John Adam Wickliffe

Proprietor Scott Giuffre describes Greenville’s Gypsy G’s Roadhouse as “a bar made up of misfits,” but he certainly is not referring to any elves named Hermey.

The colorful locale, positioned directly above the Pickin’ Parlor, has walls covered with photos, string lights and mirrors. The hardwood floor is reminiscent of an inviting home and is a contrast to the usual dingy carpet or cold concrete standard at some dive bars.

One item that is constant at Gypsy G’s, however, is a different independent band almost every night.

“Every night of the week, you don’t know what to expect from the crowd or the bands,” says G. Thomas Jones while downing a Pabst Blue Ribbon.

“I think Gypsy G’s is on the level (former New York, now Las Vegas music club) CBGB’s was years ago. It’s not like anywhere downtown.”

Lifelong Greenville resident Bradley Stewart echoes this sentiment.

“There are different bands here that I would not normally see here (in Greenville),” he says. “Every place else plays the same old cover bands or jam bands. Most of the people in Greenville don’t really care about hearing new music or anything that’s different than the basic concept of music.”

He comes to Gypsy G’s “for the people who work at the bar. They treat you like a real person.”

A lot of people, including Billie Cope who was alternating playing pool with Brandon Sloan and sipping on a vodka tonic, come for another reason, too.

“Cheap drinks,” he said.

It’s a potent combination that draws a constant crowd looking for bargain beverages and beatnik bands.

Tonight’s band is Cold Hands out of Knoxville, and while the levels are a bit high, the energy in the decently-sized crowd — clad in everything from casual formal to grunge — is as diverse as the audience.

On the clientele that Gypsy G’s caters to, Giuffre says it is certainly “a wide variety of people. We have some older folks, some skate punks, some regular crowd, neighborhood bar-types and a lot of service industry people.”

But the music remains a focus of the venue.

“We’re starting to have an influx of bands that are on independent labels that travel around,” he says.

“We are not focusing on bands that are already established. My goal when I opened up the place is to be the CBGB’s of Greenville.”

Giuffre added that “we’re providing a stage for people who might not otherwise have a stage.”

And because music is a focus of the scene, the stage itself provides a very intimate music experience.

Anyone who wants to be up-close and personal with the band can get as close as they want to a smallish stage elevated about a foot off the main floor.

“We have a variety of acoustic duos and acoustic singles doing original material, and old-time country to just indie-rock. We do heavy rock and heavy metal showcases, too,” he says.

Giuffre’s not only the proprietor of the place, but brings authority on the focus because he is a musician himself.

“Gypsy G’s is run by a local musician, so I think he has a different perspective than most bar owners,” says regular Michael Merck.

“The diversity and local variation he has in local music is something different than other bars downtown.”

Sitting on the outskirts of the main city center, Gypsy G’s “is on the outer perimeter and that’s attractive to a lot of people,” he continues.

“Downtown has become very cookie-cutter, and this is kind of a misfit-toys section.”

“We’re not trying to be happening,” Guiffre says.

“We’d rather know everybody and everybody knows us. People come in and we ask them their names, and we want to have a nice friendly environment for people to come in and have a good time.”

Gypsy G’s Roadhouse is located at 520 Rutherford Road in Greenville. It is open 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday to Sunday; happy hour is daily 6-8 p.m.; and entertainment options include pool, karaoke, live music, darts and dance floor. Regulars say to check out the chili dogs or Scott’s homemade tacos.

Patrons enjoy drinks, food, comaraderie

Rob Searfoss doesn’t often come into Chiefs Wings and Firewater, but tonight, after his Hillcrest lost a disappointing 41-18 contest with Boiling Springs, he needed something to eat.

It was 11 p.m., and most kitchens in the Upstate are closed at this late hour.

But at Chiefs, it’s Service Industry Night, and after the Monday night football has punted the last fan from the bar stools, the weary crew that served you all night gets some rest of its own.

Searfoss says he “came out here to have a drink before I go home and contemplate the loss.”

While munching on some Chiefs’ Chips, he says what draws him is the atmosphere.

“There’s always something going on, whether it’s sports, karaoke or live music,” he says.

From the outside, Chiefs’ year-old location on Congaree Road looks like any other wings bar. But one step into the place and one is surrounded by a number of options in this spacious bar — pool tables, televisions everywhere, and a dance floor that makes the spot almost a mini dance club.

Homey wood paneling stretching far overhead in the vaulted ceiling makes Chiefs feel like home to regulars and non-regulars alike. The glow of the bar is complemented above by a number of televisions. Tonight, most are tuned to the football game, but a few have figure skating on — a respite for the more tender sports fans amongst the clientele.

On the far right side of the bar is something one would not expect. As pulse-pounding techno music blasts through, colorful lights keep up the pace on the dance floor. Friday and Saturday DJ dance parties keep this place humming when what’s on the tube might not.

General manager Nathan Hall says the Chiefs name comes from an owner’s family trip to Tucson, Ariz., where they shared recipes and inspiration for the Southern flavor that the place has provided for years.

Sean Patrick Gallagher, who has been a bartender at Chiefs for seven months, thinks what keeps the place unique is the atmosphere, regulars and the staff. This full-time student says he’ll serve close to 200 service industry personnel tonight and finds solace in their commonality.

“The people know each other because we all work in the same industry,” he says. “It’s about the only time we have to hang out with each other after work.”

Sitting a barstool over, John Cabrera found the best place to take some time to relax was the very place he works. Cabrera, a Chiefs bartender on his day off, says people enjoy service industry night because of “the camaraderie of people who also serve and know how you feel, so they treat you right.”

“It’s a family atmosphere where you can get a beer, have a good time and BS with everyone who works here,” he says.

Watching guard over patrons’ drinks like a trained soldier, bartender Meghan Garrett never lets any of the clientele have to wait for their drink. She spends a good chunk of the night pacing the way, keeping a keen eye out for empty glasses.

She says that’s what sets Chiefs apart.

“We’ve got personality,” she said. “We’re all happy and chipper here.”

“It’s like ‘Friends,’ because everybody here is friends. You come in, we learn your name and we know your name forever.”

One group that comes to Chiefs on a regular basis is a group of servers and employees of the local Outback Steakhouse.

Server Gina VanKirk, who has been with the company for 61/2 years and 14 months at the Greenville location, says it’s nice to have some role reversal after a hard day’s work.

“We can dance and cut up and blow off some stress,” she says. “Because of the kind of work we do, we like to have someone else take care of us for a little while .”

Chiefs Wings and Firewater is located at 723 Congaree Road in Greenville. It is open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday to Friday and 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday. Call 288-4177.