Books for beer and other crazy antics

Manager of the Blue Fugue, not pictured, accepts books in exchange for beer at the bar. The books are available for purchase, and the titles range all genres.What is ‘Books for Beer’ all about?

Manager Scott Meiner loves his books. An avid collector, he has even set up a small-scale used-book library in the back of the Blue Fugue lounge itself. Thus, any patron who contributes text to his collection has the choice of being paid for the title, or, more conveniently, stating a tab at the bar: books for beer, hard alcohol, soda, or whatever you may be craving.

What changes have been made since The Music Café days?

Most noticeably, prices have been lowered severely at the Blue Fugue. Wanting to provide their patrons with a relaxed local music setting, the new lounge is dedicated to preserving a laid-back, comfortable locale removed from the stifling (though profitable) Music Café days. Along the lines of décor, renovations are currently underway.

What is the dress code?

Priding themselves on attracting all types of people, the Blue Fugue has no enforced dress code. Clientele consisting of Columbia elders, college students, music fans, salsa dancers and homeless people alike, as long as one has shoes and something that would resemble a shirt, they are good to go.

Walt “Moondog” Goodman plays flamenco style guitar, and vocalist for the Los Desterrados. Goodman formed the band in Oct. of 2004, with the idea of just creating a forum to play with random local musicians. Who are the regular bands?

There are two regular groups that play at this venue: Los Desterrados and Abatería. The Blue Fugue also dedicates nights to open-mic performances and other local acts when scheduled.

How do I get to the Blue Fugue?

The Blue Fugue is located in downtown Columbia on Ninth St. next to Tonic and the Tiger Barber Shop.

The Blue Fugue
120 S 9th St.
Columbia, Mo 65201
(573) 815-9995

How do people overcome the early evening no-one-else-has-started-to-dance-yet concert awkwardness?

Regular bands combat this phenomenon in some unique ways. One such is a favorite of Los Desterrados. Between sets, the band members themselves offer a shot of the alcoholic beverage of one’s choice to the first audience dancers on the dance floor. This really gets the party going.

Is that really a homeless man dancing in the corner?

Yes! The Blue Fugue is known for their open door policy during concerts, thus, anyone and everyone is welcome to attend. This does, indeed, include anyone who may happen to be dispossessed at the time. The exception, however, are Salsa Saturday’s where a normally large crowd causes the ownership to monitor entry at the door.

Kandi Grossman, left, and Heather McCammon perform as part of the Moonbelly House Dragonflies belly dance troupe for the Katrina benefit event at The Bl,ue Fugue on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005. McCammon has performed with the troupe for over two years. Grossman has taught the troupe for 10 years. What leads the Blue Fugue to remaining so dedicated with Hurricane Katrina fundraising?

Before it relocated to Columbia, Mo, the original Blue Fugue was located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Destroyed through the wrath of Hurricane Katrina, the owners reestablished their bar in Missouri, trying to raise money in effort to rebuild the broken lives, and refresh the memories lost. Every week they collect money during performances from Los Desrerrados, among others like the Moonbelly House Dragonflies belly dance troupe pictured to the left.

What is the cover charge?

Depending on the night, the cover charge is usually $5 on open-mic Mondays, and $10 for Salsa Saturdays. The remaining nights of the week, however, are usually free of charge with the exception of drinks or any visiting bands in town for a special concert.