Why karaoke nights in Cincinnati are actually kinda beautiful

I am not a great singer.

I mean, I’m okay, but I don’t have the natural ease and flow of someone born with innate talent. But when I step on stage for karaoke, it doesn’t matter. Karaoke isn’t about talent. It’s about passion. And what I love most about karaoke is that it’s a place for everyone. From the mediocre shower singers and car crooners to the Broadway hopefuls and musical theater junkies, there is always a song they can use to express themselves on any given Sunday. Or Tuesday. Or Thursday.

For this story, I ventured to some of my favorite karaoke nights to do research. My goal, initially, was to go to a different karaoke night every single night of the week. This proved imprudent for a responsible adult woman with a day job, so I’ll tell you about the nights I experienced and, for all the ones I haven’t been to yet, well, maybe we can all go there together.

But we have to do a shot of tequila first.

Do stuff: Top 10 Cincinnati events this weekend

Arlin’s, Tuesdays 

I’ve been to Tuesday night karaoke on the patio at Arlin’s (in Clifton) several times. The mix of patrons at Arlin’s is always super diverse and that roulette of individuals makes for a super fun night. You never know what you’re gonna get.

My friend Alexandra, a classically-trained singer who also sings for the May Festival, brought the house down with her rendition of the 2009 dirty rap classic “BedRock" by Young Money. The incongruence of Alex singing this basement college party song dead serious is a perfect encapsulation of the sweet chaos of karaoke – and a perfect karaoke song choice.

Here, we will digress for a moment so I can impart to you the wisdom I’ve learned from my many years of karaoke attendance.

“What should I sing?” is the natural follow-up question you might ask yourself after you’ve answered affirmatively to, “Should I sing?” at karaoke night. Don’t question yourself, if you’ve already said yes to going down the rabbit hole of amateur public performance. Just do it. It’s worth it.

Rachel Kae, the KJ (karaoke DJ) on Thursday nights at the Northside Tavern, has the best answer to the original question.

“It’s about the choice, not the voice,” she told me on a recent karaoke trip. It blew my mind and reframed my whole perspective on karaoke. A strong choice will make up for a weaker voice, every time. It goes back to the whole “fake it ‘til you make it” philosophy. Keep this in mind as we continue.

Tokyo Kitty, any night 

A neon-bedecked karaoke lounge on Fourth Street (Downtown) with a beyond-fun mirrored entry hall, Tokyo Kitty offers several rooms for rent by the hour and group size, and there’s a large communal stage in the main bar area.

Six of my friends and I crowded into one room on a recent Wednesday, and our range of song choices would make Rachel proud. My friend Emma nailed a berserk and amazing Bjork song that includes several loud exclamations of “Shhh, shhh!” My friend Pam crushed “These Boots Were Made For Walking” by Nancy Sinatra, and my friend Stacy filled the room with '80s synth during her rendition of “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie. Each of these songs are as idiosyncratic as their singers, exemplifying the individuality and uniqueness of karaoke.

I really do think, for the space of a three or four-minute song, people are able to express something of themselves that they might not normally. Or, for me personally, I am able to embody a different iteration of myself that I typically channel in other ways. I am an extrovert, but not a performer. However, when given the opportunity to perform, I rise to the challenge, because I love it. It’s freeing precisely because it is not my best skill. I will never be in a musical or give a dramatic reading, but when it comes time to sing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler, I am fully and totally in my element.

The Lounge, Wednesdays 

I was invited to a new karaoke night at the Lounge at Northside's Liberty Exhibition Hall. The place bills itself as a living room away from home, and with its quirky mix of decor and furniture, swaths of Christmas lights, and no actual stage, it really does kind of feel like you’re singing karaoke at home, albeit with booze you pay for and a handful of strangers.

The KJ is Jeremy Harrison, who also runs karaoke Sunday night at the Northside Yacht Club. Jeremy’s karaoke leadership is wild and exuberant – he’ll join in backing vocals on a song and then for the next he’s dropping in a fart sound.

My best friend Ana regaled the room with a radio-ready version of “Together Again” by Janet Jackson, and 12 seconds in, in a completely authentic reaction, Jeremy exclaimed, “What the f---?” He spoke for the whole room. We were fans holding lighters at an arena concert for the entirety of the song. It was one of those amazing karaoke moments when an excellent singer transfixes the entire audience.

Tiki Tiki Bang Bang, Wednesdays

I met Anthony “Tony” Wilson at a different karaoke night and we got to talking about the experience. Tony is an avowed karaoke fan, so much so that he started hosting his own karaoke nights. He invited me to stop by and check it out, so I got seven friends together and off we went to Tiki Tiki Bang Bang (Walnut Hills), which is basically a tropical disco. There’s no stage here, either, just a space at the back of the bar, and there’s something about these kinds of karaoke nights, where the vibes all mix together, that I really do love.

