Live band backs wannabe stars at open mic nights

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This article was published 26/09/2016 (3291 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BE A MUSIC STAR: Vinyl Revival — the record store, music school and coffee bar — is ramping up its popular Wednesday night musical open mics.

Last week, more than 50 vehicles parked around 10 McGillivray Park for the revival and the place was abuzz with singers and musicians with instruments — although they offer a complete backline setup and a band will play behind you if you’re a solo singer.

Host Hiromi Osawa, dubbed the “godfather of blues,” introduced one act after another from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., hollering “Shoo!” for people to start, as in, “It’s you!”

Laurie Mustard of the new Mustard On Everything column (in the Free Press Homes section on Saturdays) often comes out to this open mic.

Yours truly caught him after he’d accidently set a paper napkin on fire with the candle at his table.

Like Inspector Clouseau, he had grabbed the burning cloud of paper and began crushing it out in his palm.

“I love the ambiance here and some people are so good they could be a new k.d. lang or a future Gord Downie,” he said, after the smoke cleared.

Spotted in the melee: enthusiastic litigator and accordion player Marty Green; David Houle with his harmonica; bassist Fred Narozniak; St. Paul’s Anglican minister Geoff Woodcroft; songwriter Mona Corrigal; singer/barista Shailyn Senft; Boeing’s Colin Cheys; drummer Cody Buhler; violinist Gabriel Bonne; teacher Scott Sampson; and Todd and Shirley Sawchuk. Todd plays a huge accordion and his wife, Shirley, bakes the coffee-bar snacks.

Owner Darren Sawchuk, a defence lawyer who is battling cancer, got up to play some of his own songs, including one about the death of a drug dealer in the streets and another about fighting cancer and feeling he needs a little help from the Pope.

“Actually, I’ve been feeling good and I’m back lawyering, because that’s what I do,” he said, smiling.

IF JUSTIN CAN DO IT…

Going on Facebook Live with a little film of yourself is a new form of social-media connection favoured by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

This week, a Winnipeg woman called Electric Lady popped up on Facebook Live with a three-minute pep talk for Winnipeggers with unfulfilled dreams.

Shana Robinson, 28, bills herself “a millennial life coach” with a target market from 28-45, attracting mostly women and a few male entrepreneurs. She coaches people on how to get in touch with their ambitions and figure out steps to go after them.

So how does a young woman inspire confidence in people older than she is?

“I’ve had a lot of jobs in my 28 years of life and diverse training. I studied psychology at University of Winnipeg and had employees much older than me when in management roles. I know how to bring out the best in someone and get through the layers.”

Her goal for people is to “stop wishing and start doing.”

You can check out this firecracker on Facebook at Re-Brand You by Shana Robinson.

NEED TO TOUGHEN UP, LADIES?

Look above Cafe 22 on Corydon Avenue and you’ll see windows full of 30 Minute Hit posters. On Oct. 11, a workout spot for women that includes boxing, kickboxing and self-defence is about to open. 

Brie Kozak and her business partner Jill Godfrey say they’ll be ready “if there’s no hiccups.” Kozak and Godfrey are both 33 and have been best friends for 20 years, so they are excited about opening this business together.

The franchise originated in North Vancouver and has 45 outlets.

“We have 13 stations with two minutes per station, so you work out 30 minutes, which is achievable for people with a busy life. And, you burn 500 calories,” says Kozak, who adds it’s especially good for new moms who want to get back into shape, and there’s a children’s play area in the same room to keep an eye on their little ones.

For more info, their website is 30MinuteHit.com.

OPEN MICS FOR COMEDY

Want to get your funny on this fall? The season offers plenty of opportunities for newbies to try five minutes onstage with an audience. There are open mics in this comedy-crazy city from Sunday through Thursday weekly. Bomb or blossom, what the heck — you can hit a new one the next night and try again!

Sundays in Osborne Village at The Cavern (112 Osborne St.), veteran comedy host John B. Duff is tough, but fair. “Time for sign-up is 9 p.m. and comics get five minutes — or less if you’re bombing. Keep it short, know when to get offstage and… oh, have fun!” says His Gruffness. Nelson Mayer’s comedy open mic is Sundays at Shannon’s Irish Pub (175 Carlton St.) Sign-up is at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m.

“We get lots of new people who are a little rough around the edges, but they all get their full time. For that five minutes, you’re the star.”

On Mondays, the open mic is at the Limelight Tavern (531 St. Mary’s Rd.) run by Dr. Jax. Sign-up is at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Jared Storey hosts an open mic at the Park Theatre (698 Osborne St.) on the last Monday of every month. Sign-up is at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m.

The first Tuesday night of each month is Comedy for Women, hosted by Dana Smith at the Jekyll and Hyde Freehouse (437 Stradbrook Ave.) Half of the show is pre-booked, with the remainder of open-mic spots drawn from a hat. Sign-up is at 8:30 p.m., with the show beginning after 9 p.m.

The well-established Comedy Wednesdays held weekly at Jekyll & Hyde is holding its fifth anniversary in October. The host is Ben Walker, winner of Rumor’s 2012 Funniest Person With a Day Job competition.

This open mic pulls newbies all the way to travelling professionals who sneak over after their shows. Sign-up is 8:30 p.m. and shows start after 9 p.m.

Walker’s advice for first-timers is to check out a couple of shows first and see how things work. You get three to five minutes, then Walker flashes his phone for you to wrap it up. “Or I flash my teeth!”

Thursday night’s open mic is at The Handsome Daughter (61 Sherbrook St.) with Mike Green hosting. Sign-up is at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. 

 

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