Karaoke night is still running strong on Tuesdays at the Down Under Tavern in Covington, in spite of rumors that the recent ownership transition might bring the sound down. According to the prior owner, the new regime plans to keep things status quo for the foreseeable future.
Located across from the Kenton County Courthouse at Court St. and Park Place, the Down Under has a very genuine and unique basement dive bar ambiance. Salvaged stained-glass saints gaze down on the natural stone and weathered wood that dominate the interior scenery. It remains a favorite off-work hang for employees of the surrounding Roebling Point businesses.
The music
Donna Holtzclaw and her right-hand gal ShayShay have been teaming up to provide the sounds at the Down Under for the last six years. Excellent singers in their own right, they run a show that is cozy and intimate rather than high tech and punchy. The LED disco ball they set out in front of the monitor is the full extent of their special effects inventory.
Donna serves the songs straight up with no repetitive bumper music in between singers. They tweak the mixer to keep the levels in sync for each artist and the overall sound quality their PA delivers to the audience is very good.
Her music collection is now completely contained on hard-disk. She holds a large and wide ranging collection of songs that is easily searched, eliminating the need for printed menu books.
The crowd
The mix of folks at the Down Under runs through cycles and on any given night you may find yourself bending an elbow with a lawyer, a tattoo artist or a drag queen. The atmosphere is loose and friendly and folks with attitude problems seem not to last very long. Singing talent among the regulars runs well above average and new folks are welcomed.
The staff
Regular bartender Anna is the other half of why Down Under is about the best place to be in Cincinnati on a Tuesday night. Steve, Brett and Ashley fill in quite nicely in her absence. Service is fast and friendly and prices are on the better side of average for a downtown tavern.
Related links
The Down Under Tavern on Facebook
Further reporting
Follow this link for a YouTube video report of our night out at the DU on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.
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