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Though commonly credited to the Japanese, karaoke was initially used when Neanderthal cave-dweller, Og, first employed the atonal falsetto screech commonly displayed by modern by practitioners of this art. Og was holding a stick like microphone when he pointed at his buddy, Noz, over by the campfire and began singing. Noz thought it was the latest Top 40 hit “There’s a saber-toothed tiger behind you”, by the Rolling Stones. Yes, those Rolling Stones. They are that old. Look it up.
Unfortunately for Noz, there really was a saber-toothed tiger behind him and Og was trying to sound the warning. Both men died tragically in the ensuing attack and karaoke was not revived until the early 1970’s when Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue invented the first karaoke machine.
In case there is a person out there who doesn’t know, karaoke is when the lead vocals are removed from a popular song. Though not always, alcohol is frequently involved when the performer takes the stage to sing along with the remaining music through a PA system. Now a worldwide phenomenon, Philadelphia has its share of karaoke bars and contests where you and a dozen of your closest friends can go to shake a vocal cord and show the world what a star you should be.
Here’s a guide to the karaoke establishments in Philadelphia waiting to make you famous.
2nd Place Tavern Karaoke, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 9pm-1am
Gaul St and Clementine St, Philadelphia
5th St Cafe Karaoke, Wednesdays, 9pm-1am
N 5th St and W Rockland St, Philadelphia
Applebee’s Karaoke, Thursdays, 9pm-12am
215 S 15th, Philadelphia
Barristers Karaoke, Wednesdays, 9:30pm-1am
1823 Sansom St, Philadelphia
Blarney Stone Karaoke, Saturdays, 10pm-1:30am
3929 Sansom St, Philadelphia
Cheers to You Karaoke, Thursdays, 9:30pm-1:30am
430 South St, Philadelphia
Coley’s Tavern Karaoke, Saturdays, 9:30pm-2am
3rd and Porter St, Philadelphia
Downey’s Karaoke, Saturdays, 11pm-1:30am
526 S Front St, Philadelphia
Elephant & Castle Karaoke, Saturdays, 10pm-1am
1800 Market St, Philadelphia
Finnegan’s Wake Karaoke, Wednesdays, 9:30pm-1:30am
547 N 3rd St, Philadelphia
Fishtown Tavern Karaoke, Saturdays, 10pm-1am
Frankford St and Thompson St, Philadelphia
Locust Bar Karaoke, Sundays, 7pm-12am
10th and Locust, Phildelphia
Ly Michael’s Karaoke, Sundays, 10pm-12am
101 N 11th St, Philadelphia
McGillin’s Karaoke, Sundays, 8pm-12am, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30pm-1:20am
1310 Drury Lane, Philadelphia
Moriarty’s Karaoke, Saturdays, 9pm-1:30am
1116 Walnut St, Philadelphia
M Room Karaoke, 3rd Mondays Showtune Karaoke, 10pm-1am, 3rd Thursdays Puppet Karaoke, 10pm-1am
15 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia
National Mechanics Karaoke, Tuesdays, 9pm-1:30am
22 South 3rd St, Philadelphia
New Deck Tavern Karaoke, Tuesdays 10pm-2am
3408 Sansom St, Philadelphia
Nicholas Tavern Karaoke, Saturdays, 9pm-1am
2nd and Oregon Ave, Philadelphia
Oharas Fish House Karaoke, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9pm-1:30am
3900 chestnut St, Philadelphia
Prince Cafe Karaoke, 3rd Saturdays, 9pm-1am
Princeton Ave and Vandike St, Philadelphia
Pure Karaoke, Saturdays, 9:30pm-1:30am, Cover for nonmembers
1221 Saint James St, Philadelphia
Quattro Bar & Grill Karaoke, Tuesdays, 9pm-1am
13th and Shunk St, Philadelphia
Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar Karaoke, Fridays, 10pm-1:30am
1200 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia
Reales Sports Karaoke, Thursdays, 9:30pm-1:30am
7233 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia
Samba Karaoke, Thursdays, 8pm-1am
714 Girard Ave, Philadelphia
Sisters Karaoke, Thursdays, 10pm-1am
1320 Chancellor St, Philadelphia
Smokey Joe’s Karaoke, Mondays, 11pm-2am
210 S 40th St, Philadelphia
The Abbaye Karaoke, Sundays, 11pm-2am
637 N 3rd St, Philadelphia
The Happy Rooster, Thursdays, 10pm-1:30am
118 S 16th St, Philadelphia
Trocadero Balcony Bar Karaoke, Last Tuesdays, 9pm-1:30am
1003 Arch St, Philadelphia
Twelve Steps Down Karaoke, 1st Thursdays, 9pm-2am
831 Christian St, Philadelphia
Upstairs at The Khyber Karaoke, Mondays, 9pm-1:30am
56 S Second St, Philadelphia
Know of a karaoke night we’ve missed? Let us know! events@thisweekinphilly.com
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