MCCLOUD’S SALOON; BREMERTON, WA
Karaoke Round-Up rocks to the end

By Kevin “K-Dawg” Chambers

On March 30th, 2008, I was lucky enough to be one of 14 qualifiers for the final round of the Karaoke Round-Up Contest at McCloud’s Saloon in Bremerton.

The Finals, hosted by local karaoke expert Tim Hoffman, marked the end of a contest featuring 14 different qualifiers, twice weekly over the course of seven weeks. These fourteen chosen qualifiers would compete for a $300 first prize and $200 second prize, donated by McCloud’s Saloon, and a $100 third prize, offered up by Hoffman Entertainment.

I had competed once before to try to make it into the finals, but didn’t qualify. I came back on the final night of qualifying and made it into the finals, but finishing on the last night of a contest does not lend any kind of confidence going into the Finals.

Just to walk into McCloud’s can be a bit intimidating. Tim Hoffman’s sound system is unsurpassed in karaoke. Heck, it’s better than the stuff a lot of bands perform with in local bars and clubs. The song selection is the best around and he’s always expanding. His custom lighting makes you feel like your closer to Vegas than to Bremerton. Karaoke singers are even more awestruck by the amazing talent of the singers in this bar.

During warm-ups, it was easy to see that these singers were for real. This was less of a karaoke contest, than a true stage performance, showcasing some of the best singers Kitsap County has to offer.

The judges represented a diverse range of talents and influences:

∆ Louie & Selena Espinoza are the owners of Louie’s World Entertainment, with over 16 years hosting karaoke across Kitsap County and the Olympic Penninsula. Married in 2001, Louie & Selena have recorded with Doobie Brother Danny Hull, and have songs that have played on local radio and TV stations. They currently host karaoke at the Point Casino in Kingston, and the 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim. To find out where Louie & Selena are playing next, visit www.myspace.com/louiesworld.

∆ Jenee’ Lewis has spent nearly 40 years in the music industry, and over the last several years has dedicated her life to using music as part of the Ministry of Jesus Christ. Jenee’ started playing musical instruments at eight years of age. She has written and performed her own songs, as well as those of others, at the Spirit Of Truth Fellowship in Port Orchard, where she serves as the Worship Pastor and Vocalist for the music department. For more information on her music ministry, visit www.spiritoftruthfellowship.org.

∆ And last, but not least, Andy Venagas has been a stage hand extraordinaire since 1992, starting as a port-a-let mover at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, hw currently works as a Flyman at Seattle’s historic Moore Theatre. While Andy has a bit of an off-center nature – he must, since he chooses to hang concert lighting and audio – he knows great talent, and has been a part of more shows than he can remember.

The first round started off in random order. There are two places I have never wanted to be in a karaoke contest; the first singer, and the last singer. I was the last singer. It was nerve-racking, but it gave me the opportunity to size up my competition.
H. “Brit” Kirby started off the evening with a great performance of “She’s Every Woman” by Garth Brooks. Steven Worley then turned up the energy with the classic John Mellencamp song “Jack & Diane.” Craig Burdick sang a heartfelt version of “Fall” by Clay Walker. Then Craig’s brother Josh “Big Daddy” Burdick tore the roof off the house with his rendition of “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” by Darkness. The Crowd was clearly enraptured as we went into intermission, halfway through the contest.

The second half of the finals started with Dave Michaelis singing “10 Rounds of Jose Cuervo” by Tracy Byrd. Interesting note is that Dave was about 30 minutes late for the show. When asked why, Dave said on the microphone that the night before he had indeed gone ten rounds with Jose Cuervo, and was suffering from a slight hangover. Queinten Lanier then gave a soulful rendition of Matchbox Twenty’s “If You’re Gone.” Rick “Stu” then rocked the house singing “Send The Pain Below” by Chevelle, and Chelsea Allbee gave a jaw-dropping performance of Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” Mike Pratt got all the dancers up with his country favorite “International Harvester.” Then, it was my turn, and I performed Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe.”

By the end of the first round, the judges were asked to pick the top five singers. For those of us that competed, this is a nerve-racking time. Did we make it? Did we not? Should we pick another song just in case? The judges came back with their top five.

In the second round, it would be Josh “Big Daddy” Burdick, Steven Worley, Rick “Stu,” Mike Pratt, and myself would be singing one more song, competing for the prize money and bragging rights. The order of the singers in the last round would once again be random. Once again, I would be last.

I had no time to feel nervous about it, because Stephen Worley took to the stage, singing the AC/DC hit “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” right on down to the classic 80s rocker head banging. The crowd loved it!

Next up, Rick “Stu” rocked the house with “Warning” by Incubus, hitting all the notes and cranking up the volume in the contest.

Mike Pratt brought back a country feel with Brooks & Dunn’s “Hillbilly Deluxe”, enticing a good crowd of country line-dancers to the floor for a little boot kickin’.

Josh “Big Daddy” Burdick rocked the bar with “Up All Night,” by Unwritten Law. Josh’s high-energy performance and perfect execution of the song was a crowd favorite. Lastly, I wrapped up the contest with “How Far We’ve Come” By Rob Thomas.

Then, it was time for the judges to make their decisions. In third place, and winner of $100 cash, courtesy of Hoffman Entertainment, was Steven Worley! In second place, and winner of $200 cash, courtesy of McCloud’s Saloon, was lil’ ol’ me! On a personal note, I was truly surprised and honored. I also think I was extremely lucky to have placed in the top ten with a field of this caliber.

And the Grand Prize winner of the 2nd Annual McCloud’s Karaoke Round-Up Contest was none other than Josh “Big Daddy” Burdick!

For all the singers, the people who just came out to watch, the bar staff, and for the Karaoke Host, Tim Hoffman, it was a great night, full of great competition, and a good time, at a great bar. And while not everyone won, I think in a contest like this, if we were to do this again, the top three could turn out to be the bottom three and vice versa.

I think that karaoke venues that do this - go out of their way and put up their own money to provide an exciting place for us to sing should be supported and rewarded. So, get out and support those shows that go out of their way to make their singers number one.

In my humble opinion, McCloud’s and Hoffman Entertainment have the best karaoke show in Western Washington. The sound, the lighting, the dance floor, the bar staff, easily, hands down, one of the premier karaoke shows you will find.

They currently have karaoke every Sunday-Wednesday. For more information about Hoffman Entertainment, check out www.myspace.com/timtubbshoffman. For more information about McCloud’s Saloon, visit www.mysapce.com/therealmcclouds.