By Kerry Hayes and Michelle Karparis | Staff Writers
As we walked into the Newport Blues Cafe on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m., the first thing that we noticed was the floor; we had never realized that there were hardwood floors, or chandeliers on the ceiling, or tables and chairs, or a large fireplace in the corner of the room. But if you walk into the Newport Blues Cafe on a Friday or Saturday night around 11:30 p.m., the first thing you notice won’t be the hardwood floors; it won’t be the chandeliers; and it won’t be the tables, the chairs, or the fireplace in the corner. First, you’ll notice Sarge.
Sarge has been working at the Newport Blues Cafe for 9 years. Having been in the industry since 1983, he has worked locally at places like The Landing in Newport, Sebastian’s in Middletown, as well as various places all over the country. He is currently one of the managers at Blues and also is a bouncer on their busy weekend nights. Students at Salve Regina University know him as the man you give your license and school ID to, followed by his trademark “SALVE!” call to the cash girl, which means your cover charge for the night is waived.
It was Sarge who made the decision to waive cover charges at Blues for students both at Salve Regina and the Naval War College. According to Sarge, this is the third consecutive year at Blues where there has been a large college presence every weekend; they have also hosted larger events such as the Salve Regina University Alumni Weekend in the past. He said that both groups, Salve Regina and the Naval War College, don’t get enough credit, and that he considers Salve to be a huge part of the community, “You guys keep the town in business in the off-season.”
Sarge makes it a point to take care of the college students, even on St. Patrick’s Day; when the cover charges rise to $20 and $30, students can rest assured knowing they won’t pay more than $10 at Blues. Salve students can also take comfort in knowing that they are always safe at Blues. As a manager at Blues, one of Sarge’s main concerns is security. “I take my job seriously…people want to come back to where they feel safe.” He talks about how “his guys” are constantly moving around inside, making sure that the night is going smoothly. Sarge himself will man the door for the whole night, and says, “I’m the first person you see, I’m the last person you see…You know exactly where to find me.”
To the 21+ community, seeing Sarge at the door is part of the Blues experience. Though Sarge says that he is better with faces than names, he has become familiar with Salve students, and has even been invited to graduation for the past few years. He pointed out that the Salve students themselves are pretty predictable on weekends spent at Blues: they don’t come out until 11:15 or 11:30, and they always walk straight upstairs, where the band and the crowd can be seen from the balcony.
Sarge says that he books bands for the nights a year in advance, and the genres range everywhere from 80s hits and Country Fest, to 90s grunge and local favorites. And the crowd in the audience is about as diverse as the performances. No matter your age, or whether you are a college student, a local, or just visiting for the night, the two-floored venue is a Newport staple. Sarge even says he has seen students and alumni bring their parents here. In that way, Blues is unlike other bars in the area; there is a place for everyone at Blues.
Sarge expressed genuine care for his customers. He says he lets them finish their drink at closing time, reminds them to watch their step on the way out, and says, “I’m not going to kick you out in the cold if you’re waiting for an Uber.” Blues is a place where people can go to have a good time on the weekend but also feel safe, thanks to Sarge. Especially for students at Salve, the Newport Blues Cafe and Sarge’s booming “SALVE!” are an essential part of the Newport weekend experience.
