Singers are on Tap at 3rd Base Open Mic Night

It’s Thursday night at Avon Lake’s on Moore Road and singers are readying to perform. None look too nervous as host Tom Coffin, a singer and songwriter who fronts the jokes with the bar’s patrons, holding a trivia contest between song performces.

“C’mon, that’s five gimmes,” he jokes, after asking a few trivia rock questions that wouldn’t strain your average rocker.

Minutes later Rick Keane is on the stage, accompanied by Coffin and a drummer. Keane, a talented singer, finishes a few songs before relinquishing the microphone to Michelle Williams, who belts out The First Cut is the Deepest.

Williams, of Sheffield Lake, is a regular at open mic night.

“I’ve been singing since I was 17,” Williams, who owns a karaoke business with her husband Ron Williams said.

Keane, of Avon Lake, an Williams, are recognizable faces at open mic nights. No stranger to the music business, Keane has played in several bands over the years and currently fronts R-Kade and manages R.K. Music Productions. A veteran of local venues, Keane has played at a plethora of locations, including the old and more recent Tropicanas,, , , and as well as bars and restaurants spanning from Cleveland to Vermilion.

On one particular Thursday night, it was easy to see the allure of the evening. Williams partnered with Keane on a duet, who was earlier jamming with Kaene Puskas, an Elyria High School graduate. Puskas occasionally hosts his own open mic night at Johnny Malloy’s.

“I've found that open mics have forged great friendships,” Coffin, who has been hosting open mic nights for singers and wanna-be singers at 3rd Base for about a year. “These local performers have become very close and support each other.”

The music runs the gamut, although Coffin says country and rock are most popular. That’s not to say that those who stop in for a cold beer might not find more eclectic songs being performed such as Courtney Honse and Tanis York performing the Dr. Demento classic, Dead Puppies.

For the host, hearing someone new sing is one of the most rewarding aspects of open mics. 

“My favorite part of the night is when I hear that voice from an unknown sing out to say, “Hey, here I am,” Coffin said. “You just can't help but hear it an respond with a ‘wow, that was awesome kid, go for it.”

 The next open mic night at 3^rd Base Bar & Grille is this Thursday. Open mics start at 8:30 p.m.