Countdown to 100: 7 - Kick Butt Coffee Triangle
Chronicling the final 10 out of 100 Open Mic and Showcase performances I have done since June 2011. This is #94.
There are two Kick Butt Coffee locations but both are a little bit far North for me to get to either on a regular basis. I had a Groupon to the Triangle location that expires at the end of the month so I figured it was doubly worth going on Wednesday.
I made sure to get there early because the times I have been, the list fills up fast. They have a pretty loyal regular crowd, to the point they now have a cork board list and a pile of name cards from the previous weeks, so if you’re a regular go find your name card and tack it up next to the number slot you want. And they of course have a pile of blank cards if you’re new.
Another reason I wanted to get there early was I had my bus pass from the night before, which expired at 10:20, so I wanted to be sure and play early in the evening so I could still catch the bus back on the same pass.
My friends who live pretty close to Kick Butt made it out just in time to see my set, which had a water theme to it. Turned out to be a night light on performers, so those of us who stuck around got to do two more songs. It’s always fun to get to play more, but I was especially happy about it since my friends came out. I think they had fun watching the other performers though. The guy who plays the beautiful hang drum was there, along with Anna the 12yr old shredding wonderkid and a new guy who did a sort of acoustic rap thing that was completely different and many more.
It can be a little hard to get video at the open mics, people are often talking and otherwise making noise. Even when it’s a low murmur that doesn’t register all that much from the stage, the camera definitely picks it up. Plus people will end up walking in front of the camera, or bumping the table, or if I leave the camera on a tripod it’s hard to know exactly how it will be framed, etc. I was pretty happy with my performance of Anchor which is a new one I just started playing out last month, plus my friends were able to zoom in, so I will share it below:
I’m looking forward to recording Anchor and filling it out with more voices and percussion!
It was definitely a dance at the last minute though, between being able to stay and play a couple more and needing to catch my bus. I felt bad I couldn’t stay longer and connect with the other players, but I also had to get to the bus before my pass expired.
I thought I saw it coming and dashed across the street only to find out it was the 338 instead of the 5, so I actually had a good 5 or more minutes to spare. While waiting for the 5, a homeless guy approached me with an extra 7-day pass. He insisted on giving it to me even when I told him I didn’t have cash to buy it, and when I tried to give him a granola bar instead he said he didn’t like them. I really felt looked out for, especially after the panicked moment I had on Tuesday when I lost that day’s pass. So not only did it work out to buy a second pass on Tuesday night that lasted later and therefore got me to yoga, grocery shopping and to and from the Wednesday open mic, I now have one for another 7 days? It’s a little beat up, so I’m not sure if it will actually work, but either way, the idea is pretty great. I am humbled and grateful!
Songs:
Round 1) Rain Song, Anchor, Jonah’s Whale
Round 2) Keep Telling Me, Wings
Host: MT Helton
Location:
Kick Butt Coffee
4600 Guadalupe, Ste B-2
Austin, TX 78751
(512)-467-4365
Wednesdays
Sign up at @ 6:45; music 7:00-10:30. 2 to 3 songs depending on how full the list is.
Favorite Kick Butt Eats: Mediterranean Pizza, Iced Americano
Other things I like about Kick Butt Coffee: Super nice baristas, the way they incorporate customer comments on their walls, labels, cups, etc. They often have great Groupon deals too.
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heathermillermusic posted this
