The Adaptations Set Up
While in Cleveland, I met a friend of a friend who was, like me, visiting from Chicago. Sneza said she was in a pair of bands, one of which had a standing gig every other Thursday at a coffee shop in Pilsen. Since I’m of course always whoring myself out for gigs, I asked if I could play some time, and she said sure. When I got back into town, we emailed, and she suggested I hit up the venue’s open mike, to get a feel for the place.
The place is called Cafe Mestizo (1738 W. 18th), and it’s in a neighborhood that only a few weeks ago I would’ve considered unfamiliar. But as fate would have it, I recently switched up my bike route to work, and I cruise right through the heart of Pilsen — and past Mestizo — every time I make the trip. The open mike host had a DJ blasting hip-hop to warm everyone up, which I have to admit was a little off-putting at first. Not your typical open mike vibe. But then Sneza showed up with Caren, her bandmate in the Adaptations, and they started dancing and laughing. I struck up a conversation with a guy who runs the film series at the cafe. He was asking about my guitar; he told me he used to have a Jazzmaster, too, back in the 70′s, when they apparently weighed even more. The host and the DJ and everyone signed up for the open mike all seemed to know each other, but I didn’t feel excluded. On the contrary — even though I didn’t give in to any requests that I bust a move myself (Kompressor does not dance), I felt completely, instantly welcome. Truly a gracious, friendly scene.
In short, Cafe Mestizo has a groovey thing going. They might be a little rough around the edges, but they’re what a neighborhood coffee shop should be — a genuine pillar of the community, always something going on, families and bohemians of all creeds and colors coming together to nosh and jam. I look forward to playing there with the Adaptations on May 20th. I think they’re doing two sets of covers and originals — with their flute-and-guitar charm! — and I’ll be dropping a short set in the middle. Come on by and soak up the vibes! (And fair warning — the address IS 1738 West 18th, but the sign out front might still say “Lavanderia.” They recently moved, and may have yet to switch it up…)
