Bowling, pool, darts, fooz ball, how can you go WRONG with THAT combo? Monday nights are also dollar brew and dollar dog nights! Sounds like KARAOKE HEAVEN to me! No way could such a place exist, I thought. I was wrong. For DECADES, I thought this little place had CLOSED! I heard a rumor as a kid that the place was shut down forever. From El Camino, it always seemed it was true. That was the BACK door I had been staring at all this time! I had NO idea that the other side had a bar, an old adjoining diner, and my GOD old stuff EVERYWHERE. The place should be a bloody landmark! I'm sorry, but any place that stays original for more than MY lifetime is worth blogging about!
My only regret is that I couldn't see it back in the glory days when my classmates competed for bowling championships or just bragging rights. When I was a kid every bowling alley was closing, so it wasn't hard to believe that Brentwood Bowl would follow suit. The guy handing you your rental shoes has been working there since he was 11 years old! He used to take score manually on the old school score sheets, and they STILL have the old manually operated pin changing machines BEHIND the new ones in the back! Blacklight bowl nights are lots of fun, but let's talk about karaoke!
Gus and Patti have been running the show here for YEARS now. How could I have known every Monday since I was younger I could've just stumbled home drunk a few blocks and been home! I feel cheated! I loathe the liar who spread that lousy rumor. All the Monday nights I've missed and am trying to recapture, I'll never have again! *sniff*
Gus is making a great recovery from Cancer. His vocal chords I make him stretch for me sometimes. He has a WONDERFUL singing voice. I miss him from Max's Opera House back in September. He was diagnosed with cancer not too long after that. Patti has been running his shows for him since. He still attends as a passive listener and reluctant participant at my behest at times. I can't wait to visit them both at Behans in Burlingame soon, but back to the bowling alley. I digress, as usual...
This sweet gem of a find seriously a video game arcade short of a serious teen hang out, it's right across the street from SEE's CANDIES omg those almond caramel things are so good! It's like a kitty corner away form EVERYTHING you could EVER need: Goodwill, Smart & Final, Safeway, Lucky's, CVS, Bally Fitness. Honestly, I could camp out here and be happy. The thing about Gus and Patti is that the equipment USED to belong to them, but now the alley owns it, and they have their own list of songs that Patti and Gus DON'T use at any of their other shows. Don't be confused if you've been to their other events and don't recognize the books.
What I adore about this venue is the older crowd. It's a chill mellow crowd of middle aged to elder types with teenagers all over and 20 somethings playing various games. You have a passive listening audience which is great if you have stage fright. They're busy doing OTHER things, so they're not really STARING at YOU. Good starter night for the microphone shy. It's never too busy, so you can get many songs in before they stop at 11pm unfortunately. That's when the bowling alley part is closed, and the bar is left open.
If they had karaoke at the BAR side of the alley, they'd probably do A LOT more business which is smart, but the management hasn't clued into that yet. I mean the equipment takes up a lot of space which they DON'T have in the bar which I understand makes things hard to maneuver, but that Dart board and set up could be moved OUTSIDE the bar, and karaoke could be set up by the back door facing El Camino. TA DA! I think it would bring them more money for the Bowl AND Gus & Patti. That's just one person's humble opinion. Definitely check them out from 7 - 11pm Monday nights.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Unacceptable! Time for new updates and articles :)
Alright boys and girls! I'm back! Quit my job, told the boss off, and made MUSIC and KARAOKE my priority in life, and I may be broke, but hey, I'M HAPPY AS HELL! It is my belief that if you do what you like, enjoy, what you TRULY love, money will follow. I realized my dream when I was asked by Glenny Kravitz Karaoke Shark to cover for him @ 7 Mile House on March 14th. I felt like I was cheating getting paid to do what I LOVE MOST!
Shoot, I'd do it for free as I have done for YEARS, but now I can make it my night job! If I can get 6 bars a week, I'd be comfortable and able to pay my bills and live ok until I go back to school in September to pursue my career aspirations. Someday in my near to late 40's, I'll realize the dream of my own bar with karaoke in it as well. That's right, big dreamin', baby! If you don't have a goal or aspiration, life isn't worth living! I'm slowly but surely accomplishing all these things steadily. It's going slower than I'd like, but hey, I'll win this race yet!
