Barstool Stories: Lauren Ruth Ward at Harvard and Stone

Walking into Harvard and Stone is like stepping back into a 70’s rock documentary. It immediately felt like there was more to experience than an award-winning cocktail.  Dim lighting and eclectic decor fed a rebellious ambiance that swept over the room, almost coercing me into doing something spontaneous and slightly reckless. As many “chic” dive bars come and go in Los Angeles, this one just felt special; a “secret” spot that I could already tell would keep me coming back for more.

The warm welcome was due, in large part, to the bar’s manager Aaron Polsky. Aaron walked through the doors & immediately stepped behind the bar. Although he’s off the clock and no one’s really around, it just felt like his natural place. It’s no surprise either - Aaron has spent quite a while with Harvard and Stone. So much so, he tells me he used to live right across the street.

The bar is unlike most in Los Angeles with it’s homey feel yet intricate cocktails and design. The first thing you’ll notice, if not the burlesque dancers, is the small intimate stage pushed to the front corner. It’s often times host to some of LA’s favorites, like Lauren Ruth Ward.

Lauren walked in and her presence was felt immediately. This is her home too. Lauren, who moved to Los Angeles a few years ago, has had many iconic moments in music here at Harvard and Stone from a successful residency, to filming music videos, and even meeting her now guitarist and co-writer, Eduardo. It couldn’t have been a better location to reminisce about the birth of her career.


Lauren, what’s your significant first here? What brought you in the door?:

L: I lived right here on Harvard back in the day. And so did he *points to Aaron*

A: Right around the corner.

L: I was playing at another Houston Brothers establishment bar weekly, Dirty Laundry. Trying to build kind of an audience.  My partner, LP, had known about this place forever and said, “Why don’t you play at Harvard and Stone?”. It seemed like a natural next step, and I was very nervous but I said to myself, “Okay, I’m gonna play there”.

So Aaron you said this was just your 3rd year working here?:

A: Yeah, I moved to LA actually to open a different bar. I was sort of toiling in the basement of this other bar during the day and then getting off of work at like 6pm and would come here. Before I even lived nearby, I’d still come here all the time to drink.

What’s the significance of Harvard and Stone for you?:

A: For me it started off as a place I would come to relax at the end of my day and have fun - see all my friends working.

L: Always live music. Every night and for free.

A: Always live music. I was coming here often and made friends with everyone very quickly. They sort of became my family in LA. 6 months in, after covering a few shifts I started working here.

A: This bar has been an industry beacon in the cocktail world here in LA. It opened in 2011 and before that the leaders in the cocktail business were places like The Varnish, and The Edison. Harvard and Stone became the bar where everyone from out of town would go when they were visiting.

L: Bands traveling always stopped by. I’ve met so many bands I’d been wanting to see from Nashville, New York, everywhere. “Heck yeah! They’re playing a show at Harvard and Stone!” It’s awesome. This place is a checklist spot.

A: It’s awesome to see the bands and it’s so casual. There’s almost this built-in crowd.

A: In addition to the cocktail thing and the music thing, Harvard is a neighborhood bar. We have our regulars that live right now the street. If you’re not into music or cocktails but you are into $6 old fashions for happy hour…

L: or a Daytime Lagunitas in a can *laughs*

A: This is sort of a bar for everybody.


Can you give us a little history lesson from what you know, Aaron?

A: Well, before it was Harvard and Stone it was called Stone Bar. We actually kept the original sign. It was very much a trans hangout.

How has this bar affected the creative scene in LA?

L: So many things to say...There’s great music every night. You don’t always have to spend on a show but definitely want to see a live show. There’s a show here every night.

A: And on the weekends we also have Burlesque. Our house band plays deep rock and roll cuts.

A: Also from a cocktail point of view, It’s very much an industry bar and a meeting place for people in that cocktail/bar scene. We have this unique R & D bar in the back and every Monday it’s a guest bartender. They get to write their own menu and invite all their friends. It’s a fun place to show off your drinks or what you’re inspired by. The other nights our own bartenders get to do that. For us it’s creatively stimulating.

