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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
 Posted - 02/02/2006 : 09:01:18 AM
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Time is upon us -- the Feb open mic is next week
Wed. Feb 8, Espresso Garden on Bascom, San Jose
Sign up from around 6:30, first performance at 7:15.
With some folks going to music camp, we may have "extra time" for someone wanting a longer set.
If you've never done this -- an open mic is a great opportunity to take your playing to the next level, or at least share your music in a more "formal" way -- Espresso Garden is a warm, supportive place to play. The food is good. Esxcellent Espresso drinks. Soft drinks, beer, wine. Reasonable prices, no cover.
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2006 : 07:19:54 AM
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Remember folks, tonight is the Expresso Garden Open Mic!
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
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ArtSap
Lokahi
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2006 : 08:50:44 AM
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| I'll be there for the music, food and drink... |
Art
SF Bay Area, CA / Mililani, HI
"The real music comes from within you - not from the instrument" |
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Pulelehua
Akahai
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2006 : 10:02:26 AM
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This is a great opportunity to introduce someone to slack key guitar and Hawaiian folk music so bring a friend! 
www.espresso-garden.com
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Pulelehua |
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ArtSap
Lokahi
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 06:56:57 AM
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| Wow, what I thought was going to be an evening of few performers turned out to be just the opposite. Another terrific night of inspiring performances by regulars; the Kams, Raymond, Jerry, Kiwini, Doug, RobO and Dave - and the addition of Bruddah Rod (RodV18) all the way from Carmel Valley performing his first ever slack-key number of "Waimanalo Blues". We were graced with the return of Ashley who performed 2 beautiful hula numbers for us. And we were able to help a wonderful gentleman celebrate his 89th birthday whose daughter saw a flyer advertising the open mike at Espresso Garden and thought an evening of Hawaiian music would be the perfect way for them to spend this special evening. It just seems to get better and better... |
Art
SF Bay Area, CA / Mililani, HI
"The real music comes from within you - not from the instrument" |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 07:43:18 AM
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Couldn't say it better than Art.
Except this waas RobO's first time performing, and did a good job with some tough material. Everyone performed interesting music, andd id it well. With a great mix of instrumentals, vocals, solo, group, and, as mentioned, hula. Keeps me inspired to practice more. |
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RobO
Akahai
USA
97 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 08:07:21 AM
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| Thanks to everyone for allowing me to perform for the first time. Although nerves really got the better of me, I very much appreciate your support. I hope to improve with more open mic performances (if you all will indulge me. Thanks for the feedback that I received from a number of you, I view feedback as a gift. And, of course, continued thanks to Espresso Garden and Raymond. |
a hui hou... Rob
"Lawe i ka ma'alea a ku'ono'ono"
Translation: Acquire skill and make it deep |
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rodv18
Aloha
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 09:33:32 AM
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well...my 3rd time at Expresso Garden and the muscians are getting better and better...as for my 1st ever slack-key playing experience...
too nervous and too much butterflies(more like BATS)...mahalo for the kine words of encouragement...also to Braddah Art and Braddah Doug for Kokua their time...i owe you-guyz...
rod |
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cmdrpiffle
`Olu`olu
USA
553 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 11:27:00 AM
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That's pretty cool folks. I like the part that someone read the venue and actually decided on going.
Nice job everyone!
Mike |
my Poodle is smarter than your honor student |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 1:26:32 PM
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If your Open Mike is anything like ours here in San Diego/Oceanside, the best part is getting slackers of various levels to play in front of group that is:
1. Interested
2. Knowledgeable
3. Appreciative
4. Sensitive to the amount of effort involved to get ready to play
5. Willing to offer tips if asked
6. Laughs with you as you make mistakes
7. Asks the tuning you used and claps after every song
Getting over butterflies comes with exposure - kind of like building callouses on your fretting hand. The first time I played, the whole guitar was shaking and I forgot where I was in the middle of the song - I stopped -- took a deep breath with encouragement from the other slackers -- and played it all the way through with no mistakes and a little faster. I am very fortunate to have a great group of slackers here to grow with.
Also the slackers outnumber the patrons at our venue. The one negative is the yelling from the food counter and kitchen in the middle of a song (restaurant staff not slackers). |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 2:16:56 PM
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| We don't have the yelling problem 'cause the venue books real acts and has their system down. Also -- last night 10 performers, 26 non-perfomers as audience. |
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`Ilio Nui
`Olu`olu
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 4:05:32 PM
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For those of you who weren't there, RobO is a sandbagger. He asked me to switch with him because he didn't want to follow me, then proceeded to blow us away. Good job big guy. Yes, this is a really good venue and I send special mahalos to Raymond (Ray if you're from Chicago), Sun Jose Hawai`i for their sponsorship, and all the folks who continue to show up and play. Everyone keeps getting better. I'd especially like to give kudos to jsulle. Your performance was very nahenahe and your comfort level on stage was wonderful. Raymond, your new approach to playing and working with the audience is way cool. And Da Kams, what can I say. It's like being at a backyard lu`au with all Da `Anakala playin' da kine.
