The (musical) talent of Charlotte

I attended an open-mic night at a club/lounge/whatever it is called The Evening Muse in support of my buddy Nathan. This was one of those really cool hole-in-the-wall places with nil sound-proofing, but when the folks start singing and playing, the world stops in its tracks. And this was apparently the more “amateurish” of the open mic nights (there are a couple sets of open mic nights). Circumstances conspired to make me late, meaning I came in at the beginning of Nathan’s second song (there’s a two song limit). He was good, if perhaps a little nervous, and he gets major congrats for a great performance on his “first night out”. We all stayed for the entirety of the open mic sessions, of course, and were stunned (at least, I was) again and again. I’ve never been to that sort of place, and despite the crowd (too many people!), the atmosphere was very comfortable and friendly. I didn’t even notice until my mother pointed it out that we were two of the only three blacks in the place (although I usually wouldn’t notice that stuff anyway…). Most people played acoustic geetar, although there was a superb three-piece from Raleigh that consisted of a geeter, a violin, and a drum (like a congo drum looking thing) that totally rocked the house. When Nathan gives me their name again, I’ll drop it here with a link to their site. Most people also played that music that I can’t think of a label for: kinda John Meyer-ish, that acoustic sound that isn’t country but isn’t alternative or “rock” either. I dunno. I’m bad with labels. I’m also bad with technical evaluations of music. Nathan said some were better than others, but although some weren’t the style I would normally listen to, and some folks didn’t have a voice that gripped you from beginning to end, everyone was great, everyone knew their music, and everyone had feeling. It was simply beautiful.

The closing act was an R&B singer/keyboard player with a beautifully raspy voice. He was the third black person in the place. I don’t generally go for R&B, because it often seems like a lot of whining and stuff, but this dude converted me. And he was young, like maybe 19. The entire place just got kinda still when he went up there, and he was shy as he introduced himself and talked about his song. Then he played. And I mean he played. His voice, the music… It was eerie and gripping and beautiful. When he finished his song, the loudest applause of the night went up and the manager-folks asked him to play another one. It was even better, and just as moving, despite the fact that you were sort of acclimated to his style, you know? That takes talent.

They have open-mic nights every Tuesday, and once a month on Thurdays. If I can get the moola, I am so there next time. I can only hope there are such cool places where ever I go to college (“whoopi!”). Who needs parties on a Friday or Saturday night?

Update: The band: Taylor Roberts’ Music (merci beaucoup, Nathan!).