While some are like clubs and others look like grungy basements, they all have one thing in common: an open mic.
Regardless of the setup, many aren’t aware of the diversity in styles and formats that define different open mics. And while most college students know about regular South Florida entertainment like movies, clubs or parties, the growing open mic scene is not as well known.
So if it’s one of those nights when you want to hang out and enjoy music, fresh talent and good food while being entertained without the wall-to-wall bodies and a DJ blasting music, you might be interested in attending a local open mic night in your area.
There is a different type of open mic night for every kind of person — it all depends on how you want to be entertained.
With so many open mics to choose from, the UP did the work for you by checking out a few local open mics to give you a taste of what your area might have to offer. Here’s what we found.
WeMerge Thursdays
“WeMerge Thursdays,” hosted by Renda Writer, is a 3-year-old open mic that takes place at Kevro’s Art Bar. The Art Bar, which is located one and a half blocks from Atlantic Avenue in Delray, is a relatively new spot for fresh local art and talent.
While hosting an open mic, “WeMerge Thursdays” also promotes WeMerge, a magazine started by Writer and his partner Dwayne Adams that gives a platform for local high school and college students to express their creativity in writing, photography and art.
Upon entering the bar, there is a wall-high display of original artwork that covers the walls like wallpaper. The displays of paintings and photography are donated by local artists and are rotated with new art every two weeks from local talent.
Kevro’s has many “pocket rooms” with seats set aside from the full bar and colorful displays. There are also tall tables and chairs outside within earshot of the performances if you choose to slip away from the main event inside.
It also houses a studio outside of the bar within the patio area that has couches to relax and mingle around. Also, there’s a creative space for anyone to come in and create art with a projector, where the performances can be broadcasted inside the studio.
The talent presented at WeMerge Thursdays is quite diverse. The performances are primarily live music, but there are also poets who perform their original work, and regularly there is a featured guest who performs poetry or live music.
Matthew Ryder, a 26-year-old musician and singer who writes his own music and plays guitar, is a regular performer and guest at Kevro’s.
“I hear this guy is good,” said a member of the audience as he came in from the outside seating area to hear Ryder perform his original piece “Side by Side.”
“Music is my passion,” said Ryder, who has been playing the guitar for 11 years and performing for 7.
Jason Carney, a poet and the executive chair of Poetry Slam, Inc., is another of the many guest poets who frequently stop by WeMerge Thursdays. Carney is currently in Florida on one of the stops on his national tour where he performs his original poetry.
Carney’s poetry delves into his life experiences and viewpoints while he talks about his deceased mother, racial issues that plague society and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
These artists are just two examples of the entertainment that regularly passes through.
WeMerge Thursdays tends to have a mixed crowd, with college students as well as middleaged patrons who all come to enjoy the atmosphere, have a few drinks and support the regular performers.
The grungy art feel, the essence of Kevro’s, is what keeps guests like Ryder and many others coming back. They say it’s not just the ambiance, but the creative vibe that perme-ates this local bar.
“The place has a very comfortable atmosphere,” said Ryder. “[WeMerge Thursdays] has great people here and I love watching other people perform … there is a lot of great talent here.”
Check it out
Where: 166 SE 2 Ave., Delray Beach 33444
When: Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.
For more info: (561) 274-0007 or www.kevroart.com
Coffee District
Coffee District’s open mic has a variety of live performances from poets, comedians and musicians with a mixed crowd of middle-aged and young adults.
On a typical night, the crowd starts out light, and as the night progresses more young people start coming in as more performers take the stage. Coffee District’s current host, Brian O’Rourke, has been hosting for several months now.
After guest-hosting one night, O’Rourke was asked by the owner, Chung Seu, to continue as the full-time host.
O’Rourke also provides the sound equipment for a lot of the live music played for many of the featured artists.
The performances are primarily musicians who play live folk music and other genres as well as poetry and, occasionally, comedy.
An example of a regular performer at Coffee District is “Lord Russ,” who comes to the Coffee District to perform his original music as he plays the guitar. Russ said he attends for the friendly atmosphere, where he can usually have great conversation and showcase his music.
Anthony Dondrea, 27, who was invited to the Coffee District by one of the regular performers, said he keeps coming back for the performances and great coffee.
The coffee house also offers wine, 80 different craft beers and an assortment of snacks.
The open feel of Coffee District allows conversations to carry on inside and outside without interrupting the open mic performances.
Check it out
Where: 325 NE 2nd Ave. #104, Delray Beach 33444
When: Saturdays at 8 p.m.
For more info: (561) 455-0521 or www.mycoffeedistrict.com
Mello Mondays
“Mello Mondays” open mic, taking place every Monday night at 8:30, has been buzzing successfully for three years.
On Hollywood Boulevard, people line up outside Club Bluster waiting to get in to listen to a lineup of poets on any given Monday night.
Inside are plush white couches, a full bar and DJ Midwid, which stands for “make it do what it do,” playing old school hip-hop like Outkast, MC Lyte, Biggie Smalls, and Mos Def between poets throughout the night, at the queue of the night’s host, Asia.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of a club, with its dim, colorful show lights, a microphone standing center-stage and a crowd waiting for its next poet — the focus of the night.
Asia has been hosting for the three years the open mic has been active at this location and is also a poet who performs there as well as at other locations.
He has one rule: “Respect the mic,” which doesn’t seem too hard to follow, since most of the artists are serious about their crafts and try to captivate the audience’s attention with their performances.
Asia’s ability to hold the attention of the audience with his poetry that he sometimes performs and his signature blunt sense of humor are classic examples of the entertainment found at Mello Mondays.
The poetry is explicit, raw and uncut, being the main focus of this open mic, interrupted by occasional musical performances and monologues. And the artists who showcase their poetry range in topic and style.
“It was so good,” expressed Eltrisa McDaniel, 22, explaining why she came back a second time. “I love the atmosphere … it’s unique and relaxing. You could bring a date here or come by yourself.”
A young regular poet at Mello Mondays who calls himself “Initiate” performs one of his originals as he discusses his struggle with the world’s media-fed propaganda and the truth behind it.
“It’s about deciphering between my perception and reality to discover my own truth,” he said as he explained his currently untitled poem.
“Poetic Vibes,” another regular local poet who has been attending Mello Mondays since 2003, also performs his original sexually explicit poem, “It all started in the car.”
“Everything I see is poetry,” he said as he explained his passion. Life is his inspiration in his poetry, which he uses to discuss domestic violence, love and many other women-related issues.
The mixed urban crowd listens intently and actively participates throughout the night as it chants “rewind” to a verse or line they want the poet to repeat.
At midnight, when the poetry ends, the mic is removed and the bar and the dance floor are opened to dancing like a regular club.
Check it out
When: Monday’s at 8 p.m.
Where: 115 N 21st Ave., Hollywood 33020
For more info: (954) 920-6525
