Every Friday, Dan Harper and Magic Show play at The Market Bar on the city’s East Side. The reason that I know this is that this past Friday I was cycling down Michigan Avenue, on the way to the waterfront, when I spotted a Broadway street sign. Spotting the sign prompted me to think back to my initial visit to the blues club last year. The Market Bar is a super laid back place, where the beers are cheep, the company is good, and the music is always top notch. That’s why I swung a left, instead of heading straight down to the water.
Upon arriving to the pub/club, I discovered that one of my favorite bands (from the Mixology days) was setting up to play. So I called John McNeill, former owner of Mixology, who joined me for a couple of beers. Per usual, Jimmy Camarada, owner of The Market Bar was a gracious host. He told me that the joint had been gaining some traction, slowly but surely, since opening last September. While The Market Bar is a bit of a destination, due to the obscure location (alongside the Broadway Market), to me that’s part of the appeal. The establishment attracts a broad mix of people – from folks who live in the neighborhood who come to listen to the sounds of stellar blues acts, to fellow musicians who like to support Jimmy and his bar.
