The first ever Rock n Roll Live Costume Karaoke benefiting Haitian Families First took place this past Saturday, and I think it would be a mistake if I didn't admit one little fact.
I hate karaoke. A LOT.
I went anyway. Which, you know what's weird? I went by myself and had absolutely no angst about that. I wish I could go back and tell High School Me that I would eventually be able to do that sort of thing. She wouldn't have believed it, but whatever. She just hadn't found her mojo yet.
ANYWAY. I hate karaoke, but I purposely went to a karaoke event.
I'm so glad I did. It turns out that I hate karaoke except when there is a live band. HOOBOY does that make a difference, especially when the live band is absolutely fantastic.
For as much as I wanted to yell at them to turn it down and get off my lawn, I also wanted to hang out and listen to them play. Maybe I'm not so old after all?
Just go with me on that, please.
There were a lot of highlights of the night. A LOT. I'd count this one in the top three:
Randy Baumann of WDVE spent a few minutes as the center of the universe as he was serenaded by my friend Laura and Katie O'Malley of the Penguins. Let's just say he didn't hate it.
Former KDKA Traffic Guru Jim Lokay happened to be home visiting family this weekend which meant he had a chance to prove he can sing.
It turns out that he can sing. I think. I can't be entirely sure because I was very distracted by people in costumes(?) at that point. If I had photos of the bizarreness that I think was a costume, I'd post them here. It's probably for the best that I didn't think to snap a pic.
Right after Lokay sang his heart out, I spent about ten minutes standing by the ballot boxes. There was a contest running that night between Sally Wiggin of WTAE, mayoral candidate Bill Peduto, and Mikey and Bob of KISS FM. The basic premise was that whoever ended up with the most money in their box would have to sing.
So, I stood there. And watched. $20 went into Wiggin's box. Then another $10. Then another $5. Then another $20. I'm not even kidding, I saw hundreds of dollars go into Wiggin's box and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING end up in the other boxes.
And yet, this happened.
Mikey and Bob "lost" and had to sing Miley Cyrus.
I was positive the vote had been fixed. It turned out I was wrong, though. Instead of fixing the vote, Wiggin bought her way out of singing. She stuffed the boxes to her own favor so she wouldn't have to sing.
Well played, Sally. Well played. I can't even hate on it because the goal of the evening was to raise money for Haitian Families First.
Mission accomplished.
The night was a success, so much so that there are already rumblings of another karaoke event.
If it happens, GO. Seriously. It was the most fun I've ever had during my usual couch bonding hours.