Karaoke Review: 10-12

This past weekend I sent out an email announcing Operation Cool Human Shield, an event which occurs when there is a Monday holiday coming up.   This is a tradition begun a couple of years ago, & I’m blessed with caring, protective, cool, alcoholic friends who answer the call.

The good news is that my sinuses are in better shape.   Does this mean the vog is clearing out?   Probably not, but I surely enjoyed a clearer head range last night.   In fact, it was an exceptional range night for me, as I was able to belt (I know, I’m naughty) the bridge of Patty Smyth’s “I Should Be Laughing,” a feat which normally would be at least a full step above impossible for me.

As mentioned in my email, Tom & I met at 7 to practice.   We started out with Fiction Plane’s “Two Sisters,” the only new song in our lineup.   Our initial attempt went fairly smoothly, with a little discussion on moderation of the guitar solo & other minor details.   I guess the tempo is a little fast.   I wasn’t sure how well this song would translate acoustically, but it seems to have worked out well.

I’m listening to recordings from last night as I type this.   The evening was characterized by 3 unexpected events: the much welcomed visit from KK, who relieved Mele of the Karaoke Bitch role for the evening, my already mentioned ranged emancipation, & my decision to educate myself on gin.

KK warmed up with “My Baby You,” & then I had to hear him sing “Bring Him Home.”   He followed with “25 or 6 to 4,” “3 Libras” & “Faithfully,” no doubt as a comparative study to Mele’s performance a few weeks ago.   I indulged myself with “Edge of Seventeen,” “Wheel In The Sky” & “All Fired Up” among other songs.

We also had a visit from a couple of guys I haven’t seen in perhaps a year, Misogynist & Misogynist’s Friend.   The former earned his title by the way he would treat his girlfriend in the bar, but other than that I have nothing against him.   M & MS humored me & sang “The Mayor of Simpleton” for me as well as Elvis Costello’s “Veronica” & “Alison.”   And then MS utterly nailed Cinderella’s “Gypsy Road,” which I found impressing as hell.   I’d hate to think what his vocal cords looked like after that though.   Boy’s gonna be a mute in 5 years.

When Mele first arrived we popped the still sealed bottle of Corralejo Blanco, which neither of us had ever tried.   I do know that the Corralejo Anejo was smoother than the 4Copas Anejo, & the 4Copas Blanco was smoother than any vodka on our shelf, including Level & Goose, so we had some expectations.

It was horrible.   No flavor & only burn instead of finish.   I always felt that Blancos were for tequila drinkers who didn’t really like tequila, & there wasn’t a huge prize here.   I also couldn’t get any buzz, maybe because I was too busy trying to scrape the burn off my tongue.   Mele & I will be buying a bottle of the Anejo next time T orders.

Since I had a few martini drinkers on my bar, I decided the time had come for me to taste some gin.   I’ve had Tanqueray tonics & shot chilled Sapphires when there was nothing else to be had; this time I started off with a Beefeater martini.   Egad, someone shoot me.   Then I had a Sapphire & then a Tanqueray.   Mele kept me company with more shots of the Corralejo.   I think the Sapphire & Tanq were both easier to drink than that blanco.   That’s how bad it was.   I guess I’m not a gin drinker.   I’m willing to give it another try later though.

I had power shot 3 martinis after an evening of multiple Barenjagers when KK & I outraged Mele into a homophobic fit (with one of our gay friends sitting on the same table chuckling & pointing to himself every time Mele said the word “homo”) by singing Limahl’s “Neverending Story.”   Ugh, I’m super pitchy.   I blame the Beefeater.

And then my sis & ex-roomie Carmen dragged my drunk ass off to Mac24 where I ate an omelet I don’t remember & ran into G, a karaoke idol from the past.   KK always spoke of G as the only guy he knew who could sing the Tommy Shaw part of “High Enough” without breaking into falsetto.   And no, I don’t remember what we talked about.   I think we discussed gin.