The Red Rock is housed in the old bank building on the corner of Castro & Villa Streets in Mountain View. Every Monday evening for many years they have had an open mike session that is very popular with many of the musicians of the area. I first found out about it because I walk by the place on the way to the Post Office. On summer evenings the sidewalk outside has a crowd as thick as the one listening to the music, smokers, nervous beginners practicing one last time, impromptu bands figuring out what to play, and some talkers. It's hard not to like the scene. Now I go by often, just to soak up the live entertainment. I consider it to be the best regularly scheduled organic live entertainment in Mountain View.

     

Usually I don't get there until a lot of acts have already played. When I got there this couple was filling the room with nice sounds.

     

After each band Steve would get up and tell us whom we had just listened to again. Then he would announce the next artist. There would be a brief flurry of activity, a short sound check, and the next set would begin. Some artists stayed for two songs, some for three.

     

The music wasn't the only thing happening. There were photographers, videographers, and computer users doing their things to. This little pow-wow was caused by Steve needing an act to replace a no-show. There was a volunteer who was waiting for such an opportunity, so it worked out great.

  

There was a steady stream of customers at the coffee bar. I think the Red Rock does a good deal of business on Monday evenings. A few years ago it was a bit slow, and Steve told everybody something like "be sure to get something, and be sure to tip the wait staff. We can't keep the venue without their support."

I always get something. They have great organic Rwandan coffee, and I've been known to get a pound of that if I don't want anything at the moment. What's great about that coffee aside from the flavor is that the farmers that raise it get their beans to market on their bicycles. It just feels good to support sustainable enterprises. Maybe someday that coffee will be shipped here in clipper ships again, and my coffee habit will have a more sustainable carbon footprint than it has now.

  

I think of these guys as country rock performers. Usually they are a trio or a quartet, but their other guitarist was sick.

  

On the counter was a collection of what looked like fruit and vegetables, but were really rattles. If the music inspires you, it's completely okay to play along. That guy shaking the avocado is an example.

     

This guy played some love songs.

     

Tim Marcelino started with a cover of John Lennon's Revolution. Many of us sang along, and people that couldn't get a rattle were clapping or banging spoons on the table. It was a highlight of the evening.

  

Dave sang some songs I'd not heard before. One was about how things are so bad we have to get the city to hook up the sewer pipes because the septic system isn't cutting it any more. A very funny song. So apropos to put his picture on a brown background.

  

Rebecca and Gary were the featured performers. That meant they had a half hour set instead of just two or three songs to play. They started with a song, the gist of which was "I stand with the first amendment, warts, religion clause and all." It gave me that patriotic feeling. Then Rebeca told the story of the parrot that used to steal Autumn's cell phone and call her up. That was followed by the song it inspired. There was much more, but I just remember enjoying the rest.

  

By this time it was getting late. Nobody was buying anything, and the barista was counting the tips. When I was tending bar that was always the first step in divvying them up.

  

When Rebecca and Gary were done Steve took the stage and thanked "everybody that played and everybody that listened." Then he reminded us that the Red Rock closes in a few minutes and urged us all to come back next week and do it again. The room quickly filled with the happy sound of people talking.

Then there was a bit of schmoozing. Looking at the picture of the artist talking to Rebecca, I'm reminded of the time I met him, at the same point in the evening, when I had used an open mike slot to ask everybody to vote the next day. He had shown me his picture of me. Anyhow, it seemed like only moments later that that the guy whose name I keep forgetting took the stage and said "The Red Rock is now closed. You don't have to go home but you can't stay here." That last part was a loud chorus. He does that every week to. Many of us who are still there chime in before heading out.