Anna Banana’s host “Open Mic Night” on Mondays

By Jordan Savusa

Hey, are you a musician?  A comedian?  Do you like to entertain people who drink and smoke in the dark? Great!

Anna Banana ’s on Beretania Street host “Open Mic Night” every Monday at 9 p.m.  Entertainers and artists from around UH Manoa perform on stage.
The open mic night is very relaxing at Banana’s.  Have a drink, it you’re 21+.  Smoke is you want, and watch Hawaii’s up-and-coming talents sing, dance, whatever.  While performances go on, you can shoot some pool with your friends or just relax.  The acts are mostly musicians, but it is open mic night, so anything goes at Anna Banana’s.

The upstairs bar at Banana’s is where open mic night is held.  Before the event starts, performers must write their names on a chalkboard next to the stage.  The room has a DJ playing songs from the Beatles to Green Day.  Then the home band started the night with a few of their own songs.  The first performer roared a self-written song and played the acoustic guitar. 

Some words were muffled through the microphone, but his pain and love a woman came strong.  Then he performed “Last Kiss” with the bar’s band.  He sang a tale of a car crash taking true love away so emotionally that the audience clapped louder and louder for his performance.

Another performer started with Sublime’s Love is what I got.”  The man surprised the crowd when he performed a Hawaiian chant.  Finally he had a more up-beat attitude when he performed the Rolling Stone’s “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” with an up-side down electric guitar.

Many other acts performed that night.  They just go up when their names are called off the chalkboard.

Some audience members came to support their friends going onstage.  UHM student Rebecca Ramos went to Anna Banana’s to watch her friend play the guitar and sing.  She thought the first performer was good. 

“All the performers were pretty talented,’ she said.  “Then a band formed out of the performers at open mic night; they were very good.  It’s kind of smoky and dark, but laid back, not a big fancy thing.”

            Anna Banana’s
            2440 South Beretainia St.
            Honolulu, Hi 96826
            Open from 3 p.m. – 2 a.m. daily.
            Open Mic Night: Mondays from 9:30 p.m. on
            946- 5190
            www.paradisepassport.com/Anna Bannanas.htm