Hell on Earth

According to Nickelback, we all just want to be big rock stars, which may in fact be the only valid point Nickelback has ever made. Throwing this aside, it has to be said that most of us have a little rockstar inside.

Perhaps the only concert halls we’ve ever played are in our shower or the car, and maybe our only audience member has been a faithful pet. However, the fact remains that there’s a part of us that wants to get on a stage and bring down the house. Well fellow rockers, thanks to a style of karaoke that’s gaining popularity in Portland, that dream can finally become a reality. It’s most commonly known as live band karaoke, but in Portland, it’s Karaoke from Hell.

I’m sure you all know about regular karaoke. You get up, sometimes on a stage, and a little screen rolls through the lyrics of your chosen song whilst you try to sing over the music. Sometimes, it can be good. Other times, it can only be improved with the addition of libations. Recently, however, it seems that this style of karaoke has been relegated to office holiday parties, and family get-togethers. Live-band karaoke is different. You get up on stage, but instead of trying to sing over top of a lyric-less, non-copy-written version of a song, you have a live band backing you up as you belt out your favorite jams.

Karaoke from Hell is Portland’s original live band karaoke group. They’ve been playing Portland for over 18 years, and have an impressive 500-song list for any amateur rock star that’s brave enough to take the plunge. The band is comprised of five members: drums, bass, two guitarists and an emcee who can help keep the performers on track. Songs run the gamut when it comes to genres. They can play everything from classic rock, to modern, along with songs for the both the inner crooner and the inner screamer. They’re also willing to mix it up a bit, if you want to, say, perform a lounge version of a classic rock song.

Karaoke from Hell plays two weekly shows, as well as the occasional weekend event, and can also be booked for private events. You can go to their 10 p.m. show on Monday nights at Dante’s on SW 3rd, or their 9:30 p.m. show on Thursday nights at Tiger Bar on NW Broadway. Shows typically last around four hours, with a little break in the middle. If you want to get on stage at one of these events, all you have to do is look through one of their songbooks, fill out a piece of paper with your info and give it to the “Kabuki Attendant” at the front (he’s the guy with folders full of music and the tip jar). It doesn’t cost to sign up to sing, although tipping (good tipping) is strongly suggested. Not only will it improve your chances of getting on stage, but if you have a special request, like playing your own instrument, it’ll create a lot more enthusiasm for such requests. You can go solo, or rock a duet, although it should be noted that due to time constraints, not everyone who signs up per night can sing.

A similar institution, Karaoke Kings are a more recent addition to the Portland live-band karaoke scene, having only been around for about a year. However, that’s not to say they haven’t carved out their own style. They have the same basic band set-up as Karaoke from Hell, and have a pretty big song selection to choose from, though unlike Karaoke from Hell, they play almost exclusively modern/recent songs. They do a weekly show running from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursdays at the Gypsy Restaurant and Velvet Lounge. If you read our Night Out Guide, you know how we feel about this particular establishment, so you take your chances when going. ?