At Empire Dine & Dance, Wednesdays @ 9 pm
By DAN CLARK | October 28, 2009
Since its invention in Japan in the early ’70s, karaoke has become an international pastime. It can have huge drawing power, with dozens — if not hundreds — of local would-be rock stars invading bars and clubs to take the lead on their favorite tunes. Once seen as a guilty pleasure or hokey time-waster here in the States, people now harness their inner Lady Gaga, Steve Perry, or Kenny Rogers for the entertainment of their friends and total strangers.
But for some, singing along to a canned, synthesized instrumental version of “Born To Be Wild” just isn’t enough to sate the Rock God who dwells within. That’s why the Empire has introduced Kill The Karaoke, a chance to belt out a song with Trainwreck, a real, live rock band. They’re no half-assed bar rockers, either, but a quartet of local ace musicians: Tom Hall (Surreal Vision, Portland’s stunt guitarist ne plus ultra), Dan Capaldi (Holy Boys Danger Club, ex-Cambiata), Keith Mann (John Clavette, ex-Strange Pleasure), and Brian Higgins (Lost Cause Desperados, the recently reformed Colepitz). The whole affair is presided over by The Fuge, who also hosts bingo monthly at Geno’s. As if that weren’t enough, local photographer Samuel Cousins is on hand to preserve your glory in full color.
With lyrics projected on a large screen, but without the countdowns and bouncing balls to provide you with cues, KTK requires strong familiarity with your song of choice. Only a few shows in, Trainwreck has a relatively small, yet wide-ranging, selection of songs, including Gordon Lightfoot, Motorhead, Janis Joplin, and Weezer. If something else strikes your fancy, suggest it and the band will gladly add it to their repertoire.
Related:
Boo-ya!, Rare treats, Review: Taam China Glatt Kosher Chinese Cuisine, More 
- Boo-ya!
Maybe it’s because dressing up as the economy would be kind of lame, but I’m haven’t heard Jack O’Shit in the way of truly scary costume ideas this year.
- Rare treats
They've dined you, they've wined you with meals both wonderful and offal.
- Review: Taam China Glatt Kosher Chinese Cuisine
Theoretically, there could be terrific kosher Chinese restaurants.
- Review: Left 4 Dead
Playing Left 4 Dead is like taking a personality test: you can't hide your true nature.
- Punisher: War Zone
As former commando turned Cosa Nostra terminator Frank Castle, Ray Stevenson is pretty much what you'd expect — all business.
- Josephs Two
It's tough to be a punctuation stickler who writes about restaurants.
- Review: Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective began as a band of fringe weirdos, but over time they've dropped the freak from their folk.
- 163 Vietnamese Sandwich
163 Vietnamese Sandwich is a typical slightly shabby Chinatown storefront.
- Review: Waltz With Bashir
The so-called anti-war-film genre has lately "distinguished" itself with a flurry of Iraq-war flops featuring earnest polemics.
- Review: Defiance
Edward Zwick directs the true-ish tale of the Bielskis.
- Review: Lord of the Rings: Conquest
First, panic — "This can't possibly be this awful, can it?" — and then the sinking realization that, yes, Conquest really is that bad.
- Less
Topics:
New England Music News
, Celebrity News, Entertainment, Music Stars, More
, Celebrity News, Entertainment, Music Stars, Music, Pop and Rock Music, Janis Joplin, Motorhead, Weezer, Gordon Lightfoot, Kenny Rogers, Less
