Before I joined my band, I was a regular at open mics in Paris – most frequently at the open mic hosted by friend and musician Thomas Brun at the Highlander pub just off the Quai de Conti. Well, when I say regular, I actually mean once a month. The real regulars are there almost every Wednesday, ready to put their name on the list by 8:15 so that they can play their three-song set to a buzzed audience happily anticipating some good live music.
Tonight I briefly stopped by The Highlander to pick up a few flyers for another music event next week that Thomas is hosting and that I am involved in. He was setting up microphones, scrambling over his loop stations, connecting wires and jacks. Every few minutes he crinkled his sweaty brow to ask me what time it was. He was running late. The open mic officially kicks off at 9pm and considering how much success the open mic has known in the four and a half years Thomas has been running it, he knew he better move swiftly if he wanted to cram three hours worth of music into one night. He turned on the mic at about 9:15 and dove into a gorgeous cover of The Velvet Underground‘s “Pale Blue Eyes” followed by a melancholic interpretation of Lady Gaga‘s “Bad Romance.”
As I sat there watching him sing, looking around at the musicians getting ready to play, it occurred to me that what was about to happen (what happens every Wednesday) is quite unique and special. Imagine going to a three hour (FREE) concert and getting to hear musicians from Stockholm or Brooklyn, just passing through Paris for a few days. Imagine a guitar, a fiddle and a toy piano. Imagine a co-ed gospel choir. Imagine a 17 year old songwriter from Devon who wowed an unexpecting audience with her delicate voice. In my case, one of the last times I performed at the open mic was the night I met the saxophone player of my band. One 15-minute improvised jam with three musicians I had never played with before in my life turned out to be a great musical moment and the start of a new collaboration. The open mic is never the same twice. It is a random, hit or miss night. The only sure thing is that it will always be about the music.
The Open Mic by Thomas Brun at the Highlander Pub is every Wednesday night. Sign up as of 8:15 (first come first serve), mic opens at around 9pm. If you just want to be a part of the audience, stop by anytime between 9pm and midnight!
