My girlfriend and I walked up the steps to the campus pub. Chunky guitar rhythms and melodic vocals reverberated out of the crowded pub in sonic waves. A couple of girls were standing in the rain, surrounded in a thick haze. A familiar skunky odor danced through the air and tickled my nostrils. Maya turned to me, “smells good.” We laughed and opened the door. A wall of music hit me and a playful sense of freedom settled over me.
I scanned the room quickly. There were two musicians on stage. A tall thin young man with dark hair coaxed playful rhythms out of his guitar while he sang. His friend sat beside him and pounded a drum. Energy vibrated around the room. Students were everywhere. A large group sat on soft chairs talking and laughing. More stood on the dance floor watching the musicians. Another group surrounded the pool table.
Maya spotted a couple friends so we began to weave our way through the crowd towards them. We flopped onto chairs beside them. My friend slapped me on the back and we shook hands and began talking. A few minutes later, the craving for a beer began to take hold and I noticed that the line at the bar was short. I got up and stood in line. The two musicians thanked the crowd and got off the stage. A man with shaggy blonde hair and a lightly scruffy face took the staged armed with a dark guitar. He had big smile on his face. I heard a voice and my attention was drawn back to the bar. I ordered a pint of Vancouver Island lager and handed the bartender some money.
The guitar player made a joke and a few people started to laugh. Most people were too involved in their own conversations to notice. He exploded into a Jack Johnson song and people started cheering. His rhythms pulsated through-out the bar. I picked up my beer and walked over to where my friends were sitting. I sat down next to my friend. A huge grin split his face in two.
This was my first time to the open mic in years and things have changed. I had been to an open mic on campus a couple years ago, but there wasn't many people so I never came back. Now the music is great and the pub is packed. I'll be back next Thursday for sure, and next week I'll bring my guitar!
