Anti-Karaoke

The Most Memorable Monday Nights, at Sidecar

Normally Mondays are difficult. The weekend respite ends and, no matter how brief the pause, it's always hard to get back into the swing of the work week. But what if there were one special event with the capacity to alter this dynamic? Ladies and gentlemen, the remedy is called Anti-Karaoke, a dream come true for the dreary weeknight. Fun and good vibrations are guaranteed at the Sidecar in the Plaza Reial.

Anti-What?

The versatile Rachel Arieff (north American comic actress, Barcelona resident, and the show's presenter) created this concept, inspired by classic karaoke but designed for lovers of high-decibel rock. All the action takes place on a concert stage, giving it more credibility. Sound quality is also important, and the songs are thankfully faithful to the original versions -- far from the dreary variations (not to mention the videos) of traditional karaokes.

The List:

Here there are no TV monitors, but those who decide to fill out a slip of paper and take the stage to imiatate their idols can read the lyrics from a music stand, like the great masters. The truth is that many of the participants already have a good grasp of the texts, because this is a show for true rock-n-roll fans. Choosing from a available repertoire of nearly 500 songs can be a challenge in itself, with artists such as The Romantics, Jane's Addiction, Motörhead, Nirvana, AC/DC ... The Anti-Karaoke website displays the entire song list to whet your appetitite.

Rock 'n' Roll Circus:

The hostess, who normally inserts a couple of stellar numbers into each show, urges participants to don a diverse array of props that add to the possibilities: wigs, hats, masks... Anything and everything is employed to lose the sense of self-consciousness and add even more madness to the performances. Some participants arrive to the show already in costume, and it's not that unusual to see actual clones of Gene Simmons (of Kiss) sprinkled throughout the club.

No Fear:

Among the performers are everyone from actual rock stars to amateur song destroyers, pasando por quien hacen recordar los originales con una precisión encantadora y quienes crean versiones propias con más o menos gracia. The fact is that it really doesn't matter, since the audience is completely into it no matter what the case. The environment is very positive, and no matter how bad the performance, everyone's a winner -- another distinguishing aspect of this particular karaoke, in contrast to the competitive vibe of the standard model.

Keep in Mind:

Being on Monday nights, the hours are reasonable, beginning at
10 pm and lasting some 180 minutes. In other words, there's no excuse for not checking out one of the best and most enjoyable evening activities of the week.

Recommended for:

Injecting good vibrations into previously uselss Monday nights.

Contraindicated for:

Specialists in easy listening Spanish music and other monitor-and microphone clichés.

- Agustí BorlánAnti-Karaoke Sidecar, Plaza Reial, 7, Barcelona (Gothic Quarter). Entrada: 6 € with drink. Beer: 4; Cocktails: 7.
Every Monday from 10 pm to 1 am.