PHOTOS BY MIKE BLUM (1994)


contributed by: Mike Blum

Mike Blum is a musician in New Orleans. He has performed in a few bands over the past couple of decades. But before he was a musician, he owned a music store, Michael Blum Guitars. His shop was located at 8210 Oak Street near the corner of Dublin Street. The location is still in use, but it is a coffee shop now.

In 1994, the guys in Blind Melon visited Mike's store on Oak Street. He didn't necessarily know who they were and he asked if they were in a band. They told him that they were in a band named Blind Melon and that they were looking to rent/buy gear for making their new album in New Orleans. Mike had the opportunity to visit them at Kingsway and listen to much of the 'Soup' album be recorded. His name is not on the credits of the album, but he sat right next to Andy Wallace and Mike Napolitano while they were recording 'Soup' with Blind Melon. During the times at Kingsway as well as his guitar store on Oak Street, Mike took a handful of Polaroids of Blind Melon. It has been almost 20 years, and they have survived the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina. Mike is allowing these to be shared with the public via blindmelonarticles.com and shannonhoon.com. It is an honor to be able to present these images to the melonhead community. THANK YOU, MIKE BLUM!

Brad Smith hugging an Oahu amplifier
Michael Blum Guitars, Oak Street, New Orleans, LA (1994)
contributed by: Mike Blum




Glen Graham with a high-hat
Michael Blum Guitars, Oak Street, New Orleans, LA (1994)
contributed by: Mike Blum




Glen Graham with an electric guitar
Michael Blum Guitars, Oak Street, New Orleans, LA (1994)
contributed by: Mike Blum




Glen Graham with a bass guitar
Michael Blum Guitars, Oak Street, New Orleans, LA (1994)
contributed by: Mike Blum




Rogers Stevens with an electric guitar
Michael Blum Guitars, Oak Street, New Orleans, LA (1994)
contributed by: Mike Blum




Rogers Stevens holding cash and a Fuzz Face pedal
Michael Blum Guitars, Oak Street, New Orleans, LA (1994)
contributed by: Mike Blum




Shannon Hoon holding a guitar to the ceiling
(standing on top of the pool table at Kingsway)
Kingsway Studio, Esplanade, New Orleans, LA (1994)
contributed by: Mike Blum




Shannon Hoon looking through a book of Danny Clinch proofs
Kingsway Studio, Esplanade, New Orleans, LA (1994)
contributed by: Mike Blum

This is an invitation to a 2nd-Anniversary of the shop being open (1994). And the postcard is from Kingsway Studio - photo credit: Danny Clinch

A big thank you goes out to Larry Woods for putting me in contact with his friend, Mike Blum. Larry runs a really cool company called Colorado Record Crates. Check it out!