ADVENTURES OF AN OPEN-MIKER: Mugshots Coffeehouse in Fairmount

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ADVENTURES OF AN OPEN-MIKER: Mugshots Coffeehouse in Fairmount

POSTED: Thursday, March 3, 2011, 5:00 PM

mugshotscoffeehouse.com

There were only six performers Tuesday night at Mugshots in Fairmount and it was wonderful. Everyone got to play four or five songs, and there was no rush to get through them. Each performer had a chance to chat with the audience; even I, who am normally petrified of talking onstage, managed to squeak out a few words of introduction. Others were much more at ease, telling extended stories about their songs' origins and asking the small audience what they wanted to hear.

mugshotscoffeehouse.com

Mugshots Coffeehouse and Café is divided into several sections, including a cozy nook to the left of the door where the open mic took place. Curtains and art are hung around the dark-red walls; tables, chairs, and couches are distributed in comfortable bunches. The coffee is robust and tasty, and there's a wide selection of reasonably-priced food. It's hip without trying, and sizable without being overwhelming. The open-mic setup was simple: just a microphone and a tiny amp, which many people didn't use, resulting in a night that was very much acoustic.

Performances included a string of guitar players and a single ukulele man. The talent was consistent, though for many it was their first time playing at the venue. Opening things up was Cranston Dean, who fit a great deal of lyrics into his upbeat, bluesy tunes; his ease with words was quite impressive. Check him out if you like story songs. Sean Breslin kept up the quality with some bittersweet, alt-rock-flavored songs. Next was Ross Garlow, who offered some lightning-fast licks on his guitar, including a snappy acoustic version of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)." Mark Harper had the crowd rapt and laughing with a set of darkly funny, personal songs about drugs, alcohol, girl problems, and the 11 guys who share his intensely messy house. He handed his 12-string to his friend Dylan Loughey, who explained he was from Scranton, where the open mics are a bit less polished but his performance, charged with emotion and lyrical complexity, defied that statement. Following him was another Scrantoneer (Scrantonite? Scrantonian?): Adam Catscratch, who asked the crowd if anyone was offended by the word "dick" before launching into a song about oral sex. That may sound either crass or hilarious in writing, depending on your taste, but his tunes accompanied by a confident ukelele were witty and packed a satisfying punch.

The night, which began at 7:30 p.m., ended by 9:15 p.m., even though there was no host moving things along. Lighthearted, short and sweet, it was a fun way to spend a weeknight.

The nitty-gritty for performers: Tues., 7 p.m. sign-up, 7:30 p.m. show, Mugshots, 2100 Fairmount Ave., 267-514-7145. Performers get four or five songs each.

For more locations, visit the Open Mic section of our online listings database.

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