Extreme Songwriters Open Mic Night
at Broadway Central Cafe

   Bree Sharp came down to The Broadway Central Cafe Extreme Songwriters’ Open Mic. I’d never heard of her, of course—but Noel from Stone Soup told me that she had a hit song a few years ago.She was good, too. Her attitude was impressive—mainly because she didn’t have one. She was friendly and professional and her set was well received. Nobody threw anything. Wayne did not get drunk and blow on that damned sea shell horn.

Joe Canzano (center) and friends
Broadway Central, (file photo December 1999)

   Speaking of professionalism, here’s some advice for any band that goes into a bar looking for a gig... If you want the owner to love you,just bring your own beer. Yeah, that’s the way to make a good impression. What the hell, just bring your own keg and sit there and drink all night and then ask to play. Yes, I’ve seen people do it. Dumb people.
   Another thing: If you’re planning to come down to the BCC on Thursday and play a bunch of karaoke cover songs... stay home.
   It’s nothing personal but that’s not what we do. There are certain kinds of cover songs that are okay. You’re supposed to know the difference. Since you probably don’t, here it is:

   If you’re a musician doing an interpretation, etc, that’s fine. If you’re part of the original music scene in some way, that’s fine.If you’re an unpracticed wanna-be who’s never played any original music and you want to "try out a few tunes" that always sound great when you play them in your living room for

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- Coffee Blue -
A New Beanery
in Belmar

The Java Hut- RIP, a new coffee joint has sprouted up in it's place. Although it's in the same location, the new name is Coffee Blue. "It's all about the bean" is the motto at Coffee Blue but when you stop in and hang around for awhile you'll find out that there's alot more inside this coffee house than just beans.

Coffee Blue
1000 Main Street, Belmar

The soul proprietor, Rich Cali, was inspired with the name by an old blues song by Mississippi John Hurt called Coffee Blues. Thus, Coffee Blue was born, "drop the s and that's it" and the rest is history. Although Coffee Blue opened for the first day on Friday, December 20th, 2002- watch for an official grand opening celebration coming in the New Year.
Rich plans to do things his way- which will include Sinatra Sundays, as a tribute to old blue eyes. He is also planning on keeping up the traditional Open Mic on Wednesday night from

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