The band starts at 8 and by 9, there's no room to breathe. The air is thick with smoke, the bar and every table is full, pool tables are staked out. Three waitresses and two bartenders work the front room. Employees jockey with customers for position in front of the bar, shouting out orders. The taps are running like Niagara Falls.
Money is stuffed into tip jars.
Reynolds takes orders, fills pitchers, makes change and thanks someone for a small tip. The tips get bigger as the night wears on. They definitely lose their inhibitions. Fights are rare, but every bartender has a story about a guy he threw out. And every waitress, a story of a bounce she requested.