Do My Eyes Deceive Me?
By Mitch Berg
Years ago, Wilebski’s “Blues Saloon” was the cornerstone of the local blues scene. The tumbledown second-story tavern at Thomas and Western in Saint Paul was a stop on the regional blues circuit, and hosted one of the better open-stage nights in town every Monday.
And then, like most good things in the world of bars, it came to an end. The club went through a number of identities; a couple of wan attempts at wan R’nB bars, with a shot at a gay bar in the middle somewhere.
But I was riding by on the 67 bus the other day, and saw the banners on the sides of the building: “Wilebski’s Blues Saloon”.
Yow.
I’ll be looking for details.
January 14th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Wilebski’s
January 14th, 2010 at 11:41 am
I’ve never been to Wilebski’s but you got me thinking of an old blues club in Mpls, sadly torn down long-long ago (the property has been a McD’s for many years now; sigh!). I’m refering to the old “Silver Dollar Saloon”. It was on Lake Street right next to 35W. The place was a big hall with attached piano bar, they only served 3.2 beer. Back in the very early ’70’s we’d hang out there to listen and dance to groups like Lamont Cranston Blues Band; Koerner, Ray & Glover; Willie Murphy and the Bees; Muddy Waters; Bonnie Raitt; on and on. Probably one of the few things I miss from that era.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
The STrib had this a few weeks ago…
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/80061912.html?page=2&c=y
Frogtown: home of the blues once again
Twin Cities blues fans have a giant reason to celebrate 2010 — the return of St. Paul’s fabled Wilebski’s Blues Saloon, the best venue for gritty, groovy sounds in the 1980s, and unmatched ever since. It booked enough legends to fill a Hall of Fame (or, sadly, a cemetery), including Luther Allison, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker and Etta James. Still full of enthusiasm, Ted Wilebski is back in the saddle, helping son Ted Wilebski III attempt a new era of 12-bar domination. “I’m gonna conquer the world again, that’s the plan,” Wilebski said, laughing. “Seriously, I’m just gonna rent the upstairs room of Moonlight Magic, the club that’s in the old Wilebski’s space, for a while. I’m hoping to have a long-term relationship — if I get the right people coming back, and the right talent coming in, my son and son-in-law should do well.” Wilebski already has a swell kickoff booked next weekend, with hometown hero Willie Murphy ushering in 2010 with his Angel Headed Hipsters on Thursday ($15-$20; http://www.williemurphy.net), local legend Mojo Buford next Friday and the Butanes Jan. 2. “It’s like going back to junior high,” said Butanes frontman Curt Obeda, who helped book the club, at 601 N. Western Av., in its glory days. “Ted’s just a good-natured lug.”
TOM SUROWICZ