Singapura Blue: The Clubs

Each has got its own quirks. If you want blues memorabilia overkill, head for Roomful of Blues; if you like crunching rock guitars over an aging expat-singles-bar atmosphere, go to Crazy Elephant; if you prefer a straight imported soul-blues act, try O.D.'s Backstage Music Bar. These are the Big Three. The blues purists haven't figured out if there is a true haven among them, but we'll keep you posted. For the record, the Sunday blues jam at Crazy Elephant seems to be one of the few constants on the scene -- although no one said anything about constantly good. (Unless of course Siva Choy or Smokey Ng is in the house.) But overall the clubs seem to be on the upswing: ROB is finally getting some credibility, the Elephant has expanded twice, and the recession blues are apparently over . . . Right?

Aubrey's Music Bar & Grill
Winsland House II
163 Penang Road #05-01
THE SCOOP: A yuppie-ish haunt that's got potential.
BANDS: The Universal Blues Band (Fri & Sat nights). Special guest Kelvin "Smokey" Ng sits in with uBlues on Fridays.
THE SCORE: We're still waiting.
ON THE WEB: Visit Aubrey's online at http://www.aubreys.com.sg.
Bernie Goes To Town (R.I.P.)
82 A/B Boat Quay
Tel: (65) 536-3533; Fax: (65) 536-4434
THE SCOOP: Rock 'n' roll, booze, and blues (ang moh style). If anyone can draw a major blues act to Singapore, it's Bernie.
BANDS: O.D. Levy, New Vintage Blues Band, Shyne.
THE SCORE: Gone. Kaput. Six feet under. Bernie certainly had a nice run while it lasted -- he nabbed Johnnie Johnson (the biggest score since Buddy Guy played Singapore in 1996) in February '00 and Dave Hole in April '00. Alas, by December, Boat Quay had lost its only blues joint.
Crazy Elephant
3E River Valley Road #01-06/07 Traders' Market
Clarke Quay
Tel: (65) 6337-1990; Fax: (65) 6336-5872
THE SCOOP: The loudest blues-rock joint in town.
BANDS: Mean Jean & The Blues Machine (Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat nights), the New Vintage Blues Band (Wed nights), Don Victor (Sun night blues jams), plus occasional gigs by Siva Choy & Crossroads.
THE SCORE: The Elephant has hosted Walter Trout (1997), Rick Derringer (1998), Eric Burdon (1999), and J.J. Milteau (2000), as well as three blues festivals (1996, 1997, and 2000).
ON THE WEB: Visit the Elephant online at http://www.crazyelephant.com. For booking, e-mail Keef at keef@crazyelephant.com.
O.D.'s Backstage Music Bar
Stadium Cove
2 Stadium Walk
#01-07 Singapore Indoor Stadium
Tel: (65) 6342 5303
THE SCOOP: After Bernie's closed its doors for good, O.D. needed a new home, and he found it in Kallang.
BANDS: O'Donel Levy, aka the Quincy Jones of Asia.
THE SCORE: O.D. always delivers one motherfunky show.
ON THE WEB: Visit the Stadium Cove online at www.stadiumcove.com. E-mail: odsmusic@singnet.com.sg.
Roomful of Blues
72 Prinsep Street
Tel: (65) 6837-0882; Fax: (65) 6837-0409
THE SCOOP: Singapore's first blues-joint-by-name (founded in 1997). ROB still hasn't quite met its potential, but rumor has it that manager/bandleader Stephen Low has got some plans a-comin'.
BANDS: Shyyne, Lil' Stevie & The Soul Searchers.
THE SCORE: ROB landed blues legend Guitar Shorty in August 1998, and Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges in May 2000.
ON THE WEB: Visit ROB online at http://www.roomfulofblues.com. Warning: this url has been dead for while now.
Sultan of Swing
Central Mall (basement), corner of Havelock and Magazine Roads
THE SCOOP: On the way out. Apparently, they've given up on live music.
BANDS: None.
THE SCORE: Boogie-meisters Canned Heat (who had been to Singapore in '93) swung the Sultan on May 1, 2000.
Voodoo Shack
3D River Valley Road #01-00
Clarke Quay Central Square
THE SCOOP: An offshoot of Crazy Elephant that opened in the summer of 2000.
BANDS: The New Vintage Blues Band (Thu, Fri & Sun nights).
THE SCORE: None to speak of, at least not yet.