The late John Lee Hooker and his partner Alex Andreas bought this Western Addition club several years back and used Hooker's star power to pull in some of the best blues bands in the country (even the Stones showed up for an unannounced jam session). It's a dark and small and cramped and steamy joint -- just like a blues bar should be -- that hosts blues and boogie bands 7 nights a week until 2am. If you're going to the Fillmore to see a band, stop by here first for a drink and come back after your show for more great music. The neighborhood's a bit rough, so be sure to park in the underground lot across the street.