Irvington's Truly Open Mic Night

Musician Joe Noschese goes by the stage name Joe No, but despite the rhyme, it's a misnomer. He should be calling himself Joe Yes, since he's a consummate facilitator who hosts several open mic events throughout Westchester that help fledgling and experienced musicians deliver their best performances.

Noschese has hosted his newest open mic every Tuesday from 9:00 p.m. to around 11:30 for the last four weeks at the River City Grille in Irvington, a place that hasn't had live music in the twelve years it's been owned by Bobby Manzi.

"I've thought about bringing music in here for a long time and figured I'd start small with an open mic where we don't charge any cover and people can show off their talents,"Manzi said. "People are enjoying it."

Although Noschese brings a portable PA system and provides a couple of microphones,  performers mainly play acoustic instruments, which doesn't disrupt the mood in the dining room, said Manzi, who usually closes the kitchen at 9 p.m. on weeknights. For the open mics, he keeps the full kitchen open until 10 p.m. and offers a bar menu through 11:00.

On a recent evening, 25 people shouldered into the small bar area to listen to the performances, a testament to the evening's success. The cozy venue with muted lighting works well for Noschese, who last hosted his Tuesday soiree at Pete's Tavern in Elmsford, which features a stage and a sound system but is much harder to fill, he said.

It takes a warm personality to host an effective open mic night, a skill Noschese has developed over the years. Most open mic events feature a sign up sheet where anyone who brings an instrument can play on a first-come-first-served basis.

The host, who performs the first three or four songs, tries to ensure that guests sound good and are comfortable, while balancing the needs of the spectators and the bar owner.

"I just play a few songs and get out of the way," said Noschese. "It's best to sublimate my ego. People aren't really here to see me, so if they want to come to my gigs, that's great."

Joe Schwartz of Irvington, who plays guitar in the band Route 9, helped bring Noschese's event to Irvington. He and four of his bandmates performed three rock tunes. Vinny Ucci, the band's bass player, tends bar at the River City Grille and plugged his electric bass into a tiny amp during the group's mini-set, which featured a funky version of Steely Dan's "Josie"--a difficult song that elicited enthusiastic clapping from the audience and calls for an encore, though Noschese moved things along and set the stage for the next performer.

"This is a good environment to hone our craft, work on our dynamics and build some confidence," said Steve Hughes of Tarrytown. He plays guitar in the band, which usually performs at private functions in the area.

Throughout the night, conversations echoed off the walls as Noschese fiddled with the sound system's knobs to provide the optimum volume level and create a welcoming atmosphere for beginners and seasoned pros alike.

Diverse styles were on display throughout the evening. Ted Horan, who plays rock tunes on a nylon string guitar, usually preferred by classical and jazz guitarists, followed Route 9 and unleashed intricate arrangements with a cascade of notes plucked with long fingernails on his right hand.

"I like open mic nights because there's really no pressure and you're guaranteed to play," said Horan.

Taking advantage of the convivial scene, the assembled musicians talked about gear and music during lulls in the action.

Ossining resident Patrick O'Neill, who picked up the guitar eight months ago, felt comfortable enough to play three Hank Williams songs in a row and received full encouragement from the crowd--which included: his wife, mother in law and two family friends, who all sang along with the rest of the crowd.

"It's a really comfortable place to play," said O'Neill, who sometimes sings Karaoke, but decided to bring his musical audacity to the next level. "I came by last week, played a couple of songs, and decided to download these Hank Williams tunes and give it a try."

So far, the open mic has been a success. "I figured that I didn't have enough room, but it's worked out well and there's been a lot of great talent on display," Manzi said . "I'll definitely consider having other musicians come in here at some point."