A Very Merry Open Mic
It's 12:30am and it's officially December 24th. Thus, it's the night before the night before Christmas. In about seven hours, I have to wake up, wrap presents, pack, and drive my butt to New Hampshire for Christmas. And, as such, I should be sleeping.
However, I just came from the Christmas edition of Open Mic Night at Caffe Lena and it was quite possibly the best Open Mic of my life.
First off, all five current open mic hosts were present and all performed. This is a rare occurrence! Luckily, we documented the occasion with a photograph at the end of the night. I really admire the songwriting capabilities of the other hosts: Gary Moon, Kate Blain, Ray "Rainman" Pashoukos, and Willie the Moak. It's really an honor to be among them. Sharing the stage with them all for the photo was really excellent!
At one point during the night, I was smiling warmly while listening to a Christmas song performed by an open miker. I turned around to see who was coming in the door and (I'm sure) my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Casey and Dave (of Almost Awake) were there! Best Christmas present EVER! Casey and Dave are wonderful friends with just plain lovely personalities. They are the type of people that you just can't get enough of and you wished you lived with them or they with you. It's been a while since I have seen them last... and there they were.
After hugs, I got the idea to have them join me on one of my songs. I then decided I should find someone to play some lead guitar first... I asked Mark Stewart if he wanted to and he said he would. We went in the back room to rehearse, but after a few run-throughs of the chord progression -- *SNAP* -- Mark breaks a string. So, I asked another friend, David Fey, if he wanted to try some lead work. He did and it sounded great. Casey sang back up vocals and Dave (Shaver of Almost Awake) played Djimbe. Casey (being the wonderful and fun person that she is) noticed a triangle on the wall of the room that we were rehearsing in. She played a few tings and I asked her to bring it on stage. We played Frozen and it sounded absolutely beautiful. Casey's back up vocals were spot on and I didn't even give her any direction. Dave surprised me by doing a little egg shaker thing and then bringing the djimbe in and it was perfect. David's lead work was simple, but spot on. And, of course, the triangle was just what a triangle needs to be!
I do hope that there were some pictures taken... I wish there was some video taken... It was truly a moment that one can only dream about and as I lay here in bed, I wish I could relive it!
I was so overwhelmed after the song that I couldn't find the right rhythm for my next song. I made a joke about my birthday being on Christmas and a girl in the audience cheered and said that her birthday is also Christmas! Then, out of nowhere, there is a flame that is attached to a candle that is sticking out of a cookie that is being handed to me (on stage) by Anna Millhouser and Laura Joy. There is also the singing of Happy Birthday.
I started to blow out the candle, but the flame died on its own as I took a breath. The more I think about it, though, I don't think I could have come up with a wish at that point that would surpass the wonderfulness of playing with Almost Awake and just being surrounded by such wonderful people for the holiday.
And it's now 1am... Right. To sleep. Much wrapping and packing and driving tomorrow in order to surround myself with more wonderful people!
What a freaking super Christmas so far!
However, I just came from the Christmas edition of Open Mic Night at Caffe Lena and it was quite possibly the best Open Mic of my life.
First off, all five current open mic hosts were present and all performed. This is a rare occurrence! Luckily, we documented the occasion with a photograph at the end of the night. I really admire the songwriting capabilities of the other hosts: Gary Moon, Kate Blain, Ray "Rainman" Pashoukos, and Willie the Moak. It's really an honor to be among them. Sharing the stage with them all for the photo was really excellent!
At one point during the night, I was smiling warmly while listening to a Christmas song performed by an open miker. I turned around to see who was coming in the door and (I'm sure) my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Casey and Dave (of Almost Awake) were there! Best Christmas present EVER! Casey and Dave are wonderful friends with just plain lovely personalities. They are the type of people that you just can't get enough of and you wished you lived with them or they with you. It's been a while since I have seen them last... and there they were.
After hugs, I got the idea to have them join me on one of my songs. I then decided I should find someone to play some lead guitar first... I asked Mark Stewart if he wanted to and he said he would. We went in the back room to rehearse, but after a few run-throughs of the chord progression -- *SNAP* -- Mark breaks a string. So, I asked another friend, David Fey, if he wanted to try some lead work. He did and it sounded great. Casey sang back up vocals and Dave (Shaver of Almost Awake) played Djimbe. Casey (being the wonderful and fun person that she is) noticed a triangle on the wall of the room that we were rehearsing in. She played a few tings and I asked her to bring it on stage. We played Frozen and it sounded absolutely beautiful. Casey's back up vocals were spot on and I didn't even give her any direction. Dave surprised me by doing a little egg shaker thing and then bringing the djimbe in and it was perfect. David's lead work was simple, but spot on. And, of course, the triangle was just what a triangle needs to be!
I do hope that there were some pictures taken... I wish there was some video taken... It was truly a moment that one can only dream about and as I lay here in bed, I wish I could relive it!
I was so overwhelmed after the song that I couldn't find the right rhythm for my next song. I made a joke about my birthday being on Christmas and a girl in the audience cheered and said that her birthday is also Christmas! Then, out of nowhere, there is a flame that is attached to a candle that is sticking out of a cookie that is being handed to me (on stage) by Anna Millhouser and Laura Joy. There is also the singing of Happy Birthday.
I started to blow out the candle, but the flame died on its own as I took a breath. The more I think about it, though, I don't think I could have come up with a wish at that point that would surpass the wonderfulness of playing with Almost Awake and just being surrounded by such wonderful people for the holiday.
And it's now 1am... Right. To sleep. Much wrapping and packing and driving tomorrow in order to surround myself with more wonderful people!
What a freaking super Christmas so far!