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Still Drinkin, Smokin, Rockin and Rollin: An Oral History of New Hope's John & Peter's
John & Peter’s, a bar that boasts over 50 years of continuous music, remains the eye of the hurricane in New Hope, as gentrification swirls around it. The original John and Peter preserved the integrity of the bar by selling it five years ago to some of their dedicated employees, so the beat goes on.
Amy Yates Wuelfing, author of the critically acclaimed oral history “No Slam Dancing, No Stage Diving, No Spikes,” and “Hard Times An Anthology of ‘80s Punk & Hardcore” embarked upon this labor of love with Joan Arkuszewski and Loren Hunt. Crafted through hundreds of hours of interviews and archival research, this comprehensive oral history lays out the narrative of a small, charming dive of a bar that has persevered through the decades by providing the local community with entertainment and a sense of belonging.
It’s not the most famous venue in the annals of rock though lauded and loved by musicians and patrons from far and wide, but New Hope’s most eclectic (and that’s saying a lot for such a town) spot for live music is more than just a venue. Part watering hole, part town square, part living history, John & Peter’s has stood for five decades and its stage has seen an amazing array of performers, artists, and personalities. Hosting live music 365 days a year, John & Peter’s has showcased more than 48,000 musicians and entertained more than 640,000 guests since the first performance in 1972.
John & Peter’s started as a hippie coffee shop with an emphasis on original live music. Before long, it morphed into a tiny “dive bar” that’s hosted thousands of musicians from every genre, along with drag queens, comedians, and the legendary weekly jam known as “The Invitational.”
“As bars and clubs become more and more homogenized, preserving the history of a place like John & Peter’s is priceless,” says Amy. “It’s the idea of one man starting a coffee shop that became a beacon for artists in every medium. One person can make a difference to an entire community, and this, even more than the music, makes this such a rich and textured story.”
More than just the music, J&P’s is the creation of its easygoing founder John Larsen, whose principles of inclusiveness and generosity continue to this day. Gay, straight, young, old, Black, and White all find a place to call home. No questions asked, no judgments passed. Ween, George Thorogood, Frank Stallone, Rhett Miller, and an early Penn & Teller, have all graced J&P’s stage. Same with blues great Clarence Gatemouth Brown, The Chambers Brothers, and Ritchie Cole, among 10’s of thousands of others.
John & Peter’s is often mentioned with the same reverence of storied cantinas and vaunted, intimate gathering places like CBGB. One of J&P’s distinctions is that it remains the longest running nightclub in the country dedicated to musicians who play original material. Stories of wild nights, amazing performances, and general rock n’ roll weirdness abound.
Amy Yates Wuelfing, author of the critically acclaimed oral history “No Slam Dancing, No Stage Diving, No Spikes,” and “Hard Times An Anthology of ‘80s Punk & Hardcore” embarked upon this labor of love with Joan Arkuszewski and Loren Hunt. Crafted through hundreds of hours of interviews and archival research, this comprehensive oral history lays out the narrative of a small, charming dive of a bar that has persevered through the decades by providing the local community with entertainment and a sense of belonging.
It’s not the most famous venue in the annals of rock though lauded and loved by musicians and patrons from far and wide, but New Hope’s most eclectic (and that’s saying a lot for such a town) spot for live music is more than just a venue. Part watering hole, part town square, part living history, John & Peter’s has stood for five decades and its stage has seen an amazing array of performers, artists, and personalities. Hosting live music 365 days a year, John & Peter’s has showcased more than 48,000 musicians and entertained more than 640,000 guests since the first performance in 1972.
John & Peter’s started as a hippie coffee shop with an emphasis on original live music. Before long, it morphed into a tiny “dive bar” that’s hosted thousands of musicians from every genre, along with drag queens, comedians, and the legendary weekly jam known as “The Invitational.”
“As bars and clubs become more and more homogenized, preserving the history of a place like John & Peter’s is priceless,” says Amy. “It’s the idea of one man starting a coffee shop that became a beacon for artists in every medium. One person can make a difference to an entire community, and this, even more than the music, makes this such a rich and textured story.”
More than just the music, J&P’s is the creation of its easygoing founder John Larsen, whose principles of inclusiveness and generosity continue to this day. Gay, straight, young, old, Black, and White all find a place to call home. No questions asked, no judgments passed. Ween, George Thorogood, Frank Stallone, Rhett Miller, and an early Penn & Teller, have all graced J&P’s stage. Same with blues great Clarence Gatemouth Brown, The Chambers Brothers, and Ritchie Cole, among 10’s of thousands of others.
John & Peter’s is often mentioned with the same reverence of storied cantinas and vaunted, intimate gathering places like CBGB. One of J&P’s distinctions is that it remains the longest running nightclub in the country dedicated to musicians who play original material. Stories of wild nights, amazing performances, and general rock n’ roll weirdness abound.
340 pages, Hardcover
Published July 24, 2023
6 people want to read
About the author
Amy Yates Wuelfing
4 books6 followersAmy Yates Wuelfing has been a music journalist since 1985 when she helped publish the punk ‘zine Hard Times. Since that time she has written for other music publications including B-Side and HITS. She is a graduate of Temple University and is currently Vice President of Marketing at business consulting firm.
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