Charleston’s newest karaoke star is born each night from buzai232's blog

Charleston’s newest karaoke star is born each night

Hanging around a crowded bar is one way to meet a few friends, but that same bar on karaoke night is something else — there’s just something about singing the first few bars of a song that quickly creates a bond, even between strangers. Karaoke nights are coming back all over Charleston, so it’s time again to pick your favorite spot and familiar tune and wait for your cue. To get more news about Karaoke CBD Melbourne, you can visit starsktv.com.au official website.

Tucked into the tiny barroom above Gilroy’s on King Street, Bangkok Lounge is downtown Charleston’s go-to karaoke bar — and with karaoke seven nights a week, there’s no shortage of entertainment.

“Usually, something hilarious happens every night,” said bartender and musician Walker Trull, who hosts country night on Wednesdays. “We have been collecting these paper slips that are absurd as far as song names and artist pairings that people [incorrectly] write down. Someone wanted to sing “Dancing Queen” by Usher — I don’t know how they landed on that. We are saving the slips up for a collage we are going to put in the place.”

Bangkok Lounge has revolving nightly themes, whether it’s through-the-decades Sundays, rock ’n’ roll Tuesdays or wild card Fridays, when fellow host/bartender/musician Rebekah Riley snaps people with a pink riding crop when they get out of line.
The bar’s karaoke championship has been going this summer, with the final round taking place Wednesday, when finalists will compete for the belt and “a glorious reputation” said Riley, who also hosts hip-hop Thursdays.

“One of the best parts about it to me is the look of validation on people’s faces,” Riley said. “You’re dealing with people who don’t get applause in real life. They get their nerve up to sing, and everybody cheers for them. It’s giving people their moment who normally don’t get the spotlight on them.”Karaoke finalist Abigail Fitzpatrick is a Pittsburgh transplant with an affinity for dive bars. She ended up enamored with Bangkok’s welcoming atmosphere as she sang there more consistently.

“There’s no judgment there,” she said. “Nobody even bats an eye if someone gets up and butchers a song. Everyone is there to have a good time. Recently I met two girls there, and they’ve ended up becoming my closest friends in Charleston.”

“Singing with someone helps with the nerves and with moral support,” Fitzpatrick added. “My mom always said when it comes to karaoke, ‘You’ll never be the worst person there.’ It’s hard to be the best, but it’s hard to be the worst.”

William Covington has been hosting karaoke for over 10 years as DJ Wild Bill. “It just gets better and better each year,” he said. “You have your normal crowd that’s been singing since the ’70s — when karaoke came out — and now, the younger crowd is taking over. We have digital apps to sign up with, so now it’s a young man’s game. Technology is advancing how people get up and sing.”Some of Covington’s first gigs as a host were at California Dreaming and Wet Willie’s, and he’s been hooked ever since. Nowadays, you can catch him at Burns Alley, Uptown Social and Tin Roof. He’s also aiming to host at additional locations, like Sultan’s Restaurant & Lounge on King Street.

“When people get up there and become entertainers and get the crowd going, those are the most memorable nights,” Covington said. “We had one guy who was not the best singer in the world, but he was an entertainer. Even if he couldn’t carry a tune, he could carry a crowd.”