Big Easy celebrates local musicians

By Christina Weaver
Special to the Coastal Point

	Special to ehCoastal Point • CHRISTINA WEAVER B.J. Muntz, left, of Lower Case Blues, and Jerry Richard greet each other at The Big Easy last weekend.

Some came because they always did, every Tuesday evening for Michael Tracey White’s open-mic night at the Big Easy in Bethany Beach. Others, like Lower Case Blues band members Jake Banaszak, B.J. Muntz and Paul Weik, came because they had a call from bartender, Philly Mike, and were specially invited.

“I called all my favorites to make sure they turned up,” he said, beaming as though it was his party, which in a way it was. Then by word of mouth, others heard the rumor: “last open-mic night at the Big Easy.”

And, as always, there were a couple of musicians who just showed up for the first time, not realizing they would become part of the lore of Bethany Beach.

By nine o’clock, the back booth on the bar side of the restaurant had been picked up and carried outside to make room to set up the sound system, including sufficient microphones for four guitarists, bassists, harmonicats and vocalists at any one time.

That process was orchestrated by J. R. Smith, the regular sound man, who has the reputation of bringing together an eclectic mix of instruments, styles and musicianship in a way that makes everyone sound good. (He’s going to miss Tuesday evenings so much, he’s decided to head to California. Well, there may be another reason or two…)

Next to get set up were the drums. That’s the role of Charlie Brossard, who together with Pete Tierney on guitar and either Bob Harvey or Desmond Leary on bass guitar and open-mic host Michael Tracey White, formed the core band.

At the same time, Carlton Bootheimer was making the final checks on the keyboard. Bootheimer is one of those people who make Open Mic nights really work because he is generous in letting others jam with his instrument.

By the time the evening was over at least six different musicians’ fingers had added their special touch to the harmony. And probably another six had taken sticks to the drums, each showing the difference their unique technique makes to the rhythm of the moment.

White, a popular local performer in his own right, had the major challenge of providing playing time for each of the 20 or so musicians, most all of whom, of course, wanted to play just one more piece than there was time for. It is no easy task to get the right timing and combination of back up musicians for genres that varied from rock (Elvis to Clapton to new age), to Irish ballads, classic pop, ’70s folk and power blues.

Anthony Carmen, lead vocalist and guitarist with the band Electric Velvet, and Aaron Howell, singer-songwriter who has recently been getting well-deserved airtime on 98.1 radio are two pros of open-mic nights. Each knows the value of picking the right couple of songs for the audience, putting their heart and soul into the effort, and passing on their spot while the applause is at its peak.

Carmen’s rockin’ version of “Gloria” had the crowd joining in to sing the refrain and Howell’s rendition of two Bob Marley favorites had the entire bar swaying with the rhythm of the islands.

Another who has learned the same lesson was the only female performer of the evening, crowd pleaser Rachel Denny. Borrowing Howell’s guitar (recognizable by its adornment of a peace sign atop an American flag), Denny’s pure tones achieved the remarkable effect of quieting the crowd who actually listened to her lyrics before roaring their approval.

At 12:53 a.m., Philly Mike took advantage of a change of musicians and announced that the music would continue until 2 o’clock but that people had seven minutes to order their last drink. Surprisingly, few took advantage of the opportunity to continue drinking, but just about everyone stayed.

By 1:30 a.m. almost everyone had had their turn. That included Jeff Sater, Patrick Priest, Charlie Flagiella (great as the only banjo player), Josh Dawson, Patrick McAllorum, Bob Blair and Wayne Jordan — all too good not to have their names mentioned.

Then Charlie Brossard left his position behind the drums and with a beer in his hand and arm raised high, announced the last performers of the evening, Lower Case Blues, “the best band I know.”

The blues trio from Newark who have made Rehoboth their home, was fired up and their sound was appreciated by all their friends-in-music who could have gone on all night, had it not been already Wednesday morning and just a couple of hours before the start of another workday.

Near the end, bass player and vocalist B.J. Muntz called Big Easy owner Jerry Richard to the stage saying, “This has been one of our favorite place to play. We owe you so much.” The crowd cheered Richard, who looked appropriately bashful.

“Yes, this is the last open-mic here,” he confirmed. “But,” he announced, “the show will go on with Michael Tracey White on Tuesdays at Outrigger’s in Fenwick Island.”

The night ended with a masterful, electrifying performance from the fingers of Jake Banaszak as the soulful strains of “Auld Lang Syne” resonated into the cold night air.