The living stories of Seattle’s favorite karaoke spots in the age

There’s nothing better at shattering the ‘Seattle Freeze’ than a night of Karaoke. This nocturnal pastime welcomes the anonymous, the slightly drunk, and the go-getters all the same. Singing Karaoke is an act of letting go and expressing oneself without judgement or fear.To get more news about Karaoke CBD Melbourne, you can visit starsktv.com.au official website.

Many of Seattle’s Karaoke establishments also serve as a nexus of community. Providing space for celebration, as longtime friends and regulars convene underneath the dancing glow of lyric screens.

But all of this changed on March 16, 2020, with the state-ordered closure of all restaurants and bars to curb the spread of COVID-19.

As of now, many of these businesses remain closed, or not fully open. And despite progress in vaccine development, it’s likely that the necessity of physical distancing will endure through 2021.

In an effort to better understand the past, present, and future of Karaoke in Seattle, we linked up with three distinct Karaoke establishments in Seattle to learn about their struggles and hopes during this confluence of crises. Serving the Northern University District since 1993, Monkey Pub is a humble dive bar that is home to an eclectic group of regulars and walk-ins alike. It’s walls, plastered with worn posters and collages of polaroids, tell countless stories; as if every person that stepped inside has, in some way or another, left a mark that remains to this day.

In the early 2000s, one of the bartenders, inspired by a Neil Diamond concert, brought a used Karaoke machine to the bar. Unknowingly, this led to regular Karaoke nights at the pub, consistently bringing in new customers.

Juan Rowland has been the Tuesday night Karaoke-Jockey (KJ) for over six years. He’s become a fixture at Monkey Pub, known for his gregarious and welcoming presence. “There are some big personalities that come in here every week.” He laughs, “It’s my job to try to get the personality to come out of the new people that come in.”

Like every other bar in the city, Monkey Pub stopped service in late March. It was able to briefly re-open, but its lack of outdoor seating space became detrimental.

“We were open from mid-June to the end of July,” explains bar manager Anthony Rewerts, “That’s when they went to 10% capacity and we had to have a patio and would only be open till 10. We didn’t have a lot of business before then.”

Still, the short opening offered a respite for its loyal community of regulars. They even coordinated among themselves to split their visits between Friday and Saturday night so as not to overcrowd the bar.

Nowadays with the bar closed again until they can feasibly reopen with later hours and higher capacity, Anthony is often Monkey Pub’s only guest.