Our lover-girl Jodee is hosting karaoke at the Pacific Lanes in Tacoma every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. She’s found herself a pretty good gig over there, right near her home, and is excited about building the show.

Pacific Lanes has two bars, one at each end of the building, but the karaoke bar is unmistakable. Jodee sets up her karaoke CAVs system at the far end of the bigger bar at the southend. Once she flips on the machine and the microphone, those soft, comfy swivel chairs fill up awfully quick.

On Friday, January 14, Jodee hosted her very first karaoke contest at Pacific Lanes. Boy, did the audience respond. She signed up 15 singers for her first attempt. Not bad, eh? A testament to Jodee and her lovability.

Let’s run through the contestants here, maybe you know one of them.

Damieka; Ordinary People

Keli; Last Dance

JT; Respect

David; Dirty Deeds

Vanessa; I Like Big Butts

Brittnee; At Last

Amanda; Someone Like You

Jeremy;  Something To Believe In

Nikki; If It Isn’t Love

Andreya; Ordinary People

Ray; Back In Love Again

Najai; Sexy Love

Heather; Desperado

Angela; Killing Me Softly

Janell; Set Fire To The Rain

There’s no dance floor to speak of, per se, but that doesn’t mean they don’t dance. There’s nothing that would keep these girls from getting up and shakin’ it up a bit.

Two dart boards against the wall (not in use during karaoke). Pulltabs, but not much in the way of table service. The bar is right behind you, so it’s just as easy to jump up and grab yourself a beer.

Jodee’s little CAVs system suits this room perfectly. Her singers like the way they sound, and of course, Jodee is no slouch on that machine. She’s got many years experience.

Randomly she would draw each singer’s name to perform. They only had one song to impress the judges. Some brought their A game, others not so much. But that’s what keeps it interesting, I guess.

Fifteen singers laid it all out there for the growing audience and those critical judges.

Meanwhile, the bowling lanes were busy busy on a Friday night. Pacific Lanes is a great place to bring the whole family and enjoy a night of bowling and bonding.

After giving a good listen to Jodee’s karaoke contestants, everybody had their favorites picked out. But it would be up to the judges, who quickly exited to deliberate.

After some open mic karaoke, and maybe a few line dances, Jodee cleared her throat, ready to reveal the winners for the evening. The whole room leaned in with anticipation.

“We have a tie for 2nd Place,” she says. Everyone exhaled.

Before announcing the 1st Place winner, she ordered a sing-off between JT and Keli. So, one by one, they took their turn hoping to make enough of an impression on the judges to squeek out a victory.

As it was, they both sounded amazing, but JT was chosen to take 2nd Place. Then she reveals the contest winner… Brittnee, who performed a sensuous and moving rendition of At Last.

The Top 3 Finalists were handed a prize, including gift certificates, and it was over. Pacific Lanes first karaoke contest. It was a great success, and they want to continue to host a contest each month. In fact, it’s been set for the 2nd Friday of each month, which makes it February 11th this month.

Come on out and support Jodee and her karaoke show. Bring your appetite, have some dinner in the bar before karaoke starts up. Or better yet, strap on a pair of shoes and get out there and bowl a few frames.

Regular karaoke every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 9pm start.

Pacific Lanes is located on the corner of 72nd and Pacific Ave. in Tacoma.

After two days in the dark, wrestling with candles and batteries, I was getting stir crazy at home. My mind was made up, I was off to Seattle’s Marco Polo Tavern for the world’s most incredible chicken dinner.

Just as I was walking out the door, the entire neighborhood came roaring back to life. I whistled all the way to Seattle.

No power outages here. Fourth Avenue in SODO was lit up with colorful lights bouncing off the street’s surface. Inside the Marco Polo, DJ Kevin Kelly had a roomful of cute young singers, so that warm and genuine smile of his was getting a real workout.

Turns out this was one big party of business trainers in town for a convention. They were dead set on shaking off the day’s stresses with some real team-building behind the microphone. Kevin was glad to oblige. He’s a great facilitator, keeping everybody happy and smiling. At one point the entire party of like 15 people got up and sang Wait A Minute Mr. Postman. The whole place couldn’t help but get into the performance.

Kevin’s singers absolutely love his tree of hats and props. It’s so great to see the effect karaoke has on people’s attitudes. Exactly what it was designed to do.

