A reincarnation of rock favorites and original songs may be found in Holmes Hall, but “MTV Unplugged” series hasn’t relocated to MSU.
It’s Open Mic Night, an acoustic guitar showcase live at the Holmes Hall Sparty’s Convenience Store every Monday night.
The event was created by economics sophomore and Holmes Hall mentor Chris Girdwood in January after he noticed a wealth of guitar talent in the dormitory.
Girdwood said he routinely heard someone playing the guitar while he was on rounds.
“I’d usually hear two or three people playing each time,” he said.
Calling the club The Acoustic Sessions and armed with only acoustic guitars and vocals, the six founding members began a format of playing and learning new songs by example.
“About eight of us would get together in Sparty’s and just play and teach each other,” Girdwood said.
But as membership and interest in the club grew, so did a need for a change in format.
“It grew too large,” Girdwood said. “So I transformed it into Open Mic Night.”
Rather than step on the musical toes of others and have a song lost in the din of a dozen guitars, the event became the solution. It’s an open invitation to all guitar players of any skill level or style to come share a few songs in an intimate-style setting.
At the first Open Mic Night on March 18, almost a dozen Holmes Hall residents performed a broad range of musical styles from world beat to modern rock, belting out original songs and cover tunes.
Girdwood said he noticed the diversity of the event, as styles and influences varied from Peruvian classical guitar to modern rock radio to covers of Crosby, Stills & Nash.
English freshman Jess Snapke, who showed up to watch the first event, said the 90 minutes of performances showed the residents’ musical ability.
“I think it’s really cool that there’s so much talent right here inside Holmes,” she said.
Girdwood said he hopes to take Open Mic Night to a larger venue to accommodate the club’s ever-increasing membership and audience. He is currently attempting an arrangement to host it at the International Center.
With a change in venue, Girdwood said he would like to include nonguitarists.
“I would like to see Open Mic Night move into a more multi-instrumental or poetic fashion,” he said.
But some participants say crowd-performer interaction can contribute to a more close-knit, personal performance. No-preference freshman Stephen Shaheen said he enjoyed the intimacy of his performance at the first Open Mic Night.
“(I) love to perform covers for a small audience,” he said.
But Shaheen also is interested in creating original works, which have been the most well-received songs of the event by both performers and spectators.
Girdwood looks forward to Open Mic Night’s future, despite its humble beginnings.
“It just gives people a chance to unwind on a Monday night.”
Open Mic Night is held at 9 p.m. every Monday at the Holmes Hall Sparty’s Convenience Store.
