The last two live acoustic music evenings at the bookstore have been well-attended. Let's kick it up a notch.

Beginning tomorrow evening (Friday), all acoustic musicians, vocalists, poets, & comedians are welcome to perform in front of a mostly live audience on Friday evenings from 7 p.m - 11 p.m. at Miles City Books & News at 907A Main St. in Miles City.

Performers will be provided with a microphone, a sound system and an audience. If you're a musician, please bring your own instrument and be prepared for a quick setup. Sorry, we can't accommodate electric guitars or drums. Portable keyboards are okay. Accordions are always welcome!!

Comedians - Let's keep the cussin' to a minimum. Lenny Bruce died prematurely...

Performances are first come/first served. Please register at the front desk. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

accordion, ACCORDIONS?... well, I....Hmmm,...well,...uh,....

Wow! what a cool first night for Open Mic. The music was diverse and random, all in all a good mix. Performers were Joe, Richard, Don and yours truely. Jackie Stokel sat in on one song. Cori and Karen also sat in on a tune or two. Homage was paid to Townes Van Zant, Hank Snow, Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffet, Waylan Jennings, B. W. Stevenson, Donovan and OMG, I can't recall them all. Suffice it to say a good time was had by all and music filled the air. A highlight for me was an origional tune by Don about the Bison Bar.

Hats off to Joe for being a friend to Miles City and cudos to all who attended and participated in the first Open Mic Night at Miles City Books and News. See you next week.

[This message has been edited by Tucker Bolton (edited 10/3/2003).]

I wanna come back!
What a great time by all.
Keep this thing going!
Kudo's to the brewmaster and especially the host.
Thanks Joe!

You know, It just keeps getting better and better. Craig, come back and stay any time. Feel free to bring Vato Pasqual with you. I understand he is quite musical.

I was thru Miles City last week and at 11:15 p.m. I see music still happening at the book store. I think they were on verse 66 of "99 Bottles of Beer."

And you didn,t stop? Jack, you are the emperor of curmudgeondom.

I had to return to Jordan, it was very cold, and I thought the remaining 33 bottles of beer might just be too many.

Well, I was finally in town for an open mic night! It was great to hear all the talent that exists in Miles City- my mother (Karen) has been talking it up since it started. The variety of music was great and it even featured a few singalongs...keep it up! Also, I'm glad Joe has expanded his store to include CDs that you can't get at Wal-Mart (Gram Parsons and Wilco!!)
-Anne

How about that Shea Stewart kid? If anyone hasn't got to see him play I would suggest doing it the next chance you get.

[This message has been edited by remus (edited 11/28/2004).]

Remus, Shea is exponentially better every time I see him. I think he should drop out of college and jes plays de bluz.

that kid is a phenom! Not to mention Joe and the "Band's" version of "Fire on the Mountain"! and Jackie's "Mermaid" song and "Summertime". Again all thanks to Joe and Tucker for providing a venue for acoustic music in the ole Cowtown. What a wonderful variety.

A love letter to my friends about something I enjoy.

Good crowd last night. Folks, this is good stuff. tallented people doing what they do best. Entertain. You'll see people who have spent years doing it, people who are on the edge of brilliant careers, and Very tallented people who just like to do it.

There is music, poetry, the odd humorist.

No smoking in the room, and while I have occaisonally selled spiritus fermenti on the breath of a few, it's not a place to get drunk and raise hell.

This is a place where I would not be ashamed to take my older children.

Warning: Adult language in some situations.

It is a great place for enlightened people to gather and enjoy the company of like minded people.

I always have good time. If you haven't had the pleasure, do yourself a favor; take in the open mike night at Joes's Bookstore. AKA Miles City Books and News. Friday evenings 7:00 PM 'till...

Oh, yeah, if you play, bring your axe.

Final thought. It'd free. There is a free-will offering jar. That's it. Great place for starving (and aren't they all) students.

Lee

Friday night is the best night of the week,why?Well go downtown to Miles City Books and News and find out.Thanks and hats off to Joe Whalen the host for having a decent venue of entertainment here in miles city.All of the artists,are great.

Wow!! Tonight Anna and Sean rocked with Let it Snow!! And Shea Stewart was fabulous. What a treat to be able to see so many talented people in one night. Big thanks to Joe for opening the bookstore for this entertaining evening.

gypsykim,

I want to add to your post that it is a treat to have more young people performing.

I was late in arriving last night due to a previous commitment and regret having missed Sean and Anna. Sean is a former guitar student of mine and I know what he is capable of. Jana Oconner and Kara McKay (forgive my spelling of those names, if they are incorrect) were also a treat for me. I was flattered that Jana consented to join Karen Weeding and I in a new song that we performed. Shea is an old hand by now and we are always excited to have him.

I hope the perception of what happens at the bookstore on friday night is not one that can be catergorized as any one particular genre~.

Music has always been a constant source of joy, comfort and delight. It can speak to any emotion, passion or whimsey in the spectrum of human experience. What a wonderful gift to make available to the public.

Sean, Anna, Jana, Kara, Shea and all of you young, expressive voices in search of expression. I have been where you have and hope that I can look back down my own "Road Less Traveled" make sure it is clear and keep you in sight.

Speaking of young people, I had the pleasure of participating in the open stage once again last Friday. I would like to extend a warm thanks to the host, Joe Whalen and to my brother Tucker for allowing me to participate in such a special event.
Miles City is very fortunate to have a great group of talented performers, and a group of special people that nurture this talent and share it with the community. This is an event that everyone in Miles City should be proud of.
The local radio stations should recognize your efforts and do a "remote broadcast" to acknowledge the local talent and hard work (fun) that is going on at the book store.
Thanks again for everything!

