The Essence of Blues

This is Tallahassee … not New Orleans. This is Tallahassee … not an ancient dive in the Mississippi Delta. Nor a blusey joint on the old Chitlin’ Circuit. 

But if you close your eyes and feel the rhythmic pound deep in your chest and the sound of a wailing harmonica, or the throaty grumble of a weathered singer lamenting of hardship and toil, you may think you’ve time-traveled far back into a Southern past. 

Now, open your eyes, and though the music of the blues—or perhaps tonight it’s bluegrass, jazz, or something with a Latin beat—is moving your very soul, you will realize you are actually in one of Tallahassee’s most contemporary and vibrant musical venues. Although only a little more than a year and a half old, The Sound Bar is already a must-visit destination for anyone who enjoys live music and a good dose of soul.

Buddy Levins, a now-retired Department of Agriculture employee, had always loved music, especially the blues. He would often listen to music with friends, pulling from his collection of more than 200 CDs and vinyl records. And when Tallahassee’s beloved Bradfordville Blues Club shuttered in April 2023 after 21 years, Levins decided it was time to save the vibe and open his own establishment where fellow music lovers could experience the same music-saturated nights. 

Photo by Saige Roberts

Levins found a 2,200-square-foot concrete building on West Tharpe Street that seemed like the perfect “intimate but roomy” venue. His wife, Linda, and daughter and son-in-law, Bianca and Thomas Herndon, believed in his dream of creating a place where folks could eat, dance, sing, and keep the blues alive.

The Levinses and the Herndons had a vision and they handcrafted it all, from building the 13-by-13-foot stage, sound panels, and bar to equipping the kitchen and creating the dreamy purple-pink lighting that illuminates wide round tables and comfortable chairs. Now open six nights a week, The Sound Bar hosts karaoke nights, jazz and blues jams, blues festivals, music appreciation days, and an evolving roster of local and touring bands.

This year, Bianca and Thomas Herndon have taken up the mantle as owners. “It’s a lot, but I love it,” Bianca  Herndon says. “I can definitely say that this is my calling.” 

After finishing a full day at her state job, Herndon rushes off to The Sound Bar. Her responsibilities include booking acts, promoting events, and dishing up chicken quesadillas, brisket tacos, chicken salad, and homemade Earl Grey ice cream in the kitchen, alongside her mother and daughter, Leela. “Fire Basket Food Truck is parked nearby, and the wine and beer can be had for $5,” she says. “Coffee is only $1 a cup.”

The performers who sign up to play know they will be treated well, says Herndon. “All of the cover goes to the musicians,” she adds. And from local music makers to the likes of Bobby Rush, Bruce Katz, and the Sauce Boss, the purple-hued stage nightly turns red-hot as the sounds blend and the audience rises up to clap their hands and twirl in uninhibited boogies.

Photo by Saige Roberts

The family’s deep love of the Tallahassee community and its musicians goes further than just serving up music and good food. In the next year, those behind The Sound Bar will create a foundation called the Sounds of Giving to support scholarships for college musical education and performance, high school marching bands, and seventh-grade band study. They have already provided financial backing for Big Bend Hospice and Planned Parenthood, and also held a school supply drive. And when Tallahassee was hit by freak tornadoes, The Sound Bar team set up tables in their parking lot and invited anyone who needed them to partake of free meals.

Herndon has also been collaborating with FSU’s Musical Collective and others to gather vintage albums and instruments. “It would be wonderful to have a local music history museum,” she says, glancing at a guitar inherited from the Bradfordville Blues Club. Of course, in the meantime, she’s coordinating the big fish fry and the five performing bands, followed by a songwriter showcase. While it’s a lot to keep track of, for Herndon and her family, it’s a labor of love. 

The Sound Bar: Located at 1105 W. Tharpe Street. For more information, call (850) 320-2859 or visit thesoundbartallahassee.com.