HEAR iT!
When I arrived on a recent Monday night around 7:15 p.m., the doors were just opening, and there was a pianist playing a live interlude. Usually the opening act lasts about 30 minutes before the show begins, but on this night the opening act lasted the better part of an hour. Audience members who gathered early said little, instead giving most of their attention to the piano player. The room itself, which holds between 40 and 50 people at full capacity, is small but comfortable. Perhaps due to the exposed wooden ceiling and rafters, the acoustic qualities are excellent. Admission to the showcase is free of charge, though the full Brewer’s Alley menu is available to those that attend. Many ordered dinner and drinks while they listened to the performances. The wait staff unobtrusively moved in and out of the softly lit listening room throughout the night, bringing customers their orders. The audience was a diverse group, consisting of families with children, older couples, and performers from previous showcases. That, said Deacey, is typical for the showcase. “It’s a huge cross section. People who come in are anywhere from 8 to 80.” Though a few audience members came and went throughout the course of the evening, the majority stayed until the end, giving the room a settled, attentive feel that one does not often find in local venues that host musical acts.
64
SUMMER 2012