The Long Beach local arts are alive and thriving. Anyone who knows the city well knows this and is probably somehow even involved the constant creation of the artistic community. From the eclectic personality of Retro Row to the various theater companies in the city, from First Fridays and Second Saturdays and Last Saturdays to the plentiful organizations in the Catalyst network, Long Beach is practically bursting with artistic energy. And it's definitely humming.
The Hum House is one of those spontaneous creations of artistic direction led by a local musician. And it's a secret best shared: every Wednesday night at Sipology Cafe on Temple and Broadway, a handful of local acoustic musicians play a free show of original songs in a warm, friendly environment. It's a perfect mid-week getaway.
The line-up is always different, usually featuring three different musicians on guitar, occasionally with a keyboard or other instrument. And of the three, you can always expect to hear the stirring tunes of Cory Joseph Clark, the mastermind behind the singer/songwriter showcase.
Since November, Clark has independently organized the Wednesday evening Hum House, from finding local musicians (the easy part of the job, he said) to partnering with Sipology and trying to spread the word through his website and flyers.
"Long Beach is so full of creative energy, but there wasn't anything quite like this yet. I love Long Beach so I wanted to do a singer/songwriter night here."
Clark, 31, has lived in Belmont Shore for about two and a half years now, happily settled with his fiance and puppy. After playing music for twenty years and writing his own songs for about five now, Clark saw the need to create a space for other musicians like himself to play, practice and meet each other.
Unlike the many open mic nights at coffee shops around the city, the quality of performances is generally guaranteed. And while you can find any number of loud and crazy rock shows on the weekends, the Hum House fills a different niche.
Smack dab in the middle of the week, the Hum House is perfect for a quiet, intimate evening out to relax, regroup, hang out with friends, sit on your laptop or just generally enjoy the low-key, mellow acoustic music over a cup of tea or coffee.
The cafe boasts soft red walls decorated with a local artist's psychedelic renderings of John, Paul, George and Ringo, a wooden bar, a few tables, strong drinks and comfy couches.
Inspiration is the key element behind it all, Clark imparted.
"Anybody that first of all loves this kind of music [spanning acoustic, folk, blues, soft rock, roots] or loves writing or needs to be inspired musically, this is totally the place to come. It’s really inspiring to see genuine, independent artists coming out to share their music," Clark said, emphasizing that his favorite part about it all is being inspired by the creative energy of other artists.
"It's like a family," Robert Beltran commented from behind the bar, as he singlehandedly served sandwiches and drinks to the initial fifteen customers, which swelled to around thirty at one point. Some were casual passersby dropping in for a cup of joe and partaking in a free moment of entertainment, some were family and friends and some just came to enjoy. A few curious people peeked their heads in as they walked by.
In one past performance on July 27th, 2011, Scott Huckabey opened the set as the sun was still shining through the glass walls. Though he hadn't played onstage in over a year, he easily captivated the crowd with his soulful voice and expert melodies, his son Texas cheering him on from the audience. You can find Huckabey in a band called The Caroline Movement.
During Clark's set, he sang an optimistic song called "Till Ya Come Back Around" specially for a homesick friend in France. The performance was captured on video and sent halfway around the globe instantaneously, bringing a faraway friend straight to the cozy scene.
Closing out the night, another prolific Long Beach musician, Chris Karn, adapted some of his band Deccatree's songs for the acoustic platform.
As a part of Clark's artistic vision, he is writing one song a week and performing them at the Hum House, stressing that it takes both discipline and instantaneous inspiration to develop and hone any craft. As the sun set on some feel-good humming and strumming in the middle of a hectic workweek, the Hum House certainly delivered some genuine artistic inspiration without any frills.
Tonight, August 17, 2011, Kurt Hunter will be playing at 7:30 pm, followed by Clark at 8:00 pm and Skee at 9:00 pm. Hope you can make it for a hot mug and a good set.
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