Countdown to 100: 8 - Whip In
Chronicling the final 10 out of 100 Open Mic and Showcase performances I have done since June 2011. This is #93
photo by Amy Zamarripa
When they say “Keep Austin Weird”, Whip In is maybe one of my favorite examples. Perhaps it’s because it was the first place I saw a show in Austin when I came down to check out Rubicon Recording Studios in February. Two of their slogans are “South Asian Food, South Austin Mood” and “Namaste Y’all!” They have a crazy amount of beers on tap and an even bigger selection in bottles and cases, along with a teeny grocery selection in the back. They also have a menu with some typical Indian food and a few Austin twists - they have panini, but it’ll be like naan bread around curried veggies grilled in a panini press.
It’s also the first place I performed at an open mic when I started going out to them in June. June 7th to be exact. My first performance was rather a hot mess - I tripped on the cables, I knocked into the mic with my face, I got some almonds stuck in my throat to the point some kind person had to go get my water bottle from across the room before I could even continue. But after surviving that, and still getting a positive response from people, I realized it was not as scary as I thought it was going to be.
Tonight was a great night, super full list and a bunch of new faces. With such a full list we were only able to do two songs, and I was already planning to have Heidi Nadine sing Jonah with me, so I decided to go for a nautical theme and do Anchor first. There is something pretty special about hearing someone else interpret your song, and we’ve worked out a few harmonies that are really pretty.
It was also great to have a nice balance of men and women performers, some nights I’m the only or one of very few gals.
I couldn’t get a very good picture, but there was a guy there with an awesome sparkly purple guitar:
And this (also rather crappy cell phone) pic gives you a bit more of the idea of the stage area - the ceiling draped in saris, other sparkly fabric, Indian artwork, and posters decking the walls.
The other thing than happened is when I was getting ready to head home, I could NOT find my bus pass! After searching through my whole bag and asking the couple who sat down across from me if I could trade them places back to my original seat of the night so I could keep looking, the man asked me what I was looking for and ended up giving me a dollar when he heard my story. So grateful, that dollar was the difference between a long cold walk and getting to transfer to my second bus! Thanks again Sir!
Songs: Anchor, Jonah’s Whale
Host: D.C. Bloom
Location:
Whip In
1950 IH35 South
Austin Texas 78704
(512)-442-5337
Odd Tuesdays (1st, 3rd & if there’s a 5th week, that too, of each month)
Sign up at 6:45, Music 7-9ish. 2 to 3 songs depending on how full the list is.
Favorite Whip In Eats: Dal Puppies (spicy fried lentil cakes with tamarind date sauce), The SOLA (Mushroom spinach masala, feta cheese wrapped in naan & grilled on a panini press), Chana dal rice bowl with seasonal squash.
Other things I like about Whip In: The beautiful saris draped from the ceiling, the awesome posters, the church pew style benches inside.
