Karaoke is not everyone. But if you’ve got a song in your heart and the ego to want to sing it in front of other people, it’s a great opportunity to have fun while showing off how well you can read words from a screen. Below are some of the best places where you can get your karaoke fix in the D.C. area.
Photo by Lauren Marino.
MUZETTE: Located in an Adams Morgan basement on the popular 18th Street NW strip, Muzette offers private rooms from small and large groups to sing their hearts out in peace. They offer a huge selection of songs, two microphones, tambourines on request, reasonably priced booze and a colorful strobe light. Rates range from $25 an hour for a small room before 8 p.m. to $80 an hour for a huge room on a Friday night. — Sarah Anne Hughes
Muzette is located at 2305 18th Street NW.
THE PINCH: Karaoke night at The Pinch feels less like a traditional karaoke bar than it does hanging out, belting out your favorite tunes in a friend’s basement. The selection of tunes ranges from classic karaoke favorites (lots of classic rock, ’90s pop), to a little more alternative/indie options. As always, there’s no cover and the bar’s robust selection of craft brews and liquor provides you with all the liquid courage you need to sing a tune. — Matt Cohen
The Pinch is located at 3548 14th Street NW
PUNK ROCK KARAOKE AT BLACK CAT: Punk Rock Karaoke doesn’t come to the Black Cat regularly (it’s usually three or four times a year because I think it’s a traveling operation), but when it comes back again, make it a point to attend. It’s by far the best karaoke night i’ve been too. Typically held in Black Cat’s backstage, Punk Rock Karaoke isn’t your typical karaoke night. The choice of songs range from classic punk (Dead Kennedys, Black Flag) to more recent favorites (Against Me!, Bad Religion, NOFX), as well as various alt and indie deviations (you’ll find some new wave, post-punk, and post-hardcore in the selection as well). As the night progresses, it turns into an all-out party, with random patrons jumping up on stage joining whoever is up to scream along to their favorite punk jams. It is, quite simply, the ultimate karaoke party. — Matt Cohen
Black Cat is located at 1814 14th Street NW
Photo by Brixton.
GALAXY HUT: Arlington’s favorite dive only hosts karaoke once a month, on the first Sunday, and as such, the karaoke nights there are more of an event. What’s more, the dedicated group of regulars and semi-regulars who frequent the Hut’s karaoke night tend to be both more talented and more supportive than your regular group of people living out their rock star fantasies. If a rendition of “Love Is a Battlefield” is particularly good, a dance party might break out. If there are background vocals and harmonies in the recorded version of a song, the audience will sing them back. If new people outside of the core group show up and kill it, then they’re family. The karaoke denizens at Galaxy Hut definitely veer toward older material but there’s a wide variety of available songs from Daft Punk to The Smiths and more than a handful of people who can do those Adele and Cee-Lo Green songs their due justice. — Val Paschall
Galaxy Hut is located at 2711 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va.
KOSTUME KARAOKE: If you are looking for a more theatrical karaoke experience, look no further than Kostume Karaoke, which meets every Wednesday at either Solly’s U Street Tavern or Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar on H Street NE. Props, costumes and wigs are provided for performances, adding to the ridiculousness of singing “Irreplaceable” in front of strangers. — Sarah Anne Hughes
Solly’s is located at 1942 11th Street NW; Little Miss Whiskey’s is located at 1104 H Street NE.
DISTRICT KARAOKE: Say you want to take your karaoke game to a whole ‘nother level. Enter District Karaoke, where you form or join a team to compete against other singers. This isn’t a situation where you can walk in, spur of the moment and belt out Blondie; registration is required. Team shirts are involved, as are quite a few rules. But if you’re willing to make the ten-week commitment, there’s glory at the end. — Sarah Anne Hughes
District Karaoke currently meets at Policy (1904 14th Street NW), Irish Channel (500 H Street NW), Ra Ra Irish Pub (2915 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va.) and Acre 121 (1400 Irving Street NW).
