Downtown Ann Arbor’s Blind Pig has vibrant past and future

Kevin Gerych
Staff Writer

Many bands have graced (and often crammed to capacity) the hallowed halls of Ann Arbor’s Blind Pig for the last 48 years of its operation. From up-and-coming young talent to local stalwarts, the Blind Pig has hosted them all since it’s opening as a blues club in 1971.

“The Blind Pig was a success on day one as a blues bar.  Literally packed every single night it was open; then on day one as a rock club.  Everyone has played here,” said Blind Pig managing partner Jason Berry, 48, of Ann Arbor. “The building itself has been here since Lincoln was president, and it has hosted many different businesses.”

And indeed the list of acts that have played the Blind Pig is long, and features many that are widely celebrated and well known across a plethora of musical genres.

“White Stripes, KRS-One, Dave Matthews, Wiz Khalifa, Odesza, Mac Miller, John Mayer, Nirvana, Pearl Jam. [We’ve had] just everyone,” said Berry.

In November of 2018, major label recording artist Billy Raffoul played at the Blind Pig as a part of his very first North American tour.

“As soon as I was old enough to start gigging in Canada, I quickly started trying to gig over here in Michigan, and Ann Arbor was one of the first towns I came to play to,” said Raffoul, 22, of Leamington, Ontario, Canada. “Every day has been surreal, especially here on this run.”

In addition to the new local and national acts that continue to come through and play at the Blind Pig, the venue in the past has been host to various local favorites such as Detroit’s Halloween – The Heavy Metal Horror Show and Ypsilanti’s Co.Dam.

“Playing at the Blind Pig was always a great time,” said Mike Bruneau, 53 of Ypsilanti, lead singer of Co.Dam. “The PA there is earth shaking. I remember doing a sound check there one night and glasses actually started falling off the racks!”

Formerly known as Invain in the late 1980’s and Fair Game from the early 1990’s, up until the early 2000’s, Bruneau and Co.Dam has played at the Blind Pig many times throughout the years; the most recent of which was about 2 years ago.

“The sound of that place is awesome and the audio engineers are always easy to work with and top-notch,” said Bruneau.

The future of the Blind Pig is bright and prosperous. With new ownership taking over in late 2017, the club now aims to keep its place in the upper echelon of the local music scene.

“We want to clean it up, upgrade the sound system, and maybe move the dressing room to behind the stage.  The obvious things you’d think of as a patron are the things we’re thinking of,” said Berry.

Upcoming events at the Blind Pig include musical performances by Ann Arbor native Laith Al-Saadi, who appeared during the tenth season of NBC’s “The Voice” along with singer Aaron Carter, who had a series of hit songs in the early 2000’s.

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