Open Mic Night. Nervous performers pouring their heart and heart into music. The RINO, a venue in North Kansas City, hosts an open mic with a twist. The emphasis at Song Lab is original music and many KC Metro songwriters have answered the call. Organizer Ben Wendt set out to create a community for songwriters and performers. He took Monday night, the slowest night for the associated bar/coffeehouse, and turned it into a wild ride of original music every week. Hear about it here:
I first saw Courtney Ann Hall at a local open mike night for songwriters about a year ago. A few weeks in, she nervously played an original song accompanied with her trusty ukulele. The song, and she, became an instant favorite of Song Lab. She has continued to write great, heartfelt songs since that time and has been working on recording those songs and has become a regular fixture in Kansas City’s music scene. I spoke with Courtney and audio engineer Alex Garnett about the process and Courtney’s music on the eve of the release of her first single “Bottom Shelf.” (link in the Show Notes!)
Within the Realm 