Karaoke is one of those words you automatically want to run from. Seeing the letters k-a-r in close proximity is usually a sign that you need to be running in the opposite direction as fast as you can. Because no matter how much people pretend to enjoy it, karaoke is no good for anyone. Even professional singers become pitchy and obnoxious the second they hobble drunkenly to a karaoke machine, ready to belt "Livin' On a Prayer" like it's the last song on Earth.
This is why I cannot for the life of me understand how people can enjoy seeing bands that perform solely as karaoke acts.
Oh sure, they've written all the music themselves. It's original material, just on an iPod. Who needs to play instruments when you've got Garage Band? Just plug in your formula and BAM! It's time to sing along.
Last night I saw Ministry of Magic headline the Bryn Mawr Yule Ball. They are a boy band who sing about a boy wizard to extremely catchy dance beats - the only problem is that they do it karaoke style. Asses shaking, iPod blaring through the PA system, they're ready to entertain.
And the crowd loves it, they honestly do. Who am I to begrudge a wizard rock band well-earned popularity? I just wish they would sit down with some instruments and make it real. If you could be playing the CD and get the same effect, why have a concert at all? Just have a real dance party and let everyone sing along.
I have seen the band perform acoustic, and I have to say I like that much better. Give them a guitar and a chance to build some quieter harmonies and they do a really nice job. That's not to say their dance beats aren't great, it's just a personal preference (and a total bias; everyone knows I'm an acoustic whore).
The show as a whole was great and the band had some great energy that the crowd ate up. I'd just love to see the whole thing repeated with some guitars and keyboards instead of MacBooks. A girl can dream, right?
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