The Arizona Restaurant was packed, and all eyes were on the stage near the kitchen, where Dusty Gray was belting out "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," a song made famous by Otis Redding. His strong voice trilled through the melody, weaving the pitch up and down. It was difficult to believe the rich tones were coming out of Gray's 22-year-old mouth.

The open mic night at the Arizona, one of several such events in the area, plays before an audience of musicians, who yell out requests, toast each other's performances and get a little rowdy between sets. Musicians play musical chairs with their instruments, swapping places or staying on stage while a new singer comes up. The small restaurant, which is connected to The Green Martini by a back hallway and common ownership, has the cozy feel of a pub full of regulars.

"It's a nice, intimate experience," said Rob Farquhar, 41, of Hooksett, who played bass guitar behind Gray's vocals. "I usually play with people I've never met. It is a great networking experience."

Gray has his own band, called Dusty Gray and the Know. But he said he got his start at the bar's open mic nights, starting about two years ago. He sang "Friend of the Devil" and "Tangled up in Blue." The crowd sang along to both.

"This place is my home," said Gray. "I come here and it is very comfortable."

The show is organized each week by Steve Naylor, a low-key man in a mullet, a Guinness hat and a low buttoned shirt. He runs the sound board and switches up the bands. He's been on the music scene in Concord for 30 years, since the days when there was an acoustic open mic night on the roof above Diversi's Market, near the vegetarian restaurant, The Open Kitchen.

Each week, he keeps track of how many people come to the show. They average about 15, he said, and newcomers are common. The week before, eight people performed for the first time.

Many of the performances are impromptu, even if they sound well prepared.

"Sometimes it feels awkward," said Gray. "Tonight, we really did not know our songs. We really kind of threw it together."

The audience didn't seem to notice. After each song, as well as at the end of the set, their applause was loud and sustained.

The two guitar players, Farquhar and Andy Boeckler, play in two regular bands together, August West and Crazy Chester. Both bands play a lot of The Band, Grateful Dead and other classic rock covers, Boeckler said.

"We all have day jobs, but we play around," said Farquhar. Chen Yang Li in Bow was a good venue, he said, but other musicians have since said that the restaurant is switching from live shows to a dance floor. "And a lot of people don't have a bass player, so I get to meet a lot of people."

Farquhar lives in Concord and works at Brochu Nursery. He and Boeckler went to Concord High School together, but only Boeckler, now a geologist at Nobis engineering,

played back then. Farquhar picked up a bass guitar in college, Boeckler said.

The open mic night at the Arizona has been a convenient venue for Farquhar and Boeckler to play. They usually practice Thursdays, said Boeckler, and make it a tradition to take a detour past the bar on the way home.

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