PRINTPut up your jukes
Vox's quest for tunes worth a dime
Michael Stonacek
The TouchTunes jukebox in Eastside Tavern has a touch-screen interface, search capability and games. Although it excels in technology, it lacks in originality. These digital jukeboxes can be found at Quinton’s, Willie’s and Southside Pizza.
February 21, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Not everybody can be as gifted as Arthur Fonzarelli. Hearing great songs requires a little more effort than a fist pound on a jukebox and an “Aaay!” Vox searched high and low trying to make the quest to find the perfect jukebox a little easier — no Fonzie fist-pounds required.
Pizza Hut
Jason Hyer looks for a song in the jukebox at McGinty’s Pub. After careful thought, ...
Jason Hyer looks for a song in the jukebox at McGinty’s Pub. After careful thought, ...
2000 W. Worley St.
Juke-Tech: A CD-flipping machine with yellowing track lists
How much: Three songs for $1; seven songs for $2; 18 songs for $5
Jukebox Jokes: An infestation of dubious country, such as Faith Hill and her man, Tim McGraw.
Jukebox Gems: This jukebox has not one, but two of The Doors’ Greatest Hits albums and Pearl Jam’s self-titled CD.
If you left home without your cowboy boots, beware. We saw a jukebox but heard a soundtrack of depressing Lonestar and Alan Jackson ballads. But if cheap tunes are your cup of marinara, you can play 18 songs for about as much as an order of cheesy breadsticks.
Eastside Tavern
1016 E. Broadway
Juke-Tech: A digital jukebox with Internet capability
How Much: Two songs for $1; 12 songs for $5
Jukebox Jokes: Jukebox déjà vu — you can find these tech-savvy machines at plenty of other Columbia bars.
Jukebox Gems: An almost endless collection — if they don’t have what you want, download it.
When you have the urge to hear some long-lost favorites, you want to be standing next to the jukebox at Eastside Tavern. “It’s nice if you want random songs, like Lionel Richie or Boston,” says Eastside bartender Big Pants. However, the modern juke hasn’t been accepted with open arms by just everyone. “There has been a lot of complaining about this new one,” says Big Pants. “With our old one, we had more control. The owners and bartenders brought in their own CDs, and we just played those.”
Waffle House
2701 S. Providence Road
Juke-Tech: A hybrid jukebox with both CDs and old-school 45s
How much: One song for 25 cents; two songs for 50 cents; six songs for $1; 30 songs for $5
Jukebox Jokes: ”She’s Like the Wind” by Patrick Swayze. It’s a wonder his music career stopped with Dirty Dancing.
Jukebox Gems: An entire row of songs that hail some reference to Waffle House and breakfast food.
This isn’t just any jukebox — it’s also a singing cheerleader for the Waffle House franchise. Songs such as “Waffle Doo Wop” by Eddie Middleton, “There Are Raisins in My Toast” by Danny Jones and “Waffle House Family” by Mary Welch Rogers (who happens to be the wife of Waffle House co-founder Joe Rogers) can be found on jukeboxes at the 1,600 Waffle House franchises. In fact, Waffle House employs someone specifically to scour the country for original 45s.
McGinty’s Pub
1312 Old 63 S.
Juke-Tech: A CD-spinning jukebox that your parents could easily navigate
How much: Two songs for $1; five songs for $2; 15 songs for $5
Jukebox Jokes: If you’re looking to hear classic country, rock and blues, frankly, there’s not much to complain about.
Jukebox Gems: Brad’s Rock, an obviously homemade compilation featuring The Animals, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Chubby Checker and Sam Cooke.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name … and the numbers to your favorite tunes. This describes how McGinty’s regulars feel about their jukebox. “They have the numbers of the songs memorized,” bartender Jill McGinty explains. Among the familiar — Bob, Jimi, Willie, Neil, EmmyLou — lie some rare finds. “Bruce Springstein’s ‘Viva Las Vegas’ is impossible to find anywhere else,” says John Weston, a pub regular.
