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Let's start the week out right with an often underappreciated medium for discovering the beginning ticks of the needle for our local music scene's seismographic chart: The open mic night. I know, I know, but hear me out. For every hackneyed version of "Wagon Wheel" or mumbled recitation of poetry which should have stayed locked in a diary like some banally evil Necronomicon curse or piece of songwriting which belongs on Soundcloud with a listen count provided by the artist only, there are many more surprisingly nimble players and performers. Here are three venues ready to take you on a kaleidoscopic tour of our hometown heroes where the only entrance fee is an open mind (and ears): Old Town Coffee and Chocolate has their songwriting soapbox at 6:30 p.m. with host Mike Anderson, Blondie's offers you an egalitarian emporium of expression at 7 p.m., and Central Station hosts an ad hoc episode of "McKinleyville's Got Talent" at 9 p.m. Come one, come all.