Josh Hager is known around town for lighting
his balls on fire and having the occasional brawl with Russell
Crowe, but we’ll get to those stories in a minute. Oh
yeah, he has also been the manager of Club Deville for almost
two years. I might add that he will probably become famous
on a few gay porn web-sites after this photo spread. As a
permanent fixture at Deville, I’ve known Josh for several
years and thought he would be a great Rank and Revue Centerfold.
My theory was validated when he pulled up in his truck with
his dog Bud, and asked me, “What do you think about
a picture with me naked, holding a bottle of Yager in front
of my crotch?” I thought this was a grand idea. His
super cool wife, Amanda, reluctantly gave him the thumbs up
as well. Josh is a conundrum. What kind of man will suggest
a naked photo spread and later spend two hours lining up each
liquor bottle exactly one inch apart, labels front and center,
and all spouts pointed to left? I suppose the answer to that
query is: A bar manager who was released from the US Marine
Core with an “Other-than-honorable- discharge”
while driving a tank in the desert.
Club Deville just celebrated its six year
anniversary. Its success is no surprise due to the kick- ass
drinks and smart-aleck employees. Deville has something for
everyone. For those who like to stalk the rich and famous,
Club Deville should become a regular stop on your hunting
circuit. Dave Attel filmed there for his TV show, Insomniac.
Owen and Luke Wilson held a party for their new movie, ‘The
Wendell Baker Story’ at the back bar. Jeanine Garafalo,
Dennis Quaid, David Cross of ‘Mr. Show’, Sandra
Bullock and of course Josh’s old buddy Russell Crowe
have all been known to stop in for a cocktail. One might ask,”
How in the hell did Josh end up in a fight with Russell Crowe?”
Apparently, Russell doesn’t like being called Barbara
Streisand in regards to smoke machines and other over-the-top
props for his “band”. Josh made the mistake of
sharing this comparison with Mr. Crowe. Nor does he like to
be asked, “How does it feel to be a Rock Star?”
I’m sure that question was just dripping with sarcasm.
Let’s just say things erupted from there and I’ll
just leave it at that. Amends were made by both parties the
following day.
Midway into the interview, Josh told me he
once lit his scrotum on fire. Obviously, I was intrigued.
He walked into a party of strangers and said he would perform
this stunt for a mere twenty dollars. The party-goers scrounged
up a wad of cash and he dowsed his boys with 151, lit a match,
and sure enough they were ablaze. Although he received brief
local fame from this stunt and it wasn’t really painful,
he reports that he is now retired from lighting any part of
his body on fire.
As long as we are on the subject of fire;
let me move to the advice portion of my column. Attention
Deville patrons, do not replicate the following behavior.
A customer was throwing lit matches at Josh one evening after
a marathon happy hour. Josh politely redirected him several
times, but the inebriated fellow continued to light and throw
matches, finally one hit Josh and burned the back of his neck.
Josh grabbed a can of WD-40 and a lighter and shot that boy
with a face full of flames. Slightly singed and now laying
on the floor, the guy squeaked out an apology and vacated
the premises.
Before anyone thinks that Josh is an out of
control pyromaniac, I would like to mention that he the entire
bar staff at Club Deville are complete professionals. I know
from personal experience that they will buy you a taxi home
if you need one, let you hear the music you like, debate politics,
and challenge you to a game of dominoes, Operation or Atari(depending
on who’s working). These guys, and the ladies too, can
make a Tuesday afternoon at the bar seem like the best gig
in town. The drinks are infamously strong and they are known
for their house shot “The Ghost of Bobby Duncan”
and Lana’s “Sake Bomb”. Josh wanted to thank
the owners of Deville; Abigail, Michael, and Nathan for providing
him such a great opportunity. The Deville staff are Josh’s
best friends and he had compliments for each of them for me
to print, but I’m out of space. I guess, “Team
Yager” should sum it up. Josh is a newlywed. He and
his wife Amanda married last month in Cape Cod. Congratulations!
You can see more of Josh, and I mean that literally, on October
15 @ 8pm when he will be modeling something risqué
from Legs Diamond at the Fall Deville Fashion Show.
-Joelle Bart
