Review: Der Wolfskopf Contains Underbelly Jazz Bar
Der Wolfskopf, which translates to The Wolf’s Head, is an old-world German bar in Pasadena. The interior resembles a scaled down German beer hall with a few tables to sit, a bar top and minimal decorations.
Aside from the traditional German food like sausage plates, pretzels and a surplus of strong ales, what makes this bar unique is that at 8 p.m. patrons gain access to the basement bar underneath Der Wolfskopf known as Der Rathskeller.
German rathskellers are hidden meeting rooms beneath bars where committees could assemble in secret, but this is more than just a council room.
Der Rathskeller is not for the timid or the faint of heart. This underground speakeasy is covered wall-to-wall in murals depicting morbid scenes and hellish monstrosities from an apparitional Napoleon Bonaparte to Sailor Jerry tatting the Devil himself.
The combination of dim lighting and gruesome imagery in Der Rathskeller creates an atmosphere fit for any fan of horror, beer and folklore.
The frightening images and dim lighting are evocative of the secret history behind this macabre bar.
Der Rathskeller has only been open for 3 years, but its history begins in the formative years of Old Town Pasadena. Built in 1903, The Container Store next door was previously the Pasadena Town Hall while Der Rathskeller’s basement was its jail.
This basement exudes a deep and dark secrecy that is both enticing and terrifying. Pianist and music coordinator Bobby Woods of Philonious Music, the venue’s go-to entertainment agency, recalled seeing a shadowy figure wandering the halls.
“I don’t know dude, it’s just weird. There is a shadow of a guy just walking around. Nobody hangs out down here when the lights are off,” Woods explained, visibly shaken at the thought of being there alone.
Adding to the pernicious aura of Der Rathskeller, the Pasadena Police Department discovered the body of a middle-aged man hanging in the courtyard behind the bar on Jan. 23.
Although there were some suspicions of foul play, Pasadena Now reports that “once detectives were able to obtain and view security videos, they concluded the man had killed himself.”
This case was confirmed to be a suicide, and the haunting notion of death hangs heavy in the air.
Unnerving stories of ghosts and specters in the dark pair with a sinisterly inviting music, adding to the allure of this underground bar.
Every Thursday at 9 p.m., with the exception of the first Thursday of the month, Der Rathskeller hosts the jazz/funk ensemble The Fair Oaks Five.
The band consists of a saxophonist Brian Perske, trumpeter Max Dearth, bassist David Isaac, pianist Bobby Woods and drummer Caylon Travis playing a combination of classic jazz standards and jazzed up pop songs that allow each band member a section of improvisation.
The combination of funk and jazz offers music for more than just jazz enthusiasts. Their rhythmic grooves and twist on popular songs go beyond the standard ensemble.
A band is only as good as their rhythm section, and The Fair Oaks Five exemplify that.
Having known each other for over 5 years Isaac, Travis and Woods create unorthodox rhythms and timing beneath the brass leads. Woods hails The Fair Oaks Five as being “jazz with an accent.” Dearth and Perske combine soulfully sweet melodies with complex solos to complete the bands distinctive sound.
Jazz is a deeply mysterious culture rooted in the darkest recesses of American culture, and the Fair Oaks Five’s dynamic interpretation is a fitting main attraction at Der Rathskeller.
The eerie ambiance entices passersby to step back in time to when jazz could only be found underground by the few souls who dared to venture where the lights are low and the drinks flow.
Der Wolfskopf
72 N Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103
21 and over