Mahalo nui loa kou hooaloha ma ke open mic,
Dave |
Edited by - `Ilio Nui on 02/10/2006 4:07:03 PM |
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ArtSap
Lokahi
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 4:10:10 PM
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| Mika`ele, sounds like almost a mirror image of what takes place during the open mike sessions up here in the SF Bay Area. The support and encouragement displayed for each of the performers is truly heart-felt and genuine - a real sense of the "aloha spirit". In addition, the amount of one-on-one exchanges and info sharing that takes place before, during and after the evening reflects the desire to learn not only from the experience of performing but from each other as well. And as Raymond mentioned, the "coffee house" setting of the Espresso Garden venue with its performance stage and sound system just adds to whole atmosphere, which I imagine can be both comfortable for those watching and at times intimidating for those performing. In my opinion, the open mike participants, much like the Taropatch members, are really an ohana, of which I'm glad to be a part of. |
Art
SF Bay Area, CA / Mililani, HI
"The real music comes from within you - not from the instrument" |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 6:52:22 PM
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For those of you who don't know Art, he's one of the best bass players I've heard. He's got a wonderful ability to find just the right groove to put under the guys out front - supports them and creates an interesting texture.
I usually don't mention individual performers, cause as coordinator of the event, I don't want anyone to think I'm leaving them out, but....
I've got to second Dave's comments about jsulle. Just a few months ago he was so nervous he could barely get through a song. Other night - a wonderfull nahenahe performance.
Again, that doesn't mean I didn't really like everyone else.
And finally, I don't think many folks comment on Dave's performances. A real pro - and most often straight from the heart. So beautiful the other night.
I started this open mic last May, I think, for 2 reasons. 1) To have a quality venue for us locals to perform. and 2) Because I found that each time I performed at SF Aloha Festival my own playing took a big jump in quality, and I hoped that the open mic might offer that kind of experience for other people. In that, it has gone so much better than I could ever imagine. Everybody has improved so much. This is a "great run." (Now if I could just get over the nerves.) |
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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2006 : 11:06:21 PM
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It was another fun night with our biggest crowd yet. Hey Raymond, remember the first open mic, when we could count the number in the crowd on one hand?
What I will remember most about this open mic is being a part of Uncle Bill’s 89th birthday celebration. As Art mentioned, Uncle Bill’s daughters, who moved to the mainland from Makiki (on Oahu) 40 years ago, saw a poster advertising the open mic at retail store Sun Jose Hawaii. The daughters thought they would take a chance and take the whole family to Espresso Garden to celebrate Uncle Bill’s birthday. There were six in their party, and when they walked in, the restaurant was pretty filled. The only open table that could accommodate all of them was right in front of the stage.
The first performance was the Kams. As soon as they started playing and singing, Uncle Bill had this BIG, priceless smile. I quickly turned to Art, who was sitting on my table, and said, “Eh Brah, check out that guy’s face.” It just warmed our hearts and made us smile too. As the rest of us got up to perform throughout the evening, the big smile never left Uncle Bill’s face. He intently watched our fingers play the guitar, swayed to the music, and smiled even bigger while Ashley danced the hula (sorry, I couldn’t resist). You could tell that Uncle Bill--and his whole family--were so pleasantly surprised by our ohana-style performances, and it brought back memories of Hawaii and made his birthday extra special.
I’m so proud to join all of you every month. Everyone’s performances are getting better each time. However, what’s even more impressive is that our sharing of aloha through our music is getting so much stronger. Just ask Uncle Bill.
Aloha,
Doug
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jlsulle
Lokahi
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2006 : 09:32:07 AM
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As usual, another great experience. It looks like this one was "be kind to Sulle' week". Big Dog and Raymond, you guys are just too kind but it sure makes me want to keep coming back. Everybody sounded really good and the new sandbagger from Carmel Valley,you know who you are, really blew us away with some cool licks. What will he do when he is not nervous.Awesome. Auntie Ella,my friend from Fairfield who has been coming with me just loves hearing everyone play. Maybe we will evertually get her to show us some of her ukulele,singing and hula skills.
Thanks to everyone for keeping this thing going, it has been a great learning opportunity. JL Sulle' |
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