CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED SUCH THAT CANCELLATION IS UNAVOIDABLE.
STAY HEALTHY, MY SWEET PEEPS!!!
Winter’s Icy Grip Has Broken And The Sap Is Beginning To Rise In All Our Metaphorical Maples— So Time For A Sweet Hootenanny To Celebrate The Coming Spring And Banish The Last Vestiges Of Winter Gloom.
You Know The Story:
Stann Champion’s Musical Mightiness Michael Hollywood/LaGrange’s Multifaceted Oddness
AND YOU, Sweet Human.
Either Showing Us What You Got Or Just Drinking It All In.
Poetry Standup Storytelling Music Juggling Magic Dance
It’s All Good To Us!!!
And Speaking Of Drinking It In, The Independence Tap Has A Fine Array Of Inexpensive Libations If You Wanna Get Your Drink On (Especially Since It’s REAL Close To A Certain Verdant Holiday).
Come On Down And Join The Fun!!!
ATTENTION PERFORMERS OF ALL GENRES/TYPES:
TRY SOMETHING NEW!!!
The Independence Tap is a great space and this night is perfect for working out new material and expanding horizons as an Artist/Performer.
When we host Open Stages we create an atmosphere of respect for all genres of performance where Artists can feel safe and secure. [No stylistic cliquishness OR DISRESPECT allowed!]
Our greatest joy comes from seeing someone perform for the first time or watching an Artist try out a new genre: a Musician doing Storytelling, a Storyteller doing Stand-Up, a Poet playing Music, a Stand-Up reading a poem…
The Place Where The Boundaries Meet & Overlap Is Where True Magic Happens.
And there is nothing like the feeling of opening a door into a new room in the mansion of your soul— SO COME ON DOWN & GO ON UP!!!
A promo shot of me in early 1985, when I was just starting to do standup comedy. So early in my career that I was still juggling in my act.
The Second Friday Comes Late This Month And Coincides With A Certain Consumer Capitalist Hetero-Normative Celebration.
This Is Only Fitting, As This Show Also Marks The 1 Year Anniversary Of Stann Champion & Michael Hollywood Bringing Their Special Brand Of Love Fest Hootenanny To The Independence Tap!!!
As Always, There Shall Be A Fine Array Of Talented Comics, Musicians, Poets, Storytellers, And Whatever Other Type Of Performer Who May Walk In The Door And Sign Up.
And Of Course, YOU! Either Strutting Your Stuff Upon The Stage Or Just Drinking It All In. Either Way, It’s All Good!
We’ve Created A Wonderful Vibe Here Over The Last Year, Come And Share It With Us.
Arrive Early And Stay All Night, Or Roll In A Little Later (After You’ve Had That Nasty Argument In The Crowded Overpriced Restaurant).
In 2013, I was hosting an Open Stage on Monday nights at the short-lived Frankenstone Art Center on Foster in North Park.
Dedicated to the motto “Universal Liberation Through Creative Self-Actualization” it was an open stage that welcomed all types of performer (particularly first time performers) and encouraged everyone to expand their boundaries and horizons as an Artist.
That very first show someone who had just come to spectate felt comfortable enough to read their own words in public for the first time ever- and I knew I was on to something.
A couple shows later, one of the poets told me about a space right around the corner on Kimball. It was called the Roots Room and was run by a veteran Chicago musician and artist who was dedicated to the same principles of fostering creative development in all people.
I finally got up the gumption to head over there a few months later and go inside. That was the night I first met Stann Champion.
It was Variety Open Mic night, so I did some stand-up, poetry, and storytelling in a Combo Platter set; then Stann and I did a few tunes with me accompanying him on harmonica.
We hit it off immediately, and I began co-hosting Variety Night every 2nd Friday of the month for the next several years. Stann and I also got together with the amazing rhythm section of his Reggae/Calypso band (Roots Rock Society) and formed a new Blues/Rock/Roots band called the Propaganda Machine.
