A Hut Above

One of the best things about hanging out in a tiny barroom is that you get to rub elbows with lots of folks. At Linda’s Doll Hut in Anaheim, elbows come in all political, social and musical bents.

This former home (in the ‘20s), truck stop (in the ‘40s) and pool hall (in the ‘50s) is now an incubator for grass-roots bands performing blues, punk, country, rock and punkabilly.

Alternative bands Social Distortion and Offspring hatched their careers here, and the James Harman Band, based in Huntington Beach, stops in when not playing the blues in some other country.

Only 75 fans can crowd in at a time, but musicians love the joint.

Owner Linda Jemison keeps the cover charge low (about $5) and treats the performers like royalty. This generates profits about as big as cue chalk, but tight budgets don’t translate to tight fists at the Doll Hut.

For 13 years, Jemison, a former social worker, has organized a musical fund-raiser for children’s charities such as Orangewood Children’s Home, Canyon Acres and CHOC, as well as for the Red Cross and Aids Services Foundation. The date and lineup for this December’s fund-raiser hasn’t been set, but you can call (714) 533-1286 to get information as the event takes shape.

When not planning benefits, Jemison, 32, sets the club’s mood, books the acts and sometimes runs the sound system. She’s also a talent scout for Time Bomb Records, a talent buyer for private functions and has been know to gently take a part in the management of some bands.

“I don’t like to say I manage them,” she says. “It’s more like mothering them, helping with their careers.”

That’s just how things are at the Doll Hut. It’s the kind of cozy place where everyone performs more than one job just to keep things rolling and make sure everybody can squeeze in.