Locals Welcome
by Kandace Power Graves"It's all about the live music," says Hackford, who opened One Eyed Jacks in April 2004 after selling his previous music club, the Matador, to actor-magician Harry Anderson. "Overall we try to be the best intimate venue in town as far as aesthetics go, as far as sound goes, and as far as taking care of the artists who play here."
Before Hurricane Katrina, One Eyed Jacks also staged burlesque theater and plans to add it again later.
As far as booking bands, One Eyed Jacks likes to help local bands expand their audience. He frequently hires groups such as Morning 40 Federation, Liquidrone, Supagroup, Happy Talk, Rock City Morgue and Hazard County Girls.
"The local people who play One Eyed Jacks started playing at the Matador and worked their way up to a bigger room," says Hackford, whose move from the Matador increased his audience capacity from 200 to 500. "We're growing with the artists. In the process, we've gotten to get bigger groups that have come through nationally as well." Eat and Win Harrah's New Orleans and Morton's, The Steakhouse are offering a High Steaks package during the weeks of May 11, 17 and 25 that includes a three-course dinner at Morton's Boardroom, followed by a table-side poker seminar conducted by a Harrah's dealer and a tour of the casino's Poker Room all in conjunction with the World Series of Poker Tour at Harrah's later this month. Diners are automatically entered in a drawing to win two tickets to the ESPN filming of the final round of the series on May 26. High Steaks tickets are $130 and each dinner is limited to 20 guests. Call 566-7709 for reservations.
