Stoddard Blackall

I attended the Pete's Candy Store open mic on Sunday, Feb. 15th. Right off the bat -- lemme tell ya -- I wasn't pleased to see that the sign-up sheet was already teeming with names, leaving me with the 20th spot, at a quarter to 4. On their website, they specifically stated 4pm sign-up (maybe I’m missing something?) but I’ll have to go back another time, even earlier to get a lay of the land. Nevertheless, I WAS pleased by how many people were eager to play! Rolling with the punches…that’s...

JESSE EVANS approached me while I waited in line at 7 sharp to sign up for my slot in the night's open mic line-up on Feb 12. He must have overheard me talking to my buddy, James Manzello about the song I initially registered with on their webiste, because Jesse Evans came right up to me and said, "Are you the Sweet Janine guy?" I answered yes enthusiastically, and was pleased and touched that he complimented the song a few times and said he was looking forward to playing it. He's a genuinely...

I visited Tiny Cupboard 's fine establishment again. 2nd open mic this year, 2nd time at Tiny Cupboard. This time, their mic ran as it usually does: in the game room, on a cute little stage. When I went to my first open mic there last week, they had to run the even at the main stage because a few group gaming matches were in full swing -- on board games and card games: their names I'm unaware of. After a few entertaining sets, with a quirky, dark-humor-tinged, experimental vibe to them, I got...