# Looking for a good Blues bar in South Florida **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469 "2006-09-12T22:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/1 "2006-09-12T22:42:52Z")
When I was stationed in the south, I used to go out of my way to find a good ol’ down and dirty back hole blues bar in the local slum. You know, the kind of place the police don’t mess with, there is no crime, people just drinking and having a good time listening to Blues. Well now I want to take my wife to enjoy some good old southern blues. It has to be a safe place where I do not feel a need to look over my shoulder every ten seconds. The problem I have had is that I have found more Jazz than Blue’s, and while that could be good, they all seem to have live rock bands instead. Can anyone help me? ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/2 "2006-09-13T12:38:29Z")
Whereabouts in South Florida? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/3 "2006-09-13T13:26:49Z")
[QUOTE=RTA] Whereabouts in South Florida? [/QUOTE] Do you know a good one in our part? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/4 "2006-09-13T14:56:48Z")
I moved from SFLA 20 years ago but i bet Tobacco Road in South Miami is still a blues joint. ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/5 "2006-09-13T18:41:14Z")
Cool cats like me go to Skipper’s Smokehouse, which is not a 100% pure blues bar but they feature blues artists often, and it’s the supremely mellow scene, i.e. “the kind of place the police don’t mess with, there is no crime, people just drinking and having a good time.” [www.skipperssmokehouse.com](http://www.skipperssmokehouse.com) ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/6 "2006-09-14T13:11:41Z")
[QUOTE=RTA] Whereabouts in South Florida? [/QUOTE] I am in the Fort Lauderdale area, but am not far from Miami. ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/7 "2006-09-14T13:14:54Z")
[QUOTE=RTA] Cool cats like me go to Skipper’s Smokehouse, which is not a 100% pure blues bar but they feature blues artists often, and it’s the supremely mellow scene, i.e. “the kind of place the police don’t mess with, there is no crime, people just drinking and having a good time.” > **[Skippers Smokehouse – We Smoke Everything!](https://skipperssmokehouse.com/)** > > Famous Blackened Grouper Reuben > As seen on the Travel Channel's Best Sandwich in America WATCH VIDEO > Tampa's Iconic Live Music Venue, Bar & Restaurant > Skippers Smokehouse now open at NOON daily Thursday through Sunday. > Featuring FREE live music... [/QUOTE] Thanks for the link, but I just searched the site and there is nothing really coming up. As for blues, it seems more like a blues/rock mix with a whole bunch of white 30-somethings. Once again, appreciative of the effort. I am basically looking for the old black guy with the cigar and guitar feeling sorry for himself, know what I mean? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/8 "2006-09-14T17:22:59Z")
[QUOTE=RTA] Cool cats like me go to Skipper’s Smokehouse, which is not a 100% pure blues bar but they feature blues artists often, and it’s the supremely mellow scene, i.e. “the kind of place the police don’t mess with, there is no crime, people just drinking and having a good time.” > **[Skippers Smokehouse – We Smoke Everything!](https://skipperssmokehouse.com/)** > > Famous Blackened Grouper Reuben > As seen on the Travel Channel's Best Sandwich in America WATCH VIDEO > Tampa's Iconic Live Music Venue, Bar & Restaurant > Skippers Smokehouse now open at NOON daily Thursday through Sunday. > Featuring FREE live music... [/QUOTE] We had a miniDopeFest there last winter, you should have come. Although the band that night was Zydeco and I used to mainly go there for Reggae and think of it more as a Reggae place… all things to all people, perhaps? 🙂 Just thought there might be a good Blues place hidden somewhere that I was not aware of. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/9 "2006-09-14T17:30:30Z")
[QUOTE=FormerMarineGuy] Thanks for the link, but I just searched the site and there is nothing really coming up. As for blues, it seems more like a blues/rock mix with a whole bunch of white 30-somethings. Once again, appreciative of the effort. I am basically looking for the old black guy with the cigar and guitar feeling sorry for himself, know what I mean? [/QUOTE] [Tobacco Road - Miami's Oldest Bar](http://www.tobacco-road.com/Events.html) - mentioned by **Chela** above, seems to be close but maybe a bit like Skipper’s, in that it also has other genres represented. ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/10 "2006-09-14T20:39:17Z")
I’m not sure if this meets your criteria. It’s really “A couple of white guys in a blues band who opened a bar in a strip mall.” But as I was a fan of the Groove Thangs and these guys are the remnants of that band, FYI: [Alligator Alley](http://www.alligatoralleyflorida.com/) ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/11 "2006-09-14T21:40:29Z")
[QUOTE=Petey] I’m not sure if this meets your criteria. It’s really “A couple of white guys in a blues band who opened a bar in a strip mall.” But as I was a fan of the Groove Thangs and these guys are the remnants of that band, FYI: [Alligator Alley](http://www.alligatoralleyflorida.com/) [/QUOTE] Pretty funny, this is the only place I went to with my wife; someone told me it was a full-fledged blues bar. But the gator nuggets and chicken wings sure were good. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/12 "2006-09-15T01:16:24Z")
Not at all familiar with the Miami Blues scene, but in consulting [**The Da Capo Jazz and Blues Lover’s Guide to the US**](http://christianebird.com/work3.htm), by Christiane Bird, Tobacco Road is the oldest club. Their current listing wasn’t that impressive to me, though. Another route you might take is to contact [Blue Note Records](http://travel2.nytimes.com/top/features/travel/destinations/unitedstates/florida/miami/shop_details.html?vid=1124996106632), the best jazz and blues record store in the area. They would have the skinny on any noteworthy venues and happenings. I recommend getting the Da Capo book; it’s very well-done, with musical history of each area, listings of clubs (and their atmosphere), record stores and radio stations. Great to have while travelling as a musical guide. ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/13 "2006-09-15T12:53:29Z")
No cinderblock holes-in-the-wall down here, crying shame too. Unless there is one and no one told me? Anyway, best I know of is upscale, Sushi Blues in Hollywood. But even there the lineup is weak, and it’s definitely whitey blues. > **[SushiBlues.com is for sale | HugeDomains](https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=sushiblues.com)** > > Own this domain today. We make your shopping experience easy. Friendly and quick customer service. (definitely call for reservations) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/14 "2006-09-15T13:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=elelle] Not at all familiar with the Miami Blues scene, but in consulting [**The Da Capo Jazz and Blues Lover’s Guide to the US**](http://christianebird.com/work3.htm), by Christiane Bird, Tobacco Road is the oldest club. Their current listing wasn’t that impressive to me, though. [/QUOTE] Does that book have a good listing for anyplace in the Tampa Bay area, or for that matter, anywhere in Florida? Jacksonville maybe? ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-blues-bar-in-south-florida/372469/15 "2006-09-15T19:31:38Z")
[QUOTE=elelle] Not at all familiar with the Miami Blues scene, but in consulting [**The Da Capo Jazz and Blues Lover’s Guide to the US**](http://christianebird.com/work3.htm), by Christiane Bird, Tobacco Road is the oldest club. Their current listing wasn’t that impressive to me, though. Another route you might take is to contact [Blue Note Records](http://travel2.nytimes.com/top/features/travel/destinations/unitedstates/florida/miami/shop_details.html?vid=1124996106632), the best jazz and blues record store in the area. They would have the skinny on any noteworthy venues and happenings. I recommend getting the Da Capo book; it’s very well-done, with musical history of each area, listings of clubs (and their atmosphere), record stores and radio stations. Great to have while travelling as a musical guide. [/QUOTE] Great idea, I never thought about finding a good local place to call. I am going to get right on that now. Thanks for the link!