Walk in the Woods
Short #4: Jeff’s Bucket Shop
Blake was the first person I knew to mention the Shop and it became part of our Friday nights, birthdays, and bachelor parties. It was, in a way, the place we gathered to have a laugh and let go whatever the previous week dumped on us. And, while it’s true that Jeff’s is similar to many bars across the United States, what made it unique was the patrons. That’s the real reason the Shop kept us coming back.
There are two ways to sing karaoke. The first approach is to close your eyes and belt out your favorite song as though your were contestant on a reality singing show. If you choose this path, give it your best effort and don’t look back. Please, grab the microphone and tilt your head back. This tact works well for people who have talent and a God-given ability to sing in public. I advise you to pick a song you know by heart and in your vocal range, and stay away from singers with incredible range like Whitney Houston or Freddy Mercury.
The second approach to karaoke is to have fun and this is what I recommend for budding karaoke enthusiast. Be ironic and choose a song like Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” or the crowd pleasing “Family Tradition” by Hank Williams Jr. Give the people a performance and don’t worry about pitch or key.
With this in mind, I have a few more tips to help you enjoy your evening:
1) Hip Hop/rap songs are fun if you know the lyrics. I’ve watched plenty of people freeze mid song because they thought they knew lines to Rapper’s Delight.
2) Karaoke is best with a group of friends. I suggest at least five of your best mates. You’ll want that support when the music hits and the whole bar is staring at your face.
3) Always tip the karaoke MC. Yes, always.
4) To loosen your vocal cords and get your head in the right space, drink a cheap beer or two- the cheaper the better. Karaoke is not a snobby hobby and I will not abide martinis or any adult beverage over $4.
5) Depending on the city, arrive after dinner but leave before the frat boys crash the party. In a city like Charlotte, that window is from 9 PM til 1 AM.
6) And finally, should you ever visit Nashville, Tennessee, make your way to Santa’s Pub in south Nashville off Bransford Avenue. It is without rival for both quality and enjoyment whether you decide to sit or sing.
Charlotte was loaded with karaoke options in 2010 but none finer than Jeff’s Bucket Shop which is a ten minute stroll up Park Road from Valley Stream Road. I can’t remember my first song or my last, but I remember plenty from our frequent visits.
Jeff’s Bucket Shop- more commonly known as “The Shop”- is in a basement under a rotisserie chicken restaurant on Montford Avenue. As you walk inside, the bar is to the right and the stage is on the back wall to the left. The large blue neon sign hanging from the wall behind the stage is the only decoration in the room. The karaoke MC is set up to the right of the stage. Booths line the outer edges of the bar with a half dozen small tables set back from stage a few steps from the bar.
Blake was the first person to mention the Shop and it became part of our Friday nights, birthdays, and bachelor parties. It was, in a way, the place we gathered to have a laugh and let go whatever the previous week. And, while it’s true that Jeff’s is similar to many bars across the United States, what made it unique was the patrons. That’s the real reason the Shop kept us coming back.
His name is Dave. He was just over six feet tall, sported white jeans, and was from either Brazil or Eastern Europe. The Shop was unusually tame when he was called to the stage. Blake and I had only just arrived to reserve one of the corner booths. While I retrieved a copy of the song list from the MC, Blake ordered the first round. Then, the music hit. Out of nowhere and with all the gusto of a TV preacher, Dave began to sing. In reality, it wasn’t singing. He sang-yelled- in very broken english- half the words to Who Let the Dogs Out. I stood in awe of his charisma and flair.
When chorus came, Who let the dogs out? (Who, who, who, who), our hero began to bark and gyrate across stage. Then, he twirled and tangled himself in the microphone cord and forgot to sing the second line of the song. The previously languid Shop came alive. Dave was soon joined on stage by several new friend, and everyone in the bar helped sing the final chorus. He was cheered as the champion he was as the song finished and the MC summed up the performance in the only way possible, “That’s Dave everybody. And, don’t you fucking forget it!”