When the Beatles released Rubber Soul in 1965, it was said to be their most eclectic album yet. Winston-Salem’s own Rubber Soul may only have been in business for five of those years, but it’s been time well spent. Five days per week, they host local music in a venue that’s part bar, part stage and all small-joint atmosphere.

Catch concerts every night but Sunday and Tuesday – and with music variety this varied, you’ll never be bored. Part of the Home Grown Music Network, a nationwide consortium of bands and venues, Rubber Soul plays host to both local and national names.

One night, find bands like Taobob Krewe, an African tribal music group from Asheville, and the next, you could find the likes of Luminescent Orchestra, who hail from Soho, NY.

But a great music club must be more than a place where you would want to see a show—it needs great character. Rubber Soul has that in spades. The exposed brick walls are covered in concert posters and band stickers of acts that have performed there. The place is slightly dingy and dirty, but then again, what great music club isn’t?

Right in front of the bar is the stage—if you could call it that. It's more like a slightly elevated platform. This blurs the line between the fan and the band.

To the left of the bar is a pool table room, so you can shoot a round or two in between sets.

But Rubber Soul isn’t just a place for obscure jammers and funky locals. Well-known artists like Bruce Hampton and the Codetalkers (who are scheduled to appear again on October 13), Lucinda Williams and Oteil and the Peacemakers have graced the stages.

Ironically, Monday is their biggest night – and admission is free. Winston-Salem’s own Solos Unit, a hip hop/R&B/jazz fusion band, usually play that evening (check out their MySpace profile.

Not up for going out on a Monday? Thursdays (another local music night) admission is free too, and a monthly concert schedule is located on their web site. Admission for all other concerts generally ranges from $5-7, although some of the bigger names, like the Codetalkers, are around $10.

If you’re looking to display your own talent, Wednesday’s open mic nights are a great place to get a start. Anyone can call on Tuesday at 4:00 to secure a 30-minute time slot.

It should be mentioned that Rubber Soul is “members only”. Membership is $1 and is obtained by filling out a form with your name and email address. They email members a newsletter of upcoming shows.

But you can do more than just catch a great band – the bar is located in the middle of the building and divides the space. With a vast selection of tap and bottle beers and a very extensive liquor list, they offer nearly any type of alcohol one may desire. You’ll find a variety of seasonal brews like Wild Hops Pale Ale and many of the beers brewed at Foothills on tap. Bottled beers are the usual suspects: Budweiser, Heineken, Sam Adams and the like. For a complete drink list, check the website.

Check out the drink specials while you’re at it – the bartenders pick them nightly. Sometimes this means discounts on the tap beers, other times it means discounts on cocktails of the night like Rum Punch. The other drink prices are par for the course with the other bars in the city.

Domestic bottled beer is $2.75 (PBR is only $2.00, though) while imports are $3.75. A small well drink is $4.75 while a large is $6.75; call drinks are a dollar more while premium drinks charge another dollar on top of that. Prices are the same for shots.

Rubber Soul has a downtown vibe – it isn’t like Ziggy’s, which attracts more mainstream venues. So if you are looking for a new place to socialize with friends and catch a show or two, look no further than Rubber Soul, one of Winston-Salem’s most eclectic and exciting hot spots.