Kevin’s songbooks look like a denny’s menu. Clean, simple, and familiar! Of course, they don’t depict his entire collection. His complete song library can be viewed right on your smart phone, from your seat. Just type in www.songbookslive.com/kevinkelly.

Marco Polo has its regulars like every place, I guess. Some of these guys can flat out sing. No kidding, they can tear it up and the whole crowd gets up to dance.

Kevin’s entrepreneurial spirit is refreshing, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Check him out at the Marco Polo (www.facebook.com/marcopolobarandgrill) every Friday and Saturday, and be sure to check out his facebook page at www.facebook.com/djkevinkelly. He’s anxious to host your private parties, so don’t hesitate.

Just a warning though, if their chicken ever crosses your lips you will never go back to your old ways.

There’s always so much happening at One Eyed Jack’s Roadhouse these days, we finally just pitched a tent in the parking lot!

Owner Tom McAlees has really struck a chord with the neighborhood, filling a need, or maybe just a bunch of desires. Either way, he and his crew have been putting together amazing and quality entertainment to amuse the masses for nine whole years now! I know, we couldn’t believe it either.

Whatever they’re slippin’ into the customers drinks to keep ‘em coming back really seems to be working.

You know, they have all the regular stuff like darts and pool, way on the other end of the building away from the stage. Pulltabs, killer drink specials, and the elephant in the room, that giant stage calling your name from across the bar.

One Eyed Jack’s sound system is generated from an edifice within an edifice. Otherwise referred to as the booth, Sandra Dee, DJ Tom, or whomever turn it is to take the controls will mount wings and soar above the rest of us minions. From up here, not only do they get a better shot of all that beautiful cleavage, but apparently it was something about allowing them to monitor the sound and stage better.

Sandra Dee is killin’ it on Fridays at One Eyed Jacks with her signature Chase The Ace Fridays. A fun game that gets the whole audience involved, up and moving around. That, coupled with Tom’s brilliance in selecting his customer’s preferred drink specials, pricing them to move, is packing the house every Friday night.

After each song sung, Sandra Dee invites her singers to peel a playing card off the board. Aces win! Anything from $5-$10 gift certificates, to swag, to the jackpot of $25 cash! Which Don won right out of the gates last month! He was stoked.

Sandra Dee’s got a little tableful of trinkets for prizes, and says, “It’s so fun. Singers are really bummed when they don’t win.”

She’ll promote drink specials and give away prizes by spinning the big wheel on stage, next to the Chase The Ace board. It’s a real festive place once they really get things going.

Both Molly and Kathy were celebrating their birthdays tonight, and brought a bunch of friends along.

Among the singers were, Will, who sang Something To Be Proud Of, and Don’s jackpot winner, Go Johnny Go, which really picked up the crowd.

Teri did Betty Davis Eyes, Ryan had Shawn screaming in one ear, and kept things moving. Sean’s Della Brown by Queensryche was captivating and entertaining. Oh yeah, and that cute little Molly got up and sang Chasing Pavements very well.

This was a pretty magnanimous weekend at One Eyed Jacks. In fact, this was the weekend of their big 9th Anniversary Party. Way to go One Eyed Jacks on a superb achievement!

Word has it that Tom’s got a ton of changes coming down the pike too. Not surprising, I guess, but you’ll sure like the upgrades. How about Skeeball tournaments, meatball and Club sandwiches, a new smoking section, and maybe some new staff members too.

Come out and say hello. Take in a live band, sing some karaoke, let yourself have fun again!

Our new friend Phil invited us out to check out the karaoke phenomena unfolding at Claire’s Pantry; 12360 Lake City Way Northeast  Seattle, WA 98125 – ph. (206) 365-4542.

Of course we couldn’t pass up the opportunity, I mean, have you seen Phil? It’s like telling Sammy Hagar himself, “No, I can’t come over to play”. Besides, I was anxious to check out a brand new spot. Somewhere I’d never stepped foot in, and just see what happens. I love my job!

Claire’s, while unassuming from the outside, turned out to be one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had!

Phil’s got his system and mics set up at the far end, opposite the bar, in front of the greenhouse windows. Behind the singers is all the bustling activity inherent with 125th and Lake City Way.

