Shot In The Dark: Return Of The Blues (Saloon)?

May 24, 2006

Return Of The Blues (Saloon)?

In the eighties and early nineties, the Blues Saloon gave malevolent dives a good name.

The saloon - a grungy open room that felt like a converted barn, above a pizzeria at the corner of Thomas and Western, deep in heart of Frogtown - booked music from the national blues circuit; it was the best place in town to hear the blues.

It also had a weekly open stage jam that welcomed all manner of amateurs and slumming pros. I used to bring my guitar and/or harmonica down from time to time.

It closed, as do all the great bars; it became a lesbian bar.

Maybe the owners are seeing the error of their ways; they're dipping their finger back in the Blues biz:

Except that Club Moonlight Magic hasn't actually changed its name back to Blues Saloon. The joint is merely booking blues acts once again, on the first, second, and third Fridays of every month ($5 Cover Charge; the last night of the month is a lesbian-friendly dance night), with the www.bluessaloon.net web site advertising the bar to old regulars. (There are also rumors of a Wednesday blues jam.)

Who says prayer doesn't work?

Posted by Mitch at May 24, 2006 06:36 AM | TrackBack

Comments

Mitch, between The Cabooze and the Blues Saloon, there's no telling how often you and I crossed paths back in the day, in the same jumpin' room as last call approached. I saw Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (R.I.P.) at the Blues saloon one night, one of perhaps seven or eight times I saw his show, from Austin, to N.O. , to Chicago, and the Twin Cities. Mr. Brown was always great, but the night in St. Paul stood out, for he was absolutely ON FIRE, walking around the small room with a guitar or fiddle, switching back and forth between different American musical idioms. It may be the single greatest musical performance I've witnessed, and I lived in live music clubs for about fifteen years. It warms might heart to hear that venue is booking live blues acts once more.

Posted by: Will Allen at May 24, 2006 08:59 AM

"my heart", of course. I think recalling the event affected my keyboard skills, which are negligible to begin with.

Posted by: Will Allen at May 24, 2006 09:03 AM

The first time i heard about the history of that building, it just blew me away to think of all those great artists who played in a small bar not but a long walk from my current home.

Fulrcum

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