Monday Open Mic Night Brings Local Musicians to Blackstrap BBQ

On Monday night at Blackstrap BBQ in Winthrop Square the usuals are bellied up to the bar sipping drinks and chowing on some of the barbeque that has made Blackstrap a popular destination.

Around 7 p.m. local musicians begin filing in with guitars strapped to their backs or other instruments under their arm. They greet the regular customers, chat with the bartenders and then begin setting up on the stage that was recently built.

Owner Kate Economidas, who grew up in Rockport, says when she was younger her hometown and the surrounding communities always had live music.

“It was something to do,” she says. “We’d go over to Gloucester or Beverly to see live music. It was huge part of my life.”

Economidas and Chef Chris Thompson opened Blackstrap BBQ in October 2010. The two met while working together at the legendary East Coast Grill in Cambridge and have since formed a partnership through their love of good, old-fashioned, All-American barbecue.

And now through their love of music.

Ecominidas recently decided to make Monday night’s Open Mic Night at Blackstrap to take full advantage of the stage the business built after expanding into the neighboring building a few years back.

At a recent Zumix event, a youth music program in neighboring East Boston, Ecominidas met Zumix Board President, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center Vice President and local musician Steve Snyder. Snyder, who helped bring live music to a local watering hole in Eastie, convinced Ecominidas Blackstrap would be perfect for a regular open mic night.

“Originally we were thinking about only doing it once a month,” said Economidas. “But Steve (Snyder) convinced me that we could pull it off once a week.”

Now, with Economidas’s blessing Snyder is the defacto host of Blackstrap Monday Open Mic Night.

Just past 7 p.m. Snyder gets the crowd warmed up with a few tunes. He’s soon joined on stage by Winthrop resident and Zumix instructor Edward Meradith on piano.

Then, after a few numbers Snyder begins inviting other musicians onto the stage to play.

Local artist Joey Free, who was quietly sitting at the bar working on a piece of art, leaps up and takes the stage. With Snyder by his side he begins rapping over Snyder’s guitar picking.

After that number Free rattles off some poetry.

By 8 p.m. the place is filling up and musicians are eagerly signing up to perform like Ilana Held. Held, armed with her acoustic guitar performs a set of original tunes.

She’s followed by about a half-dozen others throughout the night.

“The response has been amazing,” says Economidas. “People come out of the woodwork to perform here now. Also, there are customers that don’t even know an Open Mic is happening and next thing you know they are up on stage playing guitar and singing.”

For Snyder, he’s thrilled to expand live music in the area.

“I’m really thrilled to be hosting this new Open Mic in Winthrop,” he said. “Blackstrap BBQ already had great food, spirits and music and in building this new stage they have really displayed a great passion and commitment to live music.  In just a short-time the level of talent at Open Mic Monday’s has been off the charts and I’m trying to build a vibe that brings community and artists together – often quite literally on stage.” Blackstrap’s Open Mic Night are held each Monday starting at 7 p.m. And as their sign says all sizes, all colors, all ages, all sexes, all cultures, all beliefs, all religions, all types, all people are welcome.