In 2004 the Lion’s Den Lounge in the Eugene Red Lion Hotel held an unusual karaoke night. “Will and Grace” star Eric McCormack, “Batman & Robin” actor Chris O’Donnell and actress Erika Christensen of “Swimfan” candidly hit the highs and lows with Eugene residents while in town during the shooting of the film “The Sisters.” The celebrities were surrounded by a crowd with at least one thing in common: a passion for karaoke.
“All of them seemed to have a good time,” Lounge Supervisor Brian Johnson said.
Karaoke, a form of art, entertainment, occasionally self-inflicted embarrassment, and performance, runs rampant nearly every day of the week at various bars and lounges in Eugene. The 21-and-over set doesn’t need celebrity credentials, or even a decent voice, to have a blast.
At the Red Lion Hotel, 205 Coburg Road, karaoke is held weekly on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. in the lounge. Dan Henson, of Dan Henson’s Classic Karaoke, is booked four nights in a row.
Wednesday is “Wrangler Night,” and participants are encouraged to pull out their tightest jeans and cowboy boots and sing along with the likes of Brooks and Dunn, among other country music names.
Predictably, Johnson said Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights, attracting 50 to 70 spectators and singers.
“It can get pretty packed,” Johnson said.
According to Johnson, college students are common at the lounge on weekends and mix in comfortably with older crowds. Henson knows how to please all types.
“His music is really eclectic. (He) does a lot of dance music and will mix it up throughout the night depending on what people want. He is very professional and has a great sense of what people want,” Johnson said.
At the Black Forest, located at 50 E. 11th Ave., Jared Ritzer puts on a compilation that ranges from old standards, courtesy of Sinatra, to new radio spins by modern-day divas. On Sunday and Monday, beginning at around 9 p.m. and concluding around 2 a.m., “scary-oke,” as one of the bartenders has taken to calling it, fills the air.
“I know it sounds corny, but I enjoy seeing people having fun and singing,” Ritzer said.
The DJ has been at Black Forest for three years and working in Eugene for 10 years, although he originally started in Las Vegas 15 years ago. Ritzer and three others, known as Caught in the Act Productions, run 11 shows a week.
Jessica Paine, assistant manager at Black Forest, said typically almost two dozen singers give it their all, but nearly that many prefer to just watch the show.
“About 30 to 40 percent are students. It is a wide demographic. We get 21 and up to the 60s. They all seem to be enjoying it,” Paine said.
The lounge also hosts an annual karaoke tournament once a year. The promotional event normally includes a $1,000 first prize. Participants pay $5 to “try out” and can re-buy into the tournament at various times if they do not qualify for the semi-finals. The last contest was held approximately five months ago, according to Paine.
Jeb Wilhelm, a bartender at the Downtown Lounge (Diablo’s is upstairs), located at 959 Pearl St., said Sunday nights are kung-fu themed and attract regulars. The lounge plays classic kung fu films, such as 1979’s “Dragon Fist,” which features a young Jackie Chan.
“Every night we get the same group of people: A bunch of really good singers from the U of O. Roughly 60 percent are college students,” he said.
University student, staff member and DJ Dave Gomez lights up the party for anywhere between 20 to 60 customers with rock, R&B, rap and even some seasonal tunes between 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
“The staff essentially helps people have a good time. People come in, have drinks, sing songs and have fun,” Wilhelm said.
All across town there is consensus about the vocal qualities necessary for karaoke: great singers and not-so-great alike are welcome.
“No one ever judges you,” Paine said. “Even bad singers are applauded.”