JOHNNY V's has always done it louder, faster and cheaper than the other guys. Since opening it's publike confines within a decrepit building on the corner of Santa Clara and Second, the once two-story local boozer's haven (they've had to shut down the upstairs, virtually chopping the bar's capacity in half) has strived to keep up with a downtown nightlife scene that has recently endured the scourge of the recycled nightclub DJ, in which the regular bars are left behind as the faux glitz and perceived glamour of the ultralounge flourish. (Full disclosure: the author of this piece hates ultralounges more than the terrorists hate our freedom to lounge in them.)

The live music scene in San Jo, however, is steadily crawling out of the recent nightclub trash heap and baring its teeth like an aging but scrappy guard dog, and Johnny V's has positioned itself as the ideal place for local bands to get their turn on the small stage for a deserved taste of rock stardom.

"I've been in this business for a long time," says owner Johnny Van Wyk. "Since we've been booking bands I've definitely had a lot more fun."

Easily one of the best bang-for-buck and drink-to-drunk ratios of any bar in downtown, Johnny V's is the self-proclaimed little bar that could. Since the beginning, Johnny has carried out what seems to be his three-part mission to showcase local live talent of the loud-as-fuck variety, stick to a wallet-friendly philosophy and drive the local contingent of tight-knit drunkards to early liver transplants.

"I love it," says Van Wyk, expressing appreciation of his loyal fan base. "We're here for everyone. You get a very cool, eclectic group with the live shows; it's a good scene, it's a good crowd, it feels more like a friends and family-oriented event," but I'm going to call it like I see it and say it's a beer-soaked, liquored-up, damn good time.

"Compared to the Blank Club, we're not in the same league," explains Van Wyk. "They book worldwide acts; we like to keep it small. We're the little guy, the little venue," he muses, "so we're here to serve the little guy."

This week you can catch some hardcore from local punks Law Abiding Citizens throwing down with old-school San Jose punkers El Fuego (a.k.a. the Flames), who recall an anarchic era of punk that blends hardcore '80s riffs with a gutter laureate style, all soaked in lighter fluid and sparked by an angst-fueled blowtorch. Also hitting the bill is the raw, speed-folk bluegrass twang of the Fucking Buckaroos from San Francisco. Their frenetic style of punked-up banjo picking is tethered by their extremely high quality of musicianship and commitment to rock. Completing the lineup are two bands from South Lake, the punk and metal clash of I Dekay and the gritty punk rock of Squatters in Paradise.

And there you have it, kids—five bands for 5 bucks, Johnny V's appreciation and my personal sanction to blow the rest of your paycheck on destroying your liver.

The Fucking Buckaroos, the Flames, Law Abiding Citizens, I Dekay and Squatters in Paradise play at Johnny V's on Friday (Dec. 15) starting at 9pm, 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose; tickets are $5. (408.947.8470)

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