Cool Karaoke Bars With bars offering everything from islandthemed Elvis parties to private-room sing-offs, it’s no wonder the New York Times declared Portland’s karaoke scene the most exciting in America. Institutions like the old-school Alibi tiki lounge (4024 N. Interstate Ave.) in North Portland feature more than 30,000 songs ready for aspiring stars to woo audiences. Karaoke From Hell, hosted weekly at clubs such as Dante’s (350 W. Burnside St.) and The Spare Room (4830 NE 42nd Ave.), ups the ante with a live rock ’n’ roll band. Groups of friends fearful of humiliation should make reservations at one of Voicebox Karaoke’s two Tokyo-inspired bars that rent pay-by- the-hour private suites for secluded song and dance. Out on the Town Spend a night in Portland’s legendary karaoke bars, comedy clubs, concert halls and theaters. Live-Music Scene Portland’s music scene is one of the most vibrant and fiercely independent in the country, with notables such as singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, the Kingsmen, and Paul Revere & the Raiders. It’s also a home base for indie artists such as Sleater-Kinney, the Decemberists and the Shins, to name a few. In recent years, hometown artists Aminé and Esperanza Spalding have earned international acclaim. Add the mix of talent to our top-notch venues and you have one of the best live-music destinations in America. Find some of the crispest sounds in the city at Revolution Hall (1300 SE Stark St.), a beautifully renovated former school building that hosts glamorous top-tier acts. Don’t miss the sunset from their rooftop bar, one of the best in the city. The intimate Mississippi Studios (3939 N. Mississippi Ave.) hosts everything from up-andcoming garage rock to post-punk. Nearby, The 1905 (830 N. Shaver St.) is a modern jazz club, an homage to the Black history of the neighborhood, with live music every night of the week. It’s hosted internationally renowned musicians including Antonio Sanchez and Ralph Peterson Jr. Feel like dancing? Holocene (1001 SE Morrison St.) hosts recurring DJ-driven parties, and Lola’s Room (1332 W. Burnside St.) at the Crystal Ballroom hosts ’80s- and ’90s-themed video dance nights on their bouncy floor. Doug Fir Lounge, a classic Portland venue that hosts local and touring acts, announced it will reopen in a new location in inner Southeast Portland in early 2024. A night in Portland isn’t like going out in other American cities. Sure, you can follow the resonating beat of a bass drum to nightclubs blasting top-40 hits — you’ll find it if you want it. But Portland’s reputation for free-spirited artistry seeps into the wee hours of morning, when born pop stars shine in unconventional karaoke bars, in-the-know DJs spin underground favorites and after-concert parties spill into the dozens of old-school dives scattered across town. Ready to mingle? Here’s the lowdown on offbeat late-night pastimes, from live-band karaoke to immaculately restored art-house cinemas. The Alibi tiki lounge Devin Phillips Quartet playing at the 1905 FROM LEFT: COURTESY OF THE ALIBI; JORDAN HENLINE / 88.8 FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE 48 PortlandUncovered.com
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