Coffee Shop/Open Mic Nights

[ghodaddyyo]

The band I used to play in got our start doing free Open Mic Nights at local pubs and bars. I have recently become interested in doing the Coffee Shop thing to play some of the jazz standards I'm learning. What is this solo guitar experience like? Anyone try it? If you have or would like to try, what songs would you do? Remember that as a solo guitarist, you must carry a bands weight on one instrument, or you could strum simple chords and sing your heart out. Maybe you could strap a harmonica around your head and get real folksy.

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smile.gif"....smelly cat, smelly cat, it's not your fault...." http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smile.gif

[FUNKGRAVY]

Hey I remember those open mic nights, mostly how we used to pack the joint and didn't get sh#t for it, then they would want us to come back next week to do the same thing. Now that is what you call doing it for the love of it! Do you remember when we moved up to getting paid with quarter rolls? http://www.zentao.com/ubb/mad.gif

[ghodaddyyo]

Yeah! And usually on a school night too!

[FUNKGRAVY]

AAHHH- the good old times. I wouldn't have had it any other way!

[moongoose29]

I have a band but still play solo shows sometimes i have found that in that type of setting songs like Friend of the Devil and Farmhouse go over well with the coffee shop crowd they are easy to play and not hard to sing also Bob Dylan and the Beatles are good examples of acoustic tunes to play.

[ozark]

i have a solo guitar gig coming up at some wedding, its just a short like half hour, or forty five minute set, but here are some of the songs I'm doin.
ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE
STELLA BY STARLIGHT
CORCOVADO
SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME
I'LL REMEMBER APRIL
JUST FRIENDS
BLACK ORPHEUS
GREEN DOLPHIN ST..... hope that gives you some ideas.
maybe just work out a little chord melody of some sort , or just comp through the chords, the great thing about solo guitar is the while you do have to "be the whole band" you also control the whole band. so if theres a hard part for you, slow it down, just do your own thing, have fun. peace

[Terren]

This thread was started 5 years ago and someone brought it back from the dead. I'm sorry, but I doubt they're listening! lol :D

[antispatula]

The band I used to play in got our start doing free Open Mic Nights at local pubs and bars. I have recently become interested in doing the Coffee Shop thing to play some of the jazz standards I'm learning. What is this solo guitar experience like? Anyone try it? If you have or would like to try, what songs would you do? Remember that as a solo guitarist, you must carry a bands weight on one instrument, or you could strum simple chords and sing your heart out. Maybe you could strap a harmonica around your head and get real folksy.

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smile.gif"....smelly cat, smelly cat, it's not your fault...." http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smile.gif

I just saw jason webley in a local shop, he had an accordion.....it was great.

[phingerboard]

Ozark -

Can you recommend a recording of "All The Things You Are" that is played primarily on guitar? I'm working on that tune and the only reference I have right now is the one from Sonny Meets Hawk, and the progressions that would be played on guitar are primarily in piano that is buried waaaaaaay down in the mix.

[PerianArdocyl]

Remember that as a solo guitarist, you must carry a bands weight on one instrument

Yeah, when learning to play a song on accoustic, I have a tendency to add in little tricks and extras to imitate little quirks in the song. Like in "Learning to Fly", you can hammer-on the middle fretted string of the Am chord to make it sound kind of like Mike Campbell's occasional riff.

[Southern]

This thread was started 5 years ago and someone brought it back from the dead. I'm sorry, but I doubt they're listening! lol :D
Thats funny and no one else noticed.

[PerianArdocyl]

I thought it sounded familiar...

[Peaceful]

This thread was started 5 years ago and someone brought it back from the dead. I'm sorry, but I doubt they're listening! lol :D


Yes, but it is still relevant.

[Mr. Boston]

Depends on the venue. If it's a bar you need sing-along songs. The song "Laid" from the band James- will in fact get you laid if you can pull off those vocals. Also "Blister in the Sun," by the Violent Femmes, "Friday I'm in Love," by the Cure (especially if it actually is a Friday night), and "Tender" by Blur are instant panty-melters. If it's mostly guys, or a rowdier crowd, Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #13 & 35 (Everybody Must Get Stoned) is a good one too. Ask yourself, is this the type of place where most of the people will be here to drink, and good music is a bonus, or the type of place where people want good music, and there may or may not be alcohol involved.

If it's a coffee shop you can't go wrong with some Dylan there either. The great thing about playing Bob Dylan, is you can probably sing it as good or better than the man himself. I happen to love his voice, even at it's worn-out nasally worst. I'm one of those who can hear the beauty and character in it. But a lot of people like his songs, but don't like his singing. You can take advantage of that. Play "It's All Over Now Baby Blue," and a lot of people will dig it. "Don't Think Twice It's Alright," is good too. "Tangled Up In Blue," is the best really.

Beatles are a good way to go in either environment, cause everyone knows it. "Rocky Raccoon" was always one of my favorites in front of the acoustic-crowd. As well as "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," it's basically a waltz. Do some songs in 3- it'll get that obligatory back and forth sway thing going- essential to any decent intoxicated sing along.

I personally find the Band's song "Up On Cripple Creek," to be awesome in a small venue. You could work Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl," in there too. I don't know. If it's "Open Mic" there could be a lot of other acts, in which case you'll get like 15 minutes. I filled a slot like this once. Did Creedence's "Bad Moon Risin" followed a rather risque original about a girl pleasuring herself for the first time in the bath-tub, then realizing she's being watched by a peeping-tom, and finding it a turn-on. But you can get away with alot of stuff in Boston that might not fly out in the civilized world. Anyway make them happy, sing songs people will find engaging and fun. It might be tempting to show off your chops, but aside from the two other guys in the place who play guitar, no one's going to appreciate it in this kind of setting.