The Scene: "If people want to go out and have a drunken, wild night, they usually opt for other bars around town," says Brooke, a senior majoring in journalism. "If you're trashed, the music isn't as good." Lawrence has more than its share of boisterous drink tanks, and they're mostly bound by the confines of Mass Street, its main nightcrawling strip. The Bottleneck offers something a little different for college students, locals and folks from all over the Midwest. When the Wailers are playing, you can expect an older crowd from Kansas City. Jared Leto's band, 30 Seconds to Mars, played recently, and after the show he signed T-shirts for 200 drooling women in their teens and 20s. On any given night you'll spot tattooed regulars playing pool, frat boys and sorority girls dancing to the crowd-pleasing Better Than Ezra, or indie-rock fans psyched to catch a rising local outfit. Back in the day, there was also the occasional star sighting that buzzed through the Lawrence community. "About five or six years ago, [Eddie Vedder] played with the Foo Fighters and tickets were going for $300," reminisces Mosiman. "One time Soul Asylum and Freedy Johnston were both in town together, and they ended up on the stage late at night and did a David Bowie medley that brought down the town."

Recent renovations to the Bottleneck have upped the concert-going ante: Sightlines have been improved by way of elevated seating and a raised stage, and better lighting and an improved sound system provided much-needed enhancements. But according to Jamie, a senior majoring in communications, "The Bottleneck has the most disgusting bathrooms in Lawrence." That, and the band stickers and posters littered throughout the club add to the rock club's grungy chic.

Chicks at the Bottleneck: "The girls are young and ultra-hip, and they're very music savvy. The bands always tell me that Lawrence is a very good-looking town," Mosiman explains. Great bands, of course, attract great-looking groupies. "There's been lots of sex [here] over the years -- in the dressing room, on the bus, in the back room or in the cooler," he adds. But the Bottleneck is not as much a meat market as other bars in town. People come to hear good music, not to hook up. "The girls are mostly cute, respectable girls -- not really the sorority type. They'd never turn up on Girls Gone Wild," Brooke says.

When to Go: KU isn't rated one of the nation's top 25 party schools for nothing. Students get their drink on every night, and the Bottleneck packs in its fair share of barhoppers. Monday's open mike night showcases up-and-coming local talent. Budget-conscious students can play free pool Monday through Saturday from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., and Sunday is Fetish Night, catering to Lawrence's darker, Goth crowd.

Dress Code: There's an unwritten rule at the Bottleneck: Everyone must wear shoes. Anything else you put on (or leave off) is fair game.

At the Bar: More than 80 different import and domestic beers are offered, and regulars can participate in the "49'er Club" -- drink 49 of their import beers and you get a T-shirt and your name on a plaque. How's that for incentive? Red Bull drinks and, of course, the ubiquitous shots of Jägermeister are de rigueur among the college contingency.

Where It's At: 737 New Hampshire Street, Lawrence, Kansas

Phone: (785) 842-LIVE

On the Web: www.pipelineproductions.com/Bottleneck.html

Text by Sarah Preston
Photos by John Nowak