I waited outside Kingston Mines, one of the most popular blues clubs in Chicago, in a long line on an unseasonably warm night in October. As I stood and waited with my friend, a man screamed in a raspy voice to the line about the price of admission and thanked everyone for their patience. I walked in and immediately heard some of the most impressive guitar playing I have ever heard. As I made my way to the dancing area in front of the stage, I spotted a painted white sign with the name of the performer: Joanna Connor. At the time, I did not realize that she is one of the premier blues guitarists in the entire country. Additionally, I was shocked to see that the man in the raspy voice was singing alongside Connor for the entirety of her set.

Kingston Mines is unique in its contradictions. While some of its patrons are true blues fans, it seemed like the majority were tourists and north siders that simply want to drink with friends and listen to good music.  Upwards of eighty percent of the venue is devoted to tables for the audience to passively listen to these magnificent blues bands, eat, and socialize. The music suits this type of setting, as it is mostly instrument based and repetitive. But, the quality of performers is so high that it feels wrong to have such a large contingent of people without sufficient blues knowledge (like me). Also, the giant souvenir stand that occupies a large space in the front of this historic venue takes away from its overall authenticity. Although it may not be the pinnacle of blues appreciation, it is extraordinarily fun. There is a distinct positive, upbeat energy, great food, and friendly people in Kingston Mines.

Part of the appeal of Kingston Mines comes from its charm. The wood paneling and green shutters make the setting feel like a gigantic (it is one of the biggest blues clubs in Chicago) cabin. There are items that evoke a sense of nostalgia sprinkled throughout Kingston Mines, from its neon beer signs shaped as guitars to its painted maps of the Midwest. These contribute to the comfortability and quaintness of the setting, and also remind visitors that Kingston Mines has been a vital part of the Chicago music scene for almost a half century.

It has been open since 1968 and is still family owned and operated by the Pellegrino family. The man I saw outside the club with the raspy voice was no other than Frank Pellegrino, owner of the club. It occupies a unique place in Chicago blues history. Blues started in Chicago around the 1920’s, during the dramatic growth of black neighborhoods during the Great Migration. During the 50’s, blues flourished on the South Side and West Side, producing talents like Muddy Waters and Little Walter. When blues lost much of its popularity in the 60’s with the growth of soul, gospel, and other genres of black popular music, many of the popular blues clubs from the golden era closed.[1]

Following the decline of blues’ in popular music, clubs serving tourists and predominantly white patrons became more prevalent in Chicago on the South, North, and West side. The ubiquity of white faces in Kingston Mines is immediately noticeable. This venue is indeed a reminder of the white appropriation of blues music, a genre that persisted in black culture through decades of racism and oppression. This undeniable fact leaves a bad taste in your mouth. When you see that crowd at your concert consists of a vast majority of white North Siders, it feels uncomfortable. But, it may give you a bit of consolation that this tremendously popular spot gives talented blues artists a consistent audience and new ears to listen to their beautiful music. Whichever way one experiences this Chicago landmark, it definitely does not disappoint with moral conundrums and impressive music.

 

^[1] “Blues.” Blues. Encyclopedia of Chicago, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. <http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/151.html>.