You never know what to expect at The Wooden Nickel Open Mic each month, and the surprise of that is half the fun. On November 2nd, however, “surprise” hit a high point.
We had our first marriage proposal. If you’ve been to the Nickel on a first Thursday, you probably recognize Dipendra and Breanna, the adorable couple below:
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When Dipendra Baghchee isn’t playing with the local metal trio Asyst, he shows off his acoustic side at the Nickel. Last week he emailed me and asked if he could surprise his girlfriend Breanna Eddy by proposing to her during the open mic. I wrote back and said ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
Breanna sang for the first time at the Nickel less than two years ago ago. Like anyone’s first turn at the mic, she was quiet and hestitant. Diprenda accompanied her on guitar. One or two open mics later, she was playing guitar herself and belting out songs with a voice that just blows away anyone in the room. Or as As Maddog (if you’ve been to the Nickel, you know Maddog) says, “Will someone from Nashville please come here and listen to this girl???!!!”
So it’s Thursday. It’s near the end of the evening. Diprendra sang. Then Breanna sang. Then they did this gorgeous duet of Lynyrd Skynrd’s Simple Man. (Click on that link to hear more.) It couldn’t have been a more perfect setup to the marriage proposal.
Breanna still didn’t know what was next. By this point, however, word had leaked, and most of the place was clued in:
(Click image for larger pic.)
Dipendra said he wanted to do another song, because it was his birthday. (Oh yeah, did I mention it was his birthday?). He sang Will You Stay (you can click on that one, too), an original he wrote to propose with:
(Click image for larger pic.)
As Dipendra finished the song, and I dimmed the lights, *and* Maddog had the candles lit, Breanna had pretty much figured out what was coming next. When Dipendra got down on one knee, well, it was a done deal.
Here’s how the crowd reacted. (She said “yes”, by the way.)
Epilogue: Breanna got a ring. Dipendra got a girl for his birthday. And I was again reminded of the best thing about running The Wooden Nickel Open Mic: It isn’t the music you play. It isn’t the music you get to host and introduce people to. It’s the friends that you make.
I don’t know how we’re going to top this in December. A darned good version of “Jingle Bells” probably won’t cut it. But you’re more than welcome to come down and find out.
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