Struttin' Cocks at the Spitfire Saloon

I must say I have not been to the Spitfire in some time.  After a lack of interest from my friends to go just hang out and chill at the Lincoln Park Pub I decided to get out of there and go see one of my Cleveland favorites The Struttin' Cocks there.  We started out at the Lincoln Park at around 8:30 and it was pretty dead.  It's honestly a nice Tremont tavern.  People tend to dive deeper into the belly of the Tremont beast on the weekends leaving the LPP as more of an afterthought.  They have great food, an excellent beer selection and the food has been great every time I have been there.  The service is always great too and I always love when Jen is behind the bar.  She wasn't last night but it was still good service.  

The layout of the bar is basically two rooms, the bar area, and a dining area with a fireplace which is a quaint touch.  The wood gives it a rustic tavern feel and it is very nondescript which gives it a more casual feel than some of the more trendy bars in the area.  They have a huge patio for the spring and summer months which also is kind of nondescript.  However while it kind of lacks character it doesn't lack charm.  I think they could really do some minor cosmetic upgrades to the place to make it look a little better.  The lighting is a little to dim in the bar area for me and that has a lot to do with the dark wood and paint choice.  This place is jammed packed on Tuesday Taco night where they have specials on Mexican beers and well tacos (duhhhh).  The tacos are pretty damn good as is everything on the menu.  I really enjoy hanging out here for a quiet night out especially in the spring and summer months to play some pool and just hang out on the spacious patio.  I'd really like to see more live entertainment here.  I think it is the perfect place for it, but maybe due to regulations in the area they can't do it or something.  A nice acoustic solo artist, maybe an Irish band or something would be pretty cool on the patio in the summer or even over by the fireplace in the colder Cleveland months.

After sitting and waiting like a nerd on prom night for a couple hours with no one showing up to join us we decided to go up to the Spitfire to go check out the Struttin' Cocks.  A private party was just starting to fill in the LPP too so it was the perfect time to make an exit.  The Spitfire Saloon is located right on West 117th and Franklin.  They have a very small parking lot and the street parking is always difficult.  I can't fault them for that but unfortunately it sucks at times to find a spot.  The bar itself is a dive.  It's a punk rock bar and shows all the wear of a punk rock bar.  It's walls are painted black the bathrooms are adorned with graffiti and bumper stickers.  The walls have old records on them hung as art, and band stickers are plastered on many of the walls.  Local artists also use the wall space to hang up their craft which is usually pretty amazing.  Sean Burns art was hanging tonight and Burns, for the record is one of Cleveland's finest around.  

The bar itself is huge. Not the space, the actual bar.  Its giant U-shape takes up the majority of the entire bar.  I personally hate the U-Shape bar.  I find the monstrosity of them to be annoying and a waste of space.  However this beast of a bar predates the Spitfire so it's what they had to work with.  Had they had a bunch of cash to put into this place I am pretty sure they might have went a different direction because the space is on the small side.  They have some booths for seating on the left side of the bar as well as stools that go all the way around the giant U.  They have a free jukebox filled with punk rock classics built into the wall which is pretty cool, and a small DJ area where the great Larry Szyms and other locals spin their craft.  

The vibe, and the decor as well as the clientele is punk rock but honestly everyone is friendly as can be.  You'll see guys in GG Allin shirts, and girls in roller-girl attire as well as just regular folks like myself, but mainly punk is the thing here.  The bar staff is pretty quick and very friendly.  The bartender last night I would seriously put next to a Suicide Girl any day of the week.  Such a great change of pace from seeing the rah-rah cheerleader types of other bars.  Cute girls behind the bar is always good for business, but cute girl with tats that is friendly and quick is a giant bonus.  Her male counterpart was just as good too slinging the booze.  They have a huge selection of beers from the downright shitty to some great high end micros.  Two giant flat screens show whatever they feel like from the ball game to Jackass on both sides of the bar.  The stage area is tucked away in the corner and is now fenced in which I wasn't a fan of at all.  I just don't get the fenced in part.  Is it for safety or what is the point of it?  I just don't like the look of it.  If it has to be there for whatever reason my bad but I think it's ridiculous.  Due to the big U-bar you can only watch the bands right in front of the stage which can get a little rough.  To say the sound is loud is an understatement.  It is ear piercing, can't hold a conversation loud, but it's Cleveland's own little CBGB's so it is kind of expected.

Rustbelt Homewreckers took the stage first at around 11pm, and played about 45 minutes.  I think the sound was a nice blend of old school punk and country without being too cowpunk.  Maybe think Mojo Nixon hopped up on amphetamines.  This 4-some from PA had a great sound that really got the crowd at the bar ready for the headlining Struttin' Cocks.  The lead singer role switched multiple times between the band which kept it interesting.  Aaron the drummer had the Oi thing going with the shaved head and belting out vocals on the more punk tracks.  The dude looks like an ass kicker, but honestly seemed like a stand up guy after talking when they were done playing.  The bass was assaulted with lightning fingers by a cat named Josh, and Mike handled the rhythm details like a champ.  Front and center was Mick who looked like fucking Grizzly Adams slinging the guitar and singing like a man possessed.  

After a short break the Struttin' Cocks took the stage.  These are local guys who pretty much sneeze out punk rock anthems.  Every song is 3 minute boozed fueled sing a long from "I'm Going to Jail" to "Get Outta Cleveland".  People were climbing the cage, and an open mic was used as a backup mic for the local fans who mostly are in punk or garage bands themselves.  On the first note everyone in the bar went front and center to not only listen to but become a part of the show.  Beer spills, accidental and planned, were enough to soak multiple people including the band.  The band themselves go by stage names, which as I have said before I don't particularly care for.  These guys are really great and don't need to hide behind pseudonyms they are that good.  I totally get it but that doesn't mean I need to like it.  The set was very tight but maybe about 45 minutes.  However they pack more energy in 5 minutes of their set than most bands around the Cleveland area.  It blows my mind these guys aren't on the Warped Tour or at the very least opening across the country for a bigger national act.  Their songs and music are infectious.  They should be on a label and selling a bunch of records.  They are a must see if you are in Cleveland and can be found at multiple venues in the area any given weekend.  

After the set was over and the extent of the hearing damage could be diagnosed we decided to head down the street to a place called Bottoms Up.  Bottoms Up used to be this total blue collar NASCAR place so I thought it be a nice way to end the night on a quiet note.  Well...it changed a bit since I was last there a few years back.  Bottom's Up, which the name alone should have clued me in, is a gay bar.  Gay Bar as in a cage behind the bar with a dude dressed only in a tiny blue thong banana hammock gay bar.  I am the most non-homophobic person in the world but the shirtless bartenders and overall vibe of the place was pretty much beyond a 360 from where we just came.  After a cocktail and a cherry bomb served to us by aforementioned cage dancer, who by the way could have balanced the tray on his erection, we were all set to go back to the Spitfire to end it on a less surreal note and that we did.  

So 3 bars and 2 bands in one night running the gambit from a quiet Tremont tavern, to a loud punk rock bar to a surreal experience at a local gay bar ain't too bad for a nights work.  It just goes to say Cleveland has a little something for everyone on any given night.  Cleveland is a diverse community that seems to be tolerant and accepting of everyone.  I had a great time the majority of the night and I think all of these places are worth checking out depending what mood you are in.  You can go for a low key night at the Lincoln Park Pub, a loud wild night of punk rock at the Spitfire, or get your groove on to the dance music of Bottom's Up and see cage dancers in blue thongs.  It just goes to show Cleveland is a melting pot of different styles and cultures but no matter where you go you are bound to find a good time.