Karaoke kicks out the jams

Ashley Cook photo.

J.P. Raineri performs an Evanescence song with Valley News’ staff, family and friends during karaoke.

Ashley Cook photo.

Photographer Paul Gallaher, writer Danielle Gallaher and multimedia producer J.P. Raineri of the Valley News hang out at Buffalo Wild Wings during karaoke night.

Paul Gallaher photo.

Todd Jennison performs karaoke at Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar in Murrieta on May 23.

Ashley Cook

Valley News Staff

Friday, May 29^th, 2009.
Issue 22, Volume 9.

The Valley News went to Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar in Murrieta last Saturday around 9 p.m. for karaoke night.

Me, Danielle and Paul Gallaher, J.P. Raineri, Julie Reeder and anyone else who wants to come from our staff will be going to a different venue once a week.

Last week we put a notice on this page letting everyone know we would be there and to come and meet and greet us. Everyone in the valley was invited. We didn’t know what to expect.

The Valley News will try to go somewhere every week, not necessarily for karaoke but for other entertainment nights as well.

We will write a story and shoot photos and video.

I don’t do karaoke.

I did it once at the Pitcher House in Hermosa Beach about seven years ago. I sang Janis Joplin’s version of "Me and Bobby Magee."

It was the only song I was really comfortable doing.

The bartender said I did the best rendition she’d ever seen. That made me proud.

I’ve recently gone to bars when they’ve had karaoke, such as the Stagecoach Inn on Friday nights in Aguanga, but as much as I wish I had the nerve to go up and sing a Beatles song – my favorite band – I hadn’t felt good enough.

Last weekend I wanted to sing something so bad, because if I didn’t, I would’ve wished I had.

I remembered listening to "Eternal Flame" by the Bangles on the radio while driving to work one morning a few weeks ago. I sang along to it in the car at the time.

The night before our outing to Buffalo Wild Wings I downloaded it from iTunes along with a bunch of other ’80s hits to at least comprise a full playlist worth burning and listening to and I practiced.

Other songs that interested me were "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar and "I Touch Myself" by the Divinyls.

It would take extra practice to do "Heartbreaker" and the Divinyls might’ve been a little risqué, since there were a few children in the audience, but that didn’t stop Brett Tiernan of Murrieta from singing Nine Inch Nails’ "Closer."

Over the last seven years I’ve been around musicians a lot. They tend to carry acoustic guitars in their back pockets.

My ex-boyfriend was in a band and we used to sit at home and make up songs all the time.

By Saturday and seven years later, I felt a little prepared, a little confident.

I am shy and it’s hard not to care what other people think. I don’t belt out long stretches of high notes, because I kind of sound like Cameron Diaz in "My Best Friend’s Wedding" at times.

I am, however, more comfortable with rhythm, having had talented people surround me daily as well as having an interest in good music in general.

I sang "Eternal Flame" and it was fun. I will definitely be doing karaoke again in the future.

Before jumping into a cab at around 1 a.m., karaoke junky Todd Jennison stated, ණ.9 percent of the time everyone has had a few cocktails, so they’re enjoying it. It’s just for pure enjoyment."

He and Tiernan agreed that those who are a little afraid to go up just have to do it. Don’t care what other people think and have a good time.

Danielle and J.P. sang "(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from the movie "Dirty Dancing."

Jennison sang "The Gambler" by Kenny Rodgers: "You got to know when to hold ’em / Know when to fold ’em / Know when to walk away and know when to run."

With both and many other songs that night, the crowd sang too.

Karaoke jockey Art Farrell of Art Works Entertainment said Saturday night was kind of slow and awkward because of the UFC fight.

Wednesday is the night to come, he said. A couple hundred people show up and a lot more singers perform.

We will be back sometime soon on that night.

Karaoke Nights in the Valley

Buffalo Wild Wings, Murrieta

• Wednesday and Saturday, 9 p.m.-close

Texas Lil’s, Temecula

• Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

• Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m.-close

• Sunday, 7-11 p.m. (children allowed Sunday)

Corner Pocket, Murrieta