The bar and main seating area are up front, close to First Street, and the dance floor and stage are at the back. #OnThisDay January 5th, 2013 @citizenzero played the Blind Pig! Sections of this page. If you have fond memories of the 8 Ball and Pig, then you have to listen to this episode of Ann Arbor Stories. A blog about life, Ann Arbor, and life in Ann Arbor. When it comes to live music venues, few will tough it out through five decades. Log In. History Comments Share. Naturally, we spent a great deal of time at the 8 Ball and Pig and have a lot of fond memories there. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy, © 2013 MLive Media Group All rights reserved (About Us). We drop the hammer," Berry said). It’s got a lot of personality,” observed Ann Arborite Bill Melville, who was in the club recently to catch the monthly DJ gig from Ann Arbor Soul Club. It's definitely worth a listen. “I like it that it’s kind of grungy. Thursday, March 30, 2017 The history of the Blind Pig on Ann Arbor Stories With news that the Blind Pig/8-Ball and their liquor license are up for sale, I can think of no better time than to dive into the history of the establishment. Copyright 2010–2019 Damn Arbor. The stage is blah too. But Ann Arbor just keeps on trucking. Fortunately, Rich Retyi's got a great Ann Arbor Stories for us. DelGiudice started the stil… The Blind Pig A2, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Chakro: It's not closing... this is just a story about the club itself. The larger room soon became a destination for local acts and touring bands such as Joan Baez, Bo Diddley, George Thorogood, REM, 10,000 Maniacs, Sonic Youth, Soul Asylum, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam and even Nirvana. The legendary status of the room is a byproduct of that. For Andrew Christopoulous of Grand Rapids, who drives over the club about once a month, the size of the Blind Pig is just right. It is merely the result of bringing in what the people want to see for see for a very long time.”. Check out upcoming events at the Blind Pig - Ann Arbor's legendary live music club. The pair purchased an abandoned furniture store and named it Blind Pig after a slang term for police officers that had been bribed by speakeasy proprietors during ‘20s prohibition. Neon signs advertise various brands of beer, and framed drawings of musicians line the space above the bar. Press ... Sign Up. The Pig gives the impression of being solid and familiar, like it’s been around for a while and has no plans to go anyplace else soon. The 8 Ball is down a flight of stairs to the basement. Blind Pig (venue), a music venue in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US Blind Pig Records, San Francisco, US blues record label; Blind Pig, whiskey- and rum-flavoured ciders by HP Bulmer featured heavily in my early adult life in Ann Arbor. The Blind Pig, 208 South 1st Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States 7349968555 . Related Pages. Aw man, bummed I missed DMB! For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see. Taylor Michaels gets a wristband from Aaron Roy at the entrance to the Blind Pig. The Blind Pig A2, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor's historic music club located downtown! “Nirvana's tour stop at the Pig went so well (singer) Kurt Cobain declared us his favorite venue on the planet. The partners renovated an old downtown Ann Arbor building and named the combined cafe/club after illegal after-hours gathering places, referred to by the slang term blind pig, another name for a speakeasy. October 3, 1989 Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI. Edit. The Blind Pig, 208 South 1st Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States 7349968555 One.Be.Lo performs at the Blind Pig on Wednesday. The ad made its debut on Sunday, October 18, … Ann Arbor Institutions: We Brought Back All the Shirts Seth November 27th, 2020 at 12:50 PM A lot of our favorite places in Ann Arbor were hurting with the pandemic and no football traffic, so we partnered this fall with Underground Printing to do a t-shirt a week for the places we love. Saw Dave Mathews Band play there back in like 92 or 93, if i remember correct, before that became the huge success that they are now. If you haven’t been to the Pig in a while, don’t worry — it probably hasn’t changed much, except for one thing. Tom Isaia and Jerry DelGiudice created it as a European-influenced cafe, complete with espresso/cappuccino, a unique and varied food menu, including home made soups, Italian biscotti, crostini, a full wine and beer list, and top-notch Blues entertainment. ! : ). With news that the Blind Pig/8-Ball and their liquor license are up for sale, I can think of no better time than to dive into the history of the establishment. Live Music Venue. Cooney agreed, adding that the Pig is “a good place to dance without the stereotypical Necto bump-and-grind thing. Simple theme. Local: Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Data: 03/10/1989 Formação: Kurt Cobain (Vocal e Guitarra) Krist Novoselic (Baixo) Chad Channing (Bateria) … **NOTE: The Deluxe Cuff Knit Caps are custom made and any orders containing this item will not ship until late February or early March 2021. Create New Account. The Blind Pig A2, Ann Arbor, Michigan. That’s would be good news for Ann Arborite Melissa Landry, a frequent Pig-goer. 22K likes. 