Located at 1251 Broad St., Blind Pig Speakeasy lures in customers curious about its logo, a floppy-eared pig with dark sunglasses and a guitar.

A sizable rectangular bar separates a section with pool tables - including a rare bumper-pool table - dart game and television, from another section which has tables and chairs facing the stage and dance floor.

C. Samantha McKevie/Staff "Blind Pig was a blues record label that B.B. King and other blues singers started out on," explained part-owner Sharon Bryan, who chose the name.

She said Speakeasy - a term used interchangeably with Blind Pig to describe a place where bootleg liquor was sold during prohibition - was added as an inside joke between her and her two partners: her blues-loving husband David Bryan, lead singer of the club's house band, Shameless Dave and the Miracle Whips, and their lawyer, Freddie Sanders.

Classic Michael Jackson and Prince hits blared from the jukebox on a recent night while the patrons - who were very diverse in their age, race and musical tastes - mingled, shot pool or had drinks, killing time before the 10 p.m. performance by Pat Blanchard.

Blind Pig's main attraction is the live bands that play five of the six nights the club is open. Pat Blanchard plays a variety of styles on Thursdays; Sabo and the Scorchers provide a Jimi Hendrix-type of music on Tuesdays; the Backus Brothers featuring Candace Hurst performs on Wednesdays; and the house band plays blues on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Blind Pig has professional sound equipment, and the roomy stage is already conveniently equipped with microphones, drums, a piano and speakers. The musicians need to bring only their guitars.

Blind Pig opened on New Year's Day in 2003 after months of renovations that included knocking out the wall separating what used to be two buildings to create a spacious club.

A sizable rectangular bar separates a section with pool tables - including a rare bumper-pool table - dart game and television, from another section which has tables and chairs facing the stage and dance floor. Deep reddish curtains drape three large windows, and red tinted lights and framed posters of musicians and musical instruments adorn the walls.

A jukebox in one corner near the wall of fame - a wall of autographed photos of artists who've performed there - is filled with Willie Nelson's greatest hits, the best of Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Billboard top '70s hits and classic old school.

Blind Pig Speakeasy is open Monday-Saturday from 7 p.m. until. It's a nice place for couples or mature adults who like live entertainment. Monday and Tuesday are F&B nights. Patrons 21 and older can enjoy $1.50 Miller Highlife nightly, and there's a cover only when a popular out-of-town band performs.

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IF YOU GO

What: Blind Pig Speakeasy, 1251 Broad St. (map)

Popular Drinks Beer, chocolate martini, raspberry martini

Dress Code: None

It's a Fact: The building that is now Blind Pig was once a hardware store and an automotive parts store

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