I made so many new friends that night. Everybody kept saying how slow it was, that it’s usually a packed house for karaoke night. Which, by the way, is only every OTHER Friday night. I know, go figure. Phil’s the kind of host that should be busy 7 nights a week. They absolutely LOVE this guy! Even Tim, the owner of Madison Park’s Red Onion Pub likes to catch Phil’s show at Claire’s. In fact, he liked his show so much, he hired him for his own joint.

You get a real hip and diverse crowd at Claire’s, both in age and personality. Not to mention, some real talented singers.

Fred, a spry 78 year old karaoke lover, danced and sang along with Hoagie, just five years his junior. Now she’s a character alright. She enjoys singing the Beatles, hoping to just “Let It Be” in her own life.

The rest of the building is a deserted family dining area during karaoke. Alicia and her staff serve the full menu until 9pm, then the focus shifts from food to fun and frivolity!

Phil is extremely conscientious of the sound in the room, constantly doing sound checks from all corners.

He says, “Don’t feel like you hafta sing, just come down, bring a friend who sings maybe. Just enjoy the amazing singers.”

It was a week before Christmas and the lights rained down as a backdrop. Suicide Christmas songs!

Mandy, Sarah, Sherry, and Alicia performed a spirited Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer. Dayna sang a sexy Santa Baby.

The audience is very engaged in the karaoke. No distractions here. Lots of hugs and high fives. Pure acceptance. So nice.

Well-priced cocktails and great karaoke… every other Friday night with Phil at Claire’s Pantry in Seattle, write it into your schedule.

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a great holiday season.

I have to say that the event at “88 Keys” on December 4, 2011 was totally awesome! Roger Fisher (founding guitarist/songwriter for Heart) and Tony Coleman (Tony Coleman Band, BB King drummer) tore it up. They were backed by the very talented band Soulstice.

If you didn’t catch this show, you definitely missed a good one. You may think of Roger as a classic rock kind of guy because of Heart, but I’m here to tell you, he kicks out some mean Blues licks on that guitar. And Tony, wow, what can I say? Just incredible! He is the consummate Bluesman.

Soulstice was fantastic, not only backing Tony and Roger, but also dishing out some great Rock and Blues themselves throughout the night. When you have a line up such as this, one can’t help but have an amazing evening out, and it was!

On Saturday, December 16, 2011, I stopped by to see the Aury Moore Band at the J&M Cafe in Pioneer Square. What a blast! I always love to see Aury and her band perform. They have the room eating out of their hands every single time. I understand they have good things coming their way in the near future. I’ll keep you all posted.

I would like to thank The Karaoke & Live Entertainment Guide for giving me the opportunity to have our “RockTheBlues News” column in this magazine each month. It’s a real honor and a pleasure to be featured here.

Until next month, take care and be well everybody!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

MUSIC REVIEW

BY ROCK THE BLUES NEWS

“RockTheBlues News” is featuring one Rock CD and one Blues CD every month. And as I stated, this is not in any way a competition, it is just our way of promoting what we feel is some of the greatest local talent.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

“RED ON BLUE”

THE RED HOT BLUES SISTERS

The Blues CD we are featuring this month is titled “RED ON BLUE”, by THE RED HOT BLUES SISTERS.

I caught this band at the Columbia City Theater several years ago for the first time and was absolutely amazed. They are a very talented band with powerful vocals, and if you haven’t seen their live show yet, you really need to make it a point to do so. In the meantime, you can purchase and enjoy their CD online at www.cdbaby.com/cd/rhbsisters3.

Red Hot Blues Sisters band members include:

Suze Sims – Vocals, Percussion

Teri Anne Wilson – Vocals, Guitar

Greg Lyons – Trumpet

Mike Tooley – Trombone

Polly O’Keary – Bass

Scott Rongey – Drums

Steve Thorpe – Hammond B3 Organ

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

“RIOT IN RHYTHM”

RIOT IN RHYTHM

The Rock CD featured this month; it’s the self-titled “RIOT IN RHYTHM”.

Riot In Rhythm is a very high energy Rock/Alternative/Metal band out of Tacoma, WA.

I saw these guys perform at “Louie G’s” a while back and was truly impressed. They’re all quite young, but you wouldn’t know it by their performance.

One interesting note is that the track titled “Vicious Circle” was actually backed by the “Seattle Symphony”.

I really like this CD, and I even put it in rotation on my car CD player. You can purchase this CD online and add it to your own rotation by visiting www.reverbnation.com/riotinrhythm.