22K likes. R.E.M. or. “I think that's true for every room in the country. or. I love DMB!! #citizenzero #rockclub #musichistory #blindpig #annarbor #michiganmusic #venue #concert #livemusic To enter, customers must first pass muster at the door ("Fake I.D.s and underage drinking don't happen here like they do elsewhere. As far as the U-M goes, “we only need 400 (students) to wander down here for a show to sell out.” In the battle between Ann Arbor and Detroit for student business, Ann Arbor tends to win most of the time, Berry added. Mirrors make the club look bigger, red plush carpeting on some of the walls probably improve the acoustics. 3,428 Followers, 248 Following, 250 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from The Blind Pig A2 (@blindpig_annarbor) The Ark - Ann Arbor. The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor's historic music club located downtown! Many locals who have moved on such as Brophy Dale, Al Hill, as well as Drivin' Sideways, The Jim Tate Band, and all my favorite locals. Size is key to the Pig's success and longevity, said Berry, as is the club's proximity to the U-M. “A 400 (person) capacity allows us to survive on local music when the pickings are slim on the national touring circuit. 208 South First Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104 FILL THE HORN!! Saint Andrew's Hall. (This post was revised to correct a typo and to remove a reference that included masked profanity.) I lived in a house on 3rd at Liberty with several of the other Damn Arbor founders. The things that make the Blind Pig so ideal for smaller acts such as the Ann Arbor Soul Club make it perfect other kinds of music as well — great sound, a decent-sized dance floor and an unpretentious atmosphere that makes it easy to let your hair down. The Blind Pig: Ann Arbor, MI: Apr 12, 2018 The Dirty Notion / J. Navarro & The Traitors / The Slackers: The Blind Pig: Ann Arbor, MI: Mar 23, 2018 Electric Six: The Blind Pig: Ann Arbor, MI: Jan 20, 2018 Adventures With Vultures / Brother Elsey / Great Expectations / Honey Monsoon: The Blind Pig: Ann Arbor… Setlist: School • School • Scoff • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber • Dive • Polly • Big Cheese • About A Girl • Spank Thru • Token Eastern Song • Negative Creep • Blew And whatever happened to those guys? Okay, who else besides me remembers seeing the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies at the Pig in around 1991? “For Ann Arbor, it’s a good venue to have. Many memories. Berry said it's the music at the Blind Pig that keeps customers coming back. So while the raid of a blind pig did have something to do with sparking the Detroit riots, it would be a stretch to say that the Ann Arbor nightclub was named after that raid. I don't recall REM ever playing at the Blind Pig, although I DO recall them playing at Joe's Star Lounge on Main Street. Log In. First time in Ann Arbor but the parking was super convenient i stay 4 hours or so, maybe three got charged $6. Conversely, when the local scene is sparse, we can usually fill in the gaps with a billion tours available to us. Powered by, The history of the Blind Pig on Ann Arbor Stories. Fortunately, Rich Retyi's got a great Ann Arbor Stories for us. See more of The Blind Pig A2 on Facebook. always liked the Blind Pig. One in an occasional series of feature articles on local music venues. The money allowed Malcoun to become an angel investor, as well as co-found Cahoots, a co-working tech hub in Ann Arbor. This is one of the few places that can accommodate a crowd of 100-200 people that actually want to dance,” he said. ANN ARBOR, MI -- The music venue in Ann Arbor that’s played host to acts ranging from Otis Rush and Nirvana to KRS-One is set to reopen this week. Though there is some hope that some bar/music venue may stay at the site considering the liquor license is also for sale. Safe too. As far as the decor goes, it's pretty typical, and definitely old-school. Jump to. But I really enjoyed the show, being so close to talent is so special wow. Most people don't know this, but we started this website back in 2010 when all of the original contributors were living together in a rental on 3rd at Liberty. Roger LeLievre is a free-lance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com. The Blind Pig represents the old form with new content - wine and grogs, no super-firewater. It was a blow to see the building was up for sale back in February. We facilitate and strengthen the ongoing relationship between the artist and their fans. “People come here because of who's on the stage more than because it's the world- famous Blind Pig,” he explained. The Pig’s not fancy, and that’s fine — in fact, some say the funkiness is part of the charm. When it opened, the Blind Pig was a café by day and a club by night, featuring blues music performed by some of the greats, including Koko Tayler, Boogie Woogie Red, Hound Dog Taylor and Roosevelt Sykes. Not Now. The Pig’s not fancy, and that’s fine — in fact, some say the funkiness is part of the charm. In 