Too Cool For Karaoke

GNO.
Tuesday night was set; somehow someone decided to go to Too Cool FOr Karaōke I am so glad we did! The girls and I had a blast! I guess all of Adam’s shows are different and we were there on the night he had men sing women song and women sing mens… OH MY GOODNESS I think this one guy sounded better than Brittney Spears! Hahah. SERIOUSLY!
We will defiantly be back for some fun! We will be starting a new tradition! :)

Um… Why did I have to pay to sing the songs I want? It’s not even crowded enough to require a bribe to get on the list… does it go to charity or something? Song selection is limited, and the constant judgment by the tiny crowd… wtf? Get over yourselves, scenesters.

I don’t sing myself but I always enjoy watching the diversity of good and bad singers that have the balls to get on stage and belt out some tunes. I could never do that. The night I went took it one step further. The KJ, Adam was running a contest where guys had to sing girls songs and vice versa. Apparently they run a bunch of different contests to keep things interesting. Kudos! Some of the singers were even dressed in drag.
It was at the Ruby Room which has gone through many incarnations throughout the years. I like the place, it’s got three sections, bar, game room, stage. You choose.
If you want a fun and different karaōke experience check out Too Cool for Karaōke.

You don’t know until you go!
Forget what you think karaōke is supposed to be, then come to the Ruby Room on a Tuesday night and you will be schooled ever so properly.
I mean really, you get to vote for stuff you think is over done or just BAD, Adam Gimbel Rocks as your host to a multitude of musical journeys.
(hello, he had a Depeche Mode night… I’ve never seen more Depeche Mode on a karaōke list in my life)
Everytime I think I’m not going out on Tuesday, he reels me back in with a new concept. Come and support local music (he does, ½ the tips go back into the SD music scene) and sing a song with me!

I was a Blasphemous Guitars groupie for a bit – I know, I’m pathetic. That’s how I came to know Adam. Adam is fucking hilarious, and I’m happy that his karaōke show has become popular.
I recently moved to the Bay Area, and I must say, I could use somewhere like the Ruby Room to publicly embarrass myself on a weekly basis. There is the Carlos Club in San Carlos, but it wouldn’t, couldn’t, shouldn’t even compare.
At Too Cool For Karaōke, it’s like one big family. We get on the stage together (except when Adam sees my drunk ass coming and flat out in the middle of the song says «NO!” – when Adam says no I actually listen because he has tolerated A LOT of my shenanigans since I met him back in 2006). We laugh together. We cry together. We exchange phone numbers to meet when less inebriated, but never call. We buy each other drinks, and hold each other’s hair while puking in one of the three fabulous restrooms.
If I were still attending, you would undoubtedly catch me sloshed dancing on a table or singing along with my arm hooked around a stranger’s neck – but that’s just me.
What other karaōke gig donates to charity if somebody wants to sing a shitty song? What other karaōke night allows YOU to vote on which songs people should HAVE TO PAY TO SING – brilliant, just brilliant.
Even though, I will likely never have the chance to attend TCFK again since I am now in San Carlos (this news may come as a relief to Adam, and others), it will always be in my heart.
And one day, my drunken ghost will haunt the Ruby Room, and people will hear the ephemeral whispers of me singing «Creep» by Radiohead.

I never knew how deeply my love ran for karaōke until TCFK came into my life. Thanks, Adam Gimbel!
You get to sing badly and win stuff! And he has a huge selection of sweet sweet music, and fun weekly themes.
Plus you get heckled incessantly by KJ Adam. So you might as well pull out all the stops and go for that really annoying song, or the one you definitely can’t sing. I like to pick Iron Maiden. My boyfriend likes to pick Oasis. (He actually CAN sing those ones, he’s English).

I’ve been a semi-​regular for a few months now. The KJs have similar taste in music as myself (big ups for Blur). They are also more democratic than most places when it comes to getting a chance to sing (Ould Sod, Lamplighter, I’m looking at you). Their contests are fun, their themes are innovative, and the crowd seems to have a good time each week. If you enjoy Karaōke, you should be here every Tuesday…

Too Cool For Karaōke is doing great! ;)
Adam Gimbel is an excellent host for Karaōke night and sometimes you can convince him to actually sing a song. You can even vote to have songs banned or resurrected! And it’s not like the Lamplighter where you can’t breath, can’t move and can’t sing unless you give the guy $ 20! There’s a fair system in place and everyone’s really cool. It’s a good time, go check it out!

I’ve known Adam Gimbel for eons. Seriously. We’ve been pals since Ulysses S. Grant was in office. We were midwives for Jimmy Dean before he was a sausage purveyor. And we were special guests at the Chicago World’s Fair. Since then, he’s been part of numerous musical undertakings ranging from Jewish cover bands (Jon Spencer Jews Explosion) to old men dressed as Weezer singing in front of Cox Arena (Geezer).
Recently (the last couple of years, I believe) he embarked on the wild world of karaōke… and I have to applaud his efforts. If you’re a project manager, creative director or an ad executive… you really outta seek out Mr. Gimbel for special projects. Somehow, he seems always put his special twist on just about everything… including karaōke. As Taco Bell might say, he thinks «outside the bun.»
If you’re looking for a truly unique karaōke experience, track down Adam wherever he’s holed up for the night. It’s guaranteed to be a great time.