Roslindale Open Mike
Roslindale Open Mike has begun its seventh year!
at the Roslindale Congregational Church (www.roscon.org)
25 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, MA
Click here for directions!
THE BUZZ...
Neal recently presented the commemorative ROM plaque to Mayor Menino.
"It's my pleasure to provide a small gesture of appreciation to thank you and to help you out with your fundraising efforts! It's the small things that mean the most and the world would be a better place if everyone realized this! "--Chrissy LeCato
In Tune Guitar Picks
"Thank you for such a wonderful night. The listeners were amazing"--Tret Fure
“The willingness of ROM to offer musical events specifically to assist this church in the raising of much-needed funds is a surprising step of generosity that is deeply appreciated” –Rev. Branwen L. Cook, Roslindale Congregational Church
"ROM is 'mighty'" --David Roth
“It was so moving to hear such heartfelt, and lovely music from everyone, and to feel the warm, exciting, inspiring atmosphere that pervades each corner of that lovely room and church. Thank you so very much for running such a wonderful open mike. It means the world to us. I realize you have taken the best aspects of many beloved open mikes and incorporated them into one sweet venue. Mil gracias, mis amigos.” –Ana-Eder Mulhane, beloved host of the former Java Jo’s Open Mike
"ROM is such a gift"--Kate Arata
"I love the warmth at ROM and have benefited immensely from the ROM community that includes King Yee who works hard helping others with videos and beyond!"--David Jackson
"Monday night was a wonderful evening of music, fabulously positive energy, talent, songs.. all that love. Wow. ROM is a gift to the planet. The talent is amazing. We are so lucky."--Fran Araujo
"It's no wonder that ROM is so successful given the care and feeding you apply to it. Everyone seemed to be REALLY listening and really enjoying it." --Jon McAuliffe
"Thank you folks so much for all your contributions to the music community through the ROM. I really enjoyed featuring, and think you folks have done a wonderful job living up to "Ana's" example of hosting a warm and welcoming open mike. I know I speak for all the performers when I say "thank you so much" for providing a space to perform and hear others - you folks are doing great work, and I am grateful that I got a chance to be a part of it." --Chris Thompson
"The Roslindale Open Mic is one of the most well known and well attended open mics in the Boston area. It was our honor to be invited to perform as the feature act for their third anniversary bash on January 10th. We had a great time and tried some new music. The evening was filled with talented musicians and amazing performances. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSLINDALE OPEN MIC!" -- Guys and Dahl
"What a fantastic feeling of community - something we need in these times, and always. You have something very wonderful happening"--Ellen Schmidt, open mike host, performance producer, and singer-songwriter
"The best open mic in all of Boston."--Rob Norberg
"It's an ideal venue...spacious, comfortable, and without competition to be heard from ice cream blenders or other small appliances"--Jim Taff
"The atmosphere created in that lovely church hall is very special"
--Ana Eder-Mulhane, host of the Java Jo's open mike
"You do a great job. Keep up the good work"
--Bill Sabat
EXTRA SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Neal, the founder and spiritual leader of Roslindale Open Mike, had surgery on 2/25/15, and everything went well. He plans to be home tomorrow to begin his recovery. I'm sure that all ROMulins wish Neal a speedy and full recover.
You won't find Neal on Facebook, so don't bother looking. You can email him at neal@roslindaleopenmike.org.
Special Announcements: We need to make some changes for the next few months. This includes asking the participants to try to bring "pot luck" refreshments, asking for additional volunteers for setup and breakdown, starting at 4 pm. Also, we need to suspend early sign ups. With your help ROM will continue to thrive.
The next Roslindale Open Mike is
Monday, 3/9/15
and our feature is:
Mel Gluskin, AKA Melvin JG (www.youtube.com/user/gluskinm).
Mel Gluskin, AKA Melvin J G has been coming to ROM for about two years now and brings to the table his own twisted world view and an eclectic bag of picking and harp wailing. If the thought of a dying frog mating with Lou Reed appeals to you, you will love his voice too.
