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Shifty’s Bar – once known as Squiggy’s – is about as simple as you can get: four walls, booze up front and bathrooms tucked away in the back; the bar and the bathrooms are all of about 30 feet apart from each other. It’s, ahem, “cozy”. There is a pool table illuminated to the right (bathed in rare light) as you walk in. Then there’s the mainstage, where the karaoke takes place, tucked away in the deliciously dark back center. The perfect place to do the things karaoke asks us all to do.TJ Hampton, the host and sensei of Karate Karaoke, runs the room with tight efficiency, bringing up act after act with no lag. And the room feels well trained. There’s no air of “who me?” or “oh my gosh, is it my turn here?” when TJ makes his call. By and large, that’s because this group sees itself as a family.
Jody Antonson, who was celebrating an undefined birthday on the night I visited, said many in her extended karaoke clan have been singing together for five years.
“I met some of them at other bars,” Antonson said. “Some of them are ‘real’ family. I met my boyfriend here. It’s a great support system.”
Antonson says she’s a trained singer and, for that reason, sometimes has stage fright.
“I’m overly critical of myself,” she says. “Other people will tell me they really liked something and I’ll be like…”. She trails off with a look of despair.
Another singer, Jens Mortensen, uses this karaoke experience as a social inlet.
“I’m from Anaheim”, he explains. “It doesn’t matter if you can sing good or not – as long as you’re having fun. Hey, I’m drinking here. I’m not here to impress anyone.”
Impressed or not, the crowd appeared to be having a good time listening to renditions of everything from a tight version REM’s “End of the World” by “Dave” to a rather muffled effort of Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” by two confused-looking men going by “John” and “Sylvio”.
LOCATION: 3805 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89102
DATES & HOURS: Wednesdays & Fridays from 9PM until you’re done
Comments
There is a great sounding band called Horizon Ridge Band that plays there on certain Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and I had the chance to stop by and they were fantastic! The sound of their special music starting from Hawaiiand, top 40's to all variety of songs made everyone have a fun time! Stop By!!!
Just to let you know that this information is so very outdated. T.J. Hasn't done a show there in I can't tell you how long at least a year. He sold out to go somewhere else although he still puts claim on Friday night due to the fact that he has someone else running the show there. If you really want to have fun and do some singing on a great sound system then go to Shifty's on Wednesday and Saturday with top d.J. Jon...... You don't have to worry about fitting in a "click" You will feel right at home and very comfortable with him. Now that's a good time.
TJ just did a ceremony there a few months ago. And "top" d.j. Jon lost Wed night for not being able to get more than 5 people to come out and got fired from Sat night for getting super drunk and stealing from Shifty's. Soooo unprofessional! Don't believe me? Call the owner of Shifty's George Crow and ask him yourself.
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