Hi Tone is getting high toned.
The iconic Midtown nightspot will introduce its own beer at a launch party on July 25th.
“It’s the Hi Tone ‘Band Beer,’” says owner Brian “Skinny” McCabe. “It’s kind of a light American lager. It’s 4.5 ABV. And it’s crushable, crisp, and clean.”
The beer, which is made at Meddlesome Brewing Company, sports a picture of a guitar amp, the Hi Tone building, and its logo. The can is black. “All the bands we have play at our place are black T-shirt connoisseurs. Just like myself.”
Asked why he wanted his own beer, McCabe says, “I’ve been to a lot of other places that have beers and stuff geared towards their tradition and just different styles. Like Huey’s has their own beer. I was like, ‘Man, I really want our own beer that differentiates, kind of celebrates, what it is we do with the live action music scene.’
“We have bands every single night of the week. And I wanted to get a beer going that was easily approachable. It just looks cool to have a beer specifically for the bands. That we can offer at a discount.”
He wanted the beer to be “laid-back,” McCabe says. “We want it to be approachable and still have some alcohol in it. We don’t want something that’s going to bog you down. You’ve got to play a show. Drink a couple of beers when you get off the road.”
Customers also can buy the beer, but the price will be marked up, McCabe says.
The first three cases — 72 beers — will be free at the launch party, which will be from 7 to 10 p.m. No cover charge.
McCabe came up with the idea for the Hi Tone beer five years ago. He revisited it when he was looking through some notes he made on his phone.
Meddlesome was the perfect place to brew the beer. People who work at the brewery visit and even play shows at the Hi Tone, McCabe says. Also, Meddlesome is “very music-driven and just full of music heads,” he says. The brewery hosts its own music events, including the annual Heavy Meddle Fest, which features metal bands.
He asked Chris Hamlett, a Meddlesome brewer who plays Hi Tone solo gigs as well as with Mike Hewlett & the Racket band, who he needed to talk to about making a beer.
McCabe is pleased with the result. “From what I tasted and the beer packaging, I think we’re going to sell a lot of it.”
He doesn’t want to stop at one type of beer. “I’d love to incorporate some other styles in there as well.”
The beer has to match the type of music played at Hi Tone. “As long as it aligns with what we’re doing, I think there’s unlimited possibilities,” says McCabe, who is already thinking about an “indie rock IPA.”
With beer, you want pizza. Right? Hi Tone makes cheese, pepperoni, sausage, and caprese pizzas. The caprese includes dried basil, mozzarella cheese, and sliced tomatoes. You can order one to share or get a personal pizza all for yourself.
The nightspot also offers “Take & Bake” pizzas for takeout. “We make them in house and we wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them. And give you instructions on the box and a special sauce we put on them. And you’re out the door.”
Their New York-style pizzas have a “cracker crust,” McCabe says. “I love a super-duper thin crust.”
They use a rich mozzarella cheese on their pizzas. “The kicker is, we use this garlic butter sauce. We drizzle it in a spiral all the way around it.”
McCabe is already making plans for Hi Tone’s 25th anniversary celebration, which will be held October 4th, 5th, and 6th. “Given a move or two and the occasional pandemic, there’s no better time than now to celebrate 25 years of the Hi Tone.”
The festival will include performances by Lucero, Dead Soldiers, Star & Micey, Pezz, Subteens, HEELS, new heavy metal bands, and a “super secret announcement.”
Hi Tone began at 1911 Poplar Avenue. McCabe took over in 2014 after Hi Tone moved to 412-414 Cleveland Street. In 2020, it moved to its current address at 282-284 Cleveland Street.
It was called “Hi-Tone Cafe,” McCabe says. “I just call it Hi Tone. No dash.”
But, he says, “It’s ‘Hi Tone Cafe’ or ‘Hi Tone.’ Just don’t call it ‘High Tone.’ I hate that.”