What are some of your favorite shows you’ve seen here?

A: Dead Sara, Lauren Ruth Ward!

A: New Years Eve. There are so many.

L: New Years Eve we had a Queen tribute night with everyone and confetti machine.

A: What band?

L: *Laughs* No, there was a confetti machine. That’s a good band name though.

A: Recently the Black Lips played under a different name

L: Bowie & Stones, so many shows.

What are some of your first here Lauren?

L: I quit my job, moved out here four years ago to pursue music. I came here (to Harvard and Stone) with my partner and her bassist Ryan, who’s a good friend. We saw this band, with the lead singer named Griffin. The band had just started a new project after a hiatus. I remember it perfectly, almost like the butterfly effect. I could feel my brain moving. I was just so inspired.

L: I also opened up for my partner LP here on September 21st 2015 and I love that song. “Do you remember? It was the 21st night of September” *singing Earth Wind and Fire*

L: I’ve played here 12 or 13 times. Loved the shows with just me and my guitarist Eduardo. We met at my EP release 3 years ago. He now plays and co-writes with me and we met right before a show here at Harvard and Stone.

L: I also had my 30th birthday here. We played Led Zeppelin for 4 hours and 20 minutes. 24 different bands and 30 different Zeppelin songs... and thank you guys so much for putting up with that. *laughs*

A: That was MEGA!

What are some of your favorite memories?

L: I got to play the 6th yr & 7th year anniversary show here.

A: You might get to play the 8th... are you around?

L: I am around.

L: The anniversary shows usually end up packed, with a line around the block.

L: Halloweens are so good here too!

A: This year was fun. I dressed up as Marilyn Manson.

L: It was really good.

A: Every Sunday is honky tonk night. We have some very memorable Sunday nights here.

L: One of my residency nights we covered basically an acapella version of Jeff Buckley’s rendition of Hallelujah and ... we got the bar completely quiet. For one day. *laughs* It was great. We thought “This is a really bad idea” going into it. *laughs* but it was great.

L: It’s very cool that you guys do residency nights on Tuesdays because places like The Echo, The Satellite, Bootleg; they all do residencies on Mondays. So thank you guys...for not making me drive across town on a Monday.

A: You got it. Won’t change.

Do you remember your first time playing here Lauren?

L: I do! I was really nervous. It was a three piece and it was really fun. I remember just being really nervous and when you’re nervous you just kind of don’t remember anything.

And it’s completely different now?

L: Yeah, really has. That’s why I wanted to have a residency here because I felt so comfortable and I knew that things were going to come out naturally. Natural goodies.

L: That’s another good band name. Natural Goodies. *laughing*

Can you give us any inside secrets?

A: So Lauren cuts my hair.

L: This has been a minute.. We were doing like a Marc Bolan thing. It was so good. When I lived down Harvard, I made a little salon underneath the clementine tree.

A: It’s true. It was magical.

What about notable guests?

A: I can’t really say a ton but I do have a Rod Stewart story.

A: So his daughter was playing a show and naturally, he was here. Our friend Steven found him inside the ice machine. Steven was like “What are you doing?” and he goes, “I was just cooling off man.”

A: IN THE ICE MACHINE!

A & L: *both laughing*

Lauren you mentioned a few music videos here? What’s the story behind those?

L: I did two music videos here. They were so great and polar opposites. The first one I was in like an experimental mode and I casted it, did wardrobe, directed it, and then starred in it. You gotta do that once. You know what I mean? Then you just really appreciate a team.

L: So many bands have come in for different projects whether they’re planned or not. It just feels comfortable. Like here’s new music, let’s do a live recording. It a friendly neighborhood establishment and it’s beautiful.

Sounds like you guys really love it here:

A: I don’t think there’s anywhere that’s this fun for me.

L: I like that I come here for a late night, for an early night, to listen to music, to catch up with a friend over in the alcove, everything.

For more from Harvard and Stone visit www.harvardandstone.com. Listen to Lauren Ruth Ward’s latest tunes and stay up to date with her upcoming events at https://laurenruthwardmusic.com/.

