Local musicians perform at ‘Open Mic Night’
Cafe Paradiso is one of several
establishments in Eugene
offering locals a change to
showcase thier musical talent
by Jeramie Brown
For the Emerald
The tables are full by 8 p.m. on
Tuesday night at Cafe Paradiso.
People wait in line at the counter
to order food and drinks. The air is
hot and heavy, but it doesn’t stop
the flow of people coming into the
cafe. Here, you can find all vari
eties of people from all walks of
life. Some sit in the back of the
cafe or outside to find their own
space, but most are here for a rea
son: Tonight is Open Mic Night.
The applause comes up for the
previous performer as he finishes
his two-song set. The room focus
es now on Jasmine Ash, an up
and-coming musician, as she takes
the stage. This is the first time Ash
has played at Caf6 Paradiso and
she seems understandably nerv
ous. She sets up her microphone,
adjusts her guitar and begins to
play. Ash has only been playing
live since the end of April, but, for
the next 10 minutes, Cafe Paradiso
is hers to delight and entertain
with her soft, yet soulful and ener
getic sound.
Ash is just one of many who
come to play their music for those
who wish to listen at Cafe Par
adiso. Open Mic Night, which
happens every Tuesday beginning
at 7 p.m., is a long-standing tradi
tion that has been a part of the cafe
ever since its opening eight years
ago. It has become a popular place
for musicians to come together and
showcase their talents while get
ting some practice.
“The purpose of Open Mic
Night is to bring the community
closer together,” said Daniel Parl
ish, the organizer for Open Mic
Night.
Since 1994, the cafe has been
ljt m_i
Jeramie Brown for the Emerald
For Khi, Open Mic Night is a chance to get some exposure at a community event.
■ "..
Jeramie Brown for the Emerald
Open Mic Night, held every Tuesday at Cafe Paradiso, gives local performers an audience to hear their music.
doing just that and has only shut
the program down three times in
its eight-year history. All three
times, the shutdown was short
lived and the show was brought
back by popular demand.
“I think we have a great show,”
said Greg Fleener, the owner of
Cafe Paradiso. He says that since
they upgraded the sound system
about a year and a half ago, the
show has only attracted better and
better performers.
Evin Langley is glad to have an
opportunity like Open Mic Night
to be able to express himself. This
is only the second time that Lang
ley has performed at Open Mic
Night.
“I came last week not knowing
what to expect, but I had I blast,”
said Langley. “I play music all the
time — at work or school — when
ever I can.”
Open Mic Night is not just mu
sic. It offers the opportunity for
anyone to get up on stage and ex
press him or herself. Poetry and
politics are other popular themes.
For Khi, a homeless man for the
past 11 years, Open Mic Night is
an opportunity to get on stage and
practice his stand-up comedy act,
which he has been working on for
the past six months. Khi hopes
that he’ll someday get a lucky
break and make it big.
Some, like Ash, are already on
their way to making it big because
of open mic nights like the one at
Cafe Paradiso. Ash will be releas
ing her first album, “Penelope’s Di
ary,” on Tuesday.
Jeramie Brown is a freelance
photographerfor the Emerald.
Local Venues offering
open mic nights
•Cafe Paradise, 115 W. Broadway:
Open Mic Night Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
Big Mouth Babes*,
Sundays, 7 p.m.
•Black Forest:, 50 E. 11th Ave.:
Open Mic Sundays, 9:30 p m.
•Jo Federigo's, 259 E. Fifth Ave.:
Chestnut
Open Mic M 8 pm
: ' ' *- • >
Bines Jam v ws,8p.m
•Sam Bond s Garage. 407 Biair Blvd:
Bluegrass Jam Tuesdays, 9 p.m.
* This is awl
1
2002 Oregon Football
Student Ticket
Release Dates
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C*tt*?Rfn{v?r4! 446-3'?24
Students enrolled for Fall 2002 classes can pick up one ticket for each game at the ticket offices located in the EMU
or at the Len Casanova Center. Student tickets are funded by the ADFC through student incidental fees.
Only 2,550 tickets will be available for the first four games - Mississippi State, Fresno State, Idaho, and
Portland State - so students should act quickly. Tickets will be available for Mississippi State and
Fresno State beginning August 19. 6,100 tickets will be available for the remaining games. Any remaining stu
dent tickets will become available to students for purchase for their friends and family the week before game day.
Game Date
August 31, 2002
September 7, 2002
September 14, 2002
September 21, 2002
October 19, 2002
October 26, 2002
November 2, 2002
November 16, 2002
Opponent
Mississippi State
Fresno State
Idaho
Portland State
Arizona State
use
Stanford
Washington
Release Dates
Monday, August 19
Monday, August 19
Tuesday, September 3
Monday, September 9
Monday, October 7
Monday, October 14
Monday, October 21
Monday, November 4
For more information, students should contact the Duck Ticket Office at (541) 346-4461 or the ASUO at (541) 346-3724.