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Open Mic Night was the flavor of Java Jive’s first evening of the spring semester at 8 p.m. last Tuesday. Six live and acoustic student performers filled out the stage until 10 p.m. with free hot chocolate and Java Jive travel mugs quenching their thirst during intermissions.
David Sprague opened the evening with his electric acoustic guitar and a powerful voice. He sang a selection of four heartfelt self-composed tracks and firmly re-established the relaxed Java Jive atmosphere found in the Union every Tuesday night.
Carl Hansen and Zac Macintyre followed on the piano and guitar, respectively, and sufficiently mellowed the tone with their four songs. It was an impressive fusion of the two instruments. They successfully spanned a range of tempos, offering frequent emphasis on piano work to highlight softer vocals.
Next, Tyler Irish decided to forgo the wooden stool in favor of standing and brought a different sound to the night. Making full use of his effects pedal, Irish presented his deliberately untitled mix of music in three songs, which featured longer instrumental sections and introductions. He initiated a more alternative air with his electric guitar, and received a definite “two thumbs up” from Philip Turner, a junior exchange student in the audience.
Together on both guitar and vocals, Jonah Bruce and Geoffrey DeBree then executed their fine-tuned set of soft rock. They also opted to stand for their three-song performance. DeBree wrote all the songs, which echo a more mainstream sound. Their strong harmonies were right on key, despite facing guitar strap difficulties during their final track.
The penultimate performer was smooth-voiced Mark Stanley, who sang a more upbeat selection of songs. Most of these were covers, including numbers by Dave Matthews’ Band and the Smashing Pumpkins, and he stood as a welcome interval of familiarity within a night of new music.
The evening ended with three songs on guitar by the ever-popular Sara Richardson. With a high-hat, snare drum, bongo and maracas, she was joined by an assortment of percussion, played by friend Scott Horey during her own “Visions of Fantasies” and a Joni Mitchell cover. For Richardson’s final piece, “Apple Trees,” she was also joined onstage by friend Jocelyn Emery, who provided a complementary deep harmony and helped finish the night on a high note.
Exchange student Helen McKinnon commented after the show, “It was my first Java Jive, and I really enjoyed it,” she said. “It’s a shame more people don’t go, it’s a great evening’s entertainment.” The relatively small audience drifted through the Union for most of the evening, and while most acts brought a small table of cheering fans along with them, there was unfortunately a considerable lack of connected people enjoying the evening.
It was the first, and perhaps last, Open Mic Night of this semester as the opening qualifying round of “The Project” begins at Java Jive in the North Pod next Tuesday at 8 p.m. Application forms are available and there is still a chance to sign up for the competition. Contact the Campus Activities Board for more information.
Bangor Daily News