A BIG blog - for a BIG night!!!!!!

'O'

'M'

'G!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

...is the only way I can think to express myself, about CCK Sunday night!!! Seriously, it was THE party to be at! The band was like the Energizer Bunny - they kept going, and going, and going, and going -- 'til 3:30 AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew it was going to be a 'wild and crazy' high-energy night, when at 8:30pm, us regulars started dancing to "American Boy" BEFORE the band even took the stage!

"Take me on a trip, I’d like to go some day.

Take me to New York, I’d love to see LA.

I really want to come kick it with you.

You’ll be my American Boy."

Bran-DOHN; 'Showtime' Shon; 'Rockin' Robin; 'Marky' Mark; John & Mrs. D; 'Reverend' Colin; Ben & I were ALL up dancin', and unbeknownst to us at that time - there was still another 7 hours to go!!

Rockstar started off w/Bob Dylan's 'Rolling Stone'; Brandon sang 'Heartbreak Hotel'; Marky Mark sang 'Oh Boy'; Christine sang 'Fever'; I belted out 'One of Us' by Joan Osbourne; and in the spirit of trying 'Rockin' Robin tried a new one, "9-5",
much to the happiness of the band, who said how happy they are when we try new songs! Afterall, "it is Crash Course Karaoke!" And speaking of which, we have Alan's brother, who was there also on Sunday night, to thank for that name! Thanks man! ;)

Bobby, a regular from ANOTHER live band karaoke place (shhh, 'Arlene's'), gave us a rousing version of "Come Together" by the Beatles, and shocked the hell out everyone, especially Colin - when he removed his wig!


I thought 'the Reverend' was going to pass out right there on the floor of Kenny's!

Anyway, 'Showtime' Shon carried on with "Creep"; John D. took us all back to the 80's w/"Don't Stop Believin'"; Damien sang "Helter Skelter";

Peter couldn't 'get no, Satisfaction'; and Ben sang "Just What I Needed" by the Cars, which may or may not have only been done once before in CCK history!

Natalie also rocked the house with "Pour Some Sugar on Me", to which Ben, Rockin' Robin & I were, well, rockin' out too!

Then, it was time - the moment we had all been waiting for:

The...

First...

Ever...

"KARAOKE LOTTERY!"

Us regulars decided to challenge ourselves by doing a lottery, and singing songs that other regulars usually sing. We would put all the songs in a "hat", and sing the one that we picked.

Ben, explaining 'the hat' to John D.

Fortunately, we knew what songs were going to be up for the lottery, and had time to do some practicing ahead of time. You Tube was getting a lot of attention from me for the past two weeks!

Rockstar was the first to draw his song from the "hat"...er, jar, actually. Ryan announced:

"When I say Rockstar, you say Richard!"

RYAN

"Rockstar!"

CCK CROWD

"Richard!"

RYAN

"Rockstar!"

CCK CROWD

"Richard!"

We all gathered around in Richard a tight circle/huddle. What's it gonna be? "I Touch Myself?" "Monster Mash"? OH!! It's "Call Me" by Blondie! Submitted by 'Rockin' Robin! Woo hoo! Way to go Rockstar!

Bran-DOHN was next. Again, we gathered in a huddle - drum roll please - hey, that would have been cool - note to Kristie Lee - we'll have to do that next time! And, it's "I Saw Her Standing There"-

-submitted by the 'Reverend' Colin! Wow, talk about LUCKING OUT! Whew! Then, Ryan had the idea to have the Band pick the next singer's name! The band picked Ben's name, and he got to sing "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)" - another STRETCH!!! LOL!! That song was submitted by John D. Good job man! And speaking of which, John D. was next in line to get draw his song - we all huddle, what's it gonna be? "Folsom Prison Blues"!

Really? Hey, WAIT a minute -- Ben picked John D.'s submission, and John D. picked Ben's submission - what is goin' on here? Hmmm, very IN-teresting, I have to say... Anyway, 'Marky' Mark was picked to sing next - he crooned a little Bill Withers, in "Ain't No Sunshine", submitted by Bran-DOHN! Great job Marky Mark!

