Happenings on the Scene: Why just sing in the shower when you can sing with the band?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/02/2016 (3769 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Live band karaoke” is certainly nothing new but it is a rarity in Westman. My first experience with this fun concept was back in ’05 or ’06 with my old three-piece band The Whip. I distinctly recall my bandmates Mike and Craig and I pulling this off at the Vivian out in Neepawa.

We played the standard three-set show both nights of that particular weekend. We promoted the live karaoke portion of the show throughout the first two sets and turned the third set into a showcase of the singers who were brave enough to sign up and jump up on stage to sing with us.

We put our song lists on each table of the bar along with sign-up sheets so nobody would come up and pick a song we didn’t know. We also provided lyric sheets for those who needed them. I think we ended up getting a couple singers each night.

By the way, the reason we left the live karaoke part to the last set was simple — it provided more time for patrons or aspiring rock stars to build up some liquid courage.

Since that first attempt at the live band karaoke thing, I’ve heard of it becoming a regular feature at many a venue throughout North America. There are even clubs built around the live band karaoke concept.

These places go as far as recording your performance and selling the disc, mp3, DVD or whatever format to those who wish to take home a keepsake. They’ll then create a Top 10 chart on their websites or Facebook pages to get more people involved by voting for their favourites — sort of a homespun “American Idol”, if you will.

There are even bands built around this concept. These bands stay busy playing corporate gigs, weddings and clubs as they take the interactive aspect of live band karaoke to the nth degree by incorporating costumes, video and more to the mix.

My latest experience of live karaoke in B-Town was a couple weeks back at the Prairie Firehouse when the top-notch local group The Middle Coast hosted such an event. The band was into it and the crowd was really into it!

Let’s face it, singing along to a recorded karaoke track while you follow the bouncing ball on the screen may be fun, but there’s nothing quite like the rush you get when you’re singing on stage with a live band.

Live band karaoke puts you in the spotlight in front of a live band. No computer screen, no pre-recorded music … this is THE REAL THING, starring YOU as the lead vocalist of a real live rock band!

Don’t settle for sharing the stage with just a mic stand and a computer screen. Now you can share it with lights, amplifiers, real drums, and a kick-ass band … all there to back you up.

Liam Duncan, the keyboardist and vocalist with The Middle Coast, says the number of participants was more than they expected for their first foray with this concept.

“We had six or seven people sing karaoke with us, and then about six bands, songwriters, and duos took the stage for the open mic portion of the event,” he said.

So what song went over best?

“It was Hannah Van De Woestyne who sang ‘I Don’t Know Why’ with the live band karaoke team that went very well. Also Lisa Cochrane and MacKenzie Knight brought the house down by singing a duet by Civil Wars called ‘Barton Hollow’.”

Another fun aspect of live band karaoke is the element of unpredictability during numbers that have been unrehearsed. This is something that can provide moments of zaniness, according to Duncan.

“Well, Carolyn Gwyer, director of Neelin choirs, came up and requested ‘Don’t Stop Believing,’ which she slayed. But believe it or not, none of usreallyknew how to play that one. So it was a little interesting.”

To prevent many moments like that, Duncan says there are two ways people can get in touch with the band to arrange the songs in advance.

“They can join the FB event and request it there, or email their request to middlecoastband@gmail.com.” According to Duncan there won’t be many, if any, limits of the type of songs they’ll attempt — “Absolutely not. We’ll do anything. Bieber to Sinatra.”

It’s safe to say the premiere of live band karaoke was a success.

“The band and the venue were quite excited by how the first attempt at live band karaoke went,” Duncan said. When asked if it will be a regular thing, he responded with an enthusiastic “Yes! We are currently figuring out what would work best, but we are thinking every second Wednesday.”

So there you have it. The fun will begin around 9 p.m. and the live karaoke house band will be The Middle Coast. Drink and food specials help you get in the right frame of mind to rock out.

So keep an ear to the ground, or Face to the book and maybe spend the next few weeks of showers sharpening up on your Bowie, Journey, Queen, AC/DC or what have you and get ready to hit the stage with a live band.

After a short set by The Middle Coast, karaokers will take the stage. The live band karaoke portion of the show will then be followed by an open mic/jam that will happen on a first come, first served basis.

No cover — just bring your friends and your instruments!

Frank McGwire is a veteran of the local radio industry, a musician and booster of the music scene in Brandon and Westman.

» opinion@brandonsun.com