Live Music at Espresso Yourself Music Cafe…hours before doors close…

HAPPY HANDS: Live at Espresso Yourself Music Cafe

Espresso Yourself Music Cafe in Powell, Ohio closed their doors for good on Sunday 09-11-11.  To many central Ohio musicians, this church-turned-concert venue was a sanctuary; a place they called home for open mics, the songwriters group, tribute nights, regional artist concerts and weekend music and art focused activities. 

Christopher Gatsby: Espresso Yourself Benefit Show

On the final day, music from Christopher Gatsby, Jim Volk and yours truly, saturated the sonically fine-tuned hall.  A medium-sized audience had gathered to hear the final strums of acoustic guitar and melodic human voice that reverberated through the opened floor-to-ceiling windows and spilled out the front door onto the street arts festival.   The sunshine and warm temperatures beat back a few moments of cloud cover and sprinkles.  The folks inside ate wonderful food, drank exquisite beverages and soaked in the music while basking in the rainbow colors of light dancing through the stained glass.

Jim Volk: Espresso Yourself Benefit Show (Photo by Dannette Hizer)

There were countless similar musical events for several weeks prior to the closing date, numerous veteran EYMC performers just had to play the Cafe one more time.  Everyone had a story to tell of how important the environment created by Eric and his family was to their lives.  Players discovering or re-discovering their love for performing, listeners discovering a haven for real, diverse and passionate music, writers honing their craft in front of a family-like group of patrons.

All circumstances considered, the closing of EYMC is tragic, yet the ideology, which gained foundation amongst the owners, artists, musicians and patrons of Espresso Yourself, will carry on.  While other pressing matters are taken care of and until a new home is found for the Ahlteen Family to present talent, the hundreds of minstrels who found their song-heart at the cafe will infiltrate the countryside and city streets.  Without prejudice; they will ignite the coffeehouses, art galleries, street fairs, taverns, halls, backyards, basements, living rooms, festivals and campgrounds with that which heals invisibly – music.

Rejyna: Espresso Yourself Benefit Show

We all finished our sets, loaded our gear into our cars and parted ways until the next chance we might have to play together.  I still had half of my large coffee with a double-shot of espresso to finish.  I wanted to hang around a bit, maybe carry out a piece of wood or furniture, symbolically taking part in the dismantling.  Mostly I just watched the others wrap things, deconstruct things, load the trailers.  I cried a couple more tears, finished the last coffee I would ever have from here and ironically as I drove away, the sun lost to the grey clouds and the rain pounded the little town of Powell as I drove away.  

I urge you to keep your eye on the http://www.espressoyourselfmusiccafe.com website to stay current on developments with Eric, Ben and Chelsea Ahlteen.  I’d also advise you to visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/espressoyourselfmusiccafe and support their upcoming endeavors.

You can also check out Christopher Gatsby at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Gatsby/142676035797914

You can check out Jim Volk at http://www.jimvolk.com/And I’ve posted a few videos from my set into this post, more will be on my YouTube channel as they are archived (http://youtube.com/user/rejyna) and you can also find me here: http://facebook.com/rejynamusic

DREAMWORLD: Live at Espresso Yourself Music Cafe

All music is copyright their respective owners and all rights are reserved. 
Rejyna’s music is c. Citadel of Cynosure Productions (BMI) -
http://rejyna.com
http://citadelband.com
http://cdbaby.com/artist/rejyna
http://cdbaby.com/artist/citadel