The artist that performed U2′s “One” was Nabeel Ahmed. His voice is so endearing, his guitar-playing dreamy, his whole aura and energy just so nice to be around. He also does a heart-wrenching rendition of Amos Lee and plays Capoeira. Its fora like this that draw people like Nabeel and A N N A–whose passionate debut had every soul in the cavern goose-bumping, trembling, tearing and thirsting for more. Later, A N N A & Nabeel even took the stage for an impromptu “Whose Line is it Anyway?” bit involving a first date, the Lincoln Memorial and … shingles. Tell me there’s another place in the district [or elsewhere] where you can get comfy on a couch and just bask in live theater performed by none other than the peeps you’d otherwise see out at a bar or club downtown.

Mad props also to Nishant, whose spoken word piece caused my jaw to drop and, never come all the way back up (it was that powerful).

So, Puli, I second others’ comments. Come and perform. Add to the rapture. Perform, sing, play and, while you’re there, listen. You might be pleasantly surprised at what [more] you hear.

Props again to the organizers for a great night. Munish, great work emceeing, dawg (raincheck please, on the post-bac bit).

does nyc have something like this? going down to dc for a weekend might be a bit much…

And I’m sure they’d love to have you. One of the highlights (for me) was the guy who played U2′s “One” on acoustic guitar. Anyone can perform, just walk over to the “sign-up” sheet and write your name down. It’s that easy.

I’m thinking of holding SM meetups the same weekend as SD open mic nights, because I have so many friends from out-of-state who want to go to SD, who are willing to fly in for it. I might as well make it extra worth their while…

Why leave that comment on a brown blog? Shouldn’t you branch out and comment elsewhere? Couldn’t quite make it there, so you’re here?

wish i could make it down to dc for on eof these. id love to play a few pieces on the piano sometime.

Events like SD aren’t JUST for beret-wearing artistes; it’s a space where regular old policy wonks, lawyers, med students and others who perhaps aren’t alternadesi 24/7, are welcome, if not encouraged to perform. And if there are more experienced types participating (like Shanti Salaam, The Cassettes or Micropixie), how do you know that they AREN’T performing in “non-ethnic showcases”? Instead of spewing negativity, why not come out and see what actually goes on…especially since it’s as much about the energy and interaction between who is on stage and the audience, as it is performing. You remind me of the Uncle who was pissed when he found out a certain desi who had been elected to the state legislature was going to run for his district’s seat in Congress. “Why is he not going for the SENATE?”, Uncle sputtered. Uh, because he needs to pay his dues, working slowly but surely towards his goal. Nothing comes easily, the impatient need to learn that.