39th Street Sound Machine

How does Bill “Jazzbo” Hargrave prepare for his weekly gig at Jazz? He ties bells to his shoes, straps himself to his chair, licks his fingers and loads his popgun full of streamers. “He’s very charismatic. The kids love him,” says Monday-night bartender, Tonya Hague. Jazzbo, the one-man band (or “junk band” as he likes to call it), has been gracing the corner stage at the Cajun-themed institution for the past four and a half years with his understated versions of the Star Wars and Pink Panther themes, classic waltzes and jazz standards (Billy Strayhorn’s “Take the ‘A-Train’ ” is a favorite) along with an occasional dash of Bartok. From 6 to 9 p.m., Jazzbo offers up dinner music that pairs well with this night’s special: 2 pounds of boiled crawfish and two domestic drafts for $14.99. See jazzkitchens.com.

Mondays; Mon., May 2, 2010