He has played harmonica since learning it on his dad’s knee. Then it was trumpet at age six. On the first day of Jr High he can home crying with a French Horn because there were already too many trumpets and the horn section consisted of two girls and one very strange guy.
When the British invaded in the sixties, he gave up horn for guitar because there were no girls screaming for French Horn concertos.
Then it was a series of frustrating garage bands until at age 30 he joined the Newton-based rock band Flash Back. They still gig if asked nicely.
He decided to venture into the exciting world of “open mic-ing” after seeing how it is done at a house concert sponsored by Steve Rapson featuring Ellen Schmidt ,Kevin So and his new idol Don White. Mel said to himself, “I believe I’ll give it a whirl”.
Playing mostly originals, Mel says, it gives him the illusion of control over at least the musical part of his life. Mel has appeared at such prestigious venues as ROM, Roslindale Open Mike and Roslindale Congregational Church. He feels his most relaxed performances are nightly at home from 9-10 on his back, in bed in the dark.
He is pleased to display the cover artwork for his CD by the artist Jason Gluskin (Jason Gluskin.com) who paints whimsical musical themes. “Coincidentally” Mel and Jason share the same last name, but Mel says that’s only because he lives with his mom.
A carpenter friend has told Mel, he is really a musician moonlighting as a “painless tooth carpenter”!
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Mel has a fun CD entitled ”Melvin JG” which is $5 . The proceeds from the CD and bucket tonight will go to the church.
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Thank yous go out to the Roslindale Congregational Church, the F. J. Higgins Funeral Home, Sam of the GreaterBostonHomeTeam.com, Primavera Restaurant Roslindale, Panera Bread West Roxbury, Cecelia Dahl, George Cronin, Chip Canty, Sue Burgess, Gerry Ryan, Charlie Ortolani, Melissa Fleming, Junko Ogawa, Tom Irving, King Yee, David Jackson, Branson Bofat, Ed Banatt, Darwin MacDonald, Ken Porter, Cheryl Perreault, Jimmy Dorr, Peter Neuendorffer, Chief Noda, Chris Lee, Kathryn Howell, Roberto Mighty, Jim Palana, Suzanne Mrozak, Brian Cartwright, Ben Chase, Ariella Montanez, Lorraine and Bennett Hammond, Branson Bofat, Tom Smith, Steve Rapson, Chrissy LeCato of In Tune Guitar Picks, Barry Spiro, and Boston Radio Legend Dick Summer, for their time and generous donations to the church and ROM.
THE REGULAR DETAILS:
The Roslindale Open Mike (ROM) is held on the second and fourth Mondays of the month (and occasionally fifth Mondays) at the Roslindale Congregational Church, 25 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, MA 02131. This is diagonally across from the Post Office near Roslindale Square.
Parking: Park on the street or in the lighted public parking on Tafthill Terrace, which is less than a 5 minute walk from ROM across Roslindale Square.
All are Welcome!! No Cover!!
THE RULES: Roslindale Open Mike (ROM) uses a random draw of names to set the order of performers. Our goal is to be fair, equitable, and consistent. The names are randomly drawn from the basket of names at 6:40 PM. As a courtesy to people coming from work or from a distance, early signups are accepted by Neal via email only at neal@roslindaleopenmike.org up until noon of the ROM Monday. Anyone arriving after the names are being drawn are added to the end of the list in the order of arrival. People with special needs (as defined by ROM) or who have indicated that they will be arriving late will be accommodated if possible. First timers are given their choice of a slot. After the performance order has been drawn, any swaps for an earlier or later slot may be arranged between the people requesting the swap, but only Neal, or his designee, will change the performance order on the board. Anyone who misses their slot due to late arrival will be accommodated at some point after they arrive.
Everyone will get to play one song (or 5 minutes) and if we finish the first round before 10:30 willing participates may get a second song. This should allow everyone to perform before it gets too late, with an ending time goal of 10:30 PM
Everyone is requested to be tuned up and ready to go when it is their turn and to keep song introductions brief. Everyone is requested to maintain a listening room atmosphere and is encouraged to be courteous and respectful of all performers.