One of my friends, Meredith, who had never tried karaoke in her life, tore up “What A Feeling” from "Flashdance." It was supremely galvanizing – the whole room was clapping and cheering, scream-singing the chorus. “Take your passion, and make it happen!” Truer words. Our friend Casey sang the millennial childhood favorite “I’ll Make A Man Out of You” from 1998’s "Mulan." The camaraderie we felt was palpable. People singing songs you know and haven’t heard for years is one of the most fun aspects of karaoke. It’s like Spotify shuffle, only in real life and with alcohol.

Northside Tavern, Thursdays

Back to Rachel’s karaoke at Northside Tavern. This is the kind of place where you can, like me, try out entirely new songs and feel 100% supported by the crowd. No one makes fun of anyone, no one is rude or heckling. In fact, I’ve never been to a karaoke night that is anything but supportive.

Keeping the “choice, not voice” philosophy in mind, I chose “Cloudbusting” by Kate Bush, and a group of women crowded to the front and sang the chorus along with me. It’s such a fun and specific high to lead everyone in unison – I understand how cult leaders and pop stars must feel when I’m singing karaoke.

There are a few regulars at every karaoke, and Julian at Rachel’s stood out for me. They did two Cake songs back to back, and the whole room was absolutely vibing.

Higher Gravity, Thursdays

Sean Hafer, proprietor of Karaoke Fantastic, runs this particular night in Northside. (If you've noticed a theme, yes, Northside is crazy for some karaoke.) I’ve been to so many of Sean’s karaoke nights at different venues across the city, including at the old Kaze on Vine and the Drinkery on Main, and he is as efficient and fun as can be.

My friend Alex – who might love karaoke as much as I do – joined again for this round, and she did an incredible rendition of “Daddy Lessons” by Beyonce. My friend Emalene gave us the treat of “All Star” by Smash Mouth. These two songs are another important lesson on choice versus voice (though Emalene is also a wonderful singer) – some songs require skill, and some require skill and a sense of humor.

I don’t usually recommend karaoke on a first date. But sometimes, you’re a journalist researching karaoke nights who only has so much time on her hands, so you schedule a first date on a karaoke night. And honestly, you can get a good read on folks at karaoke nights. How they respond to good singers, how they respond to bad singers and how they respond in general to the potentially embarrassing act of singing in public. It’s a free character assessment. (My own karaoke first date experience has led to a boyfriend, so yeah, it can work.)

Northside Tavern, Sexy Time Live Band Karaoke, first Fridays

I’ve saved my favorite for last. I’ve been attending Sexy Time Live Band Karaoke for years. I don’t know when I started going and I don’t know why or how I found out about it. It doesn’t matter. Five musicians with other jobs and bands come together to perform songs live on stage, and you as the singer get to go up there and be a rockstar. It is truly the most fun.

I went on April 7 and it was one of the best nights of my post-pandemic life. I hadn’t been to Live Band Karaoke in ages because of COVID and then because I'm a busy bee. The stars aligned, I went, and I was able to sign up twice. The band plays four sets, with roughly a dozen songs per set. You can only choose from a list of 100 or so songs, spanning eras and genres and taste, and each song is only performed once per night.

I chose “Keep On Loving You” by REO Speedwagon for this go around. I had a blast. It reaffirmed everything I love about karaoke, only magnified because I was singing with the full power of a professional band behind me. Talk about living out your rock 'n' roll fantasy.

And that, my friends, concludes my raucous recent karaoke adventures. There are tons of other karaoke spots across the city.

A few other favorite karaoke nights around Cincinnati

• Tostado’s (Columbia Tusculum): A flat-out fantastically fun Mexican joint with karaoke after 10 p.m. every night.

• The Loon (Northside): A super chill wine bar with karaoke on the third Sunday of the month.

• Northside Yacht Club (Northside): Sundays.

• Stillhouse (Over-the-Rhine): Karaoke with Lady Phaedra on Wednesdays.

• The Chameleon (Northside): Wednesdays.

• Esoteric Brewing (Walnut Hills): Karaoke by Jeremy Wood on Wednesdays.

• Gypsy’s Mainstrasse (Covington): Wednesdays.

• Cosmic Gorilla (Over-the-Rhine): Disney Karaoke on the last Thursday of the month.

• Wunderbar (Covington): Thursdays with Will Corson.

• Olde Towne Tavern (Covington): Fridays.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Karaoke near me in Cincinnati: Tokyo Kitty, Northside Tavern, Arlin's