Testing the Jukebox. Requests?

In a bar, good jukeboxes and hockey on the TV screen go together like Jack and a clean glass. When served in equally large amounts, you've got the room ready for action.

Back in the '80s, my friend Curt and I would drive across the frozen buggy trails of northern Indiana to watch the Blackhawks at Nick's Sports Page in Dolton, Ill. SportsChannel, with Pat Foley's voice cutting through the crowd noise with his call of "BANNNNN-ERRRRR-MAAAN!' to signal a big save, provided the game action and the jukebox gave people a beat to follow as they fought for position around the bar or to clear a path to the restrooms.

Here at Vic's Stereo Lounge, we need to start stocking the jukebox with favorites, of which I have many.



This song by Ann Peebles floats on the haze of a smoky room and makes you tap your toes, even when you can't feel them anymore. It's "I Can't Stand the Rain" with that Memphis sound from Stax Records, and we hope the lounge patrons will pick a few more just like it.



A reminder from Tom Cochrane and Red Rider to enjoy our time here. I've had all too many reminders recently as to how quickly the game plan can go south with a few unfortunate turns. Life comes at you hard and fast ... and then it's gone. So enjoy it with a passion, please.



This song is "Sleeping Sickness" from Colour and City. The CBC used it to capture and the pleasure and pain that was and always is playoff hockey. Listen closely and you can hear them talking about the holes in our game plan that pull us up from the pillow by our ears.

The images? Well, we always like the journey we take en route to the Cup being awarded, whether it's our team flashing the silver or, more likely, the other squad.



We here at the lounge remember the time before cable, when the TV stations actually went dark around closing time. But they always gave you the national anthem before going to the Indian head color test pattern.

For my money, young Nikki Yanofsky delivers the goods on both the "Star Spangled Banner" and "O Canada." And can you imagine what the lounge will sound like after they hear this and see that the next round and some wings are headed to the table?

Bring on the treats and drop the puck.

What do you want to play on the jukebox?

Ed's request is right here.

Yes, We're Open. Grab a Seat.

In a decade that now sits beyond the reach of my rear view mirror, there was a bar in San Francisco that advertised it was ready to serve drinks as soon as the first ball was served at Wimbledon.

The stench of urine was beginning to build along the blocks South of Market Street in the early morning light. There, a well dressed gentleman, a well-greased man of the streets and a young journalist fresh off the overnight shift could bend an elbow and discuss the news of the day and the sports being contested on the screen.

That was the life, and it is, we hope, the type of spirits we will serve here in the lounge. Getting here late is never a problem. We choose not to close, except for family matters, because our love for the selected sports/music/food on the menu never diminishes.

Besides, our dog, Pablo the hockey pug, likes guests. Just don't make him run you out. He's little and he's old, but the hockey pug still delivers a mean ankle check.

Thanks for dropping in.