Atmosphere: Incredibly fun (unless you take advantage of this establishment's benevolence). Since this is a restaurant first, with the bonus of having live music every night, there is no admission fee or drink minimum. But those who buy food will be spared the freeloader glare of regulars.

Honored alumni: Chicago Joe Jones and Chicken Shack may not register like the names Francine Reed or B.B. King, but they are Fat Matt longtimers who steadily draw a respectable audience.

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Incoming class: Sundays through Thursdays offer regulars Backwater Creek (Sundays), Fatt City Wildcats (Mondays), Larry Griffith (Tuesdays), Chicago Joe Jones (Wednesdays) and Chicken Shack (Thursdays).

— Sonia Murray