I am now hosting karaoke at Pandora Karaoke Bar every Tuesday from 8pm - 1:30am and Saturday from 6 - 9pm with the exception of this Saturday 4/21/12 because I'm covering for Barry of Barryoke from 9pm - 1:30am too, so that's 7 1/2 hours of Stella Happy Hour Karaoke AND regular karaoke this Saturday. Yeah! Pretty soon, I'll be at Stray Bar Fridays as soon as we iron out a few details upon the owner's return to California, and hopefully Wild Side West too. I hope to be covering for KJ Paul someday if he needs me to at Lucky Horseshoe.
I'm just waiting for my sugar daddy Uncle Sam to give me the ok to file my taxes, so I can buy my mixer, cables, mics, and MAYBE speakers. I can rent them if I REALLY need them, or borrow them from a friend if I choose and pay him to set them up and take them down. That's only if the bar/club's speakers aren't entertainment quality because most places are only for television sporting event type audio NOT singing which is an entirely different quality of sound. The thing I need most is that $219 mixer!
Tonight, Thursday 4/19/12, I'm bicycle karaoke touring again like I did on my 2010 birthday in December, but instead of 7 Mile @ 8pm to Parlor @ 9:30p to Maggie McGarry's @ 11p ending at Cat Club @ 12:30am, I got a new line up with different hosts because tonight is the official changing of the guard. I'll start riding to Rocketfish with Roger Niner in Potrero 18th & Connecticut Streets and be there at 8pm. Next I'll head over to DJ Purple @ the Showdown on 6th & Stevenson Streets commencing @ 9:30pm. Ending finally with KJ Paul covering Jack's Club on the OTHER side of the Potrero Hill on 24th & Utah Streets around 11pm. Mind you I'm on island leisure time, so it'll take me 15 - 10 minutes to get to each bar, so each time frame is a guesstimation.
It's a first appearance for all my KJ friends at all these locations, so I MUST be there just BECAUSE I CAN! What other reason do I need? Plus I need the exercise. Christine has new brake shoes and lube job, so let's go climb some hills, baby! :) Hope to see you all there along the way tonight!
Shoot, I'd do it for free as I have done for YEARS, but now I can make it my night job! If I can get 6 bars a week, I'd be comfortable and able to pay my bills and live ok until I go back to school in September to pursue my career aspirations. Someday in my near to late 40's, I'll realize the dream of my own bar with karaoke in it as well. That's right, big dreamin', baby! If you don't have a goal or aspiration, life isn't worth living! I'm slowly but surely accomplishing all these things steadily. It's going slower than I'd like, but hey, I'll win this race yet!
I am now hosting karaoke at Pandora Karaoke Bar every Tuesday from 8pm - 1:30am and Saturday from 6 - 9pm with the exception of this Saturday 4/21/12 because I'm covering for Barry of Barryoke from 9pm - 1:30am too, so that's 7 1/2 hours of Stella Happy Hour Karaoke AND regular karaoke this Saturday. Yeah! Pretty soon, I'll be at Stray Bar Fridays as soon as we iron out a few details upon the owner's return to California, and hopefully Wild Side West too. I hope to be covering for KJ Paul someday if he needs me to at Lucky Horseshoe.
I'm just waiting for my sugar daddy Uncle Sam to give me the ok to file my taxes, so I can buy my mixer, cables, mics, and MAYBE speakers. I can rent them if I REALLY need them, or borrow them from a friend if I choose and pay him to set them up and take them down. That's only if the bar/club's speakers aren't entertainment quality because most places are only for television sporting event type audio NOT singing which is an entirely different quality of sound. The thing I need most is that $219 mixer!