Barstool Stories: Aaron Lee Tasjan & 11th St. Bar

We’ve partnered with Lagunitas Brewing Company to bring you tales from some of the legendary neighborhood dives that have been integral in their city’s creative culture - all from the perspective of the artists and bartenders who know them best. Read more from our Barstool Story with Aaron Lee Tasjan below.

all photos by Gabriel Barreto

It started in a bar...

It's a weekday afternoon, the bar is nearly empty. Aaron Lee Tasjan saunters through the nondescript doorway and takes a deep breath as if he's home. In a way, he is. Tucked away between Avenues A and B in the heart of New York's “Alphabet City”, the 11th Street Bar is evocative of the landmark spots that made the East Village a sanctuary for counterculture; the stomping grounds of the likes of Patti Smith and Lou Reed.

As other beloved neighborhood dives slip into memory – transitioning overnight into sleek coffee shops and craft cocktail bars – 11th Street Bar prevails as an ostensible living room for the creative community. Where artists can be artists. Where everybody knows your name.

One of many songs to come out of this bar is Tasjan's “12 Bar Blues” from his 2016 album Silver Tears: “There's four bars in this town I can't even go into // My friend Kenny used to tend bar at the 5th one // still tends bar at the 6th one, too.”

Kenny O'Connor is a legend. Ask anyone. Dan Sweeney – a former patron who took ownership of the bar last year – recalls, “Kenny was always the man to see behind the bar. And he had every bartender, musician and actress and waitress in the neighborhood here until 4:30 in the morning.”

Working at 11th Street since it opened in 1997, Kenny has been instrumental in giving musicians a sense of community: A space to shoot the shit or play a set; where patrons become friends, and friends become family. Aaron Lee Tasjan is family.

On the release day of Tasjan's latest album, Karma For Cheap, Aaron ended up back at the bar. Kenny poured him a beer, and the two old friends recalled their barstool stories.

Kenny O’Connor, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and Dan Sweeney at 11th St. Bar

Kenny O'Connor: I remember that one night here, when we were blasting Tom Petty until 4 or 4:30 in the morning. I think that's the one that inspired James Maddox to write “Sunrise On Avenue C”

Aaron Lee Tasjan: Yeah, that's right, man. I guess the first time I ever came in here was to see James and Leslie (Mendelson). Weren't they playing here every week for a while?

KO: They were doing it here for a while. He played here last week – we needed a guy and called him, and he said, 'yeah!'

ALT: We all did that, man.

KO: It was a good hang – and you've said it before. There was always a good crew of musicians and sidemen hanging out. At that time, we all used to go down to that place on Houston. What was the name of that place?

ALT: The National Underground.

KO: Keith...

ALT: Oh, Keith Cristopher [current Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist; Georgia Satellites], man. I remember Keith walking out of the National Underground one time and he said ‘let's just keep this between the two of us' and I just remember thinking 'what the hell is this guy talking about?'. And he starts pulling – like a magician would – pulling this long scarf out of his pocket. But it's, like, toilet paper. Kind of wadded up. And he's unpeeling it, and I swear to god...he pulled it out, opened it up, and took a lit cigarette out; took a puff; flicked it away and walked back inside.

KO: Even at that time – how long had you been in town?

ALT: I got to town in 2005, I'd been here for about four years at that point.

KO: I remember when Aaron was starting to play and all these well-known side people – like Kelly (Looney) from the Dukes and Keith and the songwriters James Maddox and Roscoe (Eric Amble) were all fans of this guy – he was a nipper back then – and recognized his talent and wanted to play with him. And Frank Murray the old Ponies manager was there and also a big fan of Aaron's. And we saw that: 'This guy, ten years before that, wouldn't be looking for a record deal. He'd be snapped up.' But at the time record deals were, and still are, hard to come by. I remember Kelly saying 'I hope he's not too late.' The talent was there but the record deals weren't. It's a hard town to get noticed in.

