Java Jungle, Shanghai Wings, and Vultures

Played at Java Jungle tonight. Arrived at 7:30, hoping to get a time slot around 8:30. My plans were obviously flawed, as there were already eleven people signed up before me. The house was packed, and Arty, tonight’s host, was just getting the open-mic show on the road. I’ll admit, I stepped out shortly after the night got underway – my friends Yulia and Diana came to hear me play, and since my act wasn’t up for at least an hour and a half, we decided to get a bite to eat at Silver Peak. Mmmm, Shanghai Wings.

Unfortunately, the girls were on a tight schedule, so I came back and listened to a few acts on my own before my turn was up. Most memorable were the Handsome Vultures, a six-piece band with an accordion, stand-up bass, banjo, guitar, mandolin, and drums. The vocalist was good at a kind of melodic yelling and, in all, they’re style and songs were fun, though they reminded me a lot of Very Pretty Pigeon – another Jungle open mic regular. Odd how “very pretty” and “handsome” are near synonyms. And Pigeons and Vultures are both trashy birds. Hmm…

Despite the correlated names and similar styles, the band was entertaining and I wouldn’t be surprised if they become regulars. I am surprised though by the resurgence of this mountain folk / rock / gypsy style – locally I can think of three bands that do it: the Pigeons, the Vultures, and another band called Deadly Gallows (a pirate gypsy rock band which could be called the inverted Pigeons since they seem to be almost all the same members). Anyway, the popularity of this genre came out of nowhere for me but seems to be catching on (or perhaps it’s already caught). My guess is I’m just not “hip,” or whatever the kids these days say.

Right before me was a girl from SVC – the “Spoken Voice Collective” (hopefully I got that right). Really good performance: essentially a speech memorized and passionately delivered. Poignant too: it was a call to the general public to accept homosexuality as human. Her words were very honest and direct – I was impressed.

My turn came up and I played Brighter Hopes (which I’ve become much happier with since I changed the chorus), Leaves, and Honey Bunny (my one semi-comedy song). I couldn’t seem to get my guitar perfectly in tune, but my voice was really on tonight. I’m wondering if the signature Shanghai glaze on those wings helped out. I might have to continue tasting testing the theory.

I listened to a few more acts and then Arty and his friend (who asked to borrow my guitar) freestyled a bit to end the evening. It was a good night, in all, and just being there, amidst a bunch of people who are, for whatever their reasons, driven to create and perform reminded me how infectious creativity can be.

I’m Chuck McCumber. I live and work in Reno, NV, where I’m finishing my MBA at UNR and where I play at open mics (and an occasional paid ::gasp:: gig) around town. Cecil’s Refrain is my long time music project and this site is a place where I talk about my experiences playing and the fellow musicians, artists, and fans that I meet along the way. I’d love your feedback. And if you’re ever looking to jam, hit me up.