Bodega 2016 Photo: supplied
Bar Bodega has been a haven for live music lovers, and a hub for a large cross section of the local community for the last 25 years. The Ghuznee street building it has been in since 2005 has been sold, and Bodega's lease dis-continued. Kirsten Johnstone reflects on the life and times of the well-loved bar.
Bodega sign 2006 Photo: RNZ Kirsten Johnstone
Bodega began as a cafe, in an old Edwardian shop at the corner of Willis and Abel Smith Streets. Fraser McInnes and co-owner Steve Jinks extended the building out the back, with the aim of bringing together alternative beer with alternative music. Fraser McInnes explains: “Wellington at that time was really fertile for bands, particularly alternative types.”
It attracted a wide array of clientelle - from hip music loving students, to locals who would sit at the bar with their beer looking at the rugby on the TV in the corner. You might happen upon a free-jazz group, a punk band, or a soul-funk DJ on any given night of the week.
Fraser says his Anthropology degree stood him in good stead as a publican: “I sort of knew that pubs were like a pakeha marae. I basically just built a culture. The culture also came from the locals, it came from being in Aro Valley, it came from the musicians, the alternative lurkers from upper Cuba street from the period.”
Sukhita Langsford, former bar manager once known as Big Red, describes the amazing collection of regulars she’d pour pints for
“We’d have plumbers and builders, and musicians and bank managers, and clergy. The minister from the church down the road. It’s was such a varied group of poeple and I guess we all enjoyed sitting there having a beer and a chat trying to solve the problems of the world.”
Noise control was a constant battle for the bar, being situated at the edge of a residential area, but rent was always cheap, with plans for the inner city Bypass hanging over the building.
“It also meant that there was a temporariness about it that gave it an edge. I remember Transit NZ came and said Fraser, we want you to move up to Dransfield House, we’ll sell you the building for a dollar. I stupidly said no.”
Once he realised the bypass was unstoppable, McInnes made the decision to move the business. In 2005 McInnes, his staff, and his most faithful clientelle walked its horseshoe shaped bar up the road to Bodega’s new premises: “We had bagpipes up the front and a New Orleans jazzz band at the back. It was pretty cool. That was the culture of it.”
Minuit live at Bodega 2006 for 'The transmission' Photo: RNZ
But it was not to last. Bodega was hit by new liquor licensing laws which meant customers weren’t spending as much money at the bar, and McInnes didn’t agree with the new non-smoking laws. He got out, but will possibly always been known as ‘Fraser from Bodega’.
“It was just such a wonderful time in Wellington’s history. Craft beer was on the rise, the bands that we had were really good, and so it was quite rich. That community meeting place isn’t in bars as much as it used to be, i mean the price of beer is expensive these days, and the drink driving laws mean that people aren’t likely to go out as much as they used to.”
With Bodega’s Auckland equivalent The Kings Arms making way for high rise apartments next year, and many other music venues around the country closing down, Murray Hepple wants people to realise what we’re in danger of losing.
“People need to continue to support live music. People need to get off their bottoms and get out and support it. Cos if they don’t, it’ll go.”
Bodega’s last fling is tonight, with a bunch of local bands, and free entry.
Audience Love For Bodega
Jules Desmond Two nights of Dirty Three at the old Bodega was a real highlight for me. As were Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Trans Am. Too many local bands to name".
Yard Saw I recall seeing a fair bit of Letterbox Lambs there too.
Jules Desmond Yup. Played there more times than I can count. More than anywhere else, by far. That was our home. First and last shows were both at Bodega!
Joe Blossom Dirty Three on Valentines Day 1997.
Chris Familton I recall playing a great gig there in the mid 90s with my band Thorazine Shuffle. Even back then it was the place you knew of from up in Auckland that you wanted to play in Welly.
Yvette Skogstad-Archer Beats and bubbles... those were the days!
Grant Philip King Ethel Mermans, Mellow Thumb, Garageland and the Lambs first gig. and Gisbourne Gold on tap!!
Cliff Bateman Lockins with Fraser, Gerald Dwyers wake, the back booth under a cloud of Dunhill with all my best friends and many many short gigs that changed my world view.
Michael Signal Skid Row sold it for me and it was pretty surreal seeing Ace Frehley there too \m/
Tom Jones Chris Knox as always in his Jandals
Tim Ward A table full of handles by the back door plotting to open The Hole in the Wall
David Kettley This year taking my 13 year old to 'average rap band' and him having a great time with a the band going hard out and the crowd matching it... he had a geat bodega experience
Trevor Price My local hang out 20 years ago as a student. Lived a couple of buildings down (the old drop out centre - upstairs). Back in the day saw head like a hole and shi hard play regularly..... cheap ciders, and down the fire escape ladder to "dega's" for a beer and wicked live sets..... fond memories.
Mark Andrews Chris Knox performing and then climbing on the tables mic in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other hand...swinging off the roof rafters - Old Bodega ~1991
Chris Knox LAUGH!!!
Thomas Woodhall Plenty of good times at Bodega, seeing the Mummies this year will be my highlight. Had my 30th in the downstairs bar 10 years ago. Clearing the dance floor by playing Non Alignment Pact - Pere Ubu is a great memory as well.
David Coe @peace when they did their 12am doors open for girl songs album release. Good times.....
Barry Allan Have never lived in Wellington so can't claim the Bodega as my local, but have been to some top gigs over the years. I think my first was to the old Bodega, to see the White Stripes - they drew a slightly bigger audience there than when they played Palmerston North. I think my stand out gig - simply because the Gods were aligned so that I had a familiar band playing a familiar venue which made me feel completely at home - would be Fur Patrol, probably when they played there 2002. Went back when they played there this year, as my way of farewelling or commemorating the Bodega - another great night.
Hannah Howes Oh wow, without a doubt Junior Kelly rocked it with unseen energy to an audience of around 30-50 very lucky dancehall loving souls, despite the gig being an obvious financial fail and with teething problems from a session band. Loved him forever after that. This is my highlight of Bodega, despite making my "Live at Bodega" album there, with a couple of little known buskers I met hours before the gig, and Aidan Mills on sound.
Sarah Jane Tonkin Worked in the cafe with will and tim late nights loud music saved my life- thanx for the good times and the under the table pay packet Sam
Taupuhi McLetchie Head like a Hole @OLD BODEGA & Michael Franti @NEW BODEGA and all tha cool barstaff, gigs, crew and brilliant locals woop woop
Steven William Goodfellow getting my mind blown by the new caledonia and more recently decapitated and suffocation