ALT: This place...I met so many...I met Justin Townes Earle here. And that was great. You'd come here and meet these guys like Eric, Kelly, Keith. And they were encouraging of the young musicians. I've been to a lot of other places in New York where you kind of felt like you were bothering the musicians if you talked to them. And here, it was kind of like a family. They might give you some shit, but then you'd call your friend up from back home and say, 'man, Eric Amble just gave me some shit.' It was really cool.

We all grew up idolizing the same people, even in a different generation. Like, I grew up with the story of Bob Dylan coming to New York...finding Woody Guthrie and playing all these dive bars, and really figuring his thing out. And that's what the Madison Square Gardeners [Tasjan's former project] got to do here. To be a part of that community and know that there are other people out there that are tremendously talented...like Leslie Mendelson, who's now playing with Roger Daltry and Bob Weir. And it all started in this little place. This place is not meant to be overlooked, because so much time is spent in our culture now looking at these big things. But it's really the little things that the magic is coming from.

ALT: I think it's the fact that this entire part of town has changed – it's completely different than what it was. And this place hasn't changed a bit. And that's why I like it. You come in and they still play the same music on the stereo and Kenny still pours a great beer. In so many ways the world is changing now. And the changes we're making socially and, hopefully, politically are the right changes to be making. But there are certain things that are beautiful and don't need to change. And those familiar feelings and places that stay with you forever sometimes just end up in your memory. And it's nice to have an actual place to come back to where the people are the same; and the room looks and sounds the same; and the music is the same; the drink menu is the same. That makes it special, because that oftentimes in this day and age doesn't exist in a physical form.

KO: “Where everybody knows your name...”

Barstool Stories: The Nude Party Live at Luck Mansion

all photos by Brooke Hamilton

The Nude Party is no stranger to house shows. The gangly group has packed themselves onto the small makeshift stage at the Luck Mansion and motioned everyone closer and closer. The old window units of the historic house nestled into the Lockeland Springs neighborhood of East Nashville can’t compete with all the bodies crammed into each corner. It’s hot. Really, really hot. But somehow, the band is fed as the crowd grows larger and sweatier. They smoothly transition from one song to the next, continuously captivating and charging the audience with pure, relentless energy. No one is afraid to shout out as the intensity heightens; each song is peppered with primal whoops and smatterings of applause. If you close your eyes, it sounds like a bootleg record that you stole from your dad, the coolest one in his collection: effortless and raw.

Before the show, drummer and percussionist Connor Mikita and Austin Brose took a walk down to the corner store with us to grab a cold Lagunitas beer and discuss the inception of their first full length album and transformation from local college band to ones to watch.

“We started in basements,” Brose said as we crossed the street to the 4 Stop Market on the corner of Woodland and 14th, “primarily at house shows…that’s kind of how we cut our teeth.” The Nude Party was a favorite during their time at university in Boone, NC, becoming the soundtrack for many fellow students’ and friends’ college careers. Their self-titled debut record is “an amalgamation of all of [them] putting together the most creative things [they] possibly could for the past three or four years” according to Brose.

Once you know the Nude Party is from North Carolina, you can see the ways in which the mountain culture has crept into each of their beings; I wouldn’t be surprised if the band van was full of Nalgene water bottles with clipped on carabiners or if a few of the guys used to go exclusively barefoot. But somehow, in an area that often leans towards more folk and roots music, the Nude Party captured a modern take on the essence of 60’s underground rock. We could easily be in a basement in Liverpool surrounded by Scouse accents, but the Nude Party is all-American, smack dab in the middle of AmericanaFest. 

Though both Brose and Mikita agree that Patton Magee (guitar/vocals) is usually the main lyricist of the group, their creation process as a band is described as nothing short of collaborative. This record is a direct product of their time cutting their teeth in college and now on the road and Brose agrees that “an overarching theme might just be the lifestyle of getting to do that”. Both also praise their “producer-landlord-best friend-spiritual guide-guru” Oakley Munson and engineer Matthew Cullen for their collaborative impact on the record, recorded outside of Woodstock, NY at Dreamland Studios.

There’s no doubt that the Nude Party is just getting started. Watch their full interview below and make it out to the Nude Party in person by visiting their site HERE.