The All State

Amateur singers get their 15 minutes of fame with late-night karaoke.

Believe it or not, as limited as the options are in Clarksville there are still some options available for aspiring singers to get their feet wet even if you can't sing well.

Several nightspots around town offer karaoke as a nightcap for those long summer days.

Make your way over to Franklin Steet on a Wednesday night. It is a couple doors up from The Roxy Theatre. Somewhere around 10:30 p.m. Scott Snyder can be found setting up his karaoke machine.

Snyder got his start as a karaoke DJ by first enjoying karaoke himself. He won a couple of contests and then bought a karaoke set.

This is not to say one should go out and do the same, but karaoke is a fun way to spend some time if you're going out for a drink.

It is surprising to watch otherwise shy or quiet people get up on stage and sing their hearts out to their favorite songs. Why is this? Why are people drawn to karaoke?

"It's because many people are exhibitionist and they want an answer for that," said Mitch Holmes, karaoke DJ for the Warehouse on Wednesday nights and the Tap Room, which is located just above The Blackhorse Pub and Brewery, on Sunday nights.

Holmes jokes that he got his start by selling his soul to the devil and robbing old people. "That's why I'm the king of karaoke in Clarksville," Holmes said. He said that he actually got his start at DJ'ing by losing a bet he said. Holmes was also previously DJ for Ye Ole Towne Tavern.

So there are various options for karaoke throughout the week for you to explore and different DJs to experience. Each one has their own sense of flair that they bring to the job. "I really just enjoy getting flashed," Holmes said.

This particular night, we're at Ye Ole Towne Tavern and there is a good crowd out to participate in the weekly festivities. Austin Peay State University history major, Jeremy Crouse joked about watching some of the more obnoxious singers. "Karaoke is Japanese for cruel and unusual punishment."

Sami Haynes said "It's an outlet for people to express themselves."

Karaoke attracts all types of people; it's not just for the younger crowd. APSU graduate Bliss Gordon who was a teacher here in Clarksville said that she has friends who she likes to get together with old friends who she hasn't seen in a while. "I also like to sing old songs I haven't heard in a while," Gordon said.

Even people who are already in a band enjoy it. APSU student and one part of the band Queen City Romance, Rick Babick said "it's something fun to do during the middle of the week and you can sleep the rest of the week."

Speak for yourself Rick, some people need sleep. But Babick is right. If going out for karaoke anywhere in Clarksville, it will probably be a late night.

So it might be wise to make sure you have the next day off to nurse that hangover. Do keep in mind when bored, out and about town that there is a bug flying around the night spots and karaoke just might have the cure to ail.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools