Willow Glen Resident

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Photograph by Carien Veldpape

Memories: Three Flames, an icon in Willow Glen, has karaoke four nights a week in its lounge. Michael Stewart (left) and Tony Juliano, sing a karaoke duet at the restaurant. Juliano started as a karaoke DJ before turning to song.

Devoted singers do songs their way

Karaoke circuit alive, strong in Willow Glen

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Etta James' "At Last" fills the air at the Three Flames Restaurant Lounge in Willow Glen, as amber candles cast a warm glow on the faces of seated couples.

Karaoke hopefuls begin to get up from their booths and jot their names down on the night's rotation sheet.

"Karaoke has come a long way," says Willow Glen resident and longtime karaoke singer Tony Juliano. "Karaoke used to be the equivalent of singing in the shower, but many are taking it much more seriously."

So much so that April 20 kicks off the start of national karaoke week.

Juliano is one of many karaoke DJs in the Bay Area who started their businesses in the late '90s, 10 years after the phenomena hit Japan.

Karaoke in Japanese loosely translates to "empty orchestra" or "virtual orchestra." Thus, singers could belt out songs without the accompaniment of an orchestra or band.

Juliano, along with his partner Doug Rose, served as DJs at local spots such as Effie's Coffee Shop in Campbell, Goosetown Lounge in Willow Glen and finally the Three Flames, but the business grew bigger and faster than anticipated.

"It was a domino effect," Juliano says. "My first night was at the Cardinal Lounge, and I had 34 people on opening night."

Over the next months, Juliano found himself working twice as hard as his new business grew.

Even though the response was strong, Juliano wasn't about to give up his day job. He decided to let Rose take over the business, and help out part-time.

He also decided to see what all the excitement was about and try the business on the other side of the speakers.

"I had no idea I could sing until the first time I got up on stage," Juliano said. "After doing it a while, it gets in your blood."

With ease, he now steps out onto the dance floor and croons into the microphone, doing country and western songs with the crowd cheering him on.

Juliano says karaoke's popularity has grown steadily with the help of shows such as American Idol, and because it facilitates socializing.

"I've met more good people through karaoke than I have in all my life in the bar scene," Juliano says. "It's a fun crowd, and there aren't any attitudes here. Everyone is just here to have fun."

He says it's the atmosphere and the lack of attitude that make people feel more inclined to come back.

"It's the closest thing to being a star," Juliano says. "And whether you're good or bad, no one ever gets booed."

For Willow Glen resident Diane Chiechi, the atmosphere is the reason she keeps coming back.

"I like this place because it's homey," Chiechi says. "It's kind of like Cheers; you always know at least one person there."

Chiechi has been going to the Three Flames for karaoke for five years but didn't sing until recently.

"Cowboy Larry finally came up to me one night and told me to get up and sing," Chiechi says. "It's like a drug now. I have to do karaoke at least once a week."

Some fans are so loyal to the musical experience that many claim to be part of the South Bay "karaoke circuit."

Along with the Three Flames, Chiechi also frequents other karaoke clubs around the area on the nights the Three Flames doesn't offer the event. Karaoke fans can test their chops Sunday through Wednesday.

"I like coming here because it is not rowdy," says Chiechi about Three Flames. "At other places, you can't even hear yourself while you're up singing."

Finding a crowd that is more diverse in age along with the venue to perform get high marks from Chiechi.

"There's a great sound system, a big dance floor and good food," she says.

But the best part of Karaoke at Three Flames is the way Rose runs the event, she says.

"He's very friendly and has a lot of charisma," Chiechi says. "Doug always puts on a good show."

He has been putting on the show at Three Flames since 1999 and says, "It's like a family here. There's a variety of people from 21 to 101 that come here, and the restaurant, which has been around since 1980, is an icon in Willow Glen."

For the people who come to the restaurant to sing, the environment is an important component, Rose says.

"This is just a nice place," he says. "It's safe, well-lit, and up until 10 p.m., you could bring kids here."

Karaoke singers need more than just a good venue, he says. What they look for in a karaoke bar or lounge is the rotation--the order people sign up for a singing spot for the night--and sound system.

Many of the regulars at the Three Flames come for the professional sound system, Rose says.

"We try to make everyone sound good," he says.

Rotation is just as important, Rose says. "It stays the same, and most know who they follow. If people come in later, they get added in to the end of the rotation."

Cowboy Larry, a Campbell resident and regular at the Three Flames, says the sound system and environment were what attracted him to the karaoke lounge.

"I've been following Doug and his karaoke now for over a year," he says.

Cowboy Larry considers himself a professional karaoke singer who performs six nights a week. The one night he doesn't do karaoke, he sings with his country and western band, Bit and Spur.

"I have a lot of fun singing," Larry says. "But karaoke is a bit tougher than the band. If you forget the words or stumble, the band waits. Karaoke just keeps playing."

The Three Flames Restaurant, 1547 Meridian Ave., has karaoke Sunday through Wednesday. For more information, call 408.269.3133 or visit www.3flamesrestaurant.com.

Goosetown Lounge, 1072 Lincoln Ave., has karaoke night Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 408. 292.4835.

The Cardinal Coffee Shop and Lounge, 3197 Meridian Ave., has karaoke night Mondays and Wednesdays. For more information, call 408.269.7891.