It seems that music always has a way of bringing people together. Whether it be friends forming a band, a child inspired after hearing someone play, or simply people enjoying it side by side, there’s magic in hearing some tunes.
For local musician Bryan McCloud, music goes even deeper than that. Performing, playing, and creating have been the heartbeat of his journey here at the shore.
After years of taking the stage himself across local venues, McCloud is now creating space for others to shine. All summer long and into September, he hosts open mic nights at Stone Harbor Pizza Pub. Anyone can come, sign up, and perform. It’s an open invitation for dreamers, singers, and storytellers to step up to the mic and let their voices be heard and the magic be felt.
“These open mics are all about trying new songs, getting some repetition under your belt and getting a little better each time,” McCloud said. “Hosting this kind of just fell into my lap. I was calling businesses hoping to book a gig, when Stone Harbor Pizza Pub offered up the hosting/playing option and I took a chance and said yes.”
The point of any open mic night is to allow others to take a chance on themselves, and McCloud has given countless aspiring artists the encouragement and space to do just that. In addition to newcomers who bravely step up to sing, familiar local music names like Tom Jamison and Dylan Perry have stopped in to jam with McCloud, making each night a mix of surprises and support.
The community has embraced these nights with open arms, creating a special kind of atmosphere that even McCloud admits feels unique.
“There honestly may be even more energy at an open mic due to the support of everybody in the room,” he said. “I love watching people from all over the world perform. We had performers from Ireland, Florida, NY, Pittsburgh and even Kazakhstan once. The best thing about performing or hosting the open mic is no matter age, race or background, there is this common bond in the room and that’s music.”
McCloud’s own journey began at an open mic night in South Jersey years ago, a moment that sparked everything to follow. Since then, he’s played all around Cape May and Atlantic Counties. Now, by hosting his own, he’s inspiring the “next him” to take that first leap, bringing his story full circle.
Over the years, McCloud’s influences have shifted, but a few favorites have remained steady: Blink-182, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Social Distortion, The Ramones, and Dave Hause.
Fans who catch one of his sets, whether at an open mic or his own show, can expect a blend of classics and modern hits, across genres, with plenty of crowd sing-alongs as everyone feels the good vibes, good music and has a good time.
For McCloud, the heart of it all comes down to connection and the music.
“I hope people leave the open mics feeling better about themselves,” he said. “Was it a dare to get up and sing, was it a bucket list thing? Whatever it was, as long as you had fun I’ll be stoked.”
Sometimes the nights even surprise him. “The most surprising thing at an open mic was when a bartender waited until closing time to ask if he could do a song. The entire staff stopped in amazement at his voice, not knowing he could sing,” McCloud shared.
In addition to hosting, McCloud still performs regularly. Over Labor Day Weekend, you can catch him at Bocca and Sunrise Tequila Bar.
So, whether you want to sit back with a drink and hear McCloud strum and sing, or take a deep breath and step up to the mic yourself, his shows and open mics promise the same thing: connection, energy and a night to remember. His open mic nights at Stone Harbor Pizza Pub continue through September, and now may just be your time to shine.
“My advice to anybody is to just start. I’m a big believer in getting the reps in. I’m living proof that if you work at something you can become whatever you want,” McCloud said.
McCloud keeps the music going at Stone Harbor Pizza Pub with Open Mic Nights from 7 to 10 p.m. Follow along on their Instagram to see which night they’re happening each week.
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. After earning a BA in Communications, Delaney built a successful career in the newspaper industry, honing skills in, news writing, media, and content creation. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DC’s Social Media & Content Creation, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
