Tonight Katie Gill and I decided to check out the Junction City bar scene. Turns out, it’s going to be an ongoing project. We started tonight at the newest bar in town, Earl’s Juke Joint. It is a decent sized place and when we arrived most of the space was occupied by a large group of local, working types and their girls. The bar had a drunk couple and a bar-fly-type who called himself Elvis. Sweet. Surprisingly, they had garden burgers, which Katie and I both ordered. However, they had run out so the cook actually left to get more. So, we drank. Now, turns out, after leaving college I can do about two beer and I’m feeling pretty good.
Katie and I drank and talked about life in the real world. She is doing well working with the Eugene school district, teaching English as a second language classes and helping autistic kids. Good stuff. Anyway, Thursday night at Earl’s is “Open Mic and Country Karaoke Night.” This is pretty much the coolest thing ever. First the Karaoke Dj and his partner get up and do four songs: “I love this bar” by Toby Keith, “Jackson” by Johnny Cash, “Landside” by Fleetwood Mac and “I walk the Line” by Johnny Cash. 
Now this was some of the best live music I have seen in a while. These two, the DJ and his female companion, had great voices and they could play. Plus, that were playing authentic country in an authentic country bar! It was superb! He could sing the Cash songs right on and their version was one of the nest covers I have heard. Spectacular. They did the full duet on “Jackson.”
Next, the Karaoke. The big group was there just for that. These were the regulars. They all got up one at a time or in small groups and sang. And, I tell you what, they were good. I have never seen karaoke like this before. It was good. Good! Like in tune and everything. Maye anyone can sing country. But man. This was great.
So, we have decided to come every week. Soon, once we are part of the group, we will sing. But, as long as Earl’s is around in JC, I am a happy camper.
your blogs put my non-blogs to shame. I hope I have the stones to fully bring it in the new year.
happy holidays, my friend.
I like katie gill.