Excellent blues bars in Philadelphia

December 16, 2009 5:17 PM

I'm looking for an excellent jazz/blues/blues-rock bar in Philly. Grizzled old guys on their guitars, grizzled old patrons, bad lighting, laid-back bartenders and a relaxed atmosphere with a little bit of room to sway if you're feeling it. If you've ever been to the Cat's Eye Pub in Baltimore, something like that.

All of my bar exposure so far has been in Old City (too swank), University City (too fratty), or Northern Liberties or South Street (too hipster). The few blues bars I've been to were upscale and I am cheap and don't like dressing up. Where do the old tattooed men and women go to do their soulful Led Zeppelin covers and play John Lee Hooker?

posted by anonymous to Food & Drink (5 answers total)

Bob & Barbara's was my favorite dirty jazz spot when I lived in Philly.
posted by gnutron at 5:46 PM on December 16, 2009

Yeah, Bob & Barbara's or Tritone across the street. Same owner, I believe.
posted by The Michael The at 5:51 PM on December 16, 2009

Where in UCity did you go? Fiume, on Sunday nights (show at 7) has the best acoustic Blues in Philly, with Shakey Lyman. The man's amazing on the guitar. He's usually accompanied by Sean Dorn on upright bass, John Wood on Drum (note singular), and a rotating group of auxiliary musicians who play mandolin, harmonica, melodica, violin, and even flute.
posted by SansPoint at 7:12 PM on December 16, 2009

Bob and Barbara's (not same owner as Tritone, and Tritone's booking isn't as eclectic since Rick D. died) and Chris's Jazz Cafe.
posted by desuetude at 7:14 PM on December 16, 2009

Ohh, Fiume, totally.
posted by desuetude at 7:15 PM on December 16, 2009