LaBrie's Lounge in Glendale features the projects of former Gayle's Perks Open Mic attendees!

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley

ayle’s Perks is located at 9028 Balboa Blvd, North Hills CA 91325.  It’s a tiny mom and pop coffee shop tucked away in the corner of a shopping center centered around an Albertson’s and a Wyler’s Delicatessen.  And for several years in the early 21^st century it was the hub of burgeoning local musical talent.  It featured an open mic night that drew an audience from the surrounding area that was comprised of far more than just would-be singer songwriter musicians entertaining one another.  People actually came to Perks to listen to what its open mic attendees were creating.

The names that recurred at Perks are not easily forgotten.  Ben Jones, Aaron Miranda, Tom Washington, Bryan Chan, Mike Dill, Brooke Trout, Mark Brainard, Alex Schmauss, John Neira… the list goes on and on.  Every one of these artists brought their musical conjurings to Perks every week to share what they had been creating, to get feedback for their efforts, to subtly hone their craft according to the constructive criticisms of their peers and an audience that was always appreciative but certainly discerning.

Many were the late evenings, special cup of Perks’ brew clutched in hand, that audiences of artists and connoisseurs enjoyed the musical performances of open mic attendees.  Innumerable were the times that music of the highest order was consumed alongside Perks’ humble Panini and treat offerings…

But, as it seems all good things eventually converge to an end, ASCAP eventually caught up to this neighborhood mom and pop coffee shop that was not paying the appropriate dues to be featuring a weekly night of live music.  Unable to address the requested fees on the part of the powers-that-be, the venue collapsed its open mic night and ceased to be a place where artists, musicians, and singer songwriters could share their creations with an appreciative community audience.

Undaunted by the bean-counters, however, the artists who regularly converged on Gayle’s Perks on a weekly basis have moved on to pursue their creations above and beyond the parameters of the beloved open mic night.  Nearly every Gayle’s Perks participant has been preoccupied with the generating of musical projects that are completely worthy of note.  Brooke Trout has moved on to a finely honed pop-rock project known as The Red Herring, Alex Schmauss has adapted his musical social commentary to the psychedelia of Alex & Alex, Aaron Miranda and Squeezebox Sam (yours truly) have invested their efforts in the neo-Americana Folk Punk sound of GRIT, Mark Brainard has invested his efforts in the rock n rollin’ Full Throttle, and Tom Washington has sculpted his Blue Lightning Review in his new home of Tehachapi, California.

On May 12^th, 2011, Stephanie Antonio of Subculture Girl Productions, will give several of these Perks regulars an opportunity to have a reunion at LaBrie’s Lounge in Glendale, California.  The “Get Off The Couch Thursday” event that Stephanie has secured will showcase current projects from Brooke Trout, Alex Schmauss, GRIT, guitar virtuoso Richard Marchetta, bluesman Brian Chan, and American rock and roller Tom Washington.  This will be the first time all of these artists have been given the opportunity to be in one place at the same time, sharing their unique musical visions, in nearly five years, and this collection of local singer songwriters and music makers is not to be missed.

The facebook invite for this event can be accessed here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=142812385791281

ASCAP tried to turn these artists’ creative environment into a monetary issue and, in light of the mom and pop nature of the venue, they succeeded in robbing them of a place to share their creative endeavors.  But all these great music makers have moved on to projects that could never have been were it not for their fellowship at the Gayle’s Perks open mic night.  Come out to Subculture Girl Productions’ “Get Off The Couch Thursdays” at LaBrie’s Lounge in Glendale on May 12^th to experience what these creative entities have been wrangling into existence in the years since Gayle’s Perks ceased being able to provide a place for them to gather.  The doors open at 7:30pm and it's only 5 dollars!  What better deal could you get on a Thursday night in Los Angeles for five measly dollars?

And, in the meantime, visit Gayle’s Perks for a cup of coffee or a fantastic Panini.

- Squeezebox Sam