Well, heck with taking time to regroup. We went out to the open mic today. I've never minded doing things on my own, many times preferred it -- but dang, it's also just plain nice to wait your turn in good company.
Michael took this one of me playing one of my new FAWM tunes. I returned the favor by getting his performance of David Ford's "State of the Union" (warning: a couple f-bombs dropped)
That looping stuff is pretty crazy. The idea of amplifying myself with a pickup is still pretty much a novelty for me, so stuff like this just seems so beyond me. I was really impressed by the end where he actually ditches the guitar, almost gets the strap caught on his head in the process, unwinds the mic cord from the stand -- all while singing the last verse. Good stuff.
Mojo's open mic is great. All open mics are a smattering of good to bad, but Mojo Main's tends more toward great to decent. It was a good crowd. They reacted well -- the audience at Mojo Main generally does keep at least one of two ears on the stage, which I think is probably not real typical of open mics that happen in bars. Plus Spanky's got my back with calls for "ONE MORE SONG!!" from behind the bar, on some nights. I haven't really tried any of the others in town, but I also haven't heard any of the other musicians even mention other open mics in town. (It is, however, a small town.)
Hoping to play Arden's open mic later this week. I played there in December and I've been tryin' to get back ever since. Arden's a musician's open mic - meaning folks are listening to you with all available ears because it's a community pooling together for community's sake, and art's sake, instead of musicians plus whoever wanted a beer that night. It's not publicized. They have no need for publicity; my impression is that they already have all the talent they'd ever need, and they're being pretty gracious by allowing non-members to slip in on the program. But I think that's just how they roll. I love Arden since that's my contra-stomping grounds, plus it's a beautiful area tucked away near the city and I love the community they have there. Reminds me a little of Takoma Park, MD, which I loved very much, apart from a little countryside nostalgia. Despite Newark being a college town, there's nothing like Arden in the town proper.
At least not yet.
mannnnnn I was stayin' close enough to the microphone to keep bein' heard; I didn't get caught or almost caught on nothin' (: It was rehearsed. And I never drop f-bombs while speaking. I only say that word if someone else wrote it in a song because I don't like changin' other peoples art omnomnom I wish my phone recorded higher quality audio so that the video of you turned out better. Ummm I'ma try to make it to Arden. If I knew where she was yay
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know you don't say that stuff, but the issue of changing someone else's art... I have done it for only a few songs when they were perfect for family campfires and stuff except for *one* word. You did a great job tho ^^
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