During the band's first break. Kristie Lee excitedly said "I like this lottery - it gets us out of the box!" Still left were five of us: 'Rockin' Robin; the 'Reverend' Colin'; 'Mrs. Rockstar', Christine; 'Showtime' Shon, and me! The songs left to sing were "Sympathy for the Devil"; "At Last"; "I Touch Myself"; "Shout!"; "Since U Been Gone"; & "Monster Mash". Corey Lim was unfortunately not able to make it that night after all, but we kept her song in ("Since U Been Gone") so that which ever one was left over, Ryan would get to sing! The rest of us - 'the five', were all huddled together, holding candles, about to break into a verse of Kumbaya! Which song would we get? Who would sing "Shout!"? Who would sing "Sympathy..."? Who would sing -- "Monster Mash"?

The band resumed again. I didn't get her name, but some girl got up onstage and rocked the hell out of "You Outta Know"! Whew! Then, it was time. Another moment of truth:

Who...would...be...the...next...singer?

"Showtime" Shon! Again, another huddle. What song is it? "At Last", submitted by Christine. He crooned his way thru the song - way to go Shon!

Then, 'Rockin' Robin! And she picked "Shout!", which Showtime Shon submitted. It was indeed the most 'sultry 'Shout' ever!

And a little bit softer now...

And a little bit softer now...

And a little bit softer now...

And a little bit louder now...

And a little bit louder now...

And a little bit louder now...

NOW WAAAAAAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!

That means that there are only 4 SONGS left to pick from!!!!!

"Sympathy for the Devil"; "I Touch Myself"; "Since U Been Gone"; and..."Monster Mash"!!!!

Christine's name was drawn next - and she sings -- "I Touch Myself", entered by 'yours truly'! And as always, Ryan made his usual announcement about how that song is dedicated to "your bartender, Andrea"!

Oh no, 3 songs left - Colin and I grasped hands, and huddled together on the couch. Alan drew MY name - uh oh, I was next! Huddle please, can I get some support from my 'peeps'? I rolled my fingers through the three remaining cards - picked one, and OMG!!!!!!!!!! I picked "Monster Mash"!! How could that be?! I 'thanked' Marky Mark for putting that one in.

I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab began to rise

And suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash

He did the monster mash

The monster mash

It was a graveyard smash...

Ok, I admit it - it was indeed fun, doin' a little 'monster mash dance' on stage, while channeling Vincent Price! So, that left the Reverend Colin, to pick his song, which was none other than Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone", which of course he totally made his own! And kudos to Ryan for singin' out the set with the last song of 'Karoke Lottery', "Sympathy for the Devil" - awesome job Ryan!

I'm afraid my note-taking ended w/the lottery. All I can say is that the third set was off the hook! Not only did the bar run out of (gasp!) my red wine - this after running next door to the Red Lion ('grrrrrr'), for some more, but they ran out of glasses as well! I had to drink beer -- out of a plastic cup! Ah, memories of my youth.

And direct from Russia and Dubai, Mr. John Altorelli entered the building right before the third set began, and was kind enough to treat us to some holiday cheer! Thanks John!

Holiday Cheer!

Bran-DOHN had everybody up and dancing to "Jump in the Line"; Rockstar sang 'A Little Less Conversation; and Kate sang "White Rabbit"!

"White Rabbit"

John A. also made a personal request, and that was for all the guys (Brandon; Shon; Colin; Rockstar; and newcomer, Paul) to sing 'Mustang Sally'; and all the gals (me; Christine; and Kate), to sing "We Are Family"! A great homage to CCK & Kenny's, I would say!

On a personal note, I've thoroughly enjoyed singin' and hangin' out with all of you this past year! Thanks Crash Course, for creating something really special and bringing us all together! And also, of course, for letting us get to perform every week! Have a wonderful holiday! See you Sunday!

Kristina ;)