources

1) TheGoodfoot.com- The Goodfoot Pub and Lounge website

2) Distilled Publishing, "Shots of Portland: The Freemason Lodge that Serves Liquor and Culture"

Biddy McGraws- Portland, OR

This is an Irish bar on 60th Street in Portland's Northeast section of the city. They take their music seriously and while Irish music does not show up much these days, its still serves well as a place to catch some music and have a drink.

Music

The music at Biddy's varies, but the most frequent genres making a showing are bluegrass and roots. Irish sessions used to be a feature here on Sundays (2), but as of this point they seem to have been discontinued and their schedule gives no hit of Irish music in the future.

There is rarely a cover for music at this bar and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights are your usual night for music. Sunday afternoons are feature a bluegrass slow jam. (1)

The Venue

Biddy’s sticks to the traditional American Irish pub style- wood all around, Guinness posters, maps of Ireland, and Irish sayings all around. There is a spot for the band up near the entrance by the front window with all the tables and seats stretching out toward the back of the pub.

Details

Location- 6000 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97213

Phone- (503) 233-1178   

Website- www.biddymcgraws.com

Sources

1) Biddy Mcgraw's website. Accessed 8/7/2014.

2) The Sessions website. Accessed 8/7/2014.

The Stanhope House- Stanhope, NJ

In the northern reaches of New Jersey, in the small town of Stanhope, you will find the historic, storied, and maybe haunted Stanhope House. Billing itself as "The Last Great American Road House" it is a place out of another time.

Music
The history of music at the Stanhope House is in blues-rock, although you will find bands of various genres performing on the stage. Every Tuesday is a free blues jam and open mic night with other free open mic nights being held throughout the week in the Lounge room. The main stage has music most nights of the week except Monday. Cover can range from nada to $20, although unless its a more popular touring band $10 or less seems to be the norm.

The Venue
As may have been surmised from the earlier comments, there's history here. The building was constructed in 1794 has served many functions over the years including private home, stagecoach stop, general store, post office, tavern, room house, hotel, and maybe a brothel in there. Its career as a music venue started in the 1970s and since then has featured many performers out of the blues-rock history ranging from Paul Butterfield  to the Fabulous Thunderbirds to John Lee Hooker. I think this quote from the Stanhope House's website says it best:

"Imagine, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn scrubbing dishes in the kitchen after a late night, jam packed gig. Picture Muddy Waters' deep, grainy voice trading chicken recipes with former club Matron, Mama Wrobleski or the original Hoochie Coochie Man, Willie Dixon stopping by for Thanksgiving dinner. All of it happened at The Stanhope House, one of the last great blues bastions left in America" (1)

With all this history, the expected ghost stories also have cropped to the surface. Fully documented in L'Aura Hladik's book Ghosting New Jersey, there are all different ghosts that have been spotted including shadows walking by the bar to the lead singer of a band seeing the replay of a ghostly murder while performing. (2)

Details
Location- 45 Main St, Stanhope, NJ 07874
Phone- (973) 347-7777
Website- www.stanhopehousenj.com

Sources
1) Stanhope House website history section. Accessed 4/12/2014. 
2) Hladik, L'Aura, Ghosting New Jersey

White Eagle Saloon- Portland, OR

The White Eagle Saloon and Hotel is a part of the McMenamins chain of pubs, breweries, hotels, and entertainment venues that blanket much of the Pacific Northwest. One of their largest contributions is often considered how they re-purpose historic buildings, which is the case hear with the White Eagle. This saloon and hotel is located in Portland North industrial area and has operated as a pub of sorts since it opened its doors in 1905. Acquired by McMenamins in 1998, music flows from its doors all week.

Music
Bands perform in the saloon all week long with the usual genres revolving around rock, blues, and folk. While schedules can vary you can in most cases expect the standard music chedule to look as thus:
Sunday- 7 p.m. free
Monday- 8 p.m. free
Tuesday- 8:30 p.m. free
Wednesday- 8:30 p.m. free
Thursday- 8:30 p.m. free to $10 cover
Friday- 9:30 p.m. $5 to $10 cover
Saturday- 9:30 p.m. $5 to $10 cover
In addition, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday there will often be a free early show called "Eagle Time" which is intended to provide a nice way for people to decompress after the worday.

The Venue
Today, McMenamins has the bottom floor of the building for the saloon and the top floor for the music. The bar is on your left as you walk in, with tables following and the small stage area in the back corner. Various decorations and art cover the walls. There is also a nice outside area for those looking for a breath of fresh air during the show. Between its small size and tables, when its popular show it can become rather crowded, but otherwise it is a laid back atmosphere. Not always so...
In 1905, the first saloon opened at the location as B. Soboleski & Company Saloon. The current structure was completed in 1914. Business was good, with most of the regulars being workers from the railroad, foundries, and dry-dock. The passage of the Oregon Prohibition law in 1917 brought a change of name to the Hryszko Brothers Soft Drinks Emporium. Before and during prohibition, the saloon was speculated to house various vice activities including gambling and a brothel upstairs. After a few more name changes, it was named the White Eagle Café and Saloon in 1949, supposedly because of the white eagle on the early Polish Flag. In the 1960s it was considered a "biker bar" and a rowdy place for live music. The rowdy reputation was cleaned up after its purchase in 1978 and in 1997 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The long and storied history have saloon have lead to various ghost "sightings" and stories, such as to add another colorful aspect to the location.
So enjoy some live music, fine beers, an historic building, and maybe paranormal activities.

Details
Location- 836 N Russell St, Portland, OR 97227 
Phone- (503) 282-6810
Website- hwww.mcmenamins.com/469-white-eagle-saloon-home

Sources
1) McMenamins.com- White Eagle Home, Saloon, History
2) Roos, Roy- Eliot Neighborhood.org, "The White Eagle Saloon: A Building Full of Colorful History and Stories"
3) Haunted Houses.com, "White Eagle Pub and Hotel"