Rock Star Karaoke

Band History

Rock Star Karaoke began its first weekly residency at the Double Wide in 2003. Founding members Howard Kelley (host/MC), Jonathan Lacey (guitar/bass), and Gregg Prickett (guitar/bass) developed the core concept, with a support team of Scott Randall (drums), Allan Hayslip (sound/lights), Genevieve Gallaway (shots), Tia Bowdler (shots), and Julie Nelms (photos).

The residencies have evolved over time, as has the cast of characters. A residency at Double Wide was followed by one on at Club Dada, and the current rhythm section of Gerald Iragorri (drums) and Allan Hayslip (bass) settled in during that transition. A residency at the old Barley House location felt like a special muscian's club, and the overlapping 2005/2006 era Greenville Bar & Grill residency allowed RSK to hone its chops, beef up the setlist, and generate lots of good press. Residencies at the Sugar Shack, Rack Daddy's (NRH), and Lakewood Bar & Grill proved educational. All along, RSK also did a variety of private parties at locations like House of Blues, the Granada Theater, and people's backyards. Numerous musician friends had helped out along the way in sub or interim roles, including hosts Jen Nabb, The Law, Colin Boyd, and Colin McCarty, drummers Scott Randall & Earl Darling, bassists Joel Bonzo and Bob McConville, and guitarists Robin Sullivan, Darin Robinson, Marc Solomon, Mike Hiltabidle and our current senior 6-stringer Ed McMahon. The close of a successful residency at the (new) Barley House that ended in early 2008 marked the time for RSK to take a break after 4 1/2 years of near-continuous weekly gigs.

In 2009, after a couple years of working on our own musical, work, and family projects (see The Better Death, Bonedome, The Charming Gardeners, and Videoactive Productions as come examples) RSK reconvened in its current form with Kelley at the helm, Iragorri and Hayslip in the rhythm section, McMahon on guitar, and the addition of Ted Levin (Space Cadet) on guitar. After a few private parties and an abortive start of another Barley House residency, RSK has found a new weekly home at The Loft (the smaller upstairs showcase room associated with the Palladium/Gilley's/Studio Grill complex).

Members

• Howard Kelley lead vocals
• Gerald Iragorri drums
• Ted Levin guitar
• Allan Hayslip bass
• Ed McMahon guitar

Sound Description

We bring your rock 'n' roll fantasies to life by putting you in front of an awesome rock band. The lyrics are printed in large easy to read type and placed on a music stand and our MC keeps you on track so you never lose your place. Choose from over 100 punk and rock songs and thrill to a screaming, ravenous crowd that is ready bring out your inner rock star.

Influences

39 Powers, 4 Non Blondes, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Alice In Chains, Arthur Riddles Quartet, Bad Company, Barry Kooda Combo, The Beautiful, Beatles, Pat Benatar, The Better Death, The Big Guns, Billy Idol, Black Crowes, Black Sabbath, Blondie, Bonedome, David Bowie, Bow Wow Wow, The Buena Vistas, Bush, The Buzzcocks, The The Cars, The Cartwrights, Johnny Cash, The Charming Gardeners, Cheap Trick, The Clash, Concrete Blonde, Crackbox, Cyndi Lauper, The Cure, Darren Kozelsky Band, The Divinyls, The Donnas, Electric Six, Escort Service, Fleetwood Mac, Floor Thirteen, Foo Fighters, Garbage, The Go Go's, Gerald Iragorri Trio, Green Day, Heart, Jimi Hendrix, The Hochimen, Hole, Iggy Pop, Jefferson Airplane, Jet, The Jim Carroll Band, Joan Jett, Judas Priest, Junky Southern, The Kinks, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Leroy Shakespeare, Madonna, John Mellencamp, Methatone, Microwave Owen, Modern English, Monks Of Saturnalia, Motorhead, Mr. Pink, The Mumbles, Nirvana, No Doubt, Oasis, Pale Face, Tom Petty, Pixies, Pretenders, Prince, Prince Jellyfish, Punk Rock Dinosaurs, Radiohead, The Ramones, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones, The Rounders, Sex Pistols, Shanghai 5, Sheryl Crow, Nancy Sinatra, Sixty-Six, Smart Patrol, Social Distortion, Patti Smith, Soft Cell, SPAM, Spinal Tap, Stray Cats, Sublime, Sushi Gabor, Tablet, Ten Hands, The Toadies, T-Rex, Underdog, The Undertones, US-75, Van Halen, Veruca Salt, Vibrolux, Violent Femmes, Weezer, Whild Peach, White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeah, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Zane Gray, ZigZag-O, Z Top