Acoustic jam sessions resonate downtown

With a new school year come new bands: bands of friendship, bands of brotherhood, and bands of rock! Roommates and friends team up to create a fresh sound to kick off another year of college. To showcase these up and coming bands, there is Acoustic Night. Acoustic Night is held every Tuesday from 8 until 10 p.m., in the basement of Blackbird Coffee.

Acoustic Night is a place for those starting out in the music world and seasoned professionals.

Each band or solo act gets a chance to play two or three of their favorite songs for the awaiting crowd. Songs can be covers of a classic or an unheard original. Every genre is welcomed.

Upon arrival, musicians sign up for their spot on stage. There are two microphones provided as well as one amplifier. A variety of instruments can be showcased. They range from guitars to bongos to kazoos.

Casey Sullivan began Acoustic Night three years ago.
“(I have) never had anyone to not feel warm and welcome while performing on stage,” Sullivan said. “It is just a cozy environment.”

Sullivan created Acoustic Night to make people feel comfortable and offer them the opportunity to find other people with the same interest in music.

“People at Acoustic Night have a lot of respect for what you like and love to do,” she said.

She also designs Acoustic Night shirts. Anyone can get a shirt by bringing a plain shirt to Sullivan on Acoustic Night.

The Acoustic Night stage has a slightly new look thanks to Sara Fleetwood.

Fleetwood painted “The Nest” mural behind the performance area. Fleetwood has been attending Acoustic Night since it began.

“It was something to do on weeknights that was good and free,” Fleetwood said.

Fleetwood enjoys listening to the various bands even though she has never performed.

“My favorite part would have to be all of the untraditional instruments and seeing people from the community come out and play.” Fleetwood said.

Fleetwood is also an employee at Blackbird Coffee and works most Tuesday nights during Acoustic Night.

“Sometimes, I run downstairs, watch a song I like, and then run back upstairs,” she said.

Mandi Baughman and Hary Mitchell are regulars at Acoustic Night. The duo performed together last year and are kicking off the new year together as a ‘not-yet named’ band. They performed at the opening Acoustic Night.

For their first song, Hary did a solo folk song from the 1920s titled, “St. James Infirmary Blues.” Hary and Mandi performed “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michelson.

Unlike most bands that played, Mandi did not play an instrument. Her vocals were accompanied by Hary on the guitar.

Their favorite part of Acoustic Night is listening to other performers, in particular Noelle Rose and Casey Sullivan. The public can come out, enjoy a cup of coffee, show their support and, maybe, their talents.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 5 2008. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry