A Night at the Tavern with Dan Tedesco

The Vine Tavern is located near the Tempe campus on the southwest corner of Apache and Rural. It's a large bar with pool tables and a patio for smokers. I went there to check out a solo artist who graduated from ASU a few years ago named Dan Tedesco. Dan moved to Chicago recently after getting his degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, but still comes out to play shows.The Vine was not exactly crowded on a Tuesday night, but the bartender said that it generally isn't busy on weekdays. The bar has specials on beer, but unfortunately a white Russian is a little pricey.

The crowd was mostly ASU students, which is not true of all bars around campus. As I have mentioned before, Prankster's get ASU faculty, but not students. The Sets gets few ASU students, and the Yucca Tap Room also rarely gets ASU students. This is interesting since all of these places are as close to the Tempe campus as The Vine. So, if I had wondered before where the students go, now I know. The bar even keeps The State Press next to the front door, although I didn’t see any issues of SPM.

Everyone was friendly, and the atmosphere is relaxing and mellow. Perhaps that was due, in part, to the fact that Dan was playing. His style is mellow rock and roll similar to Tom Petty, and I think the music might have had an effect on the crowd. Interestingly, when Dan took a break, the bar had metal music playing, which was a little out-of-place in a sleepy tavern.

The Vine Tavern meets all my basic requirements, including nice people and affordable drinks. Another plus, in my opinion, is the graffiti on the women's bathroom walls. I have always liked places that allow that kind of thing because it adds character and lets you see what sort of people come to the bar. I don’t know if they have graffiti in the men's bathroom as well, but I thought checking might not go over well with the staff, so that will have to remain a mystery for now.

Having never seen the Vine crowded, I can't say how that would look. But I can say it's bigger than most of the bars in the area. The pool room is in the back and partially separated form the main room, which is large and has both booths and tables. The patio runs the entire length of the building and is big enough to accommodate a large crowd. It definitely stuck me as a fun place to go out and meet other ASU students. I tried to find a Web site for this bar and failed, but it's stumbling distance from campus and easy to find.

As for Dan Tedesco, I feel like I should mention that he drops in and plays near ASU a few times a year. After graduating from ASU he ended up playing music full-time, and he's fun to check out when he's in town. Being a former Sun Devil, he sings a lot about things students can relate to. He does have a Web site, at dantedesco.com.

— Jenifer DeLemont

To see and not be seen at Chaser's

Chaser's music venue on the southeast corner of Hayden and Roosevelt in Scottsdale is definitely a dive bar. It's dark, and on your average day it's not exactly crowded.

The bar is 21 and over, but on nights when they have concerts there is an all-ages section where you can hang out with your underage friends.

There isn't much for food. They sell bags of chips at the bar, but this is mostly a place to go drink. Two pool tables provide something to do while you're hanging out, and drinks are reasonably priced.

The crowd in Chaser's on a weekday is mostly people from the neighborhood. On those days, it's a kick-back environment where you could go and find some peace and quiet.

However, on weekends, bands take the stage and bring an entirely different crowd. Sometimes they have a rock and roll cover bands playing tunes everyone can sing along with. Some nights they have local bands like Ikonoklast or Selfless take the stage and bring a crowd of kids that are into the industrial sound.

On those nights, it's not unusual to see kids in spikes and chains show up to dance.

Chaser's is generally a very friendly environment. When I went there for a show, everyone was friendly and nice. I went there again on a weekday, and people generally kept to themselves, but they were friendly too. It's not a place where you would expect to see a fight break out.

It's a little hard to get a drink on a night when there is a show, since the bar is very small and off to the side of the pool tables and the stage. Still, it didn't take as long as other places I've been. Chaser's accepts credit cards, and has a variety of beer and liquor. On a weeknight, the service is quick since there are generally not many people there.

Overall I'd say it's not a place to see and be seen like Anderson's Fifth Estate, Club 6, and other Scottsdale bars. It's just place to chill out with friends.
—Jenifer DeLemont