A remote broadcast would get into BMK and ASCAP issues. Which is too bad but unless you wrote the song you sung, you would have to pay a royalty to the writer if it was broadcast. Great idea but utterly impractical. And, believe it or not, BMK and ASCAP keep track even out here in the boonies.

Amorette

Damn! and I was hoping to be a radio star.

Thank you, Craig. It was a blast having you back in Miles City! Your hot licks on that old Gibson were a welcome treat on Friday night. Come back anytime. We'll keep things happy until you roll this way again.

Joe

I've been tempted to go and check it out several times, but haven't made it in there for various lame excuses. (Hey, at least I'm honest!) A big part of it is that I simply don't know when it starts... so, maybe someone could help me out! I'd sure appreciate it....

7:00 PM til whenever is the Friday night, open mic.

8:00 PM til about 10:00 is the featured performer, Saturday night gig.

Hope to see you there.

Did't catch the message til just now... but I'll be sure to be there next week! Thanks!

OPEN MIC NIGHT IS CANCELLED FOR TONIGHT, FRIDAY, MAY 27TH

I'll be out-of-town this weekend so there will be no Open Mic event until next Friday, June 3rd. If you're a regular and know others who may show up, please inform them of the change in schedule.

See you next week!

Joe

Jose, Mucho gusto mi amigo. Have fun in Cali. Just don't forget to come back.

THE SALON AND FRIDAY NIGHT OPEN MIC EVENT AT THE BOOKSTORE ARE CANCELLED THIS WEEK DUE TO AN OUT-OF-TOWN COMMITMENT.

IF YOU KNOW OF REGULAR ATTENDEES, PLEASE PASS ALONG THE WORD.

THANKS - JOE

Have fun in the desert Joe.

In looking thru my copy of "Lively Times" I see that the Montana State Bely Dance Festival was in Helena.

So now we know where Joe was.

Thanks, Jack. You should've seen me in that emerald green sequined outfit. Man, that was something...

We're back from the Austin City Limits Music Festival and ready to go on Friday night at 7 p.m.

As a featured performer, C.J. Desjardin will play on Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. C.J. is a CCDHS graduate now playing with a Bozeman band called "The Taking Tree" (www.thetakingtree.com).

NEXT WEEK:
Friday, 10/7 - Open Mic Night

Saturday, 10/8 - A return engagement with the Awesome Polka Babes from Bozeman, featuring Chrysti the Wordsmith.
Performance 8-10 p.m., doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Joe,
Would you be willing to wear that again on Friday and perform for us?

Just a thought. If it's not too much trouble.

On the night of April 1st Miles City Books & News hosted one of the best live shows I've ever seen. A gentleman named Ken Pierce was featured, and he absolutely blew my mind. His mix of deeply poetic songwriting and one of a kind guitar playing made for an excellent night of music. From the first note that rang through the building, to the roaring standing ovation that ended it, Saturday night was truly incredible. Thanks to Joe Whalen and Ken Pierce for the wonderful performance.

We did not go to open mic night. My Friends came from out of town and went to the CLOSED Book Store, even though it said it should have been opened. They were not happy and decided to Not go back to the Book Store Ever.
It is a sad time when People come from Out Of Town to visit me and see Miles City and Half the Town is closed.
The Book Store is out for me, too.

Isn't it amazing how we expect perfection from others, but forgiveness for ourselves?

Well said, Salli. On the flip side, how discouraging can it be when musicians show up and the audience is sparse. The number of musicians flucuate and the audience attendance flucuates. It's still the best entertainment in town and the best price. Viva la open mic.

Scot, go ahead - deprive yourself! You're the loser here. Missing good books and good music - wow, what a great way to punish the bookstore owner. Sorry, you make me laugh!

I'd want to know why Joe's was closed. Illness? Family crisis? There must have been a reason. I know I'm out sick, home hacking my lungs up. Maybe something like that happened. Yeah, Joe is not a serious retailer and is very casual about his operating hours but I'd still like to know if something serious came up.

It wasn't his money job and he opens when he wants. That is what my Friends told me.
Everyone has a right not to shop somewhere for any reason. I choose to shop at places who will be open when they say they will be open.

i guess i need some clarification. Scot, were you and your friends upset because the bookstore was not open during normal operating hours or because there happened to be no open mic the night that your visitors were in town. I know Joe's hours are out of the traditional routine so it can be frustrating if you are interested in browsing the bookstore. There have been a couple of times recently that friday nite mic nite has been shifted over to another place to support events in the community. Open mic nite is purely a volunteer resource for the community. So, one could say we are very fortunate that Joe is willing to orchestrate, be available and provide his place free of charge for such entertainment. to quote Joni Mitchell (keeping in line with the spirit of music) "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til it's gone"

I have to agree with Jackie. Joe goes out of his way to bring something different to our community and yet people still find a flaw to attack. I think the beauty of being an entrepreneur is you can make your own hours! If you don't like it just go about your own business. I mean really, did it make you that mad that you felt you had to come online and tell everyone you think Joe is a poor business man? Next time, take the high road.

Maybe Scot's decision to boycott the bookstore for life is right. Joe's personal reasons for leaving his store could not possibly be as important as Scot and his friends' shopping experience. How dare Joe leave the bookstore during business hours. Joe may have done a lot for MC, but he needs to remember his most important priority. (keeping Scot and his friends happy)


To get back to the topic, I wish I could have been in town for Ken Pierce. I've seen him play before and he's one of the best musicians I've ever seen.

[This message has been edited by Danny T (edited 4/6/2006).]

Danny-- I wish you could have seen it as well. It was so good I made up a a couple new words to describe it........MAGNIFITASTIC......and...INCREDIWONDERBONDO! Say em a few times. I think they are going to catch on. But if they don't, He was superb.