After closing its doors 18 years ago, The Boot & Saddle reemerged in September 2013 from a thorough yet respectful makeover. The historic local bar in the heart of South Philly that had once transitioned from country to punk is under new management and ready to reclaim its place as a key live-music venue in Philadelphia. On a recent Wednesday, my sister and I checked out the resurfaced location.
Uncovering the Venue
Boot & Saddle was revamped by the same all-star collaboration behind the 2.5 year old Union Transfer. As I understand it from local testimonials, the crew has done a great job of preserving important elements of the venue’s original, warm, dimly lit décor. The team has focused their improvements on the sound system, the live artist choice, the food selection and the beer availability.
We walked in under the same old sign. The environment has remained cozy and inviting. Top to toe, you see the original, restored tin ceiling, tin walls and hardwood floors. Historical murals hanging on the wall depict runaway stage coaches, Native American camps and various other Wild West nostalgia. We saddled up to one of the 15 odd high-top tables, taking seats at the single bench running the length of the wall and in one of the elevated chairs. The barn stall bathroom-door access continued the Old West ambience. The ambient music was older tunes and smooth grooves; no cheesy pop. A friendly member of the serve staff promptly came over, made some great recommendations for first timers and took our drink order. Many do not know that one of the most-intimate music venues in the City lies in the next room since the adjacent showroom is newly soundproofed. All in all, this venue and service provided by Manager Jean Fox and her team set the stage for a very pleasant evening any night of the week.
Taste-Testing Its Signature Eats
The food here was excellent. Chef George Sabatino, of Stateside fame just down the road, has brought his focus on locally supplied, high-quality vegetables, sustainable seafood and house-made meats and cheeses to create a unique menu. Executive Chef Christopher Davis, of Center City’s Barbuzzo and Popolino fame, has successfully taken the reigns in its execution, as every plate we tried was delicious.
We tried four plates. The Spicy Sautéed Greens were our favorite: light (in the absence of the bacon fat I’ve come to expect with Philly greens) yet flavorfully spiced with a perfect slow burn. The Spanish Octo with Fresh Chorizo was surprisingly tender. The citrus paprika dressing on the warm Smoked Duck was very tasty. The Fried Beef Chips–a house favorite–made for a nice snack and a great way to try tongue for the first time. We were told on multiple occasions that the Pierogies are a must-have, however I think next round for me will be Octopus on a stick or Hash Brown and Smoked Cheese from the happy hour (HH) list. Dinner dishes run between $6 and $13, and additional HH choices are between $2.50 and $5.
Imbibing at Boot & Saddle’s Bar
Drinkwise, there was a full bar with a rotation of fancy cocktails, and the house wine was pleasant. However, I will always vote draft. On our visit I went with Firestone Walker Union Jack draft, but their beer menu boasts 8 bottled, 9 canned and 10 draft national crafts from which to choose. Drafts run around $6.50, and HH beers run half price.
Catching Guest Music Acts
The two shows we saw that night epitomized the local and national upcoming artists with whom the Boot & Saddle have been filling their roster up to four nights a week. Most show tickets run $10 to $15 for the night, which will treat you to one, two or three groups that run the gamut of musical variety.
Des Ark
The first band we saw that evening was Des Ark. Born and raised in the Poconos, Aimée Argote has focused on playing with live ensembles (and there have been lots) over recording. However, with her second album coming this summer, she came with Taylor Holenbeck (from Kansas band The Appleseed Cast) to play some shows in the Northeast. With nothing but two electric guitars, three hours of practice and a beautiful voice, Des Ark put on a very personal yet seamless “in our living room” show producing a feel reminiscent of Ani Di Franco and the like.
Maria Taylor
Maria Taylor’s new album, “Something About Knowing,” delightfully portrays a very positive premise of the comfort of life’s great loves. Unsurprisingly, the group of multi-talented musicians assembled by singer/songwriter/fabulously talented in her own right, Maria Taylor (pictured belowwith her brother Macey), did this upbeat album justice.
During the course of a one-hour show, Maria effortlessly covered drums, guitar and keyboards while simultaneously giving her gorgeous, wispy, powerful pipes a fine workout. After 18 albums (including six solo) with three different bands, countless collaborations with stars across the rock, folk, indie and political songwriting landscape, she has brought her group back home resulting in an up-close-and-personal show. I thoroughly enjoy Maria’s current vibe, so I found the show very enjoyable and worthy of a look next time she’s in town.
Find Boot & Saddle at 1131 S. Broad St. in Philadelphia. Upcoming concert calendar and tickets availability here.
- Photography: Gayla Fecher
