Readers' Choice Best of the Big O (tie)
Best Music Venue: Mick'sThe high, plated ceilings and uptown decor blend seamlessly, offering Mick's Music & Bar in the Benson district an unrivaled atmosphere in the metro area. A dream of songwriter Michael Campbell's, the club has quickly become a premier destination for live acoustic music.
As with any venue, different people enjoy different aspects of the club, but for singer-songwriter David Fleming—who plays at Mick's regularly with his group, the Southpaw Bluegrass Band, as well as solo—the club offers a unique performance space for musicians. "One thing I've always enjoyed about Mick's is that the place is set up to focus attention on the stage," Fleming said. "Besides that the sound is great for acoustic picking, and it feels more like a music club first and a bar second. When you're playing at Mick's," he added, "it seems like people are there for the music."
And music they will get, in rich, colorful tunes due to the top-notch sound system. One listen and it becomes obvious that plenty of careful planning, patience and dedication went into making sure the sound was clearly better than any other venue.
The cocktails are poured the right way, the staff is friendly and attentive, and as mentioned before, the sound quality is simply to die for. Stop by for the Sunday night open mic slots to catch some up-and-coming local talent or slide in on the weekends when Mick's spotlights regional and local acoustic musicians. Very few clubs offer the social amenities that make Mick's a midtown favorite, and none offers the crystal-clear sound that allows you to hear fingers slide on acoustic frets and voices crack with the emotion of a song well-spent.
copyright 2004 Reader Publishing Inc.