Riot In Rhythm band members include:

Ben Smith – Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Alex Critchlow – Lead Guitar

Christon Casper – Bass/Vocals

Jerad Lewis – Drums/Percussion

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Please keep those Rock and Blues CDs coming. If you’d like your CD to be featured in a future edition of RockTheBlues News, please mail your CD to:

Gary Draper c/o Rock The Blues News @ P.O. Box 47083, Seattle, WA  98146.

Unfortuntely, CD’s will not be returned, as they will become the property of RockTheBlues.

Federal trademark infringement lawsuits have been filed against 25 local defendants in a crackdown on the illegal use of counterfeit karaoke soundtracks. Slep-Tone Entertainment Corporation, better known by its trade name “Sound Choice”, has brought the initial round of legal actions in Oregon to combat trademark piracy and unfair trade practices against individual operators of karaoke shows and venues which own and operate systems with counterfeit karaoke tracks.

In discussing the suits, Kurt Slep, CEO of Sound Choice, said “Our karaoke tracks are being illegally counterfeited by tens of thousands of commercial karaoke operators nationwide who use them in their shows. The theft of our intellectual property impacts not only Sound Choice, but other manufacturers, resellers, and honest local operators who have paid for their music”.

Slep added, “The theft of karaoke tracks has nearly destroyed the legitimate karaoke industry. We’ve tried educating the venues and operators, but in the end the only way we have been able to curb piracy and protect our rights has been to sue in federal court. This initial round is only the beginning in Oregon – we have already completed investigations on over 50 additional defendants we believe have directly infringed our rights and we will soon be filing vicarious infringement suits against the venues that employ them if we can’t reach settlements quickly. With the potential impact that a lawsuit could have on a venue’s ability to continue to operate with their liquor licenses and Lottery machines, it would seem financially foolish for a venue to operate using pirate karaoke hosts or systems.”

So far, lawsuits have been filed by Slep-Tone Entertainment not only in Oregon, but also in Washington, California, Arizona, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Although Slep-Tone seeks to settle for very reasonable amounts, default judgement awards for damages have been as high as $750,000 and include forfeiture of the illegal systems and permanent injunctions against the defendants and venues they served.

Slep closes with, “It doesn’t have to be this way, we have very reasonably priced packages and even offer financing on approved credit, so there is no acceptable excuse not to operate legitimately.”

For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Kurt Slep, please call 704-583-1616, Ext. 1131 or email Kurt Slep at kslep@soundchoice.com

About Slep-Tone Entertainment Corp.:

Slep-Tone Entertainment Corporation, more popularly known by its trade name “Sound Choice”, is a North Carolina producer of karaoke accompaniment tracks. Founded in 1985, the company has produced over 18,000 different karaoke soundtracks in most most every genre. (www.soundchoice.com)

The hammer drops on Portland, Oregon

By Kurt “Swingcat” Johnson

Piracy of karaoke music has become rampant throughout the Karaoke music and hosting industry. It takes many forms: (1) Illegal copying of karaoke CD+G discs; (2) Streaming of illegally uploaded karaoke songs and videos to the internet (including YouTube); (3) Downloading of karaoke songs from illegal websites in commercial settings (bars, etc); (4) Sales of illegally preloaded hard drives with massive song collections; (5) Finally, the use of unauthorized copies of karaoke songs across multiple systems (multi-rigging).

The results of piracy include: (1) An unfair commercial advantage for venues willing to hire “cheap” KJs who don’t purchase their music legally; and (2) An unfair commercial advantage for pirating KJs who underbid legitimate and professional KJs, forcing the rates lower in an industry that deserves top dollar.

The effects of piracy snowballs throughout a community. Bar owners are in the habit of, and have become conditioned to hiring KJs using pirated music in order to save money, retain their karaoke customer base, and protect a much needed revenue stream.

The downward spiral continues in a slow vortex with the resultant loss of gigs for legitimate karaoke professionals, a loss of quality shows for the karaoke singing enthusiast, and a loss of revenue for the venues wishing to provide legitimate shows.

Not to mention, the devastating effect it has on the manufacturers of the karaoke music itself. They lose massive amounts of revenue and the profits required to maintain their business and produce new music releases. When they suffer massive losses from pirating, it directly results in lost jobs, layoffs and can ultimately put them out of business altogether.