After the demise of the Roots Room in 2018, we both took a break from open mic hosting for a while.
In February of 2019 we were offered the opportunity to take over FretKnot Fridays at the Independence Tap. We started slow but soon built things up to where our old Roots Room crowd had reconstituted.
Then the magic kicked into high gear and we kept adding regulars to the mix who were just as committed to the principles of Creativity and Community as we were.
One year later we have a beautiful thing going on!!!
Stann and I still love to rock the duo thing! (photo by Greg Morelli)
Friday, October 11 at 7:30PM Independence Tap 3932 W Irving Park Rd
There’s A Chill In The Air And Soon The Leaves Will Be Turning To Autumnal Colors.
An Excellent Time For An Epic Hootenanny!!!
You Know How The Story Goes; Michael Hollywood Brings The Blather & Bluster, Stann Champion Brings The Guitar Genius, And YOU Bring Whatever Ya Got!
Music, Poetry, Standup Comedy, Storytelling, Magic, Juggling, Dancing, Fire Eating— Whatever Your Little Heart Desires— It’s ALL GOOD To Us.
Fine Entertainment And Fine Inexpensive Drinks— What’s Not To Love?!?
Put Your Back Into It!
The Independence Tap is a great space and this night is perfect for working out new material and expanding horizons as an Artist/Performer.
When we host Open Stages we create an atmosphere of respect for all genres of performance where Artists can feel safe and secure. [No stylistic cliquishness OR DISRESPECT allowed!]
Our greatest joy comes from seeing someone perform for the first time or watching an Artist try out a new genre: a Musician doing Storytelling, a Storyteller doing Stand-Up, a Poet playing Music, a Stand-Up reading a poem…
The Place Where The Boundaries Meet & Overlap Is Where True Magic Happens.
And there is nothing like the feeling of opening a door into a new room in the mansion of your soul— SO COME ON DOWN & GO ON UP!!!
One Of The Last Chances To See Me Perform Before I Flee The Country!
I’ll Be Bringing My Internationally Acclaimed Hummus. Feel Free To Bring Whatever Tasty Treat You Wish.
*This Hootenanny Will Have The Theme Of DREAMS:
Dreams Literal & Figurative, The Dream World, Sleep & Wakefulness, All Meanings And Connotations Encouraged.
(But Don’t Fret If Your Performance Doesn’t Conform To The Theme)
Time To Let It Out!!!
ATTENTION CHICAGO MUSICIANS, POETS,
STORYTELLERS, STAND-UP COMICS, MAGICIANS, AND PERFORMERS OF ALL KINDS!!!
I’m Hosting The Next Open Mic/Variety Night At The RootsRoom!!!
FRIDAY, June 12 at 8 PM
The Roots Room is a great space and this night is perfect for working out new material and expanding horizons as an Artist/Performer.
When I host Open Stages I create an atmosphere of respect for all genres of performance where Artists can feel safe and secure. [No stylistic cliquishness OR DISRESPECT allowed!]
My greatest joy comes from seeing someone perform for the first time or watching an Artist try out a new genre: a Musician doing Storytelling, a Storyteller doing Stand-Up, a Poet playing Music, a Stand-Up reading a poem…
The Place Where The Boundaries Meet & Overlap Is Where True Magic Happens.
And there is nothing like the feeling of opening a door into a new room in the mansion of your soul— SO COME ON DOWN & GO ON UP!!!
The Roots Room is BYOB & All Ages.
$10 Suggested Donation (or pay what you can).
Aside from the fact that it is a kick-ass tune (a real “drive around the city at night with the volume way up” kind of song), I really enjoyed the video itself; particularly the footage in Graceland Cemetery and the shot with the camera careening towards the weathered-faced angel on the Kimball monument (yes, the piano Kimballs-very apropos).
Nate plays around town rather often, both solo and with Witchouse. Definitely check him out if you get the chance. He’s a powerful live performer.
