The Blind Pig

The Pig quickly became a hot spot for both local acts and touring bands. Names as notable and varied as Joan Baez, Bo Diddley and George Thoroughgood - who even filmed the video for his "Treat Her Right" there - graced the Pig's banner during the early '80s. Aside from already well-established artists, the Blind Pig also played host to a wide variety of bands from the then-underground punk, new wave, and "college rock" genres. Bands such as REM, 10,000 Maniacs, Sonic Youth, Soul Asylum and The Rollins Band played there early in their careers, well before they hit the big time. During the late '80s and early '90s "college rock" turned into "alternative" and "grunge." Again, the Pig showcased a series of bands during this time that, while barely having enough money to tour, were unknowingly destined for world fame and acclaim. Among these were Soundgarden, The Screaming Trees, The Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam and a scraggly little band of upstarts called Nirvana. It was Nirvana, years after they played there, who gave the Pig their most flattering moment in the limelight when they, on a televised MTV interview, cited the club as their number one venue of choice anywhere, ever. These days, The Blind Pig continues to provide Ann Arbor with its small, although profound, corner of the music world. Showing an even mix of local talent and the occasional larger act, the Pig is still the hippest place in town and stands as a testament to the area's rich cultural heritage. Just as the midwestern blues acts called it home in the '70s, so do bands like Midwest Product, Funktelligence and Donkey Punch call it home today. Although Ann Arbor may not be the largest spot on the map, the Blind Pig is to the city what CBGB's is to New York or what The Whiskey A Go Go is to Los Angeles. It is a living legend, a place that has seen history unfold inside its very confines.