It used to be so easy. Land in downtown St. Pete. Have a few drinks with your crew on Central Avenue. Slip into Octave and belt out whatever tune befits your mood (“Wrecking Ball”? “Psycho Killer”? “Waiting Room”?), maybe lead a full bar sing-along of “Bohemian Rhapsody” before ducking back into the night to continue your shenannys elsewhere…
Only the one-time Best of the Bay-winning karaoke hotspot closed its doors late last year, and while former Octave Master of Ceremonies John Colby has attempted to re-start the party across the street at Local 662, the endeavor hasn’t as yet been as consistent or as successful as its 600 Block predecessor.
But never fear. I’ve put together a helpful list of alternatives where you and your friends can get your terrible singing on while enjoying an array of different atmospheres.
The Corner Club It’s always the diviest of Tampa neighborhood dives that present the best karaoke nights, and Corner Club is among the crème de la crème. In addition to its claim of serving the coldest beers in town, the smoky, musky bar lures a diverse patronage ranging from young upper-crust Seminole Heights denizens to crusty blue-collar elders with its friendly, intimate and casual vibe. All take turns trading tunes onstage with a big retro screen coloring the lyrics at their backs. Karaoke is Friday and Saturdays starting around 9 p.m. and lasting until 3 a.m. 1502 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, 813-231-5010.
The Lobby Lounge at Dolphin Beach Resort The CL Staff has closed this place down several years in a row following holiday parties on St. Pete Beach. The full liquor lounge offers just the right mix of beachy tourist ambience and native flavor, and it’s not only low-key but doesn’t ever seem to get too crowded, even though karaoke is Friday and Saturday nights, from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. or midnight. 4900 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 727-360-7011.
O’Maddy’s Bar & Grille The storied waterside spot in Gulfport hosts karaoke seven nights a week without fail beginning at 9:30 p.m. It’s well worth the haul; relaxed vibe, an eclectic all-ages crowd that’s heaviest with students from nearby Stetson and Eckerd colleges in the fall and spring seasons, and the fully stocked bar is paired with a much-lauded menu featuring some delish eats to soak up all that liquid courage. 5405 Shore Blvd S., Gulfport, 727-323-8643, omaddys.com.
Pornaoke at Pegasus Lounge You’ve likely heard rumor of it, if not the downright dirty details from a friend who stumbled into the North Tampa bar on a Wednesday night when Pornaoke was in full, ahem, swing. If you can dig your karaoke with a healthy dose of absurdity and awkwardness (Watching porn in public with a bunch of strangers? Howling through “Welcome to the Jungle” while wondering if there’s a crotch shot happening just, ahem, behind you?), this could be your new routine. DJ Laser Ray plays hardcore porn DVDs while managing an otherwise straightforward karaoke night attended by a barrage of merrily drinking USF students along with the usual Pegasus barflies and Pornaoke regulars. Though the videos are studiously avoided by most eyes present and the vibes are laid-back and genial, it’s not for the faint of heart, or those who are easily embarrassed, offended or turned on. Pornaoke starts at around 11 p.m. on Wednesdays. [Editor's note: Lazer Ray apparently is also there on Mondays and Fridays, sans the naughty video backing.] 10008 N. 30th St., Tampa, 813-971-1679.
Tampa Karaoke VIP If you’ve been itching to recreate that scene from Lost in Translation, Tampa Karaoke VIP is an Asian-style karaoke bar that boasts private rooms you can rent for $20, $30 and $40 an hour depending on the number of folks in your party and room size you need. Each comes with its own call service buttons and wait staff serving imported Korean soju and sake along with cocktails, beer and wine, not to mention Korean street food and snacks; there’s also mood-setting multicolored lights, tambourines and multiple mics, video screens, and a deep multi-lingual song catalog touching on Korean, Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese tunes amid the thousands of Top 40 radio and American pop hits. Hours are 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Sun.-Thurs., 7 p.m.-3 a.m. Fri.-Sat.; happy hour half-off specials every night of the week, and unlimited karaoke with $5 cover charge on Sundays. Reservations recommended. 930 E. Fletcher Ave., 813-513-3028, facebook.com/tampakaraokevip.
Wilson’s Sports Lounge The mint green building that became the temporary façade for an all-male dance revue in Magic Mike is actually home to a staple dive of St. Petersburg (cheapest drinks around) and a preferred karaoke spot, with KJ Rosa manning the laptop jams from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday night. 3030 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-895-4219.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2015.