So, as I'm sure I've stated in this blog before, I hate open-mics.  Now before you go thinking it's because I'm some sort of performance snob, let me explain.  My dislike for open-mics have nothing to do with any of the other performers. I love that people who may not perform on a regular basis have the guts to get up in front a group of people and perform; I can go to an open-mic and gladly listen for an entire evening. 
No, I hate performing at open-mics.  See, there are two things about open-mics that cause me trouble.  The first is the whole 'you're 4th on the list and you go onstage cold and try to win over a crowd in the 15 minutes you've been given.  Worse than that though is the feeling that just when you get comfortable up there; you're time is up and you have to stop. 

Generally, it takes me a song or two to get comfortable at any gig.  This is why I usually play one or two songs off a very short list to start a gig.  This list contains songs that I can play without really warming up, that provide a gradual warm up for both my voice and my guitar playing, and are songs I will usually not mess up.  By the time a song or two has been played, I'm feeling relaxed and my adrenaline and energy have steadied and evened out enough for me to start having fun and relax a bit. 

At an open-mic that's about the time that they kick you off the stage and call up the next act.  I stopped playing open-mics years ago and haven't played one, except as the featured act, in at least 3 years.

So, what was I doing at an open-mic last night?  Good Question.

Last night I showed up at Mac's Tavern to play my three (in this case four) songs because I was meeting Chris Dunbar, bassist extraordinaire.  As many of you know, Dunbar and I played together from 2001-2003 and he played bass on all of Moving Day.  Dunbar is currently playing bass for Bill West and The Truth, and Bill was hosts the Mac's Tavern Open Mic.

Dunbar and I haven't seen each other in quite some time and he suggested we get together for a drink and that he'd join me for a song or two if I wanted to play.  Chris and I haven't played on stage together since late summer of 2005, so I couldn't pass it up.  I sent him the changes for Driveway and he dug up the changes for Bad Dog and we figured we'd sort it out as we went along.

I got there right at sign-up time to put my name on the list.  Much like the sign-up for school presentations and giving blood, it is quite common for the first person to sign up in the number 3 or 4 spot and then have every subsequent person sign up below them so that number 3 or 4 is, in truth, number 1.  I decided to circumvent that whole dance and just signed up on the first line.  I figured that going first would provide the least amount of time to over think this whole thing.

Dunbar and I hung out with Bill and chatted while we waited for the time to start.  My creative writing self would love to describe the whole experience using the metaphor of hooking up with an ex-girlfriend in her new boyfriend's house, but Bill was extremely gracious and there was nothing awkward or weird about it.

It was decided that I would play two newer songs on my own and that Dunbar would join me for Bad Dog and Driveway.  I opened with my newest song, which has no name but for the moment is called, Kiss Me.  I had performed it once before at my rain soaked Driade gig, but never without the lyrics handy.  It went well and this song led to the highlight of the night for me. 

The last verse contains the lines Still not sure that I believe in Fate / Start to voice my doubt then hesitate / 'Cause Hubris is what brings the wrath of Gods.  It was one of the early lines that I wrote and I love it, as well as the lines that precede it in the final verse.  Initially, I worried that the references were too much, but assuaged my concerns by telling myself that Glenn Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket would have totally used that and made it work.  Regardless, after the set, a women came up to our table, expressed how much she enjoyed the set, and asked me if Hubris meant excessive Pride?  It made my night; not only was she actually paying attention to the lyrics, but she got the meaning right as well.  Now if I can only get my 10 graders to remember that...

My co-worker Kristen came out to the open-mic, so in honor of having another English teacher in the house, I decided to play Kerosene; my newish song that was inspired by Bradbury's novel, Fahrenheit 451 .  After that, Dunbar came up for our two songs together.  It wasn't perfect, I messed up the final run in Bad Dog when my hand mysteriously cramped up after too many bar chords, but we had fun, sounded pretty darn tight for not playing in 4 years, and I like to think we set the bar pretty high for the rest of the night. 

Regardless, a good time was had by all and I plan to return to this open mic in a couple weeks.  The other musicians were great and I stayed several hours longer than I planned to.

It's a great Open Mic, Bill has created an excellent vibe and the crowd is polite, supportive and attentive.  The space is great too; it takes place in an outdoor courtyard that has excellent natural acoustics.

I recommend it to anyone who is looking for something to do on a Wednesday night; Whether you want to play or to listen.