Another large time was had by all last night at El Jalisco. The every-other-Friday open mics keep getting bigger and bigger. I can't go to all of them -- NASCAR often has me occupied -- but I made it last night and it went well.

It gets pretty raucous late at night. A pattern has developed in which I usually go on first and last. Early in the night, people are there for dinner, kids running around and sometime coming up to sing. When I play early, I usually open with a cover -- last night it was "Corpus Christi Bay" -- then do several songs of mine. Last night, let's see, definitely "Your Independence Day" and "There You Are." I can't remember the other now. (Did I mention that they have beer?)

Late at night is when I hit notes I wouldn't try sober. By then, the crowd is rowdy and wants rowdy songs. I don't even have to make this decision. They request them. They've only heard them there, in most cases, but they remember enough that I know what they're talking about. Last night I was planning on opening with Townes Van Zandt's "Rex's Blues" but somehow never got there. It was off to the races with "Tattooed Gal," then "Wake & Bake," then its companion, "Stoned at the Crack of Dawn" and "Inferior Buzz." I think there was one more in there, too, but, as mentioned before, they have beer.

By the end, what began as a mixed audience -- Presbyterian College kids, families, people getting off work and in the mood for a few beers -- is mostly a PC party (and by that I do not mean "politically correct; au contraire). Last night after I got through, I borrowed out my guitar and ... got stuck there for quite a while as the two guys playing guitar ended up holding an impromptu, and at times not very pretty, karaokethon (karaokepalooza? karaokegate? hiking the karaoke trail?) for and with their buddies. It wasn't musically stimulating, in some instances, but it was highly amusing.

The staff of El Jalisco sort of tried to put a hint across by stacking up the chairs upside down on the tables in the back, but they seemed unwilling to actually say, "hey, gringoes, lights out." It wasn't any of my business, but I finally asked one of the owners if he wanted me to help (or try to help) shut it down.

He sure did.

Calling upon my experience as emcee of Pawlessfest, I tactfully suggested that one more song would be it. I was in a good bargaining position because they were dependent on my guitar.

I enjoyed everything about it, having a personality that wishes it was 21 again. (Hell, I'd settle for 40.)

I am a tad worried, though, that it's getting a bit out of hand. We've got a good thing going in Clinton, S.C., right now. The danger? Is it getting too good? It's great right now. I'm unaware of anyone there who didn't have a great time. Here's hoping it isn't fleeting. When I'm around, I really enjoy playing my songs locally.