Spice of Life- Javier Chavez

Spice of Life: Open Mic

                On October 7^th 2011, I attended an open mic night at a lively venue in the SOHO called the Spice of Life. This Venue to most visitors serves as an ordinary pub, but on the floor below the place is enriched by musical performances of a wide range of styles. In this area, a spacious extension of the upstairs pub, the ambiance is completely different. First, this part of the venue is furnished with restaurant style tables, in one part of this area the bar is the most dominating feature on the other it is the stage. The entire room is dimly lit to direct the attention to the stage, which is lit with an array of bright colors. At the time that I arrived, my roommate Matt Carona was begging his introduction and preparing for his performance. His introduction, although brief, announced his name, background, and the first song- “Way to get Home”. The lights in the venue became slightly dimmer as they attempted to parallel with the soothing style of the song. The acoustics of the guitar delivered a sense of serenity, while at the same time the words conveyed a sentimental message. After the first song Carona stopped to take a short break, at which point he drank some of his beer and casually introduced his next song-“Your Eyes Tonight”. This song unlike the first was more upbeat with a touch of funk rhythm, which in turn lightened the ambience in the entire room. Carona continued his performance in a very relaxed manner entertaining the crowd with his amazing talents. The following act was a man named Aloise from Vienna, his introduction was a lot more theatrical and energetic. This new pace and style once again changed the mood in the room. Aloise’s approach was more interactive, when he his first song he asked the audience to sing along with him. This performance unlike the one before was not an original song and relied on the energy of the crowd. Although many people had never heard this song a few people sang along, including a drunk man near my table. This performance was in many ways unorganized, it lacked a structure and included a lot of talking during the songs. As a matter of fact the only factor that connected the song to the conversations during the song was the guitar.  At this point the stage was brightly lit and the room was not as dark as it had been during Carona’s performance. Aloise concluded his performance with an upbeat song that allowed the crowd to feel cheerful and satisfied, despite his lack of professionalism and experience.  Overall, attending the open mic night at the spice of life was a very enriching experience that allowed me to witness firsthand the range of talents that the great city of London hosts. Moreover, the diversity of performers allowed me to realize the diversity of the city and the connection of London to entertainment.