Talk about the Blues in London ...

This just isn't right. London? A place where the Beatles began their magic? Where techobabble has street cred here? Pet Shop Boys talking about West End Girls? Rock bands like the Who are firmly established as Brits who can make good music. But answer me this: Why is blues music in London almost non-existent?

Well, thanks to the Internet and search engines that reach the depths that need to be discovered, I was able to find one blues source for Londoners (and foreigners to this city) that hopefully keeps on keepin' on!

It's Ain't Nothin' But ... the Blues. It is located at 20 Kingly in Soho. Closest "tube" exit is Oxford Circus on the Victoria line (I begin all of my London Underground points from here). Next time anyone comes to London and wants to experience a great SMALL venue, packed with great people, even better spirits (Aaron -- Murphy's Stout on tap as well as English bitters and an Oyster stout that was superb among other beers on tap) and very wonderful help behind the bar.

I got there at 7:30 p.m. and never got past the first several feet once I was inside the place. I did temporarily have a seat at the bar so I could eat a bowl of penne pasta in a rich tomato and spicy sauce with meatballs which was accompanied by two slices of thick, buttered bread. It was one of about 4-5 choices (there's always a special of the day) on a very limited menu because the food isn't what you come for, it's the music! It's about preserving a kind of music that reflects a generation long since past for kids of today, but much like the many historic sites everywhere I've turned on my travels in Europe, blues music is in that category.

I picked up a recent copy of Rolling Stone (Mariah Carey is on the cover) during one of my train trips and in it was a wonderful spread on one of my all-time favorites, Buddy Guy. The man is a legend. He was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton look up to him. He has been a Chicago staple with his guitar playing, his links to the greats like Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon and the Chess Records label. Guy currently has a bar on the South Side of Chicago, Buddy Guy's Legends, that MUST be a stop when you are in Chicago (I am going there again next month shortly after I return from Europe). I met Guy when I was last in Chicago. Went by his place to see who was playing on a mid-weekday night and had lunch. In walked Guy and was as nice as could be. We chatted for about 5-10 minutes and I came away with even MORE respect for the man and what his contributions to blues music mean to an art form that needs more like him. BB King is great too (I've seen him twice in concert) and a close friend of Guy's, but for my money, I'd see Buddy Guy any day of the week (every night he's in Chicago, chances are you WILL see him and every January, you CAN see him play for most of the month at his Chicago club, a tradition for him at Legends).

OK, I've gotten off track a bit. The reason I'm posting today is to remind you that Ain't Nothin' But ... the Blues is a must see on your next visit to London. Tell Kevin, who runs the club that opened in 1993, that you know me. I gave him my business card. If he keeps it (Kevin you said you'd read this and now I am hoping the card sticks with you because once I say something, I follow through on it) you should always have a spot inside the great venue to enjoy something to drink and, of course, like it was last night when the Zach Parrish Blues Band, based out of Austin, Texas, played a very upbeat, entertaining few sets. A blues band from Canada is playing tonight and when special acts aren't there, Kevin said the British Blues players are the norm at his club.

I wish I could have seen that to make sure I know that the blues IS alive and well in London. On my Internet searching, the many jazz clubs in London have a blues night or occasional act, but Ain't Nothin' But ... gives its customers the real deal, touring acts, local acts and even blues jam nights.

Said Kevin: "This is the only place in London, and in most of Europe, where you can see blues music every night of the week."

While that's highly commendable, I wish I could say the same for the rest of this city.

RTB

If you want to check the website, you can do so here (I've also linked it) : www.aintnothinbut.co.uk