ArtKore.org Open Mic at the Goldhawk
The ArtKore open mic is always good for a moving moment here or a surprise there and last night was no exception.
First of all there was the featured act Las Vandelays. Their smooth bossa nova/samba sound brought about dreams of lounging on a beach in Brazil with a tall umbrella laden refreshment. Eric pointed out that, if we were in fact living on a beach, then our stress level would be so low that we would not need to drink. We’d be happy with life as is.
When it was time for Eric and I to go on, I was actually nervous. What the hell? I’ve been doing this for 20 years … I don’t get stage fright. Of course I knew what the feeling was and, as a song Eric wrote earlier this year goes, “Sobriety Kills!” He was gonna spring that one on me but thankfully he could not remember the chords. Instead he pulled out ‘Mrs. Love’ which we just hadn’t played in about a year. Great for my nerves, but we made it thru. I announced before we started that I felt like Bender from Futurama. My lack of alcohol was hindering my ability to perform. Someone yelled out, “You gonna drop a brick?” I replied, “I just might after this set.” Ya gotta be a Groening fan to get it.
I have to admit that the strength and honesty in Michelle Vecchione’s voice tears me up every time. Although I do wish she had sung ‘Whiskey’ for me. Believe me I forgive her. It was a treat as always to see her. As she performed, the place fell silent. She joked that she gets nervous when a room gets so quiet.
Lauren, better known as the belly dancer from Kukurudu debuted her new found Mandolin skills. She sang an original song that had a real gothic feel to me. Hey, who knew she could sing? I knew about the mandolin because she lives nearby and a couple of times that I ran into her and she told me about her progress.
Then there was Dana. I was looking at her all night, not just because she was so cute, but she looked familiar. Then, after everyone performed she got up to do just one song with a CD for accompaniment. And when this adorable, fragile looking doll opened her mouth, out poured an operatic voice that was ten feet tall, I remembered where I met her before. It was well over a year ago at the old Rodeo Ristra Lounge. She had done this same act once but earlier than that, she was part of a quirky trio called Piece of Cake. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say I hope she comes back to sing again … a lot.
One complaint I have is they need to change the limit from a two song max to ten minutes. One performer named Ben played a song that was on its own over ten minutes. It was his second song too! To add insult to injury, he could not get the plug out of the guitar. At one point there were four guys trying to figure it out. To this Gibby of High Speed Chase quipped, “How many guitarists does it take to unplg a guitar?” Answer: “None, your manager does it for you!”
The night ended with the usual goodbyes and Greg from Butterspy and I walking out together. He said, “Good night Mr. Bailey.” To which I replied, “Goodnight Mr. … um … I never knew your last name.” This was not too surprising since it was good long time before we even knew each other’s first names. We used to simply know each other as that guy that sits at the end of the bar at the Rodeo.
Earlier I let him in on the fact of my sobriety challenge. “You dumb bastard,” he muttered. I laughed. Well you should have seen his face when told him of last year’s challenge. The first night of which was his going away party.
He was moving to Vegas for what would turn out to be a temporary resettlement. Anyway it was one of the best parties ever in Hoboken complete with open bar. There I was drinking water. “You dumb Bastard!” I shared how surreal it is to walk home sober at 2:30 in the morning in this bar burdened town. “Wait, wait. You walked home sober in Hoboken? You dumb bastard.”
As we parted ways I hear him yell, “I better be in your blog tomorrow bitch!!”
“You will be now!”
And there you have it.
