www.montereycountynow.com JULY 25-31, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 27 Each have a unique twist on the singing activity. “The whole restaurant is always filled,” says Tatiana Rodriguez of Los Dos Potrillos, where Spanish karaoke nights happen every Friday from 6:3011pm. The draw is so big that even the restaurant’s owner, Carlos Murillo, regularly attends. On theme with his restaurant is his go-to karaoke song, “Los Dos Vicios” by Los Cadetes. The relatively young Main Street brewery Brew-N-Krew just recently started an interactive Spanish karaoke night on Fridays (as of July 5) with a “Say goodbye to your ex” night. Marlene Garcia of Brew-N-Krew hosts, dressed in a summery red dress and high heels. She picks up a microphone and begins walking through the brewery, dropping other self-amplifying microphones at all of the tables. Eight women are sitting at a couple of tables in the corner. “You’re going to love the way we sing,” says Karina Rocha, who is sitting with the group. She has a less-than-quiet swagger about her. Her mother, relatives and in-laws are accompanying her. The theme of the night and the rest of the summer, according to Garcia, is “heartbreak.” Garcia begins walking throughout the brewery telling a story from her life in Spanish about how she is still in love with a man who doesn’t love her back. She paints a tapestry of unrequited love in her words: she has lost her engagement ring and her wedding dress is still hanging in her mother’s room. She then asks everyone in the audience to raise their hand if they’ve had their heart broken. That’s followed with a more personal question—has anyone ever broken a heart? Every hand in the room shoots up. A “nurse” then brings out a first aid kit—with potions and dusts intended to make her and her guests realize the reality of this heartbreak. A pill bottle that says ¡Ay Te Dejó! (Spanish slang for “they left you”) is brought out, and a pretend dust is sprinkled on those receptive to Garcia’s story. The purpose of the “medicine” is to make everyone understand the gravity of heartbreak. The only way to heal? To sing. Immediately after, the music starts and Rocha takes the microphone with confidence. She banters with the host despite not knowing Garcia. Then she hits every note of the late Jenni Rivera’s “La Chacalosa.” It is a song that, though controversial because of its implications in drug culture, tells the story of a powerful female figure. Heartbreak may be palpable, but so is the strength of femininity. “We’re already weird,” Garcia says, remarking on the uniqueness of the miniature brewery on Main Street in Salinas. She says the staff here is used to asking themselves, “How do we bring people in?” Locally, interactive karaoke is unique to Brew-N-Krew, where audience members can simply pick up a cordless microphone from a table and join in. In between songs, the “nurse” goes around and checks audience members’ hearts with a stethoscope, adding to the fun. The rest of the evening at Brew-NKrew is filled with popular songs often been heard in Mexican households, according to Garcia. Collective karaoke takes on a life of its own, not just with hits by Jenni Rivera, but classic tunes like “La Carcacha” and “Si Una Vez” by Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano Music, as well. The heartbreak theme is relatable, and most know the lyrics. Beyond the “we take care of our own” community aspects are the individuals who make karaoke a sight to be seen. People come to karaoke first and foremost to express themselves, according to hosts and participants, whether they are regulars or not. On a Monday evening, Liam Fahey, Ian Anderson and Daniel Bustan drove down from Santa Cruz to sing “I’m Sorry Ms. Jackson” by OutKast together at Sly’s. Though the night isn’t as popular as at others like Britannia Arms, they came prepared. “We love karaoke. We practiced the song twice in the car,” they explain. They understand there’s no expectation of being good. “It’s actually better if you’re bad,” says Fahey, who plays in a jazz band in Santa Cruz and uses karaoke as a means of practice. Karaoke in Monterey County is ubiquitous. Establishments that take it seriously understand the aspects of a built-in economy, drawing regulars who come for the performance and become customers. But the availability of karaoke nights isn’t what makes them special. It’s the energy supported by the community that does that. Microphones by definition amplify an otherwise-unseen identity for singers and hosts alike. Anyone who tries karaoke, whether a veteran singer or timid first-timer will find a way to make themselves shine. That’s what the karaoke community continues to show up for. In Martinez’s case, he recalls several times that people have recognized him for his creative outlet. “That’s how a lot of people know me,” he says. “They say to me, ‘I’ve seen you do karaoke and you [sing] Wild Horses,’” proving that a go-to karaoke song is a more vivid picture than only our outward appearance. Above: Baylie Noel (left) dances as Krystal Pham sings “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston. At left: A woman who goes by Blue Hair Clair sings at Sovino Wine Bar on a Friday night. “You don’t have to be good to sing karaoke. No one judges.”
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