Ketten Serious
This karaoke isn’t hokey
Posted by: Anne Adams on May 20, 2010 at 09:00AM
19 Comments
“I’m gonna try my best, but I didn’t realize it was Grammy night,” quips the man taking over the karaoke mic at the Woods in Sellwood. It’s an understandable reaction for an average joe testing his talents after a string of stellar performances.
The first time you visit a Baby Ketten Karaoke night, you might think you’re walking in on the night’s magic moment: that rare convergence of a great singer, an unexpected song, and the perfect mood in the room. “Wow,” you say. “I’m just in time. This has to be the highlight.” But when singer and song change over—it happens again. And again. After an onslaught of unique material and memorable performances, you begin to wonder: Is this really karaoke? Everyone seems so good.
Baby Ketten is not karaoke as you’ve known it, it’s karaoke as you’ve dreamed it. Wish for an obscure song? They’ve got it. Want something pitch-shifted into your range? Just say so. “We’ve even got a vocoder and an auto-tuner,” says Ketten KJ John Brophy, “for those special ‘Cher’ moments.”
It’s not surprising that these “by singers, for singers” features have attracted some of the local vocal elite. Pop into a Baby Ketten event, and you never know who might take the mic, as evidenced by this clip of Ritchie Young, lead singer of Loch Lomond, sporting beach shorts and covering Midnight Oil:
Baby Ketten’s star-friendly allure is no accident. Brophy, who has recently earned extra singing stripes as a frequent guest of Portland Cello Project , began spinning karaoke in 1997 after having avidly sung it since age 17 (“I got a fake ID just to sing,” he confesses). As his love of the medium expanded, so did his frustration. “I became disheartened with the absence of certain genres and bands that I grew up listening to. Every time I opened a songbook, I found myself hoping the songs I loved would magically appear, even though I knew they never would. Eventually, I had to make it happen.”
As a result, Ketten hoists a hefty songbook, which spans the gamut from late-breaking catalog rarities like Bat For Lashes and Passion Pit; to bona fide indie inspirations such as Bjork, Radiohead, and the Pixies; to influential songsmiths like Lee Hazelwood and Lou Reed. This week, Baby Ketten’s website introduces a song-search function, allowing you to remotely check the availability of your favorite song—ostensibly so you can practice up to “Grammy standards” in privacy, before bringing it to the BKK stage.
It’s finally time to say goodbye to karaoke disappointments and books full of moldy oldies. Baby Ketten is here to set your songbird free.
Baby Ketten hosts weekly events at various Portland venues. Visit the website for more details, or view an up-to-date schedule here. And keep practicing!
Tags: Karaoke Bar Culture Live bar bars
I suck at singing…this makes me want to sing…sorry Portland
It also sounds like an entertaining place to simply go and watch others, especially if everybody wears those epic shorts. The changing venue is cool, great idea.
And once upon a time I went to a karaoke bar where groups would get their own rooms, and that format also has its uses and benefits.
Baby Ketten’s the king of the castle. All other karaoke nights are the dirty rascals.
Dude – baby ketten at the woods RULES. Totally entertaining even if you are too chicken to sing. As with any good karaoke place get their early with your songs picked and ready to go in advance.
I usually find karaoke to be pretty painful. The horrible screeching. The song that seemed like a “funny” idea until the singer realizes they need to get through all 5 minutes and are bored after the first chorus. Being forced on stage by your group of “friends” to sing when you have no intention of doing so…and so on. But this Baby Ketten night sounds nice. Is it possible Anne, that you’ve made me a believer?
Baby Ketten has th’ best book in the business, and the regulars know the real fun’s taking turns singing with all your friends!
Sounds intimidating, but maybe fun to go watch. . .
I would just like to say. I am so proud of my baby ketten. They have come a long way and now their time has come to shine, like the little ketten angels they are. Yes, ketten angels. As your mom, I could never imagine loving any ketten more. You should go visit my kettens, love my kettens and most importantly mew & purr your little. ketten heart out!
Skeptics, I understand your hesitation. I know you’ve been hurt before, but I urge that you give Ketten a chance.
And die-hards, thanks for your enthusiasm, and for allowing me to bust open your scene for new initiates!
(Oh, and Migs? We’ll talk marriage when the time is right. At the moment, I’m focusing on my new blogging career.)
Ketty Kat is a place where you can sing and hear and dance to songs you actually LOVE. The sound is incredible and the peeps are fun!
This is easily Portland’s finest karaoke night. Baby Ketten makes me purr.
Dude, ride the Ketten.
I have so much love for the Ketten. The first time I went, I randomly opened the book to my very favorite song, and said, “they have THAT? No one has that!”
Great story. Unlike traditional karaoke bars, the travelling Baby Ketten “gets it.” Anne’s piece nails exactly why so many of us feel there’s something special in BKK.
Vocoder and auto-tune. Smoke machine. Got the smoke machine turned on in the middle of my first time singing at BKK. It was like initiation.
as a regular of bkk – i can attest to its greatness. by far the best song selection around – and if you happen to think up a song they may not have, the amazing kj’s are usually able to get it (or make it) for you in no time!
they are simply the best around, and i live to spread the name of the ketten. i haven’t found a person yet who doesn’t fall in love their first time in bed w/bkk. it’s just SO good.
best karaoke in portland, if not anywhere in the country. they have high quality versions of songs you’d NEVER see anywhere else. 18 Pixies songs? what?? 34 erasure songs? chopsticks has two!