Hank’s Texas Grill open mic — 3rd installment

Mary Jane Farmer | July 11, 2014 | Reply

Alek Veloz

OK, I’ll admit it. I’m getting hooked in the Wednesday open mic nights at Hank’s Texas Grill. True, there’s good-to-great open mics all over the area, and there’s even a Facebook page hosted by Mr. Troll and dedicated to letting Dallas area venues and hosts tell everyone about their open mics. Here’s a link. And there’s more Facebook sites out there, no matter the region of this by-gawd U.S. of A.

But, for some reason, Hank’s, hosted by Tyler Rogers, is just so easy to be around. Everyone at Hank’s is automatically someone to talk to when you get there, a potential new friend, there’s no stars and there’s no stragglers. Just everybody having fun with music. Sometimes they double up, helping a singer with some guitar licks.

Officially, each performer can send out two songs, but usually there’s time for them to present three or four tunes. And they don’t have to be original. Covers are respected.

This past week, Tyler made space for 11-year-old Alek Veloz, who got on the Hank’s stage for the first time. Alek and his dad, Oscar, were on their way back to their Dallas home from a day of Alek’s having competed in wrestling events, and yet he was professional enough to clean up and present himself professionally. Alek is a regular at the monthly open mics at Poor David’s Pub, and not only sings, but dances as well. He said he first entered a talent show

Larry Martin

at his school with his dancing, and that was when he was in the 2nd grade. It was fun. Then, he started adding some songs to that, and improves with every performance. His voice is still a little pitchy, and will probably grow and mature as he grows and matures, and he chooses songs from several decades and delivers them with good stage presence.

Here’s a link to one song he performed, videoed on a cell phone, so please bare with me on this.

Also on stage were host Tyler Rogers, Brian Bertrand, Craig (no last name), Larry Martin, Allyson Rogers, and Jake Lee. And lots of their photos. This was the first time for this listener to hear Brian, Larry, Craig, and Allyson. Fun!

Anyone wanting to be a part can sign the sheet starting around 8 p.m., and usually the music kicks off around 9, sooner if there’s lots of folks signed up. And you can thank me later for NOT signing my voice up!

Link to photos