As a college student, specifically an English major, I am well versed in poetry. I’ve studied Milton, Shakespeare, Chaucer – you name it. I’ve even taken a few creative writing classes and honed my own skill as a poet. I’ve participated in readings all over Western New York and have had my work featured in several publications. So, when the opportunity arises for me to be given a mic, and to be asked to step into the place of some of the greatest poets of our time–Meatloaf, Neil Diamond, Pat Benetar, to name a few–I take it. I cherish it. I revel in it.
Broadway Joe’s has been furnishing me with this opportunity for the past several Mondays with their epic nights of karaoke. Since football season is over, I’ve needed a good excuse to get plastered on a school night, so, just a few weeks into the semester, I couldn’t have discovered it at a better time, especially since it’s located on Main Street just a block or two away from the heart of University Heights. The evening starts at around 9 p.m., but the night doesn’t really get rowdy until about 10. It’s still advantageous to get there early so you can get your song choices in right away. It’s also a good idea so you can survey what everyone else is singing so you’re not that asshole that repeats songs.
The song choices at Broadway Joe’s are relatively average for a bar offering their version of this ancient Japanese tradition. It’s not the same kind of selection you’ll see at a specialty karaoke bar such as Klub Karaoke or The Garden Park Cafe, but it isn’t bad. You’ll find your staples (think Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”), but anything that isn’t an obvious hit isn’t as likely to be on the list (The Boss’ “No Surrender,” for example, is absent from the list). As the night goes on, it’s less and less likely your song will come up. The karaoke mistress isn’t exactly the friendliest person in the world, so it’s hard to distinguish whether she’s being accommodating to all patrons or if she just has some vendetta against you and really doesn’t want to hear you sing “Freebird.” To her benefit, her equipment also features a pretty crazy octave tool, which brought Andrew Blake’s rendition of “Enter Sandman” to a whole new level.
One of the best aspects of their karaoke night is their friendly bar staff. I didn’t have the pleasure of being served by Kristin, but the bathroom wall assures me that her work is of high quality. My personal favorite is Bobby, who always hands me my $2 bottle of Molson/Blue/whatever is on special that week, or my $5 pitcher of PBR with a smile.
The only downfall of Broadway Joe’s karaoke night is that they continue to insist on reinventing themselves as a restaurant. Along with the fancy new sign they put up last year, they also put up a new menu. They serve all kinds of sandwiches, and many deep-fried treats such as chicken wings (which are only 20 cents on Thursdays, by the way) and even Snickers bars. The worst of their lot is that they will occasionally make fish fries. I have no frame of reference as to how these fish fries taste, and that’s of no concern to me, but I do know that Broadway Joe’s has a terrible ventilation system, and my coat has basically smelled like deep-fried haddock for a week. Awful.
The most important aspect of Broadway Joe’s karaoke, is ultimately the diversity it harnesses. The clientele is a nice mixture of hipsters and dudebros, all of which, after a night of drunken singing, can unite together for a final rendition of Styx’s “Come Sail Away.” Karaoke forges bonds. Karaoke brings people together.
