It don't matter who you are, Buc O’Brian’s. Karaoke nights lets aspiring singers live out their musical fantasies in front of (usually) appreciative crowds. Photo by Phil Houseal
Details:
Karaoke is offered at several clubs in Fredericksburg, including Buc O’Brian’s (990-1283) and Red Baron’s (997-9936). Check our weekly listings for days of the week and times.
For DJ and karaoke services, contact Jake St. Pierre of Essential Elements, 830-377-4435, esselements@satx.rr.com.
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Karaoke
by Phil Houseal
Apr 19, 2006
It used to be something you did only in the shower. Now, people stand up in front of crowds and do it to wild applause.
It’s called karaoke, and I was exaggerating about the applause.
We are all great singers in the shower. But some among us feel moved to take up the microphone and share our inner Elvis with the world. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, here’s how it works.
The karaoke host sets up a sound system in a club. At each table is a thick binder filled with song titles and artist names. Guests pick out a song they would like to sing, scribble it on a piece of paper and submit it to the host. When their turn comes, they take the microphone, the selected music plays (without vocals), and the singer follows the lyrics as they scroll down a large TV screen.
Recently I stopped by Buc O’Brian’s, where manager Jason Janecka schedules karaoke every Tuesday night, and sometimes more often.
“Whenever we have karaoke it’s our busiest day,” Janecka said, who likes the variety of music karaoke provides and the range of people it attracts. “With a live band, you have one style of music. With karaoke, they can play all styles, and that attracts crowds of all ages.”
One regular is Wayne Wells, who, with his wife, Flo, stops by Buc’s every Tuesday.
“We just like singing along,” said Wells, who has an affinity for Bob Dylan tunes.
Fredericksburg resident Jerry Darrough got up for a convincing rendition of “Born to be Wild,” to the genuine delight of his friends.
“This is just fun,” he explained.
Jake St. Pierre of Kerrville has been providing his DJ and karaoke services - Essential Elements - to area clubs for more than five years. He knows first hand the power of karaoke.
“I was recovering from a divorce, and a friend of mine who did karaoke kept coaxing me to go out and start singing,” he recalled. “I finally got up there. I was rusty, but I got some applause. That really did a good job of helping rebuild my self-esteem.”
So, with partner Charles Elliot, he bought the business.
“When people do karaoke, it is 55% for fun and 45% for the applause,” he speculated. “People who live a normal, average, everyday day life can get up in the spotlight for three minutes and get some applause. It makes them feel good.”
St. Pierre likes to sing along with the participants as a form of moral support, even if they have a decent voice. Crowds are pretty understanding. Even when a singer is so awful that St. Pierre can’t cover it up with his vocals, he playfully informs the crowd, “If you didn’t like it, give them some applause because it’s over!”
“I just do my best to put a smile on everyone’s face,” he said, though he acknowledged karaoke might cause a few sneers as well.
“But don’t knock it until you try it,” he said. “Come on out. I’ll be glad to help you. We can make you sound good.”
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