For the Love of Mic: Wood 'n' Lips Open Mic Newsletter

The open mic is back in gear every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Kaffee Meister

11-29-12 Open Mic

Hi All,            

“It was a dark and stormy night…” but people came to our open mic anyway.  We had a really good turnout and everyone was getting into the holiday mood.

Wood ‘n’ Lips with Lynda Sterns & Steve Wyrill – We did a version of our Christmas set that we did for the Bluegrass Club; “The Chipmunk Song”; “Santa Baby”; “Blue Christmas”; “Silver Bells”; “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree”; “Jingle Bell Rock”; “What Child is This?”; “Silent Night”; and “Feliz Navidad”.

Bob Cool (with Greg Gross & Ray Poe) – Bob had a rough day, but still came out to play a short set for us.  He and the guys did “Bile Then Cabbage Down”; “Amazing Grace”; and “San Diego Breakdown”.

Les Armstrong (with John Rodriguez and Ray Poe) – With Ray Poe playing rhythm guitar for a change, and the ever amiable J-Rod on bass, Les treated us to George Strait’s “All My Exes Live in Texas”; Les picked up the harmonica for Ivory Joe Hunter’s 1956 tune, “Since I Missed You Baby”; Merle Haggard’s “I’ve Had a Beautiful Time”; Ronnie Milsap’s “ Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me?”; and Waylon Jennings’ “Good Hearted Woman”.

Ray Poe (with John Rodriguez & Les Armstrong) – Ray and the guys did Willie Nelson’s “The Party’s Over”; Ray Price’s “Burning Memories”; George Strait’s “Drinking Champagne”; Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line”; and Tom Waits’ “Invitation to the Blues”.

John Movius (with Lynda Sterns) – John was using a vintage 1937 amp that previously belonged to San Diego folk pioneer Ted Theodore; he and Lynda did Hank Williams’ “I Can’t Help it if I’m Still in Love with You”; Marty Robbins’ “Singing the Blues”; Lynda stepped down and John did the Routers’ “Lets Go!”; and Mel Torme & Bob Wells’ “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting).

Greg Gross – Greg stepped up when Curtis Hodson had to leave and couldn’t play his set.  He played a fine version of Don McLean’s “Castles in the Air”; and Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man”; Alvin P. Carter’s “The Wabash Cannonball”; for his final tune, Greg had me join him on Roger Miller’s “King of the Road”.

Steve Wyrill – Steve’s an interesting person to watch play the guitar; he plays a right-handed guitar, upside down, and forms his chords upside down (when we strum down, he strums up).  He played Steve Earl’s “My Old Friend the Blues”; Buddy Holly’s “Words of Love”; Don Gibson’s “Oh, Lonesome Me”; Tom Barbarie and John Movius came up and played his final tune with him, Johnny Cash’s “I Guess Things Happen That Way”.

Farrie Ann Nichols (with John Rodriguez on bass) – She played a fun set of Bing Crosby’s “Christmas in Killarney”; Dr. Elmo’s “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”; Robert May’s “Rudolph the Reindeer”; and James Lord Pierpont’s “Jingle Bells”.

Greg Santogrossi – Greg’s songs always tell a story (usually of disastrous love); his first  one was “I’m a Little Bit Slow”; then his well-deserved paean to his dog Iris, “Four Legged Friend”; and the crowd pleaser “Mexico”.

Tom Barbarie (with John Rodriguez and John Movius) – Tom does well with Johnny Cash tunes; for his first tune he did “Home of the Blues”; then Jim Reeves’ “Four Walls”; Cash’s “There You Go”; he had Steve Wyrill join them for the Everly Brothers’ “Bye, Bye Love”.

Lynda Sterns – Lynda inherited the closing spot and had Les join her with his harmonica on Bill Staines’ “I Can’t But Wonder Where I’m Bound”; Bonnie Raitt’s “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?”; Greg joined her for “The Roseville Fair”; and she finished solo with “The House of the Rising Sun”.

Get yourself out of the rainy-weather doldrums and come on by the open mic; it’s guaranteed to warm your heart.  God bless, be of good cheer, and have a good week.