Connolly’s Open Mic

By Lou Pastina

One of summer’s simple pleasures in Rockaway Beach is Connolly’s Open Mic night on Tuesdays. Run by the many tentacled Guy Nevirs, better known as Squid. He has been hosting this Open Mic for about 15 years. I have been enjoying them weekly for many years now. Given Connolly’s cavern like environment, the ice-cold air conditioning, and great frozen drinks, this is as close to a Greenwich Village coffee house you can get without taking the ferry to Manhattan. Some of the musicians who come through the doors are absolutely fabulous and others are just learning to perform before a crowded bar, but whoever is up on stage, the clientele are respectful and appreciative. It’s a great place to sample the beach’s best musicians, both the established ones working new material and up and comers.

Over the years, we have lost a few of the regular performers, Don James and Joe Kenel come to mind quickly. A few others, due to deteriorating health, have not been able to participate, which has made this year’s Open Mic a little less like old times. So, it’s always great when some new blood shows up and dips their toe in the proverbial waters. Then they become part of the community. We have had ukuleles and steel guitars, a percussion player, an occasional horn player, a mandolin player, and a host of guitar players and singers. In fact, you never know what will happen on any given night. Every once in a while, a so-called comedian shows up and blows his own horn. Really!

So, as the summer begins to wind down, so do the opportunities to get to an Open Mic before it ends. You may hear Squid and his lovely wife sing a duet (they should do more of that); Billy Fleming and his lovely wife Annette (they should too!!); John Simonelli; Mike Benedetto; Mike Delledera; Anna Clare and Nicole with her ukelele; any combination of Wagners – Dorothy, husband and son; Poppa Lou; Ben Killen with his steel guitar; Liam; Patrick and a host of other regulars. Or maybe you play yourself. This Open Mic is very supportive; it’s a great place to meet other musicians and form relationships with potential musical partners for the winter months.

There is always a cast of characters strolling in and out of the bar. And on Tuesday nights they have a great bartender who will get you your drinks quickly and correctly, a big improvement over a couple of years ago. And at the end of the day, it’s a Tuesday night, what have you got to lose? I mean the Yankees stink, the Mets will find a way to break your heart, and football, basketball, and hockey have yet to begin! So, get out and enjoy this last month of summer doing something truly Rockaway – Connolly’s Open Mic. Hope to see you there!