June 16th, 2024. The Music City Open Mic.

New to us pals, Paul and Russ. I had a comical name kerfuffle with Russ, but we got over it. Here they’re joined by the spectacular Thilman Benham.

I’m going to write this relatively swiftly because I’ve got to make some last minute laundry decisions before flying to Europe.

Tonight was one of the best Morsbergers we’ve ever had. Amazing mix of new and familiar, young and old, experienced and first-timers. Some very, very cool new-to-me artists AND on the other end of the spectrum, Rowan Corbett, my partner in crime for around a quarter century.

… and to cap off the warm fuzzies, Dave Benham (Native American-style flutes) and his son Thillman Benham (highly-acclaimed cellist extraordinaire) came out to play together for Father’s Day. InCREDIBLE set. Betwixt Rowan, Thillman and Dave we had a FORMIDABLE house band jump in with a couple of artists…

I must admit, guys like this give me a little hope sometimes. Still friends from high school, still playing. I’m about to turn 50 and in many ways my Life has been in stasis for 20 years, playing for a Living, traveling, playing again – with many of the same people. The idea that I can maybe have that for ANOTHER 20 years means a LOT to my battered psyche.

Whoa.

That sounded better in my head. Not gonna say THAT outloud!

There were two ways these last-two-before-leaving-the-country open mics were gonna go. Either they’d be the kind of night that makes me so very, very grateful to be taking a vacation, or they’d be like tonight : so grateful that I can do THIS with my Life, surrounded by amazing friends who make amazing art, and I get to PLAY with them!

I need the break. I’m excited to travel. But I’ll miss this while I’m away! See you in August!

We do this every Sunday night at Morsbergers at 713 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, MD, 21228. Signup at 6.30, music at 7pm. Enter through the back at the LARGER of the two doors! (the other entrances are straight to the bar side and Boba Fett won’t always point the way!) For information about the photos and videos and usage thereof, please visit https://www.ilyaimy.com/robsopenmics/#videosAndPhotos!

A special note to DRUMMERS : we’d Love for you to join us and have a house kit (please bring your own snare, cymbals and – of course – sticks / hotrods), however I need you to show up early to set it up (6pm) and we HOPE you’ll be comfortable sitting in with other performers if they ask you to! Time is generally pretty tight and we don’t have time to set up the kit, play two songs for one act, and get your kit back off stage again. It’s gotta be there the whole night! Though Morsbergers has a lot of metal bands on weekends, the open mic night tends to be more singer/songwriter – please be prepared to play accordingly (hot rods encouraged).

David and Thillman got matching shirts for Father’s Day. Shame they didn’t bring ONE MORE for Rowan!
Kent Island? I still haven’t figured out how NOT to process our beards as a little browner than they are, but… it don’t look bad!

Tonight w

  1. ilyAIMY
  2. Russ and Paul
  3. Kent Island
  4. Paige Gurlivan
  5. Alaina
  6. Debbie Bucci
  7. Kate Buckholdt
  8. Joe Isaacs
  9. Rick Millman
  10. Rowan Corbett
  11. Avi
  12. Dave Benham and Thillman
  13. Braedon ohgodicantreadhislastname Coghman? I’m NOT looking back at previous lists I’ve gotta pack!
  14. Cuppa T Jones
  15. Alan
  16. Juels Bland
Really enjoyed this guy, Paige is apparently a Teavolve veteran, but I didn’t remember him. LOVED his songs. Sort of Soul Coughingish but with more punk. More vocal control.
Another new-to-us artist, a recent transplant from Cape Cod : Alaina was like if Jeanette Napolitano had had a hippie-goth Lovechild with Blind Melon. Add Thillman and Rowan and she had power-trio awesomeness that really spoke to me. Welcome to Baltimore!
Rowan Corbett!
I dropped by next door just to check that the video games were still there (maybe my brother will fancy some Double Dragon?) and found some new Rabbit Army Rising marks…

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