Interview by Ryan Cash
After a hard week I rarely get to find the exact thing my soul yearns for. I don’t want to eat, I don’t want to stay at home or go to a theater and watch a movie. I really just want to surround myself with some great people and great music. The actual find of such existence is mostly difficult because there are some people who just go out to cause drama. However, this doesn’t ever seem to be the case with one bar that I fell in love with from my very first visit.
One Saturday evening a friend decided to take me to a bar he recently discovered. The BIG Johnny Cash spray painted picture outside of the building already let me know that I was going to like the scene. Never did I expect the scene to be this combination of laid back, loud singing (myself and a few others), smooth/hard drinking, stylish wearing, make me want to do this every night bar. It was the perfect evening.
So with the awesome night in memory and now the opportunity of letting the entire world know about this hidden gem…Check out the interview I did with one of the chillest cat's I've met - Mike, owner of “Gasser Lounge.”
SMC: How did Gasser Lounge become the awesome bar that it is?
Mike: The answer to this can go back as long ago as the very first day of my first bar job and into as much detail as you want, but I imagine the cliff notes version would probably be best.
SMC: …Im interested but cliff notes version would be needed.
Mike: Much of how ‘Gasser’ looks is exactly how it’s existed in my brain for over a decade. I always wanted a place that looked like it could have been a tattoo parlor in a Motley Crue video. A lot of design elements were based on two factors: One being the exhaustion of our budget from red tape intentionally thrown our way due to the nightmare operation that was going on in the bar that was here before we took over. Not having money meant I had to build a lot of what we needed. This turned out to be a bit of a blessing because it forced me to really dig out my deepest creativity. The second factor was that I knew once construction started, I would unfortunately have to give up building my ’56 Ford f100 (which still sits unfinished in front of the bar). If I was going to appease my inner gear head, I would have to bring hot rod and motorcycle elements in here, even though I was pouring countless hours in construction, it still felt like I was in my garage grinding and welding…which is my happy place.
SMC: Ouch! Headaches are no bueno. Inner creativity is best when under pressure. How long have you been in business?
Mike: We just celebrated our 3 year anniversary at the end of June.
SMC: Aww…Felicidades! (Congratulations!) So who created the bad a$S Johnny Cash shrine?
Mike: I built the Johnny Cash shrine. I love when people ask ‘why him?’ I ask, ‘why the f%$k not?! In my opinion, he’s the most important man in American music. Some folks would disagree but I can’t think of any artist on our playlist that wouldn’t acknowledge him as an influence. He changed the way the world looked at country music…and who created the hero outlaw in music.
SMC: Yes, any old school whether its oldies, funk, R&B, blues, and/or country is soothing to anyone’s soul…so I agree, great choice! Do you hold any events at your bar and is there a cover charge?
Mike: We throw down on a regular basis. We don’t really need a reason to but we like to find ‘em. Halloween is a huge one…as in 5 days of pure hell-raising. Check out the video CARNEVIL on our website. We’re a neighborhood bar but our neighborhood is all of Southern California. You’ll never pay for a cover charge.
SMC: No reason to celebrate plus its free?? I like the way you think.
Mike: If you like loud rock ’n roll, heavy pours, and a crowd full of people that can very easily turn into your closest friends, you should check out one of our parties. We’re all here for a good time. This isn’t a meat market bro-fest like they host down at the pier bars. We’re all about welcoming in good people to make good memories.
SMC: Any events coming up?
Mike: We have a couple coming up. “Game Over” on Thursday, August 16th – we’re huge Kings fans here, so we’re re-playing the winning game of the Stanley Cup finals. We are also throwing a big fundraiser on Saturday, August 25th for our boy Lucifer that we ride with. He was hit on his motorcycle a couple weeks ago and got pretty banged up and he doesn’t have insurance. It’s called the, “Lucifer Is My Homeboy Ride and Fundraiser”.
SMC: Yea, the Stanley Cup is a big deal…I actually got to take a picture with the cup myself. I know you are jealous *big grin on my face*…That’s great that you give back. In my opinion, there’s no point in being successful if you are not willing to help others. *pat on your back* Why the name “Gasser Lounge”?
Mike: The origin of the name is very specific. My old man used to race all kinds of different cars, but a picture of one of his cars always sat on his desk in his office – it was his ‘Gasser’…and of course there’s the connection between getting all gassed up on the sauce, but you already thought that, right?
SMC: No not at all! *tee hee*…Either way, both are good enough reasons. SO! Any drink specials?
Mike: We do happy hour every day from 5-8pm which features $1 off everything and airport doubles – double anything for only $2 more!
SMC: When I was there the ambiance was laid back and fun. The people were stylish, the customer service was really friendly and the alcohol was on point, why do you think that is?
Mike: Because I am a *enter expletive*! Haha! Seriously though, if anyone is treated poorly I personally want to know. One of the biggest motivators behind this place was the fact that I had no where to hang out. I kept getting dragged to shi%$y bars where the bartenders were too cool to give a s%$*t about me - the paying customer. I am always on my staff about being cool to people. If people don’t feel welcome, it doesn’t matter how cool s^%t is on the walls, they wont come back. Im a big fan of the old school art of bartending; Im not trying to sling some cheesy booze that glows in the dark and comes with cotton candy, that’s kid s%#t and this isn’t the place for it!
SMC: Much respect to a man with a plan and a stand for the paying customer. *high five*
Mike: ...I am also a stickler for this place looking and feeling EXACTLY how I want it. It should be clean, the music should be right, and the lights should be low. We all look better in the dark!
SMC: Isn’t that the truth! Yea, there’s never a time that I can remember a bathroom being clean in any of the places I visited (except yours of course). As a female this foreign concept of clean bathrooms are a MUST because dirty bathrooms are just WRONG!
Mike: …and as far as the crowd being stylish, I will attest to that. You find yourself surrounded by folks that defy the world’s trend. The people you meet here are some of the most talented people in Los Angeles. Not to mention the talent within the staff - any of the folks serving you here would blow your mind if you saw what they were doing in their free time.
SMC: That’s why…I love you man! *clearing throat*… What’s the best night for a Rockabilly night?
Mike: Rockabilly night is mixed in every night…so EVERY NIGHT! We mix it up but you’re guaranteed to hear someone poppin’ on a stand up all night long! Our young rockers love $2 Tuesdays though. $2 drinks all night and $2 tacos til midnight. We’re all stretched for cash these days – and there’s no shame in drinking on a budget.
SMC: That brings me to my next question…Do you offer any food?
Mike: We cater in tacos from Pinkie’s BBQ in Hermosa Beach every Tuesday from 6p-12a. We call them hillbilly tacos – smoked pork or chicken with shredded cheese cabbage, jalapenos and bbq sauce wrapped in a flour tortilla. ALL FOR JUST $2…totally killer!
SMC: Dang it! Now Im hungry, Is it Tuesday yet?? Ok. back to work…Other than HOT 92.3 ‘Old School’ radio, have you been featured anywhere else?
Mike: We’ve been talked about in other local radio. We’ve also been featured in the local paper down here as well as on “Bar Tipps – a web show touting the dos and don’ts of bar culture that features bars that are considered to be among the best in the country…SCORE.
SMC: Sweeet! SO on that note…Check out the pics, info below, and the bar itself to experience the greatness I experienced.
1500 Aviation Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA
