open_mic_night ovenbird A woman takes the stage and performs the most unbelievable version of House of the Rising Sun I've ever heard. Unbelievable in that I don't think even a single note was in tune and she was half screaming, half wailing. A teenager sings a barely audible love song. A woman struggles though Somewhere Over the Rainbow while her husband plays guitar. She mumbles half the words. The host reads us "Canadian poetry" (his words) in between acts. One of the "poems" is the lyrics to "Photograph" by Nickelback. I love all these people. I love every grating, unpracticed, messy note. They have friends here cheering them on. Evening is clapping appreciatively. These people are doing something (badly) for the sheer joy of it. They are singing just because they want to share a piece of themselves. They aren't here to make money or get famous or impress anyone. They're just letting their fabulously imperfect voices be heard. You really have to respect that. This is a community built around a few ukuleles and a handful of poems. While it isn't exactly melodic there are definitely moments that feel, against all odds, like harmony. 250531 ... ovenbird *everyone is clapping. Note to self--do not blathe late at night. You cannot spell or proof read late at night. 250531 what's it to you? who go blather from