Live Music on Stage at Rhythm and Rye

olympia downtown bar
Andy Geertsen (right) owner of Rhythm and Rye, stands next to bartender and previous sound engineer, Brian North.
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By Lindsey Surrell

color graphicsIt is Friday night and the room is buzzing with dozens of conversations, glasses clinking, and the rustle of about a hundred people. A night at Rhythm and Rye, one of Olympia’s newest music venues and bars, has many virtues: affordable drinks, comfortable seating, and friendly staff. On top of all that, each night I have spent at Rhythm and Rye has left me in awe of great music. And tonight is no exception. On stage, basked in orange and yellow lights, is Olympia musician Eleanor Murray, the second act of the night following the upbeat and dance worthy tempos from Benny Sidelinger. With Murray’s mixture of unique, soft serenades and gentle guitar strumming, the room falls fantastically silent from her first strum all the way until she looks up to applause.

olympia downtown bar
Andy Geertsen (right) owner of Rhythm and Rye, stands next to bartender and previous sound engineer, Brian North.

Celebrating their first year anniversary in March, Rhythm and Rye is the brainchild of Andy Geetrsen, who received a unique shout-out during the concert for being an “advocate of live music and a good dude.” He started Rhythm and Rye with the vision of having a comfortable place for people to come and listen to great music. A year later, his vision remains unchanged and says the community has responded really well to the new venue.

The interior, around 3,000 square feet, is designed around comfort- from the warm, rust colored walls, to the two levels of black plush couches and loveseats- coveted spots on a busy night. In the past month, the interior was revamped with an improved stage, more seating, and changes to the entryway. And although the space’s decor is far different from the previous tenant, The Royal Lounge, Andy has plans for more beneficial changes in the next year, including a goal to install a kitchen. In the summer, anticipate the garage doors, remnants from the building’s history as an industrial warehouse, to open for outdoor seating. Andy hopes that all these changes will encourage the community to come, sit, enjoy the music, and stay for a while.

Andy, a former trumpet player, has been in the business of booking music for ten years, previously at Eastside Tavern and then The Pig Bar, and as a result, knows a large network of musicians. You will not hear cover bands or hip hop at Rhythm and Rye, but bluegrass, folk, funk, rock, jazz, and anything with horns can be found here.

olympia downtown music
Local musician Eleanor Murray played at Rhythm and Rye recently.

While some bands are recommended to him, many of the musicians contact him directly with a link to their music. Andy mainly looks for originality. “If it gets me in the first 15 seconds, I listen to the next 30 seconds, then I go to the next track and then the last track. If I think it’s something really unique, I get on it right away,” he says. He also looks for patience – bad attitudes don’t make the cut. If it passes the test of Andy’s well-tuned ear, the musician is added to his old-school scheduling system, a single piece of yellow lined-paper he keeps in his pocket.

On some nights, you will be able to find Andy behind the bar with a warm smile, his long black ponytail tucked in a baseball cap, and willingness to talk about music or beer. He happily notes that the whiskey selection is one of the best and largest in town and there is a great variety of handpicked microbrews available. Andy is proud of both the curated selection of music and drinks offered, and equally as proud of his community. He says, “The crowd in Olympia is really great. Bands like playing here, mostly because of the fabulous Olympia vibe. When there is a good show, the audience will come and shake the band’s hand and thank them afterwards.”

During the week, each night is host to different events, including Salsa dancing, Open Mic, and Jazz. Also, Tuesday nights are game nights, with a rotation that includes trivia and board games. A room in the back of the venue holds a ping-pong table, pool table, and arcade games.

Olympia’s music community is packed with amazing artists and bands. Fortunate for us, there is also a great community of music venues. Join Rhythm and Rye for their one-year anniversary with musicians Hillstomp and Oly Mountain Boys on Saturday, March 21 at 9:00 p.m.

Like and follow Rhythm and Rye’s Facebook page to find out other upcoming events, and for the musicians out there, to send Andy a direct message. All events are 21 and older. Most events’ cover charge range from $5-10, which supports the musicians.

Rhythm and Rye is located at 311 Capitol Way North in downtown Olympia.

 

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