While the walls covered in colorful street art are one of the most notable characteristics of John”s Alley, the local bar has more than just one form of art to offer.
The bar doubles as a venue for regional artists, and showcases multiple bands a week and has earned the name “Moscow”s home of live music.”
T.J. Armstrong, the bar back at John”s Alley, more commonly known by locals as “The Alley,” said that when it comes to performers, no two nights are the same – Sept. 17, for example, featured the swinging vocals and fiddling of local band The Working Poor.
Molly Spencer | Argonaut
Skerik Bandalabra, a well-known band out of Seattle, plays a jazz show at John”s Alley on Friday, Sept. 18.
“We had a good ol” down home country band,” Armstrong said.
Then on some nights the Alley will host a jazz band like Skerik”s Bandalabra.
“It”s never a bad time,” Armstrong said. “You have to try really hard to have a bad time.”
Armstrong said his position at the Alley is a jack-of-all-trades.
As a bar back, Armstrong said his job is to watch the door, bus the bar and make sure the bartenders have everything they need.
“I basically take care of the bartenders,” he said.
Cody Wood, who is also a bar back, started working at the Alley in May.
Wood said his favorite part about his job is his group of co-workers.
“Everyone”s just crazy awesome – there”s only like 12 of us here,” Wood said. “We”re a really close-knit group. We all like to have a really good time.”
In addition to the lively staff, Wood said the customers make the job an engaging experience.
“The people are my No. 1. No. 2 are the customers that come in,” Wood said. “We get a lot of people from the service industry here and I”ve met so many great people since I started working here.”
For his first bartending job, Wood said he was nervous starting out at the Alley, but that it didn”t take long for him to feel comfortable as a bar back.
Wood said his favorite memory at the Alley was seeing the country band, Micky and the Motorcars.
“I saw them when I wasn”t working here last April – the guys on stage are awesome,” Wood said.
Wood said the people, the live music and the atmosphere make John”s Alley a great bar and venue all around.
“This place just gets bumpin”, it”s crazy fun on both sides,” Wood said. “Every night”s a great night. You”re not going to have a bad night, even if it”s dead.”
Emma McAleer, who has been bartending at the Alley since June of 2013, said the genres of bands and how often there is a band at the Alley vary from week to week.
“Most of the time it”s a really good bet that we will have live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and hidden music gems will randomly come in on like a random week,” McAleer said. “One of my Alley favorites, Sol Seed, is playing the 30th of October and no one should miss them.”
McAleer said every band that plays at the Alley goes through a booking agent who helps keep the music schedule consistent. On the website, the entire schedule for the current month is posted and as the end of the month approaches, the new monthly schedule will be posted as bands are booked.
McAleer said her favorite part about working at the alley is the variety of different people she gets to meet.
“The Alley has the most eclectic and friendly customer base and it”s so much fun getting to know all the regulars and then the random people who are just strolling through town for even just a night,” she said. “I”ve had a great time getting to know a lot of the customers very well over the years and lucky enough to have a good amount turn into friends.”
McAleer, who is moving to Seattle in October, said she will miss her co-workers more than anything else.
One of the first things she was told as a new employee by her manager “we are a family here, and we take care of each other,” which she said couldn”t have been more true.
McAleer said the staff likes to have a good time behind the bar so their vibes will hopefully rub off on the customers to help them enjoy their nights just as much. She always does her best to make sure people are happy and having a wonderful time at the Alley while getting home safely as well.
“The Alley is the best bar in town,” she said.
Molly Spencer can be reached at [email protected]