Out of the ashes of the Shimmy Shack (which itself arose out of the implosion of the Bon Ton Room) came Mary Jane’s in August 1994. Founded by ex-Rudyard’s employee Toby Blunt, the club has outlasted both of its Washington Avenue predecessors. Originally home to the owner’s Blunt Family house band, Mary Jane’s is now known as one of the only joints in town that will never turn away a struggling act. For its eighth anniversary party, Blunt has enlisted Greg Wood (of the recently deceased Horseshoe) as well as his own Texas Militiamen, which he describes as a “Texas death metal polka” outfit. Jesse Dayton might drop by, and then again he might not. Which is part of the charm of Mary Jane’s — tomorrow never knows.
This article appears in Aug 2-8, 2001.
