MCSH Open Mic tonight

There's an open mic at the Main Street Coffee House tonight, 6:00 - 9:00. I plan to be there about 6:30, guitar in hand.

This is only their second since re-opening and I don't know how many people will actually be there to either listen or perform. They had one last week, but I was just back from Tennessee and didn't feel a whole lot like getting out.

Anyhow, tonight, 6-9, MCSH.

Link to Google Maps. Tried to embed the map, but it didn't work.

MCSH Open Mic tonight

There's an open mic at the Main Street Coffee House tonight, 6:00 - 9:00. I plan to be there about 6:30, guitar in hand.

This is only their second since re-opening and I don't know how many people will actually be there to either listen or perform. They had one last week, but I was just back from Tennessee and didn't feel a whole lot like getting out.

Anyhow, tonight, 6-9, MCSH.

Link to Google Maps. Tried to embed the map, but it didn't work.

Open mic night: not a total bust

For the first half hour or so, I had to place to myself, so I chatted up the manager - always good to be friendly with people who have decision making authority - and played for practice. Not long into my second song - Raggle Taggle Gypsy if you must know - my brother Chris walked in. I played all the new songs for him in a couple of sets: Apprentice Lads (arr. Frank Blair); Raggle Taggle Gypsy; Kiri's Piano; Go, Move, Shift; among others. I acquitted myself rather well I think in what was, essentially, an audition for the manager.

Notes for August: bring a music stand, an instrument stand, and my own mic cables.

The real magic happened when I first arrived, though. There's was a group of folks standing on the sidewalk, milling about, and one asked me if I was going to go in and play. He had a strong British accent - for that matter, so did everyone in the group, about a dozen people. I invited them in, but he said regretfully that they were on their way to worship and couldn't stay*.  

Too bad, I said. The music I play is from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales...

Really? Well, that is too bad we'll miss it. What do you play? How do you tune your guitar? etc etc etc

Ah, hell, I thought. I opened my guitar case and played Jamie Raeburn for the group, right there on the sidewalk. In the middle of the song a young woman in the group rushed around to the front of me with her video camera. When I finished, they all applauded - I'm sure none of them expected to hear something like that here. Various calls of "do you have a cd?" "where else do you play?". I gave out cards like a man with a lot of cards to give out.

It felt good.

* They were in town for the Community of Christ Youth Initiative Something or Other

Open mic night: not a total bust

For the first half hour or so, I had to place to myself, so I chatted up the manager - always good to be friendly with people who have decision making authority - and played for practice. Not long into my second song - Raggle Taggle Gypsy if you must know - my brother Chris walked in. I played all the new songs for him in a couple of sets: Apprentice Lads (arr. Frank Blair); Raggle Taggle Gypsy; Kiri's Piano; Go, Move, Shift; among others. I acquitted myself rather well I think in what was, essentially, an audition for the manager.

Notes for August: bring a music stand, an instrument stand, and my own mic cables.

The real magic happened when I first arrived, though. There's was a group of folks standing on the sidewalk, milling about, and one asked me if I was going to go in and play. He had a strong British accent - for that matter, so did everyone in the group, about a dozen people. I invited them in, but he said regretfully that they were on their way to worship and couldn't stay*.  

Too bad, I said. The music I play is from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales...

Really? Well, that is too bad we'll miss it. What do you play? How do you tune your guitar? etc etc etc

Ah, hell, I thought. I opened my guitar case and played Jamie Raeburn for the group, right there on the sidewalk. In the middle of the song a young woman in the group rushed around to the front of me with her video camera. When I finished, they all applauded - I'm sure none of them expected to hear something like that here. Various calls of "do you have a cd?" "where else do you play?". I gave out cards like a man with a lot of cards to give out.

It felt good.

* They were in town for the Community of Christ Youth Initiative Something or Other