The Blue Fugue

The Blue Fugue sign inside made its way up from the bar of the same name in New Orleans. Manager of The Blue Fugue, Scott Meiner, was the co-owner of the original bar in New Orleans. Video Meiner defines 'Fugue' (Flash, 400K) Differences from Music Café (Flash, 400K)

By Christopher Pond and Kristin Lamvik

Scott Meiner, manager of the Blue Fugue, prides himself on keeping the Fugue in its signature “state of insanity” at all times.

Drinking water out of a fish-bowl-turned-glass, Meiner can be found many afternoons reading on a well-used grey couch at Ninth Street’s Blue Fugue. As a friend plays guitar casually by the door, this atmosphere is all too reminiscent of his past.

Years ago, even before the original Blue Fugue opened in New Orleans, Meiner was a principle collaborator with his good friend Ben Vaughn in deciding what an idyllic lounge would be like.

“It sprang from a conversation about what an ideal bar atmosphere was. The goal was to summarize what Shakespeare’s was to us years ago,” said Meiner.

Columbia’s prized restaurant ‘Shakespeare’s Pizza’ has always been a popular, unique place to sit and eat in the company of friends, yet to Meiner, Shakespeare’s was much more than that.

Meiner says a typical night at Shakespeare’s begins with eating and reading in the company of friends. However, as nights like these progress, he and his friends would lose focus of the reading and begin to socialize.

Thus, to create this picturesque atmosphere, Meiner and friend Vaughn opened the original Blue Fugue in New Orleans in 1999. Located in the French Quarter, this lounge featured a small used-book library, live music and a bar. From the popularity experienced there, these three elements became their signature as the pair brought this character back to Columbia.

By 2005, the birth of the Blue Fugue was underway as Meiner, previous employee of the downtown hot-spot Music Café, spotted an opportunity.

From 2004 to 2005, the Music Café experienced a series of setbacks after they received numerous alcohol violations. Previous owner Bobby Mojdehi, nearing retirement himself, decided to sell the bar to Meiner’s close personal friend Anthony Butler, who immediately changed the venue’s name to the Blue Fugue.

Jonathan Martin, a regular during the Music Café days, described how that fateful last year of the Music Cafe centered on making as much profit as possible, regardless of any fan alienation. Charging extremely high cover fees and ticket prices, former owner Mojdehi brought in bands that would generate the largest crowd, regardless of their effect on Columbia’s music scene. Martin said that now, with the creation of the Blue Fugue, this venue is not driven by profits alone. Rather, it is driven in the search for a good time.

Adding to this idea, Meiner explains, “In some senses it’s really not run as a business so much anymore.”

Now that Meiner and Butler have taken over, they are bringing a new level of comfort to the venue.

One of the big changes at The Blue Fugue from The Music Cafe, is local artwork displayed, and lit.

“My favorite aspect is that when I walk in here I feel very comfortable, despite that we have such a ripped and torn couch. I would like to think that it is more a living room for me where I can come in, relax, and do what I want,” Butler said.

Meiner also made note of the central meaning of the word fugue, which he described as a process where, for example, someone begins playing one instrument who is joined by other band members, all layering their own songs to ultimately create an energy and experience known as music.

The ‘fugue’ effect is seen in many other bar experiences as well. As Meiner explains, “You’re sitting there having a conversation with someone, the bartender overhears this, and he chimes in. Now you’re still having the exact same conversation, but it has taken on this new tenor.” And that new tenor is the fugue.

Paralleling this behavior, regular Blue Fugue bands like Los Desterrados extend this ‘fugue mentality’ through performing songs that come to life as they are being played. Known for changing band members and alternating instruments with each performance, a key part of the band’s set includes bringing anyone they can find to play on stage with them, naming the new song with the audience at the end.

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.

At a recent Desterrados concert, the night began with a lone guitarist playing on stage. As time progressed, another guitarist showed up and the two collaborated, bringing a new sound to the stage. Later a member of the audience offered to add drums to the mix. The cycle continued until the end of the night when the stage was full with musicians playing the guitar, drums, bongos, wood blocks, and more, bringing a true fugue-like presence into the venue.

In defining the fugue, Meiner said, “It’s a mild state of insanity where you’re doing something consciously, but you don’t recall it later.”

Aside from the music, the fugue recently added a big-screen television to the bar due to the owners’ love of baseball. Meiner and Butler agree that baseball games there have become popular early night activities because of the bar’s laid back setting.

The Blue Fugue is indisputably unique, and an essential addition to Columbia’s eclectic music scene. Where else can one buy a book, watch a game, have a drink, and salsa dance with friends all in one place, all in one night?