Sunday, March 21, 2010

Lynn's Longbranch Saloon Acoustic Open Mic

Every Monday night at Lynn's Longbranch Saloon you will find an excellent open mic hosted by Mark Zeus. Lynn's is a very nice little neighborhood establishment that serves beer, wine and setups. The layout is great for music with a slightly elevated, good sized stage and a nice dance floor.  There are a few TVs but none that compete with performances.  Lynn's also has 4 well kept pool  tables, but they are in a separate room so again, there is no interference with the music.  Step out the back door at Lynn's and you'll find a huge patio and back yard area with a stage, several cafe tables and picnic tables, barbecue pits, and horseshoes. It's perfect for small to medium outdoor events.  Parking is adequate although dimly lit at night.  They do have several security cameras however that are constantly  monitored at the bar.

Mark Zeus is a very experienced open mic host that makes all players feel welcome.  Having run open mics for good while, Mark has developed a strong following of talented musicians but always welcomes new players to his stage as well. The PA is plenty powerful for the room and the performance area includes a stage monitor, two microphones and instrument cables.  This open mic is a 3 song / 15 minute format and sign-up is in person on a first come first served basis.  It is an acoustic music open mic.  No full bands, large amplifiers, drum kits or comedians please.

Lynn's Longbranch Saloon is easy to find and located conveniently for folks in the 290/610 area.  Just a couple of blocks east of Antione on Pinemont, you'll find Lynn's Longbranch Saloon an inviting spot to stop in on a Monday night for some great live music.

Lynn's Longbranch Saloon
5505 Pinemont
Houston, TX 77092

Map
http://lynnslongbranch.com
(713) 686-8668

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Ashford Arms Acoustic Music Open Mic

The Ashford Arms Irish Pub is a family owned authentic Irish pub.  It's not a big music venue however besides the weekly open mic they have Karaoke and occasionally they have bands on the weekends.  The Ashford is a friendly place with an above average beer selection and a full bar.  It is a non smoking bar but they have a cozy patio where smoking is allowed.

Located on the southwest corner of Dairy Ashford and Perthshire, the Ashford is easily accessible from most points in west Houston.  Parking is adequate and fairly lit.  The entrance to the bar is around the side which sometimes confuses new comers, but it's not hard to find.

The acoustic open mic is a three song (15 minute max) format. Sign up is in person, and first come first served.  Covers and originals are welcome as well as all types of music.  It is an "acoustic" open mic so no drum kits or large amplifiers are allowed.  The sound system was plenty sufficient for the room and the levels are kept at a reasonable volume.  Although the open mic starts at 8:00 the host occasionally invites a "featured artist" to open with a 45 minute set before they actually start going through the list. This open mic is fairly well attended by some good musicians.  The list often times fill up fast so it's a good idea to get there fairly early to sign up.

Stop by the Ashford Arms Irish Pub any Thursday to enjoy some great music or to sign up and play a few songs for the crowd.

Ashford Arms Irish Pub
14605 Perthshire Road
Houston, TX 77079-7607
281-497-5316