By Charles Lamont, Guest Columnist, and Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
In what seems like a new addition to San Pedro’s already rich cultural smorgasbord, the open mic scene in San Pedro is a growing phenomenon with at least five venues every week.
The original open mic scene started at the old Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse back when it occupied the building where Niko’s Pizzeria now stands. At least that’s the way Owen Tirre remembers it. Tirre, has been running the open mic at the Wigwam for several years.
There are a great number of talented players in San Pedro, but they are fragmented into pockets of players and may never cross paths. The open mic scene is the place where they might meet and play together — creating phenomenal music on the spot. And, the people who return frequently to perform improve noticeably each time.
The wooden, open ceiling structure and wide open spaces looks and feels like a barn. With a mini seashell stage and a microphone artist of all sorts step to the stage to play original music.
Many performers seem to fit a type: long haired, fedora wearing artists of age 50 or better. Their music almost always defaults to folk by virtue of their acoustic guitar, but their lyrics come from well-lived lives that come from travel, experience and wiry humor of going through it all, whether bad or good.
Tirre sees the local open mic scene as a place where artists can play unfettered by the demands of live entertainment venues.
“A venue was needed for performing artists, poets and spoken word performance artists such as Randy Stodola,” said Robert Brandin, who helps run the open mic at the Wigwam. “The beginners and the performance artist types need a place to start out where the audience is supportive… For many seasoned performers who have stopped playing, the open mics are the way back to playing once again.”
Stodola is a professional artist who fronted punk bands the Alley Cats and the Zarkons during the 1980s and early ‘90s. After a long hiatus, Stodola has reemerged at various venues from Hollywood to San Pedro. The open mic scene is where he tries out material on where he performed music he hasn’t played in a long time.
“If you play original music, where do you play in the Harbor area?” Brandin asked. “Bars want mainly danceable cover music.”
Indeed, there’s an over-abundance of talent in this town and too many venues either requiring artists to pay to play or play covers, providing little opportunity for artists to try new material on live audiences.
At least at an open mic, there’s a stage and willing ears. But the thirst is deep in San Pedro.
When Tirre began experiencing burnout earlier this year, he nearly stopped hosting them until local artists Brandin and Richard Sauers picked up the slack with some much needed energy.
“I like the vibe and the space we created for people to come and do their thing,” Brandin said. “We’ve seen people blossom as a result of having a place to play. Without the availability of a performance place, many players would not have regained the confidence to play again.”
It’s hard to say whether the growth of open mics in San Pedro is an isolated phenomenon. Long Beach still has lots of open mic venues such as Viento y Agua and 4th Street and Vine.
It has been my experience that things sometimes just come together at open mic night. The vibe is just right, the combination of performer and audience is just right and the magic just happens.
Other times it can be awkward or embarrassing but it’s all about the people — the performer and the audience. It couldn’t happen without an accepting and supportive audience.
Venue: The Royale Hotel, 238 W. 10th St., San Pedro
Time: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays and Saturdays
Details: (310) 832-5225
Venue: The Redmen’s Lodge/Wigwam, 543 Shepard St., San Pedro,
Time: 6:30 p.m, Wednesday
Details: Redman’s Lodge on Facebook
Venue: Sacred Grounds, 468 W. 6th St., San Pedro
Time: 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays
Details: Sacred Grounds on Facebook
Venue: Off the Vine, 491 W. 6th St., #103, San Pedro
Time: 7 p.m., Every other Thursday
Details: Off the Vine on Facebook
Venue: The Corner Store, 1118 W. 37th St., San Pedro
Time: 3 p.m. First Sunday Ukelele Hootenany; 3 p.m. Last Sunday
Details: The Corner Store on Facebook
Venue: Old Torrance Coffee and Tea, 1413 Marcelina Ave., Torrance
Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays
Details: http://otcoffeetea.com/
Venue: The Crest Sports Bar and Grill, 1625 Cabrillo Ave., Torrance
Time: 7 p.m., Thursdays
Details: http://thecrestsportsbarandgrill.com/
Venue: Viento y Agua, 4007 E. 4th St., Long Beach
Time: 7 p.m. Thursdays
Details: www.vientoyaguacoffeehouse.com
The Wigwam and The Corner Store are mostly unplugged. There’s a mic and speaker system at Sacred Grounds.