Walking down Queen Anne Avenue, if you blink, you might miss the place — the O Lounge is a tiny blip of a bar. But wander by on just the right night and you may be pleasantly surprised at whom you'll find soloing on stage. In fact, maybe this blip of a bar is just what Seattle music fans are thirsty for.
Featuring big names in a little venue, the O Lounge in Queen Anne is an offshoot of Orrapin Thai Cuisine [0]. The little bar offers specialty cocktails, Thai cuisine and live music by notable musicians.
"This is no Showbox [0] or Tractor Tavern [0] — we are a totally different kind of music venue," says general manager, booker and bartender Joshua Westfall. "These are exclusive musical acts seen in a new light."
Island sights and sounds surround the O Lounge as Stephen Inglais plays Hawaiian tunes.
Located in an intimate lounge setting that can accommodate only about 50 people, it's not unusual to catch acoustic performances by members of Maktub and Das Rut. In fact, the bar is also in the process of trying to establish relationships with national acts so that in the future, these bands can plan to "swing by" while passing through town.
"For example, we're eventually striving to offer acts like the Dandy Warhols and Death Cab for Cutie. The idea is that they would stop by and play a quick set for the lucky 40 people who happen to be here on a given night," says Westfall. "So you'll want to stay tuned, for sure!"
The intimate O Lounge experience is most often the result of singers and songwriters from area bands who are willing to do stripped-down versions of their acts (and their members) in a very personal setting. For example, members of Maktub and Das Rut have gotten together at the O Lounge to play free-form funk and jazz (with some R&B influences) under the name Freeschool.
And Jeff Angell, lead singer of local band Post Stardom Depression, also frequents "the O." (Angell was recently asked to play with members of Guns N' Roses as a lead singer for their latest band, Velvet Revolver.) Other acts include Daylight Basement (featuring the ex-lead singer from Kuma, and drummer from Maktub), Braden Blake from Super Deluxe, and members of the up-and-coming band Vast Capital.
Bartender Erin Weden orders up tasty Thai cuisine. The O Lounge is an intimate bar serving up small plate Thai dishes and good music.
Before sitting down to see a sought-after act, consider sipping a house special such as the Mangotini (made with fresh muddled mango, shaken with vodka and triple sec with a float of Chambord) and the Refreshmint (made with muddled lime, vanilla vodka, triple sec and grapefruit). And if you're up for a bite, there are several Thai tastes to sample. Crowd favorites include the Lemongrass Chicken Salad appetizer, Tom Yum soup and entrees such as the Thai Snapper, which is cooked in red curry with bell peppers and baby bok choy.
All entrees are under $10, but if you're looking for a deal, happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and features $4 drinks and $4 appetizers. And the appetizer specials return again from 10 p.m. until midnight for late-night munchies.
So if you're thirsty for tasty Thai food and drinks, no cover charge and an almost private show by some of Seattle's notable performers, slip into this tiny blip of a bar, soon to be on the radar screen for those in tune with the music scene.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