Tonight, Thursday 4/19/12, I'm bicycle karaoke touring again like I did on my 2010 birthday in December, but instead of 7 Mile @ 8pm to Parlor @ 9:30p to Maggie McGarry's @ 11p ending at Cat Club @ 12:30am, I got a new line up with different hosts because tonight is the official changing of the guard. I'll start riding to Rocketfish with Roger Niner in Potrero 18th & Connecticut Streets and be there at 8pm. Next I'll head over to DJ Purple @ the Showdown on 6th & Stevenson Streets commencing @ 9:30pm. Ending finally with KJ Paul covering Jack's Club on the OTHER side of the Potrero Hill on 24th & Utah Streets around 11pm. Mind you I'm on island leisure time, so it'll take me 15 - 10 minutes to get to each bar, so each time frame is a guesstimation.
It's a first appearance for all my KJ friends at all these locations, so I MUST be there just BECAUSE I CAN! What other reason do I need? Plus I need the exercise. Christine has new brake shoes and lube job, so let's go climb some hills, baby! :) Hope to see you all there along the way tonight!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Max's Opera House: Burlingame, CA
It's funny how revisiting this area has brought me into acquaintance again with so many people that I haven't seen in YEARS. The memories just wash over me like a warm tide, comforting, and familiar. I remember that the last time I ate here, it was my Senior Prom! It has changed a lot. It's definitely more modern than it was then. The pavement hasn't improved any. The cops are still just as bored lurking in the curve to the SFO Airport waiting on the sly for haphazard wahooers and/or speeders who've had too much to drink.
This place has had karaoke for many years, and I never even knew about it. I'd never think that any of these hotel bars and/or restaurants along this short bay waterfront strip would host karaoke. My cousins used to go to the Caribbean Gardens to dance here! It's good to see some of the restaurants and hotels haven't changed names around here. It is comforting when some things DON'T change. I'm seeing now that I'm older that that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes progress moves too fast. Other times it's too slow in coming, but I digress as usual...
Gus and Patti of Center Stage Live! are your hosts for karaoke here every Saturday and just down the road on Broadway at Behan's every Sunday night. If you happen to be at Max's to collect your free birthday dessert, definitely try to plan it around a Sunday! You'll see them there with their crooners serenading a very eager to serve you wait staff. I happened to run into my high school friend Sylvia here hosting a going away party for her friend when I stopped in here the Sunday before last. It's a small world!
We sang, we made merry, we watched the drunkards dance, and we laughed 'til our hearts' content. They have a very large wide open dance floor area where they set up next to an actual piano. I wonder if it actually works, and if they'd allow me to play it someday. I bet I could cajole them into letting me. I am very persuasive and charming when I want to be. If I attend enough, I'm sure they will. Let me play AND sing. I'm no one trick pony.
Take it back old school. That is exactly what Gus and Patti do! Their list may not be the newest, but this duo is SOULFUL. If you want to sing oldies, or soul, come out and sing with these two crazy cats because if you want to duet with them, they're just the harmony to your melody. You can also find them at Brentwood Bowl every Monday night if you're ADHD enough to bowl 10 frames, drink dollar brew, eat dollar hotdogs, and sing, you might wanna check them out there! I know I will. I can't wait!
This place has had karaoke for many years, and I never even knew about it. I'd never think that any of these hotel bars and/or restaurants along this short bay waterfront strip would host karaoke. My cousins used to go to the Caribbean Gardens to dance here! It's good to see some of the restaurants and hotels haven't changed names around here. It is comforting when some things DON'T change. I'm seeing now that I'm older that that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes progress moves too fast. Other times it's too slow in coming, but I digress as usual...
Gus and Patti of Center Stage Live! are your hosts for karaoke here every Saturday and just down the road on Broadway at Behan's every Sunday night. If you happen to be at Max's to collect your free birthday dessert, definitely try to plan it around a Sunday! You'll see them there with their crooners serenading a very eager to serve you wait staff. I happened to run into my high school friend Sylvia here hosting a going away party for her friend when I stopped in here the Sunday before last. It's a small world!
We sang, we made merry, we watched the drunkards dance, and we laughed 'til our hearts' content. They have a very large wide open dance floor area where they set up next to an actual piano. I wonder if it actually works, and if they'd allow me to play it someday. I bet I could cajole them into letting me. I am very persuasive and charming when I want to be. If I attend enough, I'm sure they will. Let me play AND sing. I'm no one trick pony.
Take it back old school. That is exactly what Gus and Patti do! Their list may not be the newest, but this duo is SOULFUL. If you want to sing oldies, or soul, come out and sing with these two crazy cats because if you want to duet with them, they're just the harmony to your melody. You can also find them at Brentwood Bowl every Monday night if you're ADHD enough to bowl 10 frames, drink dollar brew, eat dollar hotdogs, and sing, you might wanna check them out there! I know I will. I can't wait!
Karaoke Cab
No Judges In The 'Karaoke Cab,' Just Good Times
Some cab drivers might stay silent with customers in their cars. Others can talk your ear off. Joel Laguidao just wants to sing with you.
Laguidao has become known as the "karaoke cab driver." While driving for Red Top Cab Co. on weekend nights around Arlington, Va., he sings favorites like Journey's "Faithfully" and Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses."
It started about three years ago. Laguidao grew tired of the FM radio offerings and bought a karaoke machine. He has two small monitors for reading lyrics, a large silver microphone and a thick song catalog.
The karaoke setup also helps him get passengers on weekend nights. Sometimes, he'll roll down the window and start singing to potential customers.
"They're shocked," Laguidao says. "They say, 'Really? Run the meter, let's go sing.'"
Others might book him for a later trip. "They get my number, and then, after like 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock in the morning, they shout in my car singing," Laguidao says. They "need more liquid in the belly first," he laughs.
Near the Courthouse Metro station in Washington, D.C., Laguidao rolls down his window and calls out to a guy leaving a bar. Before Laguidao can even explain his unique cab, the man's face lights up.
"Are you guys the karaoke cab?" Tim Jacobs shouts. He and a friend, Brian McKeever, climb in.
After some back and forth about song choice — should it be "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" or "Don't Stop Believing"? — the pair settles on "Summer of '69."
The two clap while singing passionately — and off-key. Laguidao joins in. "Those were the best days of my life!" booms the car's speaker system.
After the song ends, Jacobs and McKeever arrive at their destination and wish Laguadao the best.
"That's a good customer," Laguidao smiles widely.
Friday, August 26, 2011
7 Mile House
I have a lot of love for this place in seemingly the middle of nowhere. I remember passing this place a MILLION times sneaking out at night taking the backroads snaking past the cops avoiding them since I was underage and past curfew with nothing but a permit to drive not even a license. I never went in because it looked kinda rough. It used to be a biker bar as far back as I can recall. Now the new owner has made this the most happenin' spot south of the projects on the borders of Daly City, Brisbane, and San Francisco.
This place is host to a myriad of different events. You name it. They've done it! From food eating competitions and comedy to open mic nights and of course karaoke. I think the only thing they HAVEN'T done is Jello Wrestling, and I think I'm going to propose it some time to the event coordinator. He's a cool attentive cat with dreads named Dennis. The owner is the beautiful young Filipina gal whom I initially thought was just one of the many beautiful bartenders here I'm used to the female owners of spots bein' older and a little more road weary. I was definitely surprised upon our introduction. Their kitchen serves awesome food from lumpia and chicken adobo to HUGE tiger prawns and the usual American fare.
It's a very mixed crowd. It's the most diverse crowd of karaokers I've ever seen anywhere. You can come down to the Historic 7 Mile House any Wednesday night of the week and see Glenny Kravitz doin' his thang. His lively bunch of regulars always keep the place poppin' 'til closing time. Sweep the floors with his broom air guitar on your way on and off the stage. If you feel like doin the creep around San Bruno mountain home to the Peninsula past Geneva and Bayshore Boulevard, stop in for a bit sports on every tv screen, the great food, their awesome staff, and of course Glenny's show from 8 o'clock 'til they kick us the HELL out!
This place is host to a myriad of different events. You name it. They've done it! From food eating competitions and comedy to open mic nights and of course karaoke. I think the only thing they HAVEN'T done is Jello Wrestling, and I think I'm going to propose it some time to the event coordinator. He's a cool attentive cat with dreads named Dennis. The owner is the beautiful young Filipina gal whom I initially thought was just one of the many beautiful bartenders here I'm used to the female owners of spots bein' older and a little more road weary. I was definitely surprised upon our introduction. Their kitchen serves awesome food from lumpia and chicken adobo to HUGE tiger prawns and the usual American fare.
It's a very mixed crowd. It's the most diverse crowd of karaokers I've ever seen anywhere. You can come down to the Historic 7 Mile House any Wednesday night of the week and see Glenny Kravitz doin' his thang. His lively bunch of regulars always keep the place poppin' 'til closing time. Sweep the floors with his broom air guitar on your way on and off the stage. If you feel like doin the creep around San Bruno mountain home to the Peninsula past Geneva and Bayshore Boulevard, stop in for a bit sports on every tv screen, the great food, their awesome staff, and of course Glenny's show from 8 o'clock 'til they kick us the HELL out!
The Sapphire: Taste of Burma CLOSED
Gary Palmer is at it again with his second new karaoke venue in less than a week. This time he's in San Francisco not San Bruno at a little spot on Sacramento between Battery and Sansome Streets. For a laptop KJ, this man packs a LOT of gear! To avoid another sound mishap like that which occurred at Hooters two nights prior, he packed his own very powerful speakers. I felt bad for the patrons sitting a table away in front of it, but they didn't seem to mind. They actually seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. They just had a common problem most do with the songlist, song overload and indecision.
This is more than just your average sports bar and restaurant in the heart of the Financial District of San Francisco. It actually has the trappings of a club. It's got a lot of open space perfect for dancing if one were so inclined and moved to do so by a crooner. It's got a great regular crowd with a very laid back chill vibe. I attribute this to their blue walls. I'm biased. You know me. I LOVE blue. You know I will DEFINITELY be back. It will be a regular Tuesday venue for Gary hopefully. *crossing fingers, arms, legs, toes, and eyes*
It's not a pub like that of your all wood Harrington's Bar and Royal Exchange down the street. Oh no, tucked away swallowed up between these tall commerce buildings is a modern hip little venue with great lasers and lights. Their sound system is great too! They've got two large house flat screen tv's dedicated to karaoke unless the Giants happen to be playing. Then it's only one monitor and the KJ's own. My only complaint as usual about some places is that they close too early. They're only open until 10 o'clock. That makes sense on a Tuesday night in that area of the City. Once all the worker bees have gone home, it's not very lucrative to keep a place open very late.
Aside from its sophisticated décor and karaoke, they have portions of healthy food offerings at reasonable prices and great happy hour drink specials. It makes you feel pacific and calm. It's hard enough to find a place to open early enough to serve breakfast in hard economic times like these where people are hesitant to spend. I had never sampled Burmese food before, and let me tell you. What I sampled, I liked very much. Enough about the food though. We're here to talk karaoke. You can read about my opinion of the food on yelp if you like.
Mutiny on the Radio: Karaoke Klubhouse
It's been several years since I've been in a studio. It was very nice to be on the air again.
http://podcasts.pcrcollective.org/KaraokeClubhouse/KaraokeClubhouse-20110824.mp3
Anytime you feel like being on the radio singin' your favorite obscure song, come by to 21st and Florida and sing EVERY Wednesday from 6 - 8 pm with Pamtastic & intern Jessica. Have some coffee or hot chocolate and baked goods in their adjoining cafe. Bring your own booze!
http://podcasts.pcrcollective.org/KaraokeClubhouse/KaraokeClubhouse-20110824.mp3
Anytime you feel like being on the radio singin' your favorite obscure song, come by to 21st and Florida and sing EVERY Wednesday from 6 - 8 pm with Pamtastic & intern Jessica. Have some coffee or hot chocolate and baked goods in their adjoining cafe. Bring your own booze!
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