Bar Review: RPM Underground (and Music Video)

First, if you're just here for the Stayed Gone music video (also starring Colleen Griffith, the sassyblondewriter), that's at the bottom. But I'd love to introduce you to a location you might just see me at in real life if you hang around there long enough!

I have a lot of random hobbies, as you can probably tell from (gestures around wildly) everything here. However, a semi-recent addition to that ever growing list is karaoke.

Pictured: Yours truly singing her heart out!

After going to some karaoke parties with friends, I decided that I'd like to become a more confident singer. So I started going to my local karaoke place that's a few blocks from me and couldn't stop coming back. I have become far more comfortable singing in a public setting as well as a more proficient singer overall.

So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to my current go-to bar: RPM Underground!

Pictured: The best angle Google Street View has to offer!

It's got a record store on the first floor and the karaoke/bar is in the basement. A great example of "As Above, So Below", but I digress.

Located on 54th Street between Broadway and 8th, it's hard to quantify what makes this place so electric (though, the awesome bartenders and staff are probably a large amount). The décor hearkens for a past time of tube radios and analog technology. Honestly, they have quite the collection that is worth seeing on its own. Though each room they have available for rent has its own theme with memorabilia, I just like going to the main bar and singing there. If you ever go, make sure to use their website instead of the songbooks they have; it's a complete catalog of what they have versus the greatest hits.

But you don't need to take my word for it because I just shot a little bit of a video there where you can see it (the scenes with me in front of the microphones as well as the "Radio" hallway)!

Changing course quickly, if you didn't know, one of my favorite shows that is currently being produced is Hazbin Hotel. One of my favorite parts of it is the music. I do plan on doing a music video to Happy Day in Hell soon (because I am definitely not Charlie, what are you talking about). However, one of my other favorite songs from the first season was Stayed Gone; an allegory for the battle of control between network TV and radio/specific content.

Enjoy (and welcome to) the show :)

Imagine how happy I was when I saw that some of the Hazbin soundtrack was added to RPM's catalogue. Then imagine my disappointment when I saw the four songs that they chose were... not the best ones for karaoke. No Loser Baby, no Happy Day in Hell, no Stayed Gone, no Hell's Greatest Dad... it's like, why bother?

If the problem is that there is quite a bit of cursing throughout the show, I would like to remind RPM that one of my regular songs is Cowboy by Kid Rock, which I guarantee is worse from pretty much any point of view than a song from Hazbin. Just sayin.

So! As an overall verdict, I'd give RPM a 9.5/10 (which will be increased to a 10 if they add the remainder of the Hazbin tracks; I promise they will get usage).

EDIT: I'm happy to report that they've added the tracks because of yours truly! So, as promised, their rating has gone up to a 10 (I mean, there are a few songs missing, but I'm sure I'll find a way to get those added soon...)