David Kcolumns |
February 6th 2003 |
Antifolk Open Stage LES is More Local Music by Bill Meredith All the world's an open stage: Singer/guitarists David K and Lauren Echo wanted to host something different from the other area open-mike nights, calling their gathering an "Antifolk Songwriters Open Stage." But the first clue that the Manhattan-to-Boca Raton transplants weren't from around here was where they chose to host their weekly Thursday event - The Lounge, the trendy downtown West Palm Beach nightclub that normally blasts techno music and features non-listening, hipper-than-thou crowd. Yet they've made it work, posting signs on the walls that implore people to listen, and attracting a growing number of local acts, including Regina Campbell, Ginny Williams,and NetheresQue. Echo's soaring vocals is a weekly highlight, and David K often uses verbal commando tactics ("You know not what you do" is one of his few utterances that can be written here) to quiet the talking regulars. It's taken nearly three months, but many now seem more intent on listening than on being seen and heard. "This ain't just another open-mike," he's fond of saying, "it's the NYC LES music scene comes to South Florida." That's "Lower East Side" for the NYC-impaired, and in this case LES is more. The Antifolk Songwriters Open Stage starts signing up performers at 9 p.m. and runs until evryone has played (as late as 2 a.m.) every Thursday at The Lounge, 517 Clematis St., downtown West Palm Beach. Phone: 655-9747. |
