Cutting Through the Noise: Blue Dog Motel
This feature is part of Forget The Box’s MTL Venue Series.
Behind the unassuming vintage swivel chairs, and the classic blue and red swirling pole of a barber shop lies the long bar, dance floor, and carefully placed stage of the Blue Dog Motel. When I came across Blue Dog for the first time, it was a usual Friday night; Saint-Laurent was filled with people in their best going-out clothes, making their way to one of the many spots hidden throughout the street. I found myself drawn into the music and culture radiating out of a small bar squished in the middle of a block, filled with patrons drinking and dancing under alluring lights. Groups of people crowded outside its tall glass windows, engrossed in conversation while they cooled down under Montreal’s fall temperatures. As I moved through them, muffled music seeped through the closed door, inviting me in.
The unique sounds of jazz and drums swept over an eager crowd. From rich, deep voices singing blues to skilled fingers hitting piano keys faster than my eyes could catch, the array of musical talent on stage at Blue Dog brought a unique energy to the venue. I watched from my seat at the bar, small waves of people filtering to the front with each new group on stage, ready to embrace the music with open arms and loose dancing.
In daylight, Blue Dog on Saint-Laurent houses a traditional, family-owned barber shop. After making a booking, you would find yourself behind a glass wall reading “Bar-Barbier” covered in a striped bib, staring into a Hollywood mirror as your split ends were sheared off. But the place is much more than it appears. As night approaches, the small barbershop puts away its clippers to transform into a trendy venue. When the door opens, patrons are met with an affordable cover fee and an alternative bar, adorned with decorated walls and bottles of liquor. The small space crowds quickly and is seemingly always packed, but if you make it close to the stage you will find yourself with enough space to dance to the funky music constantly flowing throughout the place.
From queer dating nights to drawing events and live reality shows like Too Transmasc to Handle, the range of events at Blue Dog differentiates it from your typical bar or club. Many of their distinctive nights take root in queer events, allowing a safe space for dancing, enjoyment, and occasional karaoke. Along with these creative endeavors, musical talent is often at the forefront of an evening at Blue Dog. On any given night, a host of DJs playing from behind a booth and a stage rampaged by local bands are illuminated by glowing purple, red, and blue lights. It is an alternative space that allows patrons to explore local talent, a venue seemingly created for showcasing the smaller artists Montreal has to offer.
Local arts groups and musicians looking for a venue to host their projects can book the space by contacting Blue Dog through Instagram or by email. All the artists and events hosted at Blue Dog are sure to find themselves surrounded by a supportive environment of Montrealers. As the arts scene evolves and the thirty-year-old bar looks to the future, the venue will be putting even more of a focus on live music with the help of Sergio Da Silva, the owner of Montreal’s own Turbo Haüs.
A recurring event was added to Blue Dog’s calendar in September, and it has intrigued me since I first saw one of its many hand-drawn posters. Every Friday, Blue Dog’s Offcuts live jams give local musicians the chance to bring their instruments and perform for an accepting and vibrant audience. Members of the arts community are welcomed under the iconic Blue Dog sign and into the bar with no cover fee, encouraged to share their talents on stage. A main band is chosen for the night, and artists filter in as doors open to sign up for a spot on stage. Between sets, you’ll hear tunes from a DJ as you grab a drink from the bar. Offcuts is a compelling event series to explore. Different instruments move on and off the stage, people slip in and out of the crowd–but the supportive energy persists. Blue Dog is a place for artisans and musicians to uplift each other without judgment, a sentiment that Montreal’s artistic community is built on.
As an artist, it is extremely difficult to build the confidence to simply share the new things you have created. It is the same confidence it takes to speak a new language for the first time, something I’m sure many living in Montreal are familiar with. As the art scene in this city grows, venues such as the Blue Dog give artists the chance to experiment with their craft and be encouraged by others who are doing the same. Spaces like these are of huge importance in allowing small artists to thrive, and in supporting local bands and talent, Blue Dog cements itself as a vital part of Montreal's vibrant art community.