2017, Malcoun joined a group of investors to purchase the Blind Pig … We are grad students, townies, and derelicts. The Biden campaign recently ran an ad featuring Ann Arbor, Michigan venue the Blind Pig and its owner Joe Malcoun. Jason Berry, who handles booking for the club, remembers the 1989 Nirvana show, as well as another act that just about destroyed the place. I moved back for grad school in 2009. Blind Pig New Year Pop Up Shop None of the items shown below are available for sale anywhere else, so take advantage and place your order today! “It’s just laid back and relaxed — not pretentious,” agreed Laura Cooney, another local. He also remembers punk band Circle Jerks’ near-destruction of the Pig in the early ‘80s. I’m very proud to be a part of that. Martin Bandyke is the 6-10am morning drive host at Ann Arbor’s 107one, WQKL-FM. See more of The Blind Pig A2 on Facebook. The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor's historic music club located downtown! The label is now based in San Francisco. In the late 2000s the label started a reissue vinyl series, featuring reissues from its back catalog on 180-gram high quality vinyl. They also built an additional bar, the cozy 8 Ball Saloon, downstairs. aww, i'll always have fond memories of this place. ** History. As great an improvement as it is, a Blind Pig without cigarette smoke just doesn’t seem the same, somehow. Accessibility Help. Not bad. The Blind Pig opened in 1971. I saw Boogie Woogie Red, Koko Taylor,Luther Allison, Keb Mo, Flock of Seagulls, and many more. Being just around the corner from the Blind Pig, we went to almost every … 22K likes. A blind pig is a type of speakeasy.. But I like the blind logo inside the bar. We can adjust to ups and downs mainly because of our size.”. Create New Account. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of MLive Media Group, You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. A2 history! Episode 28 is all about the Blind Pig and what happened last time it was sold. Rich Retyi, DelGiudice is spelled with the i before the u, so you've pronounced it incorrectly. “It’s an outlet for all kinds of music,” she said. Blind Pig was formed in 1977 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by Jerry Del Giudice, owner of the Blind Pig Cafe, and his friend Edward Chmelewski. A little Damn Arbor history for you, gentle reader. The club was opened by two University of Michigan seniors, Tom Isaia and Jerry Delgiudice, in 1971, according to a chronology posted on its Web page. In an Ann Arbor where nightspots seem to constantly change, the Blind Pig has been a cultural touchstone for almost 40 years. Blind Pig is a phenomenon in the Ann Arbor area, and in fact in the entire area of southeast Michigan. The “Blind Pig” spot — named after the club — aired Sunday, October 18th, during an NFL game and featured owner Joe Malcoun discussing how difficult it’s been for venues, bars and … For more information on the Blind Pig, go to www.blindpigmusic.com or call 734-996-8555. We don't look the other way. Ann Arbor’s venerable Blind Pig is a place with plenty of history, probably because it’s been around long enough to see it happen, and maybe even stir up a little notoriety itself. Never the Pig. Rick's got Phish, too. Blind Pig (bar in Ann Arbor) pro-Biden ad airing during NFL games Posted by PsychTiger on 10/18/20 at 1:24 pm 81 4 Owner blaming Trump for loss of business due to COVID shutdowns, claiming Joe Dementia would handle coronavirus and allow reopening. “For a small venue the sound is pretty good, and they have good prices on drinks, which is important,” added Ruby Hurliman, from the downriver Detroit area. Michigan, as of Saturday, had 144,897 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, 7,010 of which have resulted in death. In 1981, a local couple, Roy and Betty Goffett, bought and then expanded the business by purchasing an adjacent building and bringing the stage from the basement to the upper level. Didn't explore much. 1 year ago at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor’s venerable Blind Pig is a place with plenty of history, probably because it’s been around long enough to see it happen, and maybe even stir up a little notoriety itself. We're just a vessel. sad to see it go. Blind pig may also refer to: . “I like it that it’s kind of grungy. On a personal note, the Bang! It’s a more mature way to dance,” she said. Blind Pig - Old Form New Concept, Ann Arbor Sun, October 27, 1972 Way back last spring Ann Arbor's only true Blind Pig opened its now infamous underground speakeasy to the boogiers of the community. Forgot account? was at Joe's for sure. Nice to hear the Pig's history summarized.-Tom IsaiaInventor. The tour was for s… until they came to the Pig, which sold out because the week before, Soundgarden told THEIR sold-out crowd to come back next week to catch ‘their friends in a band called Nirvana,’” Berry recalled. I almost referred to us as the "Original Peaches" but decide against it. “The fans just started tearing the place apart after the show,” he said. Can't wait to see you live again, hopefully soon! The 8 Ball Saloon is open 7 Days a Week @ 3pm. 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