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Night Klub Rudy

By Zack Davisson

If you listen to a certain kind of music, the name alone of Night Klub Rudy should clue you in as to what to expect. A punk/ska/rockabilly pub where every bartender plays in a band and most of the customers do too, it’s a hangout where the drinks are cheap and plentiful, the music varied and interesting and the conversation lively. It’s a pub with character, and is in turn filled with characters. For those into the punk/ska/rockabilly scene, it might just be a new home away from home.

Themed after the British ska legends The Specials and owned by a local legend who calls himself "Johnny," this underground pub has an atmosphere that only comes with authenticity. The black and white checked floor, deep red poster-littered walls and dim, inconstant lighting lets you know that this is the real deal. Johnny spent some time in England, and wanted to bring the look and feel of a British punk/ska pub back to Japan. Not a huge space, it holds about 30 or 40 comfortably, with a bar and some comfy seats with tables. Darts for ¥100 and two ¥100 slot machines add to the scene. The chairs and such can be cleared away to make a space for dancing, which they do every couple of months for special pub events and visiting DJs/musicians. But the usual order of the night is drinking, chatting and listening to good tunes.

Conversation is definitely the specialty here, and all of the bartenders double as entertainers while serving up stiff drinks and hot food. One bartender, with the nickname of "Power," or "Pa-Kun" if you are feeling friendly, sports an impressive pompadour, a dragon spotted coat and a boisterous, explosive laugh. Power plays for the popular swing band Jelly Bean Clowns, and always makes sure to keep the conversation flowing. He is quick to introduce customers to each other, with music being the usual connection. "This is a crazy bar," says Power. "The drinks are cheap, so people tend to drink a lot."

¥500 yen is the standard drink price, with Heartland on tap and cocktails running at ¥500 as well. Corona or Guinness are ¥700, and a fairly decent selection of Scotches hit in the ¥600-800 range. If you want a bite with your brew, a small menu of pub grub is available: ¥500 for fish and chips, and ¥400 for karaage, fried potatoes, ebi pilaf or a margarita pizza. When asked what his specialty is, Power answers without hesitation, "Tequila."

Saturday is when Night Klub Rudy is really hopping. The hours are from 20:00 till close, but the crowd doesn’t thicken until around 22:30-23:00, and it is not unusual for the party to continue till morning, when everyone stumbles bleary-eyed for the first trains.

Anyone aching for a bit of the punk/ska/rockabilly scene in Osaka will find some fast friends here. There are no strangers at Night Klub Rudy, so be ready to chat it up with the regulars. Bring along a cool CD that they haven’t heard before, and you’ll be a hero.

Night Klub Rudy is a short walk from Ishibashi Station on the Hankyu line. Go out the East Exit, straight until you cross under the car overpass, hang a left and walk a couple of blocks until you see the sign.

A smaller partner bar, the 100 Club, is also owned by Johnny and is one train stop away in Ikeda City.

Night Klub Rudy

Arekkusu Biru B1F
2-4-1 Ishibashi, Ikeda-shi, Osaka
090-8203-4696 (They don't have a regular phone, so this keitai is
always at the counter.)
20:00-late, Daily
http://www3.osk.3web.ne.jp/~h432/rudy.htm

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