Last night was a little weird at the Highlander and elsewhere as it was the eve of the national Bastille Day holiday in France. That meant a different atmosphere, some of the regular places not doing the regular thing – ie, no vocal jam at the Cavern club down the street from the Highlander, and there seemed to be no open mic at the Mazet either, although there was a sound board.

Still, there were some interesting acts at the Highlander open mic, and I got to play without any long wait despite arriving around 9 PM, which is normally too late.

I enjoyed the Hungarian musician, Marton Felszeghy, and I hope he can suggest a place for me to play in Budapest later in the month, as he said he might be able to do.

Thomas Brun was in his usual good form, and I loved the “Psycho Killer” by Chris O’Connell, an American lawyer who was in Paris for work, but who decided to play the open mics since he used to live here and knows the terrain well.