Thursday, March 27, 2008

Drunken Mic Night

By Katie Libecco

AUSTINTOWN - “Drunken Mic Night is a clever name for an open mic night that happens to have really good drink specials,” host Khaled Tabbara, of The Zou, says.

The first of O’Donold’s Irish Pub and Grill’s Drunken Mic Night went down Wednesday night — as did a bounty of $1 Red Bull and vodka shots.

A flier for the event welcomes musicians, singers, songwriters, poets, authors, artists, comedians and magicians to perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday night.

Two guitarists performed in front of a live crowd for the first time, while poet Katelyn Post read “angsty goth poetry” to an audience for her first time. Tabbara, also the night's host, also performed some of his favorite songs acoustic before getting Dennis Thomas of Posture Coach and Chris Splain of the Deathcrazed Teenage Superheros onstage to play some songs by The Zou.

Tabbara describes acting as the host of this night as a way to move forward artistically and facilitate others. He says it’s a way to do something on the opposite end of the spectrum from being in a “structured” band that’s arranged and rehearsed.

Lee Boyle from Third Class performed Wednesday, including playing his band’s “A Drug Inside Your Wrist” and Denny London played a few songs solo on an acoustic guitar. Austintown native and talented musician Andy Paczak performed one set on keyboard and one set on guitar, taking requests from the crowd. There was also stand-up comedy by Ryan Clausen.

Tabbara ended the night in a jam session with brother Rached Tabbara and cousin Gordon Gagich, Pazcak and Thomas.

You can check out the Drunken Mic Night yourself Wednesday nights at O’Donolds with no cover and $1 shots.