KAY’S BAR; SELLWOOD, OR
Karaoke at Kay’s

By Kurt “Swingcat” Johnson

Just south of Portland before Milwaukie is the eclectic neighborhood of Sellwood. Known for it’s artistic and with-it vibe, the Sellwood neighborhood has a feel all it’s own. With upscale local restaurants and unique shops, Sellwood invites visitors and locals to dive right in and feel at home.

Located smack-dab in the center of Sellwood is Kay’s Bar. At the corner of Bybee and SE Milwaukie, Kay’s is a landmark in the Sellwood neighborhood. In business for over 72 years, Kays’ is a fixture that everyone knows. Kay’s is an entertainment destination in Sellwood. They offer live bands on weekends and provide karaoke on Thursday nights. Karaoke Host at Kay’s for over five years is KJ Scott, owner/operator of Flipside Entertainment in the Portland area. With an extensive and up-to-date song library, state-of-the-art computerized equipment and Bose tower/subwoofer sound gear, KJ Scott provides a top-notch singing experience in an eclectic neighborhood setting. His sound system is unusual with only a few KJs employing the Bose tower/subwoofer system - the sound is clear, clean and particularly accurate.

Scott bends over backwards to accommodate his singers by welcoming those that bring their own discs and does his best to find their favorite versions of songs. His video display is cutting edge with custom message/advertising frames announcing upcoming singers on screen. Scott has been hosting for over twelve years and is available for private parties, weddings and corporate events.

He describes his efforts at Kay’s, “Well, I just want a place where everybody can come and have fun. Good sound, good selection and a fair rotation. It’s all about the singer entertaining the crowd and themselves. I have the ability to play customer discs. I try to have the best equipment to accommodate the customer’s desires. I’ve been here five years and I have a good following for customers. I appeal to all age groups and they’ve been coming to see me for five years.”

Owner Patrick Morton had this take on Kay’s long-term success, “More than anything, it’s a neighborhood bar with more than 90% of the people being regulars. We try to do something different every night of the week with live bands, karaoke and trivia nights. On weekends we’re busy with football and baseball on MLB and NFL packages. We see a lot of people from Seattle. There’s always something going on and the staff is very friendly. The quality of our KJ is amazing and the wait to sing is never too long.”

Regular customer Shawn Rutter added this, “This has more of a home feel. There’s a big range of singers - good to bad. Scott’s selection is the best I’ve ever heard. He has an ear for the mixing board and enhances the singers. A first time karaoke singer would feel comfortable busting their cherry here. And the bartender Jeffery and Scott are a good combination!”

You can see more if Kay’s Bar at their website: www.kaysbar.com.