Even on a Monday night, neither a seat nor spot at the bar was available at Aint Nothin But - Blues Bar in Soho.
I
arrived slightly early to meet London native and owner Kevin Hellier. It was Blues Jam night: Musicians
put their name on a list if they want to play, and then groups are paired
together—drummer, bass player, guitarist, harmonica, etc—to create one band;
and they jam. I spotted a crack at the corner of the bar where I could squeeze
in to order a pint while I waited. The bar has a small capacity of 100 people
and only three bartenders fit behind the bar per night, so small is an
understatement. Although slightly frustrated because manoeuvring the swarms of
people around the bar was harder than anticipated, I was calmed by the
bartender’s witty humour.
“Stella,”
I said. He replied quickly, “No, Niles.” Confused, I asked, “Do you have Stella? A Stella please.” He
walked away mumbling to another bartender, “She didn’t get my joke.” Then I got
it.
Most
of the bar loiterers followed some musicians as they started gathering
equipment in the back corner by the stage, leaving more room for me and my
Stella at the bar. Soon after I claimed my space, Hellier approached me and
introduced himself.
It
is obvious by his looks he does not live in London anymore—his natural golden
cherry tan could not be from whatever London sun is apparent or a tanning
bed—which is why it is so hard to catch him; he lives in Spain a majority of
his time because he has other business in that area. But his love of his bar is
apparent as he travels north regularly to keep an eye on things and enjoy his
establishment.
And
who couldn’t enjoy his establishment. I did not see one person who looked to be
having a poor time. Young professionals, men in suits, girls dressed to the
nines, retired 60 year-olds, and of course, musicians tapped their feet, bopped
their head, and swayed to the beats. Hellier described the bar in one word:
“fun.” And in no way is this bar anything but.
“It
is a small enough bar that people can listen to the music and enjoy it and are
still able to talk and socialize at the same time,” Hellier said. He continued,
“As the musicians are playing they may think the listeners are not listening to
them because they are all talking and drinking, but when they finish a song,
everyone claps and whistles.” Cheering and clapping followed every song.
“On
Blues Jam night, if there isn’t a good band, well they can only play three
songs, so they will be off sooner than later,” Hellier described. When asked if
a bad band is common on Blues Jam night, Hellier responded “not at all. The
musicians are usually all band members playing with different band members, so
they are already good musicians, just playing with different people.
“We
have a lot of good bands playing here regularly,” Hellier confidently stated. Some
of the more well known U.S. acts to have appeared include Charlie
Musselwhite, Sugar Blue, Phil Guy, John Primer, and the regulars are
Hucklebuck, Jeremiah Marques & the Blue Aces, Bluematics, and the Ian
Siegal Band among others.
The first two groups to perform were younger
and not widely known with the exception of Ian Siegal bass player for the Ian
Siegal Band and Same Hare of Hucklebuck. Their blues had more rock and roll
influence especially in the second group: There were more electric guitar solos
than harmonica. The third bar was a group of older men who seemed to be somewhat
legendary at the bar: Peter Vardugans, Mimi, and Ian Siegal. And this group of
men knew the blues.
Their
music was slower, slightly softer, and subtly seductive. They had passion and
feeling with every note, and the audience felt it. The response was lively and
energetic; people wanted more when their jam session was completed. “These guys
really know how to do it,” I overheard one audience member say.
But
the person who knows “how to do it” is Hellier. An accountant before he started
the bar, he spent his pay check at the pub every night. “Someone asked me one
night what I really wanted to do, and I said open a blues bar,” he said.
And
so he did. “I opened it because of my love of the Blues,” Hellier said.
Although he does not play an instrument, his father played the double bass in
his own R n' B band. The bar has been very successful, drawing large crowds and
long entrance lines every night. Despite this Hellier does not want to move to
a bigger spot because he has built large clientele, many of which are regulars.
“People know where to go for blues. I don’t want to move and leave them
stranded,” he said. Aside from their regular audience, Aint Nothin But is
located in the midst of what used to be the hotspot of London for music and
fashion.
Carnaby Street
and Beak Street were music hotspots in the 1960s and 70s, with Twiggy and Ziggy and
any other ‘iggy’ floating and frolicking amongst the area. Fashion and music
were seen and heard anywhere on the street. Hellier would “love it if the
atmosphere of the original Carnaby
Street came back to the
area.” He continued, “We would be able to play our music onto the street for
people passing by.” However limitations prevent him from doing so. “We had a
neighbour who complained, so we had to soundproof the bar. He moved though.
Then the government installed some laws, so we had to add another door because
music is not allowed to be heard on the street,” Hellier regretfully said.
Becoming
cheerful again, he added, “The quiet street and small bar provides intimacy and
makes it unique.”
Unique
it is. “We put on all types of Blues acts. We aren’t looking for the biggest
names or the most popular,” Hellier said, “If a band is well known it makes no
difference to us as we don't rely on the band bringing in a crowd. We have our
own audience already.”
He
added, “The atmosphere is really special and the music is ideal for our
situation. We also try to look after our customers, and are not looking to rip
them off.”
Unlike
The House of Blues a successful chain of blues clubs, Hellier is not planning
to build his bar in other cities. “I think other cities would love a Blues Bar.
I did look into it a few years ago, but now I have a family and could not
commit enough time. However, I would love to be involved if someone else was
interested.
“If
someone came to me and said ‘I want to start a blues bar,’ I would definitely
help and be a part of it,” Hellier said.
Although
building more blues bars is not in his immediate future, Hellier does have some
long-term goals. He stated, “Our sole prospects for the future are to help keep
the blues alive, continue the success we have, and possibly having an annual blues
festival outdoors.”
In
the meantime, as Aint Nothin But approaches its 13th birthday in
October, Hellier will continue to provide Londoners and tourists with an
authentic, New Orleans style blues bar found only at 20 Kingly Street.
Ain’t Nothin’ But – The Blues Bar
20 Kingly Street W1B 5PZ (Behind Hamleys)
Oxford Circus or Piccadilly underground
Tel. 0871 332 2723
Saturday: 2pm – 3am
Sunday: 3pm – Midnight
Mon-Wed: 6pm – 1am
Thursday: 6pm – 2am
Friday: Noon –
3am
Free Sunday through Wednesday
£3 after 10 pm on Thursday
£5 after 8:30 pm on
Friday and Saturday
Live bands are every night starting at 9:30 pm.
Open Mic session every Saturday afternoon 3-7pm
for all styles of music.
Blues Jam on a Monday night has been
extended to a Sunday afternoon 3-7pm.
Aint Nothin’ But’s third compilation album
is available on sale at the bar.
Pull
Quote:
“We are the only bar of it's kind in the UK and,
we think, in Europe.” –Kevin Hellier, owner
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