A place where everyone is a star

Karaoke nights are about having fun

JACOB KEPLER/VIEWGasper Grupposo performs karaoke on Nov. 27 at the Gold Coast. Advertisement

It's a standing-room only crowd inside Brendan's Irish Pub at The Orleans, and although there are stragglers pacing the edges of the bar, most patrons appear to be enthralled by the onstage activity at the center of the room.

Disc jockey Jimmy Z keeps the crowd pumped up as he zips and spins through the aisles between closely settled tables, milking each audience member for every hoot and holler they're worth.

The crowd answers in unison as the next performer takes the stage.

A young woman who announces that she's just moved to the valley picks up the mic, and the melodic rhythms of a Fleetwood Mac song begin to strum in the background. She opens her mouth to sing, and as she sways to the music, the audience goes wild.

"She sounds just like Stevie Nicks," one audience member said.

It's a typical Thursday night at Brendan's with Cash Karaoke hosted by Jimmy Z and Sally Z from 8 p.m. to midnight.

"Each crowd is different," Sally Z said. "Our Tuesday night crowd is different than the Thursday night crowd, but it's always fun."

According to Sally Z, you never know who will make an appearance during a show. This week's surprise guest was former teen heartthrob and vocalist Jimmy Angel.

"Here's a guy that has toured with Elvis, was best friends with James Dean and is having a movie made about his life," Jimmy Z said. "In Las Vegas, you never know what's going to happen. He stopped by and did a few songs. We get celebrities that stop by pretty regularly, actually."

But you don't have to be a professional singer or movie star to have a good time during Cash Karaoke, a title coined because singers have their names entered into a drawing for a cash prize at the end of the night.

Regulars, such as Las Vegas resident Frankie Fortune, turn out almost every week.

"This is the most dynamic karaoke show I've ever seen," Fortune said. "It just keeps you coming back."

When it comes to music and entertainment in general, nobody knows more about the Las Vegas scene than DJ Country Chuck, host of the Gold Coast's Karaoke Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the casino's East Lounge.

Chuck and business partner J.C. Farris have a collection of more than 140,000 songs for singers to choose from, each categorized by title or artist in books that circulate around the room.

"The appeal of karaoke is that everyone wants to be a star, even if it's for a few minutes," Chuck said. "It's addictive. Once you get on stage, you just keep coming back."

While Chuck admits that his regulars tend to have a natural vocal talent, he said it's not a prerequisite.

"We have a good time, and that's all that matters," he said. "Nobody gets laughed at here."

Singer and songwriter R.C. Pickens moved to Vegas from Nashville earlier this year and found a home when he came upon Chuck's karaoke show.

"You meet some great and crazy people doing this thing," Pickens said. "But it's too fun to ever stop."

Admission to both events are free, and participation is on a volunteer basis.