A while back—oh, it's going on 12 to 14 years ago now—there was a young patron of a "new" tavern in Racine, Wisconsin. The tavern was called CONFETTIZ. The patron's name was John Patrick McAuliffe. He's also known as JJ, but that's a story for another time.

The thing that really attracted JJ to CONFETTIZ in the first place was the fact that, this was the first bar in Racine to embrace the Alternative music scene, a genre very near and dear to JJ's heart.

Now, after many months of being a customer, JJ began actively persuading (more like hounding!?) the owner of this establishment into giving him a chance as a bartender. The details of all these efforts are a little fuzzy now…after all, they were younger times. Suffice to say that JJ was dogged in his determination to procure employment.

Well, after much consideration, the owner decided to give JJ a chance.

It turns out that JJ found bartending to be very much to his liking. After working for years in some very unfulfilling jobs, to name apprentice mechanic, warehouse manager and car detailer as but a few, he decided that bartending was for him. Besides, it allowed him the freedom to also concentrate on his musical career.

Yes, JJ had been a member of numerous bands over the years; Killer Pigs From Hell, Atomic Veteran, This Green City, The Bogmen, Doomsday Groove (Racine Wisconsin's first punk/funk band, spearheading a revolution of like minded bands in the Racine underground), Jaded By Choice and, the band that (at the time) JJ was most proud of, F/i.

Being as F/i was probably his favorite band—and that at one time or another, virtually every great underground musician in Milwaukee had been a member, the influence being that huge—when they called him up to play bass, guitar, and keyboards, JJ jumped at the chance.

This union resulted in a number of recordings and two east coast tours, including a couple stints as openers for the band that were heroes of his, the legendary UK group Hawkwind, from which sprang Lemmy and Motorhead. You can't get much cooler than that!

It was on F/i's second U.S. tour, while playing in New York City that something happened. While playing in a fairly well know New York club, F/i was cut short. It seems that the soundman—incredible as it may be—wanted to go fishing in the East River.

Now, if you know anything at all about New York, you know that the sludge that forms on your toilet bowl is safer then anything that could possibly live in the East River!

Now JJ, being so far away from home and having family in the audience, questioned this move. He was promptly told that he should "Shut the F#%k up," that "He was lucky to be playing this club" and that "There are bands in NYC that have been around for twenty years that haven't played this club!"

After all, just who did this upstart JJ and his F/i think they were?

Well, JJ realized right then and there, that some day when he owned a club of his own, he would NEVER treat any band that played his place with such hubris!

Time went on, as it always does, and the situation at JJ's day job was getting worse…the work wasn't there and his boss was a really huge—well, if you can't say anything nice—and, while he was enjoying "moonlighting" as a bartender, JJ was also one major unhappy fellow.

JJ decided it was time to go full time as a bartender. He picked up some extra hours at "CONFETTIZ," while also working for his good friend Andy Sweetman at another bar, "The Watering Hole."

As it turns out, it was about this time that the owner of “CONFETTIZ" decided that owning a club was not for her and that she would return to her old job.

She was going to get rid of the business.

Facing unemployment—and not wanting to return to 100 degree heat working in a garage—JJ looked into buying "CONFETTIZ."

This was not going to be easy.

JJ barely had a pot to piss in. With his parents (understandably) not wanting to take a second mortgage on their house for a long shot, he had to find alternative means. Undeterred, JJ talked the former owner of "CONFETTIZ" into a promissory note and then secured a loan from one of the most beautiful men alive, his uncle Spar.

JJ—and McAuliffe's Pub—were ready to go.

He began by booking a lot of the same bands from the "CONFETTIZ" days but, being a musician himself and, after having that experience in New York; he wanted to do more for the bands.

Soon, he began booking local bands that would normally not have the chance to play anywhere else…the bands that did not play covers. At McAuliffe's Pub, cover bands were not allowed, a practice that still stands to this day…well, WITH A FEW EXCEPTION

Being a lover of all forms of music—and also wanting it to be known that his is a place for all kinds of people, young and old alike—JJ started booking, as one of those few exceptions to the "no covers" rule, The John Bunic Big Band, a full 21 piece swing/big band combo that still performs every Tuesday at McAuliffe's.

Again, not wanting to be labeled as a club locked into a particular genre, all forms of music were booked at McAuliffe's; Alternative, Blues, Bluegrass, jam bands, Metal, Progressive, Punk, Reggae, Swing and, of course, the clubs specialty, Celtic/Irish music. Soon, bands were emerging left and right, with many forming after playing together for the first time at "McAuliffe's Open Jam Night."

JJ's love of Irish music began when he and his Dad—a fine, proud Irishman—would spend time together checking out all the great Irish Pubs in the area; father and son hanging together in true McAuliffe style every St. Patrick's day and tearing things up at Milwaukee's Irish Fest!

With a fierce drive and determination, JJ began making McAuliffe's Pub the type of venue that bands would want to play. He began meeting and hanging out with many of the great Celtic artists, building friendships and relationships with them that have lasted years. Never one to bullshit the performers, he would explain to them that, while the club is not the biggest in the world and that certainly no one in the relationship will become rich off the other, he could promise them one thing; that if they played McAuliffe's they would not only have a great time, but they'd also be treated with the respect they and their craft deserve.

Funny thing is, they came…they played…and they come back!

Over the years, McAuliffe's Pub has hosted some of the best in the Irish & Celtic-rock music scene; Ana Ri, Black 47, The Blarney Brothers, BROTHER, Clumsy Lovers, Danu, Barry Dodd, The Maggie Drennen Band, Equation, The Fenians, Frogwater, Green Side Up, The Kissers, Jeremy Kittle, McTavish, Old Blind Dogs, The Popes (yes, Shane MacGowen's band), Reilly, The Sandcarvers, Seanchai, Seven Nations, Six Mile Bridge, Deanne Smith, Steel Bonnets (McAuliffe's Celtic house band), Stone Ring, Teada, Tempest, Three Pints Gone, The Jeff Ward Band, and many, many more…with many more to come.

In this day and age of venues booking music that attract little more then a flock of sheep, McAuliffe's is definitely not your typical music club. McAuliffe's Pub has gone, and always will go out on a limb to be a leader and not a follower; to provide the best in local, national and international talent.

To top it all off, JJ has assembled a staff that truly enjoys being here, with you. A staff that are not snotty-know-it-all-musical-hipsters with a million tattoos, piercings and blue hair who think they know more than you. Whether it's an evening of music, or just a couple of quick ones after work, JJ and the staff will always greet you with a warm smile and a hearty hello…okay, maybe Kevin wont smile, but he will say Howdy and mean it…besides, if he can't make you laugh, you must've forgotten how!

If you've yet to experience McAuliffe's Pub, stop by soon, won't you? As the old saying goes,"You are but a stranger here only once!"