Here’s the song that kicked it all off:

Be sure to check out Playing For Change‘s Web site. They’ve got a bunch more episodes.

With no advertising, I fully expected to be the only one going up to play – something I was a bit apprehensive about, not least of which because I had no idea what kind of setup they had (and was well aware all I have here in China is a cheap acoustic with extra thick gauge strings).

I know an (ahem) artist should never blame his tools, but there’s nothing worse than being nervous as all hell, finally getting up on stage and having the sound system/guitar/mic make you sound not at all like you remember you sounding in your living room a few hours earlier.

Fortunately Chris (staff/soundguy/all around nice fellow) brought in his survived-the-trip-from-Ireland guitar, and the bar’s sound system was more than capable of supporting a simple singer/strummer setup. Monitors were a bit light, but with the lack of a huge turnout, hearing yourself wasn’t a huge problem. Next week, I’ve been told, we’ll even have on-stage monitors.

So, only three people, including myself, got up and played – but as an initial turnout, the response was quite positive. Lee, bar management, is really supportive of the idea and we’re going to turn it into a regular thing. So, if you’re in the Suzhou area, please come out and support some “local” talent.

And if you’ve got any sort of talent (alright, I think we draw the line at ping pong ball acts), please come out and play. Lee’s offered to give 2-for-1 drinks to any performers for the entire night. Two for one draught Guinness… is there anything sweeter?

Any questions, please contact me.

Thanks again to Chris and Aaron (pictured above) for not forcing me to be the only one to warm up the stage.

Despite playing for years, I’ve only minimal talent. This, however, doesn’t curb my interest in belting out a few tunes any chance I get. Just before coming to China I was living in the rootsy town of Penticton, BC. A city, which despite its small size, has a very active musical community.

It was rare that a week would go by and I wouldn’t be out once or twice with my acoustic mixing in a couple originals with some me-rendered covers. It was in this time that I finally sat down and put a collection of my songs on a CD.

It was also great for getting over the crippling stage fright I’ve had my entire life, something that would prove quite useful in the months following when I came to China and was regularly put in front of massive groups of students all staring at me intently.

Sadly, what China gave in audience, it took away in music. I’ve had a few chances to play random parties/bars since coming here, but nothing so regular as a weekly open mic night. I’ve numerous times meant to approach various bar owners and ask them if they wouldn’t mind giving us (I’m a collective in my head) their slowest night to create something with, but just never got around to it.

That is, until I was slamming down as many pints as I could at Suzhou’s local Irish pub, the Shamrock, last Thursday. My friend Alicia recently started working there, and that’s given me a bit more motivation to get out and be social (the 100 RMB/all you can drink bit helped too).

I mentioned the open mic idea to her somewhat off handedly, she in turn did the same to Lee, the bar’s manager.. and smack bam boom, it’s all a go.

So – if you live in Suzhou and you’re reading this… come out to the Shamrock this Monday and support some (not so) local musicians. And if you play, please come and put your name on the list to perform. I may have gotten over my stage fright, but I’m fairly certain I can’t pull off the whole night myself.

The Shamrock

775 ShiQuan Road
(512) 65204270
info@shamrocksz.com
www.shamrocksz.com