Bloomington's got talent

Various local talents gathered at Café Django on Monday to perform comedy, magic and the kind of music the café has become known for.

The event, called The Short List, kicked off at 7 p.m. for an audience seeking warmth and shelter from the cold rain outside.

The event’s key twist was that it featured “10 acts for 10 minutes,” which helped to create a variety of entertainment.

Acts included singer-songwriters Mike Stogdill and Adam Garner, magician Shawn Stickels and comedian Corey Carr.

IU senior Tom Miller, who works at Café Django as a waiter, was the host for the event.
“We have a lot of musicians playing, but we want to continue to show that The Short List is for everybody,” Miller said.

He said the point was proven when a magician and comedian were invited to perform.
The first musicians to perform were the U-Station Agents, a guitar trio that played a three-song set. The group set the tone with songs about love, togetherness and friendship.

“Tonight’s event is created with the idea of showcasing some of the local talent this city has to offer,” U-Station Agents lead guitarist Marta Jasicki said. “Some of it you may like, some you may not, but we have a great city to be proud of.”

The next act, a solo guitarist, was Stogdill. He jokingly expressed disdain at his entry in the evening’s lineup.

“Lucky me,” Stogdill said. “I get to be the guy that goes after the trio.”

Stogdill said while he doesn’t write many songs about himself or his family, he did have one in particular, which he performed for the evening’s crowd.

The crowd changed from a musical setting to other forms of entertainment when comedian Carr took the stage. The IU alumnus focused on topics like how IU failed to prepare him for the homeless life and what actors and actresses he would like to have a child with.

The next free event at Café Django will be a performance by the Regal Rhythm Trio. The group, consisting of pianist Evan Main, bassist Stefan Lenthe and drummer Chris Parker will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday.