The Karaoke Kid Strikes Again

Guess What? I went with my Adventure Club to a “Pool, Darts, And Karaoke Night this week. I like doing this, because I seem to be quite comfortable in a “Sports Bar” Atmosphere. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that when I was in the US Marines I practically lived in those places. Of course, that was in my much younger days.

Anyway, the place was called T.J.’s, and it was located in a strip mall in Mesa, Az. This place was….. Let’s see, how can a put it….. A Redneck Dive Bar. OK, maybe it wasn’t really that bad, I guess I’ve just become use to a higher standard as I’ve matured (Hey, no “Old Fart” jokes, I hear you!). Actually, the “Bar Food” was of a much higher level then I expected when I walked in and first saw the place, and about 10-15 people showed up from the Club, which is quite a few, considering it was a Wednesday Night.

Now, I know how to shoot pool, and throw darts, but the main reason I went was, of course, the Karaoke. If you’ve been a long time reader of SOL, you’ll know that I’ve always had a secret aspiration to be a Singing Star. How did I end up in Engineering instead? Well, I’ve heard of quite a few “Starving” Professional Singers. Have you ever heard of a “Starving” Engineer? Me neither. Still, at least around here in Az, with the growing trend of Sports Bars having Karaoke Nights, I’ve been able to have the best of both worlds, without sacrificing anything. OK, I admit, in the beginning, before I found “My Songs” I was terrible, but things have been improving, since I realized I’m a Baritone, and Baritones, should NOT try to sing “Alto”. It just makes them sound stupid. Them….. Not me, of course.

So, I already have 2 songs that I do, that seem to get a good response, and I’ve been working on a third, by practicing “In The Shower”, so to speak. I actually have an “audience” that I can try my songs out in private. Who? Ummmm….. My Dog Julie. Don’t laugh, although she can’t talk, she has this way of cocking her head to the side, and using an expression that looks like “What The Heck Is That Noise”, when I’m off key, and she wags her tail, and “pants” when I hit the right notes. I’ve also discovered another Artist that is in my vocal range. Hootie And The Blowfish.

If you think about it, Hootie is mostly a Baritone, but I still can’t do several of the group’s songs. There is one though….. Ready? Let Her Cry. Hey, it’s not such an easy one to do, since several of the verses drag out, and require quite a bit of effort. You know: Let her Crrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyy, If the tears fall down like Raaaaain, Let her Siiiiiiiiiiiing, If it eases all her pain, Let her Gooooooooooooooo, let her walk right out on meeee, and if the sun comes up tomorrow, let her Rain, Oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. It’s those dragged out words that are the killers.

Anyway, since I hardly knew anybody in that particular sports bar, and I already had a few “Corona’s”, I felt relatively safe. The song went off better then I expected, and I even got “more than” polite applause, so I think I’m ready for it’s “debut” at the Regal Beagle, at the corner of Chandler Blvd/Kyrene Road, which has Karaoke Night on Saturday’s starting at 9pm. Drop on by some Saturday Night, I’ll probably be there, unless something else is going on. I might even buy you a drink.