Audience members were sitting enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of open

mic night, Friday at Bob’s Bookstore.

The activity was started a few months ago, by Joe Judd the owner, and at first, there were three consistent performers who came every week.

Some of the acts of the night included poetry readings, musical performances and even some comedy acts going on during this show.

Harrison Rollings , a Charleston resident, was not only the first act of the night, but was the host.

“They started a couple a months ago and Aaron and I and Seth too have been playing there every week,” Rollings said. “Last night was my first night hosting, and it was a lot of fun, calling people up and making a good environment. It’s like a show and tell type thing.”

Rollings said he usually performs his own songs and tries to write songs through out the week.

“I know Joe’s been really open about literally any form of art or artistic expression, if anyone wants to do anything at all, they’re welcome to,” Rollings said. “ Personally, I’d like to see more acoustic acts, I’d like to see some poets or slam poets. Other than that, with the equipment we have there is not much we can do.”

Aaron Jenkins was one of the first consistent performers at Bob’s since open mic started. Normally sticking to performing music, Jenkins changed it up this type, performing a small comedy routine.

“I usually perform music. This was the first time that I actually performed comedy,” Jenkins said. “People told me that I could try comedy cause I’m always really funny when I do music and then I do it.”

Jenkins also said he usually performs music with his friend, Rollings.

“I just play originals, stuff that I write, that’s really all I do,” Jenkins said. “I’d like to play things that I internally feel, and I like to output that in some way and that happens to be with guitar.”

Jenkins also said he loves coming to open mic nights and hosting the event with his friend.

“Harry and I are in a band called Nine Wise, and we’re just two people that write songs, not really that time of band thing,” Jenkins said. “We’ve been coming here every Friday for the past two months or so”

Seth Asbell said he has performed since the activity began.

“I think I’ve missed one or two cause I work a lot,” Asbell said. “I’ve made it to almost all of them so far.”

Asbell performs his own work while adding some covers of songs as well.

“It all depends on how I feel that day,” Asbell said. “Mostly, I do my own originals cause I promote my band along with it.”

Asbell said when he plays he songs with his band, it’s different from what he intended them to be.

“This is how I originally wrote the songs, so I can go in and kind of workshop them while I’m here, see if it works.”

Luis Martinez can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]