The brand recognized throughout the karaoke industry as the standard for quality is Sound Choice, the label produced by Slep-Tone Entertainment Corporation. They have experienced all of these negative effects, including large revenue losses which resulted in substantial layoffs of hardworking employees. Sound Choice has not released any new products in over two years, and it has now been several months since Chartbuster has released any new songs. However, both Sound Choice and Chartbuster are taking steps to fight back. The goal is to reduce piracy and unfair trade practices, recouping lost revenues.

In a telephone interview, Slep-Tone Entertainment’s President, Kurt Slep, explained their “Get Legit or Quit” campaign of education backed by enforcement. “The overall goal is to reduce piracy and unfair competition, so that in the long run, we might return to producing and releasing new music, which of course, was our original business model. We can’t sell enough products to recover our costs with the current level of piracy. And of course there are no funds available to sponsor promotional events, which typically benefit the singers.”

“We are trying to reverse the downward spiral that has occurred over the last 7-8 years, and accelerating in the past few years with the availability of cheaper media storage and a bad economy.” When we file lawsuits, invariably some pirate hosts simply disappear, and some venues, deciding they can’t justify paying the price for a legitimate host, simply stop doing karaoke.  This results in singers from those venues going to another show, often back to the original, legitimate show they were lured away from. The venue, seeing an increase in business, can then justify paying their host what they deserve, especially given the potential cost of being sued themselves for vicarious infringement.

By significantly reducing the number of pirate hosts and their supporting venues, legitimate hosts, when paid a fair wage, can afford to invest in new music. Manufacturers will be able to profitably record and release new music products again. Plus, the threat of costly litigation for both venue and host serves as an additional deterrent to benefitting from piracy”.

As part of the “Get Legit or Quit” campaign, Sound Choice has sent numerous email blasts, set up educational Web sites, sent letters and mailings to over eight hundred venues throughout the Northwest. Safe Harbor direct mail literature outlining steps to avoid lawsuits were sent, not to mention, strategically placed articles and ads in several major karaoke-related publications. Sound Choice was proactive in offering the venues an opportunity to enter into their “Safe Harbor” program (www.SCSafeHarbor.com). While enrolled, a venue can avoid the liability of unwittingly hiring a host with an illegal library.

Unfortunately, all of their efforts at persuasion through education have been for naught, according to Slep, so they have had to move to the enforcement phase. System owners and operaters with unauthorized manufacturer content are subject to investigations and federal trademark infringement lawsuits. Sound Choice is now beginning to file vicarious infringement suits against the venues who continue to employ hosts that operate illegally.

According to sources, in the Northwest as a whole, over 100 cases are still waiting to be filed. In Washington State (Seattle/Tacoma area) only two are embroiled in litigation as a result of the first round of lawsuits. The rest named have worked out settlements.

In Portland, the first wave of lawsuits were recently filed, listing 25 “entities” (individual KJs or venues). The list of defendants includes one multi-rig operation that performs at ten separate venues, and two individuals found to be selling preloaded hard drives. This filing also lists the additional locations where the defendants perform their show, so these venues might anticipate being sued for vicarious infringement if they continue to employ defendants who have not settled or hire hosts who violate the rights of the manufacturers. These venues risk the possible loss of their liquor license and Lottery machines. The price of infringement can be extremely costly. The geographic reach of this Oregon lawsuit is substantial, with not only the immediate Portland metro area, but also Eugene, Salem, Stayton, Gresham, Tualatin, Beaverton, Silverton, Canby, Woodburn, and Dallas being represented.

According to Slep, the first round of Oregon lawsuits have already begun to yield positive results. Nine of the 25 defendants have settled. Two of the venue-owned operations elected to discontinue karaoke, and two of the karaoke hosting companies actually purchased additional systems over and above their settlement amount in anticipation of the need for more legitimate hosts. Local venues are beginning to realize that the risk of having illegal hosts may be extremely costly for them.

On a positive note, one of the few local, certified hosts picked up a 7-night per week gig when a venue whose host was being sued, took advantage of the Safe Harbor program, firing the defendant to hire the certified host.

In Florida, one certified KJ went from three shows per week to over 15 in the space of a few weeks. Since he was the only certified host in the area, he picked up all the business. Furthermore, the venues here are acutely aware that if they want to offer karaoke, they MUST hire a certified host, or be held in contempt.

