Speakeasy
September 17,
2018
Shastina Chiles 
Raven Cooper
The Porch 
Kristen, Raven and Shastina
Speakeasy
Last night saw
the premier performance of a wonderful new music series here in Key West with
the inaugural Songwriter Speakeasy Series at the wonderful intimate back room
at the Key West Theater. The first edition was by any measure a wonderful
success as it featured three wonderful women each a gifted Key West based
singer/songwriter performing all original music in a traditional Nashville
style songwriter round. Kathy and I always support local music and we had a VIP
table up front to celebrate and enjoy this fantastic addition to the local
music scene.
Kristen McNamara 
The brainchild
of Nick and Kelly Norman, this was the first in what will be an ongoing
tradition of similar songwriter events to be held in the great space that is
the back room. To kick things off they featured a trio of talented Key West
women, Kristen McNamara, Raven Cooper and Shastina Chiles. Each of these
talented women is a force in their own right and yet they were different enough
to create a really wonderful and well-rounded performance.
Shastina Chiles
Kathy and I have
had the good fortune to see Raven Cooper and Shastina Chiles perform, in fact I
often watch and listen to their live broadcasts on facebook while working and
they were the reason that we bought tickets but it was our first exposure to
Kristen McNamara. McNamara was easily the most polished as she has had a lot
more experience in this sort of venue, having been a contestant on American
Idol and had plenty of experience and much wider exposure. She was fantastic,
we really enjoyed her songs and fun and easy banter with the crowd.
Kristen, Kelly, Raven and Shastina
We knew we would
love Raven, as she is one of our favorite Key West performers. She has the most
amazing and unique voice that reminds me a little of Janis Joplin, world-weary
yet powerful and seemingly soaked with honey and whiskey, she was amazing as
always.
Kristen McNamara
Probably the
nicest surprise was how great of a job young Shastina Chiles did, she more than
held her own with the two older and more experienced performers and was a real
revelation in that she has written some truly wonderful songs and performed them
to a wildly appreciative crowd who listened attentively to all the music
performed. It was a pretty solid nearly sold-out audience that was so lucky to
get to experience such a great evening.
The rest of this
week has been a little low key, we had a nice visit from our friends Howard and
Najada and their family, so it was really great to see them. They formerly
lived in Key West and now are living up in Miramar, Florida. Howard works with
me at RPM Nautical Foundation and recently returned from spending the season
overseas aboard our research vessel the R/V Hercules.
Michael and Howard 
We also shared a
nice night out with our friends Martina and Jen, going for delicious pizza at
Clemente’s before heading over to the Porch to try and enjoy as much time there
as we can before they ultimately close for good next week. They got in to a
dispute with their landlord that could not be resolved so they are closing up
shop, meaning my favorite bar and home to some of the best memories of the past
eight years will soon be no more.
Jen, Martina and Kathy 
The Porch 
It is a sad time in Key West for those of us
who love the crazy, kooky place that has been home to so many happy times.
Thankfully the Porch has served as a seed of sorts with its influence
stretching across the island to other venues that are related to it such as
General Horseplay, Kojin, MaryEllen’s, The Tiki Hut, The Roost, The House of Wu,
2, 2 & Company and The Key West
Sandwich Company.
It was a fun
night, but somewhat bittersweet as the Porch’s days are numbered. We closed out
the evening in what is sure to become our new hangout, General Horseplay which
has taken the spirit of the Porch and moved it across Caroline Street in what
was once the crazy dive bar Red’s Place but has now been fixed up into a
wonderful showcase establishment that I have a good feeling will be home to
many future shenanigans.
Fuzzy and Jack
posted by Michael and Kathy @ 1:53 PM
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