Tag: Open Mic

Humboldt talent shines at CCAT open mic

by Brad Butterfield

Originally printed March 1, 2023

The Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT)’s first open mic of the semester took place at the Buck House on a snowy February 22nd. The night began without a microphone, which would likely have been an issue at any other performing arts event. However, it seemed the crowd of nearly fifteen students were all aware of the same truth: The only necessary ingredient for an open mic night is willing participants. By all meaningful measures, the night was off to a perfect start.

Jack McCann, who goes by the stage name Mushroom Jack, announced to the growing audience that he had an amplifier cord in his room across campus. Then, as if he was a majestic snow bunny, Mushroom Jack sprinted out of the cozy Buck House to retrieve the cord.

Indigo Thomspon was first to take the stage. She opened the night with an original poem which she couldn’t remember when she originally wrote. She confidently set the tone for the night and closed with “Fate won’t let you live your life in vain,” to unanimous applause from the crowd.

In the meantime, our hero Mushroom Jack returned with the amp cord. Unfortunately, lady luck was not doing us any favors and the amplifier chord Mushroom Jack brought required a converter to plug into the amp. Undeterred, Mushroom Jack again braved the elements, to retrieve the right converter from his lair.

Without missing a beat, Julia Simmons took to the stage and began dropping joke after joke, as if she were a seasoned road comic. The crowd erupted in laughter and even began firing jokes back at Simmons.

“What do you call a cow with no legs?” an audience member shouted from the back of the room. “GROUND BEEF!”

This was a real hoot and absolute holler, obviously. There is never a bad time for dad jokes, depending on who you ask.

The atmosphere was so welcoming that I could not stand by like a journalistic fly on the wall. I have one joke ready at all times for critical moments like this. “What is the difference between a cottonball and a lizard? … A lot of things!”

After some minutes of jokes, there was a general consensus in the room that if we continued with the comedy, Jay Leno would be out of work.

Next, James Lara harnessed the now-rowdy room with a heartfelt poem simplifying the complexities of life and attachment, ending his set with “Desire and longing pulls you farther away.”

Jack Hellesoe, known as Bird Jack, was not to be confused with Mushroom Jack, I was warned. Bird Jack opened with a unique cover of “New Slang” by the Shins to the beat of various audience members on tambourines. Bird Jack then played an original song, written “during a time of social uncertainty.”

Having endured the chilly night air twice to get both an amplifier chord and converter, Mushroom Jack finally joined Bird Jack onstage. A solid cover of Neil Young’s “Down By The River,” led to an unforgettable original performance of a song detailing the tribulations of a mushroom. It was Flight of the Conchords meets Pink Floyd meets Paul Stamets with a sprinkle of Mid 80’s Ozzy Osbourne.

Leaning into the finally functional microphone, Mushroom Jack belly-sang, “What would YOU do if I was a mushhhhhrooooom?”

He then paused for a perfectly timed guitar solo as Bird Jack held rhythm on his wonderfully stickered guitar. Reading the crowd’s energy, Mushroom Jack brought us back down like a seasoned symphony conductor, abruptly yelling into the mic with authority, “It’s antibacteriaaaaaaal!”

It was a night of firsts, too. With the support of the crowd, Isabella Jug got on stage to sing in front of people for her first time ever. Bird Jack improvised chords even though he’d never played through the song before. The level of talent in the room was only outdone by the complete support from everyone there.

Danika Zikas and Julia Simmons finished out the night with a song written in the throes of a mushroom trip their freshman year. The fungi-inspired song was being unveiled for the very first time for the audience huddled inside the Buck House. Jug provided gentle harmonies from the couch while Mushroom Jack laid out a soft guitar section to complete the soundscape. It was a beautiful team effort. The final act of the night was the roaring applause from the throng.

CCAT will be hosting monthly open mics throughout the semester. Find them on instagram @ccat.humboldt.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Grab a cup and listen up

A cup of Joe and some tunes make for chill Friday night plans

Standing on stage with microphone in hand, raising the guitar to the audience, the starting performer kicked off Northtown Coffee’s open mic night.

“I am the Squirrel. This is my tree [guitar]. Let’s get it on!”

Last Friday night, artists got it on by paying tribute to International Women’s Day before beginning their session. Rio Cerbini, a musician from Eureka, started off with an on the spot prayer celebrating women and their power.