Says Slep, “It just amazes me that KJs are willing to play a game of “wait and see if we get caught”, instead of licensing their music at a reasonable rate or face three times the cost after they are sued. Even more amazing is that venues are willing to risk losing their liquor license and Lottery machines rather than take advantage of the FREE Safe Harbor opportunity.

For only $50 or $100 more per night, a venue can afford legal hosts. For less than $230 per month, a KJ can finance his music with Sound Choice.

This is just the first wave of Oregon filings. There are at least 80 additional “entities” already investigated that we are preparing in the next wave of filings. Nationally, over 400 investigations have been completed, with filings pending.

In this area, the P.I. firm did investigations for both Chartbuster AND Sound Choice, so the Chartbuster lawsuits may not be far behind.

Those KJs who think they are avoiding scrutiny by not playing Sound Choice tracks may already have been investigated.  And if they haven’t been investigated by Sound Choice, it’s going to make it easier for Chartbuster to sue them.

Oregon venues and KJs that may be using pirated karaoke music need to think long and hard about the costly ramifications that karaoke music piracy can have on their businesses. Find more on Sound Choice lawsuit activity and a link to the first Chartbuster label lawsuit on the Sound Choice Web site at www.soundchoicestore.com.

Making my way south through the Kent Valley on Central to Auburn Way, I couldn’t help but notice how dead all the bars were.

Sure it was Tuesday night, but still. Mid-December, Christmas was closing in, where are all the jolly ranchers? Suddenly I turn the corner at 15th Ave in Auburn, and there before me is a full parking lot in front of BB Magraws! Yes!

That was good news, because this was my destination tonight. Had to come out and see if the rumors I’d been hearing on the street was true; that BB Magraw’s Tuesdays with Verginia were really picking up. And, I’d have to say, I was quite impressed having not visited since the show’s inception months ago.

Verginia is loving her new gig, high atop the singers and dance floor at BB Magraws on Tuesday nights. She’s got all the lights swirling around, the music is pumpin’, and the dance floor is seeing some action.

And our old friend DJ Bat is back! He’s keeping the love alive every Wednesday night, come check out the show.

Verginia’s Sing It To Win It Contest has been a big hit with her singers. Everytime they sing, they toss a buck in the bucket, and eventually a number is drawn to determine the winner of the pot. If nobody wins, the pot rolls over to the next week.

There was $270 in the pot up for grabs that night!

Bouncy sang a nice version of Tiny Bubbles, and “L” graced us with his amazing vocals, impressing even Verginia, an accomplished pro.

John and Beth love that BB Magraw’s is right near their home. But they still travel for good karaoke, sometimes six nights per week!

Come see the giant bigscreen,  and sing on Verginia’s wireless mics from your table full of friends every Tuesday night. Bring lots of singles and maybe you’ll win the Pot of cash!

Join friends at the Bellingham Bar and Grill for awesome karaoke, hosted by Shelby, of Star Entertainment Karaoke.  Shelby’s karaoke show runs every Monday night from 9:30pm until 1:30am.

The Bellingham Bar and Grill is easy to find. It’s right off Cornwall in downtown Bellingham, and is bustling with nocturnal activity.

The lounge area features abundant seating and tables for everyone, plus the game room has tables and chairs also.

The lighting at the Bellingham Bar and Grill is very, very relaxing, welcoming you the moment you step in the door. It is exceptionally clean, including the bathrooms.

Moe, the bartender, greets you with a smile almost instantly. Even the cook, while cleaning up the kitchen, smiles randomly at guests as he walks by.

The full-service bar separates the game room from the lounge. The game room consists of three TVs, seven pool tables, and two dart boards, and is very well lit.

If pool isn’t your forte, there is shuffleboard and electronic dart boards, not to mention, four additional TVs in the lounge area.

The Bellingham Bar and Grill is open to minors until 9pm. After that, they card everyone.

Star Entertainment’s karaoke system is professional quality, and the songbook has around 8,000 songs to choose from, including the Oldies, Soul, Pop, Rock, and Heavy Metal.

You’ll enjoy plenty of non-traditional karaoke songs being sung throughout the evening, which can be refreshing.

Shelby’s sound is clean and crisp, not too loud, but not too quiet either – very well balanced.

