Video by Sierra LaDuke
A cigarette rested between the strings of a guitar as the performer strummed an original melody. The lit bud was fitting for the latest laid-back iteration of Firestage.
For the past six years, the Firehouse Gallery, located on First and Roosevelt streets, has been the venue for the monthly Third Friday event deemed “a performance night by artists, for artists” by gallery co-owner Michael 23. The open-mic night allowed performers of various mediums and ages to perform in front of an audience.
Michael 23 and gallery co-owner Joanna 23 are quick to invite diversity onto their stage.
“It’s a mixture of all kinds of performance, from spoken word and stand-up comedy to singing, performance art, bands and fire performing,” Michael 23 said. “It’s a pretty mixed bag.”
Joanna 23 also said the stage hosted a wide array of skills and talents of varying levels.
“There is a wide range of skill level,” she said. “You can go and do something for the first time on a stage, and that’s just as welcome as a seasoned performer. This is a good opportunity for people who are looking for stage time.”
Among the performers to take advantage of their time on stage was 18-year-old poet Autumn Echo. Her first poem of the night, “Newport,” ended with pleas from the audience for an encore.
Echo said the event allowed for attendees to be exposed to other people’s thoughts and feelings.
“It’s nice for people to experience different things because we live in a world where everything is about technology and is very impersonal,” she said. “This is a really good way to experience other people and their expression.”
As Echo pointed out, self-expression was a major theme of the night. The series of performances included an intoxicated poetic pirate who talked about the corruption that pervades politics as well as a woman, clothed in the American flag, who advocated against social hierarchy.
The showcase of multiple vocal styles, comedy routines and live painting separated these unusual acts.
Despite the popularity of the event, the crowd remained small, allowing for an intimate setting in the gallery’s backyard. A few members of the audience said they did not know what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised by what they witnessed.
Noah Smith, an ASU student, said he does not typically identify himself as an “artsy” person but said he enjoyed Firestage.
“(I) saw art in so many different mediums in just one evening,” Smith said.
Echo also said she enjoyed the show and the vibe of the event.
“This is my first time coming to Firehouse and I would recommend that everyone come,” she said. “It’s a great atmosphere.”
Contact the reporter at Sierra.Laduke@asu.edu
