After entering this classic stopover of a bygone era, with its own spa and sauna and long winding corridors, take a sharp right and look for a staircase leading down past some intricate stained glass paneling into...
...the subterranian club of the owner, Jerry Green. Jerry is a class act who has been performing nightly for over 30 years. I have been to the Brekinridge Inn three times now, and on my most recent visit, I actually had the pleasure of meeting this local celebrity in between sets. Having grown tired of performing for pennies in a dive south-east of the city -the same place for decades- Jerry made the move to invest in himself and in this aging yet ageless classic on the edge of St Matthews, across from the original location of Ruth Chris Steakhouse on top of the tallest building in Louisville.
Every night he lets it rip, and he puts on a great show of mostly covers with his own style and flair. There is no advertising for this clubs existance. There is no fanfare before he walks out. He does not have a trademark gimmick, and yet, night after night he pours out a sweltering mix of funk and blues, stirring the regulars and his transient visitors to their feet in a style reminsant of the greats like Maceo Parker and James Brown. Having seen both of those performers, I feel that I am not using hyperbole. He is solid.
The place is also an offbeat gem. Not withstanding its hidden locale beneath an obscure Inn, far away from any other draws, it manages to charm with its extensive preserved collection of kitch and nostalgia. From boats to signed liquor bottles to old Mickie and Minnie dolls, this place has it all...
And the locals dance the night away as Jerry and his band sweat out the grooves like it was the day the music died...
A highly recommended stop if you are in town. It is an affordable place to stay with affable people and aggressive cocktails which, by the time you are done cutting the rug, will leave you delighted to rediscover that your room is right upstairs.
The place is also an offbeat gem. Not withstanding its hidden locale beneath an obscure Inn, far away from any other draws, it manages to charm with its extensive preserved collection of kitch and nostalgia. From boats to signed liquor bottles to old Mickie and Minnie dolls, this place has it all...
And the locals dance the night away as Jerry and his band sweat out the grooves like it was the day the music died...
A highly recommended stop if you are in town. It is an affordable place to stay with affable people and aggressive cocktails which, by the time you are done cutting the rug, will leave you delighted to rediscover that your room is right upstairs. And who knows, you might be lucky, as I was, to share a cup of joe with Jerry himself as he is going over the capacity and operations with his staff. Just don't ask him to sing outside of the magical realm of his underground speakeasy.
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