Events: Open Mic Night | Give Back Series | Art Gallery | Directions
Open-Mic-Night @ LaSalle's. Call 860 693 8010 on Friday at 1:30pm to sign up. Walk in's sign up at 5pm.
LaSalle has had an Open-Mic-Night for over 13 years. Things really didn't get started however until Andre Balazs and Eileen sat outside with their dogs one evening in April of 2007. They discussed how to turn a normal Friday night into a memorable music experience. Eileen agreed to hire Andre to be the host and he in turn would bring his keyboard and sound system and run the Open-Mic. Eileen added an oriental carpet and gave Andre a blank playlist for the musicians. The saying goes, "If you build it they will come" ... and they did ... the list has been full for years. Open -Mic- Night is currently hosted by Con Dote and Eric Paradine. Hope we can see you all this Friday!!!
In 2010 Andre passed the host rains over to Con Doty and Eric Paradine. Eileen with the help of Con added her own sound system and also had help from Frank Molnar, a welder friend, who mounted the speakers to the beams. The hosts make sure everything is set for the musicians, all they need to do is bring their voice and instruments. Con and Eric help the musicians as well as the audience make everyone feel right at home. Con says, "The atmosphere just can't be copied, it is what it is."
Sometimes people take the mic and share a poem or a comedy act but 99% of the time its Music, Music, Music. LaSalle is filled with musicians and people who have come to listen. Sometimes the musician's rally around the one who is playing, then you have a full band for a few songs. Sometimes Eileen even gets up and plays percussion with her Cabasa which was a gift from Paul Tieger.
Paul jumped in with an idea a few years back and helped to raise money for the prevention and education of drug substance abuse (something Eileen is always working on) and made a CD with the super talented Open-Mic'ers and it has been selling for $10.
These proceeds have supported Project Graduation and assembly speakers for Canton High School, as well as private individuals paying rent for sober house living, group therapy sessions, and education classes.
On the back wall you can see pictures of the Open-Mic musicians which was created especially for them and periodically gets updated with photos of newcomers.
During the summer nights the musicians are outside on the sidewalks, at tables or on stairs just to play or warm up for their performance. The back of the dining room looks like the green room with guitars and cases strewn about. In the soda aisle more warm ups are taking place. Its Music, Music, and Music!!! Another highlight of the night of course is great food at reasonable prices as well as the choice of having a beer, glass of wine or a frozen cocktail. All served by LaSalle's classy and sassy staff members
How to Sign Up for the Open Mic:
Space is limited. Call 860 693 8010 on Friday promptly at 1:30pm. You may have to redail a number of times to get through. Also you can come to LaSalle's on Friday at 5pm and try to sign up. We do our best to get everyone up to perform. Each performer usually gets 2 songs or ten minutes whichever comes first.
If You Love MUSIC and You're looking for some FUN, Open-Mic Night at LaSalle is Something You Really Want to Experience. It could become part of your weekly routine.
