Shot In The Dark: End of an Era

August 01, 2006

End of an Era

"The smoking ban did us in," said Mike Nelson, whose family has owned the bar for all of its 47 years...The Viking had endured a rough reputation over the decades because of occasionally violent incidents, including the stabbing of Nelson's brother, Scott, by a patron in 1996. However, it remained a favorite for blues and folk music fans, thanks in large part to regular Monday gigs by Murphy, his cohort Spider John Koerner and, recently, the Front Porch Swingin' Liquor Pigs.

"I and many other musicians passed out under the pool table," Murphy said. "It's one of the last outposts of West Bank music, and just a legendary bar. It's too bad it has to close."

I never played the Viking, but I spent many a Friday watching one hardscrabble blues or R'nB band playing on their tiny stage in front of their loud, hammered crowds.

Bummer.

Posted by Mitch at August 1, 2006 06:16 AM | TrackBack

Comments

I spent many an evening at the Viking in my day. I recall when the Viking Bar was one of the few places I knew of that had Summit Great Northern Porter on tap. I saw Spider John there many times.
I also remember the Battle Of The Jugs was held there in 1986.
I never saw any violence there, but the stories are many. I suppose they must be true.

Too bad it went under. But such is the price of banning toxic air. I suspect the West Bank will survive. Maybe Joel Johnson would still be alive today if it were not for all those smokey gigs at the Viking. I doubt it. But it's worth postulating just to upset the anti-ban nazis.

Posted by: Diamond Dog at August 1, 2006 10:10 AM