ADVENTURES IN KARAOKE: National Mechanics

There was a different sort of buzz in the air at National Mechanics Tuesday night when I walked for karaoke. Looking around, it seemed like everyone was chipper and ready for something to happen.

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ADVENTURES IN KARAOKE: National Mechanics

POSTED: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 3:00 PM

CP's Brian Wilensky is on a mission to hit up every karaoke haunt in town — and then share all the mellifluous details.

There was a different sort of buzz in the air at National Mechanics Tuesday night when I walked for karaoke. Looking around, it seemed like everyone was chipper and ready for something to happen.

“Tighten Up” by the Black Keys was the first selection I heard, which led me to believe that I might be hearing newer radio hits instead of run-of-the-mill karaoke classics. For the most part, it panned out like that, but soon after Jude took on Bill Withers' soulful classic, “Ain’t No Sunshine,” along with a faint hum from fans at the bar. Next was “Rolling in the Deep,” by Adele, which is well on its way to becoming a standard — it's been popping up in karaoke queues a lot lately.

Some surprising mid- and late-'90s alternative rock hits even showed up, but it seemed appropriate for the crowd of mostly twentysomethings. Kaitlyn casted a few devious stares during her rendition of Marcy Playground’s “Sex and Candy.” The Toadies’ “Possum Kingdom” and New Order’s “Regret” were a bit more surprising.

A gentleman named George sitting next to me at the bar said that National Mechanics is often crowded for karaoke night. He even said this karaoke occasionally has the potential to bring people in who can sing with prowess. Shortly thereafter, a singer took on a standing-o-worthy version of a John Legend tune.

“Thriller” was performed, rather than sung, complete with dance moves and prancing all over the back of the room. The crowd loved it. There was cheering, cell phone videos being taken from all angles and roses being thrown at the singer as reward. This leads me to my National Mechanics karaoke tip: If you don't come in with vocal chops, be sure to bring some moves. This crowd likes a show.

Nitty Gritty for Performers: Tuesdays., 9 p.m., free, National Mechanics, 22 S. Third. St., 215-701-4883, nationalmechanics.com.

(brian.wilensky@citypaper.net)

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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