Normally, I don't go to open mic nights. They're just not my thing. You know you're going to end up with one of two choices at an open mic night. There will either be a group of talentless people plowing through 80s covers and enticing their drunken guests to sing along or you're going to get some musicians that may actually know what they're doing but they play their own stuff and you, the audience member, don't really know how you fit into that equation.
Of course, this is the part where I tell you about the open mic night that you could go to tonight, instead. Tonight and every Wednesday, the Leadway Bar at 5233 N Damen hosts two guys called The Co-op who, in turn, host an open mic. "Hosting" is, of course, a relative term as the guys get to play a few tunes of their own and halfway through the night, the evening becomes an open mic poetry slam, if you're into that sort of thing. You won't see me on stage for either section, but I can often be found at the bar. On top of your atypical open mic night, you get the drink specials. $2 PBR, $3 shots, $4 bombs, $5 White Russians. I can personally recommend every one of those specials.
