Featured

The vocal maestro’s guide to karaoke in Philly

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

Welcome back! Follow us on Twitter, subscribe for FREE, or become a fan on Facebook to win tickets to Philadelphia events.