Tucked away in the basement of a grimey brownstone building overshadowed by Downtown’s towering skyscrapers, The Washboard is a historic jazz and blues venue with a storied past. The club is located so deep underground that it couldn’t go any lower without dropping directly into the sewers. To find it, patrons must navigate a maze of alleyways and underpasses to reach a front door located below street level.
Despite its scrubbed appearance—giving the impression of a venue trying to rise to the occasion of a fleeting shot at glory—it has always maintained a rough reputation. Since the early days of the City, The Washboard has been a haven for hustlers, rough-around-the-edges locals, and middle-class Downtown professionals looking to rub elbows with a different crowd to experience a bit of an edge.
Atmosphere and Layout
Inside, red-tinted lights bathe the club, setting a moody atmosphere while emphasizing its dark and intimate vibe. Faint cello and piano notes often echo through the halls leading to the entrance.
The club is quite roomy, capable of holding up to 200 patrons. The main room features two long bars and about 20 small circular tables scattered in front of a medium-sized stage. Behind the scenes, the club features a kitchen, storage space, a dressing room, an office, and a back door that leads out to an exceptionally narrow and dirty back alley.
Management
Following a long line of hopeful entrepreneurs, The Washboard is currently owned by Sammy Jefferson Jr. Sammy is a shrewd, middle-aged businessman typically seen wearing a stained dress shirt, suspenders, dress slacks, and a jazz-club-owner panama hat.
His ultimate dream is to make it as a top-tier legitimate club owner, and he works tirelessly to keep the venue afloat. To maintain order among the sometimes-rowdy crowd, Sammy employs Syrus as the club’s bouncer. Syrus is an intimidating, 6’4″ muscleman with a bald head, arms like logs, a tight black T-shirt, and a thin mustache.
The Main Attraction
The front doors of The Washboard are heavily plastered with posters advertising the club’s main act: Martha Ellis. Martha is a voluptuous jazz and blues singer in her mid-50s who possesses a heart-rending voice and a deep sense of melancholy. Once briefly famous as „Downtown’s most soulful voice,“ she typically performs in a sparkling evening gown.
Her powerful performances are known to move audiences to tears, capturing the profound struggles of life in the City with an unmatched emotional depth. Sammy Jefferson Jr. is currently betting all of his chips on Martha’s success, hoping her undeniable talent is the ticket to bringing a new golden age to The Washboard and making it a premier establishment.