Raising the bar - The Up and Up Open Mic @ LIV Nightclub

 

The Up and Up Open Mic, held every Tuesday night now at LIV Nightclub (11th & U Sts. NW), has managed to succeed any and all expectations of an open mic one can find in Washington, DC. Although U Street is known for its plethora of open mic nights, be it poetry, hip hop, live music and more poetry (there aren't nearly enough talented poets in this town to go around), the Up and Up Open Mic will truly give you a breath of fresh air.

The beauty of this open mic is that there is more talent than fluff, a rarity at the majority of these talent showcases. Up and Up, also known as UAU, has also shown to be more than an open mic, but a concept representing "Constant Elevation". The collective was originally established as a social group in 1998 by a group of high school friends (Apuje Kalu, Torre Young, Truth Hall, Victorious Hall, Brazil Murphy, Carlos Barnes), later evolving into a clothing line when the members begin to create custom made t-shirts for their high school friends and teachers. Up and Up has been hosting the open mic since 2002 at the Cameo Lounge near Morgan State University in Baltimore. UCB, the live band who performs alongside Wale, was the original house band for the event. Word on the street, which includes DMV music insiders, supporters and those just looking for great entertainment, the UAU open mic is THE best open mic in DC.

Victorious Hall (Up and Up) and Black Boo (Mambo Sauce)

While these presentations of unscreened talent can be trying which has placed open mics at the bottom of my list of leisurely activities, the enthusiasm in the voices of the supporters led me to believe that this was worth The Glass House's time. Hosted by Black Boo of Mambo Sauce and Victorious Hall of Up and Up, one will find all the usual performance styles during the talent portion of the open mic.

 

Lady J (Rapper)

Eddie Bryant (Comedian)

Levi Stevens (Acoustic Guitarist)

Chelsey Green (Guest violinist to Mambo Sauce Band)

From rappers and singers speaking about everyday life and future aspirations, to poets reading lyrics of black women who embody strength, beauty and intelligence, the raised bar is conveyed week after week. You may even get a good laugh in with a stand-up comedian, a less common element of the open mic arena. The two hosts also add their own comic relief in combination with the 90s reminiscent sounds of DJ RBI, effectively holding the crowd's attention the entire evening. Adding to the artistic millieu is Demont Pinder, aka Demont Peekaso, aka The Black Peekaso, as the live artist for the Up and Up Open Mic. Demont has done interpretative pieces for Jay-Z, P.Diddy, 50 cent, Pharrell Williams, Russell Simmons, Missy Elliott and Quincy Jones. His work has also been featured in music videos with Lil Flip, Bobby Valentino and Ludacris and on stage at Jimmy Kimmel Live. I also cannot forget to mention the backbone of the Up and Up Open Mic, the "Originals Only", more than a Go-Go band, Mambo Sauce, as the house band. Outfitted with a keyboard, bass, guitar, congas, drums, trumpet and guest violinist Chelsey Green, the septet can play anything for anyone - and they do.

If you have not witnessed the Tuesday night excursion known as the Up and Up Open Mic then you owe it to yourself, the Up and Up team and the many adept performers to support the movement.