“I pray for peace, more understanding and listening,” Cerbini said. “This place [Northtown Coffee] is a love portal, very freeing.”

Skyhorse performs his favorite song of the night, “Since I Met You Baby”, by Ivory Joe Hunter. Mar. 8, 2019. | Photo by Grace Caswell

Northtown Coffee acts as a space for creativity and support, and unique artists traveled from all over to bring their craft to the stage.

Antonio “Tony” J. Martinez, performed under the name Skyhorse, is a new but frequent performer at Northtown Coffee. He described a magnetic-like energy connecting him to Northtown Coffee.

“An energy brings me and pushes me here,” Martinez said. “Each [heart] beat. Each breath.”

With or without an energy present Northtown Coffee captivated its audience, offeried an experience that’s Friday-night worthy. Performers were drawn to the small stage, some visiting every Friday of the month.

A very familiar face to Northtown Coffee is Squirrel, acting as both a performer and sound assistant he attends almost every Friday, knowing what pleases the crowd.

“Animation,” Squirrel said. “Songs that bring people up, the audience wants to hear something wild.”

Audience members enjoy the live performances and cozy vibe of Northtown Coffee. Mar. 8, 2019. | Photo by Madeleine McCluskey

While energy remains high within Northtown Coffee, a chill and comfortable vibe encompassed the whole building, feeling more like a community. Jose Moreno, a first year social work major, enjoyed Northtown as a first time audience member.

“I would definitely come back,” Moreno said. “It gives you such a lifting experience.”

Northtown Coffee offers many experiences to many people. For musicians it’s a chance to perform and showcase their artistry. For the audience it’s a Friday night featuring live music and cozy coffee smells. Regardless, Northtown Coffee has something special that brings people to the same spot every Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Local talent rocks the mic

Food and Drink gives voice to local talent at weekly open mic

Blondies Food and Drink echoed with chatter on Feb. 28 as guitarist Shaun Juan-Rich Merchant took the stage and lightly strummed his instrument.

The crowd grew quiet as he bursted into his first self-written song. This is Merchant’s second time playing at the open mic night at Blondies Food and Drink, located north of HSU on LK Wood Blvd in Arcata.

Shaun Juan-Rich Merchant sings at the Blondies Food and Drink open mic night on Thursday, Feb. 28. | Photo by Benji Goodale

Merchant, originally from Missouri, is an avid artist and musician with a deep passion for his craft. He sees his music as a deep expression of the self that is more than just singing combined with a series of well put together chords.

“The true meaning of life is enjoying the experience,” Merchant said. “My music is channeling these experiences that I have had.”

Jimmy Kennedy, an HSU alumni that now lives in Willow Creek, took to the stage later in the night to perform a refreshing style of guitar known as American primitive. He utilizes metal fingerpicks on all of the fingers of his right hand to play this interesting style of acoustic music.

“I’m drawn to this style of music because of the impression that it leaves afterwards,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said that after 10 years of experience with acoustic guitar he is still learning all the time, and enjoys playing music that requires a lot of particular strumming with his right hand. This style of guitar is much different than the popular style for acoustic that instead relies mostly on the left hand.

The open room of Blondies Food and Drink bustled with members of the community as local guitarist Ian Roberts sets up on stage later into the night. The energy in the air was increasingly jolly as more drinks were poured. Roberts secured a tambourine to his right foot with duct tape and made sure his guitar was in tune before bursting into his three song routine.

“I got into guitar playing and music after ‘stealing’ my first guitar from a dog named Oliver,” Roberts said. “It was basically just Oliver’s chew toy in the living room, so my roommate let me have it after I started to play it one day.”

Ian Roberts performs at the Blondies Food and Drink open mic night on Thursday, Feb. 28. | Photo by Benji Goodale

Roberts said that for him performing music is an experience of catharsis. Performing music allows him to get into the moment enough to open up deep parts of himself and allow for the purging of emotions that have built up inside.

Ben Stoeck, another guitarist that performed earlier in the evening, said that these open mic nights are an opportunity for expression and getting over the fear of performing.

“No matter how excited I feel in the days leading up to the open mic night, there’s always a little voice in my head right before it starts that says ‘I don’t want to go,’” Stoeck said. “It feels great pushing through that feeling and getting up on stage.”

Blondies Food and Drink holds a space for local artists at their open mic nights every Thursday night, starting at 7 p.m. and continuing until closing at 10 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019