Because of some unforeseen empty holes in our schedule this summer, we needed to spend a bit more time than usual at the “Brown-Miller” homestead. Tuesday day and night was a nice break for them as they had GENEROUSLY offered their guest room to us for as long as we needed. But they had previously had guests for the entire week before we arrived, and were scheduled to have MORE guests after our time there. Needless to say, even the best of friends need a bit of downtime from all the chaos that guests bring with them, and we were more than happy to allow them that. So after our brief time apart on Tuesday, they offered to hang with Rudy Wednesday night while Jared and I enjoyed our own bit of time away. The open mic we found was a 21+ bar with a 7:00 start time and a 4:00 sign up. Once we’d signed up for an 8:30 time slot, we took a walk around to find some dinner and dive into a crossword.
We literally hit the jackpot with this darling corner restaurant called, Chook Chicken. An unassuming storefront, we almost passed it up. For as much pomp and circumstance as some restaurants boast to cover up for their sub-par quality of food, service, or a combo of both, Chook countered all of that with a simple exterior and a humble but artsy interior, bright and welcoming, and smelling of rich spices and fresh ingredients. I ordered a greek salad, topped with falafel, while Jared ordered the “Green Goddess” salad with baked, pulled chicken. We paired it with an order of potato wedges and some homemade ranch, which I can say with totally conviction is the best ranch I’ve ever had. As we left, I said to the friendly staff, “I’m certain you all are smiling because you KNOW how quality your product is, don’t you? I bet you’ve never had to field a complaint.” They laughed and wished us well on our travels, sending us on our way with two complimentary white chocolate macadamia cookies…just to put a finer point on it!
Do I get an album cover vibe off this or what?
After some corner booth snuggles, delicious food, warm wishes, and a bit of a sugar rush, we moseyed to Lincoln’s Roadhouse to join the other musicians in awaiting our twenty minutes of stage time.
John hosted and kicked off the night with a thirty-minute set. We only got one picture of the night, and it was of John (pictured on the stool), and rightly so. John has dedicated the past eighteen years to faithfully running the open mic here at Lincoln’s. The cast of characters read like a Steinbeck novel, singing their old American covers, peppered with sweet originals, confessing their amateur statuses, and laughing at their inadequacies as musicians. Most of these people had been playing music for longer that Jared and I have lived, so I knew our proud declaration of our “twenty-year” partnership would not be a bragging point, but rather a “Hmm, only THAT long?” observation for most of them. John approached us before our set and encouraged us to play as enthusiastically as our “look” suggested we might. We promised we would do our best.
We actually had a completely lovely set, even ending in a call for an encore! We played “7 Days”, “Naked”, “Don’t Wait”, and encored with “Life Fantastic”, bringing the place to it’s feet with full-voiced cheers and support. We felt the love entirely. The biggest difference between the two open mics, in my observation, was intention. The Tuesday open mic seemed full of intention to prove something. There was little outward joy or camaraderie, but a real sense of longing to be seen and heard. A younger group that really appeared eager and a little green. Open mics are good for this though, so it is great that people like Luke continue to offer a space for new artists to showcase their art.
The second open mic felt full of intention to solidify familiar relationships, continue to persue a passion for performance, and to commune over a shared love of music of all types. These cats were absolutely secure in who they were and, quite frankly, could have given two shits who “saw” or “heard” them. They just came back, week after week, to do something they loved, could never NOT do, and maybe get some “woo hoo’s” and applause to feel nice. I mean, otherwise we may as well stay home if we don’t want at least a little response, recognition, or appreciation, right?
It was almost shocking the juxtaposition between the two evenings. I’m sure Jared and I fall somewhere in between the two age demographics, sliding ever-so-slowly from the young buck toward the “elder”. We still are trying to showcase ourselves to new, younger audiences, trying to stay relevant and fresh. However, we find our hearts and souls truly belong with our older mentors and pioneers who have worn the open mic stools down, blown out the speakers, and warmed up the microphones on the stages for the crooners and pickers like the Wednesday nights at Lincoln’s. Faithful open mics hosts like John, diligently plodding along week after week to create a safe and supportive space for his fellow musicians to perform, grow, practice, and celebrate that we can even keep creating melodies to send into the ether forever.
We see ourselves in both the youthful and aged faces as of now… I hope there’s still space for us as we get closer and closer to the latter of the two. Thank you to John and all the older people who keep the microphones lit for the path of us younger ones to follow and see. We hope to do you proud.
As we reflected into the night on our role in all of this weird and wonderful musical tapestry, our boy partied with Nate and Marianne in the way only a ten-year-old can, through a series of video games, cheeseburgers, Lego-building, and “Office” watching! I may have been just a little jealous. Thanks again Nate and Marianne for being the best honorary Auntie and Uncle ever!!!