On one particular night, not long ago, Shelby was celebrating her birthday. The regulars were giving her hugs and birthday wishes. The first rotation was only about three people long. It finally picked up around 10:30pm, and from then on it was packed. The host sang a song with each rotation, which averaged about ten people now.

Overall, the atmosphere The Bellingham Bar & Grill is nice and relaxing, and fun. Because the bar is so long, it’s never too crowded to find your way from one end to the other.

Jon Horton may have accomplished the impossible; taking center stage and baring the soul to an entire auditorium in a powerful one-man show.

Emotions run the gamut as a recently expired man is forced to descend from the heavens to confront the issues and people that made his life what it was before he met his demise in a freak parachuting accident.

An unpopular, 6 ft. 2 in. nerdy kid, who couldn’t catch a ball, confronts old flames, childhood friends, and schoolyard bullies. The stage lights suddenly turned inward, lighting up the entire auditorium. Anonymity vanquished.

Jon’s character found his life’s acquaintances among the unsuspecting audience members. One by one he gets in their face, exposing real hurts and emotions from days long gone.

The line between fiction and non-fiction blurred to the point of perplexity, and left me feeling strangely uncomfortable.

This awkward little kid grew into a successful businessman, earning millions for his company, only to be stripped of everything in the end.

With no wife or kids to speak of, doubt and despair, broken hearts and dreams, marked this man’s life, but he brings a powerful message of pure love and acceptance. Forgiveness and understanding. As if it were being delivered directly from the man upstairs himself.

Tenderness, full disclosure, and complete transparency kept the audience riveted like a train wreck.

The man slowly ascended the staircase toward his new existence, when he catches a glimpse of his grandmother in the heavens and runs to catch up to her.

Hello karaoke goers! Stephen, the singing geek, back-atcha with a review of the Yen Wor Garden in north Seattle!

I am always looking for new and great places to get my singing on. For a couple months my friend Pete had been telling me of this great place called the Yen Wor. He loved going there for karaoke.

Well, I hadn’t been on a journey to Seattle in some months and decided it was time to pack up the van and head south an hour and a half or so.

Luckily traffic wasn’t bad for a Saturday night, so I arrived at the Yen Wor about 8:30pm. Pete had told me that the place tends to fill up quickly. I got myself a drink, and got situated with my girlfriend and a karaoke book. Of good size, there were thousands of tunes, old and new, in the book. I put a slip in and was glad I did, because this place filled up faster than Rosie O’ Donnell at an all-you-can-eat buffet!

Sean, aka: DJ Soul, got things started off with some Eminem, which really got the crowd going. The sound system here is great, everyone was constantly up and on the dance floor.

The Yen Wor is a smaller restaurant, but they do have a nice little stage to assure the singers are the center of attention amidst a large swarm of people.

Even if you weren’t singing that night, there were a lot of real characters in the crowd to amuse. One woman who stood out was wearing her hair in a messy bun with black rim glasses, acid wash jeans and matching jean jacket, decked out with Bedazzler jewerly!

There is a great variety of age groups here as well, ranging from people who just turned twenty-one to people who are card-carrying AARP members. We enjoyed the curiously named singers, including “Mullet” and “Vanilla Latte” who performed that night.

A bit later, several friends that I hadn’t seen in months walked in and joined the festivities. We had to yell across the table at one another because of the amount of people here. The Yen Wor was filled to the rim!

The one detraction from the night was the rotation. I got to sing two songs that night from 9pm to 1:30am in at least a 25+ rotation – crazy sauce!

The staff at the Yen Wor is extremely friendly and happy to accommodate.

DJ Soul was also very pleasant and kept a high-energy pace. Patient, despite a constant stream of singers asking when they’d be singing next.

My girlfriend and I enjoyed some almond chicken and egg rolls for dinner. The food was tasty, and just what I needed after a long drive on an empty stomach.

The Yen Wor Garden features karaoke seven nights a week with a couple rotating KJs.

Pete told me that the middle of the week is sometimes the best time to go because the crowds are down and you’ll probably sing three to four times.

If you work crazy shifts, like me in retail, then a mid-week journey here might be the best for you. I give the Yen Wor four out of five stars as a karaoke outting. It’s a great place to meet up with a group of friends and have a fun night out!

Yen Wor Garden is located at 8580 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA. Phone (206) 784-7422 – Cheers!