Juke Joints That Really Jump

Many of them have gone digital and few will give you two tunes for two bits anymore, but I still love jukeboxes. If a joint has a jukebox, I can program my social excursion. I can eat chicken vindaloo with Tom Waits as background or suck down a Cuba Libre as Los Zafiros sets the mood. There are hundreds to choose from in the L.A. area.

Here are some of my favorites:

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The 101 Coffee Shop

6145 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles

Known as the “last cappuccino before the 101,” it gets points for a fabulous breakfast burrito and a machine with super-groovy selections. My favorite two tunes: “100 Years From Now,” by the Byrds, and “Feeling Good,” by Nina Simone. Also playing: The Who, Kraftwerk, the Music Machine, Serge Gainsbourg, Holly Golightly, Johnny Cash, Lee Scratch Perry and Laura Veirs.

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Short Stop

1455 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles

A former watering hole for cops, it’s co-owned by Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers frontman Greg Dulli. There’s no sign, but the music slips and slides out onto the street. My favorites: “Creep,” by TLC, and “Waltz #2,” by Elliott Smith. Also playing: Francoise Hardy, Bobbie Gentry, Prince Buster, Howlin’ Wolf and a nice sampling of locals, including the 88, Dengue Fever and Autolux.

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Malo

4326 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles

Nothing goes with the Rose Petal and Chocolate grilled chicken like this eclectic mix. My favorites: “Portions For Foxes,” by Rilo Kiley, and “Roadrunner,” by Jonathan Richman. Also playing: Arcade Fire, Nick Drake, Sufjan Stevens, Parliament, LCD Soundsystem, the Beatles, Snow Patrol, M.I.A., the Flying Burrito Bros., Tom Waits and Dr. Dre.

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Swingers

802 Broadway, Santa Monica

With its Andy Warhol cow paintings and tattooed love-girl waitresses, it’s got something for everyone to sing along to. My favorites: “We Will Become Silhouettes,” by the Postal Service, and “God Only Knows,” by the Beach Boys. Also playing: Funkadelic, Frank Sinatra, DJ Krush, Humble Pie, Morphine, the Roots and New York Dolls.

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Jones

7205 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood

This is the place with the highest decibel-level jukebox in town. My favorites: “4th of July, Asbury Park,” by Bruce Springsteen, and “Y Control,” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Also playing: PJ Harvey, Spoon and T. Rex.