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The Karaoke Posse is tearing up Portland
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We're going to take a break today from reviewing bars and offering tips and instead, we're going to have our FIRST profile. Today's profile will be on a staple in the Portland Karaoke scene, the Karaoke Posse. Below is a conversation I recently had with Andrew, one of the founders of the Posse.
Examiner: Andrew, first, tell us a little about yourself and how the karaoke posse came into being:
Karaoke Posse Andrew: I'm a refugee of Hollywood nightlife, Glitz-and-Glam Nightlife, Two-Drink-Minimum nightlife, Pain-In-The-[butt]-to-Find-Parking Nightlife. I thought nightlife was for people who loved beauty contests. Or drinking contests. Or drink-till-you're-beautiful contests. I was tired of going out, being bored, meeting people who would never call you back, and wasting money.
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Then I discovered Portland nightlife! This is the city where you can have more fun with no money than anywhere else in the world! Karaoke is the spot where you can express yourself. You can be as loud as you want, maybe even a little bit obnoxious, and it's cool. (Even if you're not pretty or have a lot of money.) That's because Portland is a place where people value self-expression and creativity. Sincerely. That's why I fell in love with karaoke, and that's why I fell in love with Portland.
Simultaneously, I fell in love with all of my [butt]-kicking Portland friends! The long cold winter of 2008 stood no chance against our collective optimism. Night after night after night we resisted the urge to stay in with a cup of hot cocoa and a movie. We would go out, travel through the cold, and descend upon a karaoke bar. (Sweet Portland! You can karaoke even on weeknights!) It wasn't long before we found that the antidote to our Seasonal Affective Disorder was the exuberant company of friends and strangers.
And soon, strangers became our friends! We started as only two people, but started collecting more and more people like some Karaoke Katamari . By only night five, we had eight people come out to witness — and take part in — this ... what was it? Kind of an experiment, kind of a performance-art piece. But really just the commitment to have fun. To have fun and share it with other people.
Eventually someone had to give it a name. And there was no argument: Karaoke Posse . There was nothing else that could have summed up it's simple beauty and still left room for a smirk.
After doing karaoke 14 nights in-a-row, some of us started hollering things like, "This is the 14th consecutive best day of my life!" Because life just kept getting funner and funner, and it seemed like there was no end in sight!
EX: What is the Karaoke Posse?:
KPA: What is the Karaoke Posse? I don't know if I can define it, but here are some examples. I've had Posse members come over, hug-me-up from a nap, and drag me to the karaoke bar. Some KP members traveled to Utah, and some to California to open chapters there.
EX: What do you think is the point of karaoke?
KPA: It's just about having fun. I still see people at karaoke grab the mic and . . . don't . . . have . . . fun. That's cool, I guess, if you want to have a LAME LIFE!
EX: Do you have any tips for first timers? :
KPA: Pick a song you LOVE. Find a friend to sing it with you. Don't be self-conscious. Grab the moment by the balls and OWN it!
EX: How does one join the Karaoke Posse?:
KPA: Do that [everything above]. Then do it over and over again. You're now a member of the Karaoke Posse.
EX: What are some of your favorite karaoke venues?:
KPA: I have no favorite venue for karaoke. Each of them has its own character. I honestly don't have a favorite.
Chopsticks II: This place is a circus. You won't be able to sing much because the place is packed to the gills with attention whores. You will meet insane, sloppy drunk people. I have seen a woman with no panties get back flipped. The whole bar saw her naughty bits. You will meet the owner, and talk to him forever. He will give you Confucius-like advice, and wear the biggest smile the whole time.
Chopstix III : The "How Can Be lounge" is more country and less populated than its sister. You will get to sing more. Because of its varied clientele, you will hear about equal parts country, R&B and rock.
Ambassador : By far the nicest venue. There's an actual stage. Heated outdoor smoking lounge. KJ Kellyn is a sweetheart. On packed nights, there's an overflow room. Don't tell anyone you're doing it, but you can put in songs in both rooms at the same time.
BC 's on Tuesday nights features two cool (like outer space cool) KJs who go by the name Baby Ketten. They make their own karaoke tracks. Consequently, you'll find alternative rock songs that you will find nowhere else. Lots of hipsters who smoke a lot. You won't sing much. Free pool last I checked.
The Woods on Wednesday nights hosted by the aforementioned Baby Ketten, is an old mortuary. Antique furniture and art, lots of rooms to explore. Chill patio with a pool table. A must-see just for the venue. Again, you won't have the chance to sing much. Those same smoking hipsters are all competing for the stage to sing —really well — and really "ironic."
Hawthorne Theatre on Wednesday nights: One of my favorite places because of KJ, Jesse. This is the place where you'll hear me perform original Spanish rap compositions. Usually at Hawthorne you can sing a lot because there aren't many people there competing for the mic. But at the same time, you have a large audience because of the overflow from the live show next door.
Buffalo Gap on Tues nights, on SW Macadam: KJ Jesse makes this experience fun with his great personality and killer stories. Go on a night when the Meet Up people are not dominating. Closes early, like 1AM.
The Hutch Thurs, Fri, Sat. Voted "#1 KJ" by one of those hipster Portland weeklies. Aside from Jesse from Hawthorne, the KJ at Hutch, Sean Murphy, is definitely top-tier. He makes you feel awesome about your song choice, even if it sucks. This venue is small and packed. Only one crowded pool table in the back. Clientelle [sic] is mostly neighbors.
The Gypsy on NW 23rd. Thurs - Sat. Frat boys, frat boys, frat boys. Nasty, nasty girls with lots of makeup and high heels. You will hear "More Than a Feeling." You will definitely hear "Gin and Juice." You will dance. People will look at you. And then they will dance too. Some of the staff members are nice. One waitress goes out of her way to say hi to me, even though I have never bought a drink there in my life. KJs "get it". Ask to see the tattoo on KJ Melinda's leg. You won't regret it. [The] door guy has some of the funniest stories that Josh [the Terrible] and I have ever heard.
The Gypsy: Also tons of frat boys and sorority girls, especially on weekends. But there are also grown-ups who will find you and say "You! You are one of us! Let's be friends!" One of the KJs, Bri, used to be my roommate. She was the first one to encourage me to sing "Regulate" by Warren G. You will have a good time at the Boiler Room, but parking is a hassle, and that part of town is junky. My friend almost got mugged on the way back to his car from the Boiler Room.
