Some bars, particularly franchise-type places, try to manufacture an old-time saloon feel.

Downtown Boise bar Pengilly’s Saloon, which is celebrating a remodel and expansion all weekend, is not some bar.

“This,” owner Allen Ireland says proudly, “is an authentic old-time saloon.”

Taking a break from touch-up painting, Ireland pours two waters in front of the oak Brunswick back bar, which was built in the early 1900s. He sits on a stool and nods toward Pengilly’s new room, the former space of Boise Guitar Co., which closed in 2010.

“It’s cheaper and easier to cover up things with plastic and sheet rock and carpet,” Ireland says, motioning with a hand that has Band-Aids on two fingers. “The idea of this was to strip the building down to its original form.”

Pengilly’s, started in 1976, deserved nothing less. Over the course of three decades, it became a Downtown institution at 513 W. Main St., serving as a meeting spot for politicians, lawyers and Idaho characters. Aside from offering live music most nights, it had a hard-earned reputation for clouds of smoke, a miniscule corner stage and cramped seating.

Ireland, who purchased Pengilly’s in 2007, quickly made the bar smoke-free without creating too much controversy.

By doubling the size of Pengilly’s with this remodel, he’s made it downright comfortable.

Best of all, with oak whiskey barrels and large wooden tables and chairs, Pengilly’s expansion somehow feels like it’s always been there.

Ireland, the longtime owner of Downtown indie-rock nightclub Neurolux, also happens to collect “1800s artifacts and architectural elements — stuff like that,” he explains matter of factly.

He’s the guy who brought in the buffalo head mounted on the brick wall and the Odd Fellows Hall bench and banners. He’s the guy who takes pride that the new bathrooms have old-stock ceiling tiles and cast-iron sinks. He’s the guy who forked over the money for a hand-screened reproduction of 1800s wallpaper from the Gold Coin Casino in Central City, Colo.

After tearing out the carpet in Pengilly’s old and new rooms, Ireland found wood floors. Perfect.

And that vaudeville-style stage that’s three times as big as the old one? The archway and columns came from the Aero Club in Portland, Ireland says, which was active 60 or 70 years ago.

It will be interesting to see how musicians react to the luxurious digs. Outlaw-country singer Jeremiah James — an ex-local favorite of Pengilly’s regulars — will return from his new home in North Dakota to headline the grand opening Sept. 23 and 24. The Pengilly’s All-Stars will headline Sept. 25.

Ireland isn’t sure what crowd the new Pengilly’s might attract. He’s thinking larger groups of bargoers, since the new round tables seat eight instead of two. And maybe a few dudes who want to blow a few quarters in the Harley-Davidson pinball machine or shoot pool.

Boiseans who just love … Pengilly’s.

“At night,” Ireland adds, “it has a nice, warm glow of a candle.”

Something about having rich tradition in a bar does that, I think.

WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES?

It appears that in the world of Michael McDonald, what a fool believes is that famous singers will use their voices in concert.

Reportedly plagued by medical issues, McDonald surprised fans and organizers by deciding he would not, or could not, sing at Sunday’s Eagle River Pavilion show. Pavilion ownership says McDonald did not share this news until fans already were entering.

Co-headliner Boz Scaggs performed an opening set. After a break, he joined McDonald on stage for a shorter set. Scaggs handled lead vocals while McDonald played keyboards and jammed through songs such as “Takin’ It to the Streets.”

Understandably, some fans were not happy. Sure, I get that “the show must go on” — and kudos to McDonald for taking the stage despite vocal problems — but the classy move would have been for McDonald to offer a make-up gig. Or something.

Fans left Eagle River Pavilion with a slightly better taste in their mouths 24 hours later. (Or was that the blotter acid?) Psychedelic-rockers The Flaming Lips ended the venue’s season Monday. Review, page 15.

Michael Deeds co-hosts “The Other Studio” at 9 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 FM “The River”; he appears Thursdays on Channel 6 News. Twitter: @IDS_DeedsM