 The Blind Pig's logo | |
 The Blind Pig in 2010 | |
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| Location | 208 S. First Street Ann Arbor, MI |
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| Coordinates | 42°16′49″N83°45′05″W / 42.28023°N 83.75126°W |
| Capacity | 400 [1] |
| Opened | 1971 [1] |
| Website | |
| www.blindpigmusic.com | |
The Blind Pig is a music venue in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The club was established as a home for blues musicians, although today it books predominantly indie rock acts and local groups.
The Blind Pig opened in 1971. 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. 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. [1] DelGiudice started the still-operating Blind Pig Records recording label in 1975 to showcase music by many of the groups who performed regularly at the club.
Isaia and DelGiudice sold the venue in 1979 to Dave Whitmore, [2] who in turn sold to Roy and Betty Goffett three years later. They doubled the club's space by renovating the rear portion of the building, opening the 8-Ball Saloon on the lower level and moving the stage to the more spacious main floor. The expansion made the venue more conducive to crowd-heavy rock shows and has hosted acts such as Joan Baez, Bo Diddley, George Thorogood, 10,000 Maniacs, Sonic Youth, Soul Asylum, Bob Mould, Soundgarden, The Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, No Doubt, Dave Matthews Band, Tool, Jewel, Godsmack, Papa Roach, and John Mayer. [3] [1]
Since then, the Blind Pig has attracted a steady stream of up-and-coming acts, hosting shows almost every night all year round.
Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and drummer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Cornell switched to rhythm guitar in 1985, replaced on drums initially by Scott Sundquist, and later by Matt Cameron in 1986. Yamamoto left in 1990 and was replaced initially by Jason Everman and shortly thereafter by Ben Shepherd. The band dissolved in 1997 and re-formed in 2010. Following Cornell's death in 2017 and a year of uncertainty regarding the band's future, Thayil declared in October 2018 that Soundgarden had disbanded once again, though they did reunite in January 2019 for a one-off concert in tribute to Cornell.
Grunge is an alternative rock genre and subculture which emerged during the mid-1980s in the U.S. state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of punk rock and heavy metal, but without punk's structure and speed. The genre featured the distorted electric guitar sound used in both genres, although some bands performed with more emphasis on one or the other. Like these genres, grunge typically uses electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals. Grunge also incorporates influences from indie rock bands such as Sonic Youth. Lyrics are typically angst-filled and introspective, often addressing themes such as social alienation, self-doubt, abuse, neglect, betrayal, social and emotional isolation, addiction, psychological trauma and a desire for freedom.
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Dick Siegel is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and visual artist. A long-time resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan—where he graduated from the University of Michigan in 1971—Siegel's debut album SNAP! appeared in 1980, featuring the song "Angelo's," a fan favorite celebrating an iconic local breakfast spot. He won the Best New Folk Artist award at the 1991 Kerrville Folk Festival as well as awards at the Napa Valley Songwriting Festival for his songs "What Would Brando Do?" and "Angels Aweigh." Multiple Detroit Music Awards led to his induction in the Detroit Music Hall of Fame.
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