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We’re mourning the latest casualty of the war on jukeboxes, as news comes to us via Rock Creek Rambler that earlier this month Fox and Hounds took the plunge and replaced their jukebox with a new-fangled super computer known as the Touchtunes digital music player. While the old jukebox was beloved by many for its rustic charms and eclectic CD collection, the Touchtunes cares not for the trifling whims of mortals. The ersatz jukebox is not really a box at all, nor does it juke. It is a flatscreen portal hanging on the wall, and rumor has it that if you stare at it for too long you start involuntarily singing “Fergalicious.”
The switch to a digital music player makes good business sense: bar patrons pay slightly more per song, but an increased selection means that more people are drawn into the Touchtunes’ all-powerful orbit. The new music player also brings with it a fancy new Bose speaker system, so even though music junkies may not like the songs as much, at least the sound quality has gotten an upgrade.
Fox and Hounds owner George Mallios gave us manifold reasons for the technological revolution. First of all, “times change, and you have to change with the times.” More specifically, George pointed out that removing the bulky jukebox gave him room to put in one more table and a few chairs. He’s also in the process of getting rid of the bar’s cigarette vending machine in preparation for the 2007 smoking ban, so it seemed like an apt time to rethink Fox and Hound’s layout.
Lastly, George has heard some frightening rumors about the legal repercussions of stocking a jukebox with burnt CDs. These hand-crafted mixes played a big part in shaping the character of Fox and Hounds; now they sit piled up in the bar’s storage room. But, as with all things in life, there is a trade-off. The Touchtunes boasts online shopping options, so happy hour customers who’ve had one too many of Fox and Hounds’ notoriously strong rail drinks may find themselves purchasing an $84 wristwatch! Hilarity ensues.
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the end of an era. so sad. although, you could see it coming when george put in the large screen tv's.
regardless, still strongest drinks in the city. and great tenders.
The biggest problem with digital jukeboxes is that they have the ability to, and often do, only offer certain songs from an album (probably the ones you're tired of hearing). No more entertaining the crowd with that 14-minute b-side you love.
I find that those new fangled jukeboxes, while lacking the charm of the old ones, often have a surprising variety of albums. Hell, it was on one of those that I recently serenaded a bar with Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good". I was pleasantly surprised at how few people began wretching.
Perhaps the public is ripe for a flugel horn revival.
There goes what might have been the best jukebox in the District.
This move gets a double-thumbs-down-plus-raspberry from this guy.
we reported on this last week. who is this rambler guy??? the juke box at the fox is indeed one of those that limits you to only a set list of artists and songs. sad, indeed . . .
Well at least the explanation makes more sense this time. On another site that covered this topic recently they made it sound like the smoking ban itself was the reason for the jukebox change. Rather than the removal of the vending machine prompting them to look at remodeling/renovation and the desire to add more seating (but I though the ban was supposed to reduce business?). But I digress.
Still sucks. As mentioned above, I hate that oftentimes these Internet jukeboxes lack several tracks off an album, forcing you to pay extra to download them.
They talked about this in the going out gurus last Thursday. They blamed the smoking ban. (A statemement that I questioned, saying the owner is to blame.)
If anyone wants to thank me for paying the extra dollar to download "Graduation (Friends Forever)" onto the Buffalo Billiards jukebox, it would be much appreciated.
I've been popping by the Fox for more years than I care to admit. The jukebox was a draw. Sure, the drinks win, but the jukebox was part of the social nature of the fox. I met people talking about songs. I'm one of those people that never really knows the name of a song, or who plays it, and the internet jukes suck for me. But I could always count on the Fox Box to jog my memory. Sad sad days.
Maybe RJ at townwouse step up for y'all old-timers
Townhouse replaced theirs too, I believe.
Townhouse replaced thiers, too, huh. Maybe someone in the biz is going around making deals they can't refuse?
The new Townhouse jukebox is an abortion. The best electronic jukeboxes are at DC9 and The Big Hunt respectively. Although both could use more Avril Lavigne.
Backing up my speculation:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/citydesk/2006/12/music-bad-day-to-be-bootlegger.html
Interesting about the attempted spin re: smoking ban...
There's been a guy playing flugelhorn outside Farragut North lately.. the revival's on!
Anyway, my guess for the change is simple: He gets a bigger cut from the new unit, and there's less maintenance.