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Anti-Karaoke is 50% crazed house party, 50% spontaneous rock concert-comedy show... and oh yeah, it's also a karaoke. A karaoke like no other, where the participants literally turn into rock stars and, over the course of 3 hours, create an exciting show where no two nights are ever the same. Indeed, dear friends, Anti-Karaoke is an effective antidote to the dreary karaoke rooms that plague humanity like Celine Dion's repertoire.
Anti-Karaoke has no limits. Nor does it have TV screens for reading the lyrics. TV screens are for dicks. At Anti-Karaoke, we read the lyrics printed on paper from a music stand ... just like Napoleon, Mozart, and Picasso used to do when they did karaoke. Punk rock!
One of the keys to Anti-Karaoke's popularity is the element of surprise. It's not unusual to witness punk rockers crowd surfing over the audience's heads while singing to The Dead Kennedys...
...older crooners paying tribute to the legends of Las Vegas...
...rappers transforming into Chuck D. or Flavor Flav...
...KISS fans with faces painted like their idols shooting blood and confetti into the audience...
...Mexican wrestler/drag queens...
...sexy fashion victims...
...sado-masochism...
...rock stars...
...to porn stars...
...all in the same night.
Adding creative, irreverent and fun numbers to every show, mistress of ceremonies Rachel Arieff encourages the audience to let loose and express themselves.
The show is never about good or bad singing, looking cool (or not), or judging people. It's about having fun with the music you love, no matter what side of the stage you end up on.
The truth is, Anti-Karaoke is a bona fide rock show where the audience often ends up singing just as much as those onstage.
And on certain very special nights, if you're very, very lucky...
...you can see butts.
Monday is the new Saturday!
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| Frequently Asked Questions (Updated 28-9-2007) |
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When and where does Anti-Karaoke happen?
BARCELONA::
- Every Monday at 10:00 pm. It ends promptly at 1:00 am, after which begins the DJ rock session Rrrocky Mondays. Stay for both!
- It happens at the totally happening Sidecar Club, conveniently located in the Plaza Reial, right off the lower part of the Ramblas. Complete address: 7 Plaza Reial (it's in one of the corners, you'll see it). Need a map? Here you go.
MADRID:
- In Madrid, the last Wednesday of every month:
April 30, May 28, June 25, & July 16 (July falls a week early 'cause the club closes for summer vacation).
- 10 pm - 1 am
- At the Sala El Sol, Jardines 3, next to metro stop Gran Vía. View map.
Is there a cover charge?
- At Sidecar (Barcelona), 7 euros.
- At El Sol (Madrid), 7 euros.
Hang around for post-Anti-Karaoke DJ sessions at both clubs at no extra charge. Stay all night, rock til you drop!
Can I reserve a ticket for the Anti-Karaoke?
Except for New Year's Eve 2007 (in which you can reserve a ticket through the Sidecar Club), no reservations are available for these events. Make sure you get in by showing up early (starting time, 10 pm).
What is the sound system like at Anti-Karaoke?
Since it's at a rock club that actually gives a shit about how things sound and has invested in quality equipment, Anti-Karaoke sounds fantastic! When people sing, it sounds like a real rock concert. Plus, we've been careful to select high-quality song versions that sound like the originals. None of those crappy CasioTM versions that are all too typical in karaokes. But don't take our word for it. Watch the videos.
Are these Spanish songs?
Nope. Anti-Karaoke features a mix of your favorite English-language rock, metal, soul, rap, pop, alternative, punk, new wave, and '80s kitsch hits. Of course, you can sing in any language you want, what do we care?
How many songs do you have?
We have nearly 500 high-quality versions of songs to choose from! From Guns N Roses to Depeche Mode, to Janis Joplin to Prince, to Queen and AC/DC to MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice, from Stevie Wonder to Frank Sinatra, from Bowie to The Weather Girls!
I wanna see a list of the songs!
Great! Click here for the complete list.
Okay, I've seen the song list. But why don't you have [insert title of any song that's not on the Anti-Karaoke song list]?
There are many reasons why we don't offer certain songs. Maybe we hate the song you're talking about (sorry, no offense). Maybe we don't hate it, but it doesn't go well with the vibe of the show. Or maybe we just can't find a good version of the song. There are many songs we'd love to offer at Anti-Karaoke, but we haven't been able to include them because we can't find decent-sounding karaoke versions. Our rule is, if it doesn't sound good, fuggedabbadit. We cannot bear crap versions of our favorite songs.
Why the hell do you use a music stand with printed lyrics instead of TV's like every other karaoke?
'Cause we don't fucking need TeeVees. In fact, the show's better without 'em.
Can I wear a costume?
You are enthusiastically encouraged to dress up for Anti-Karaoke -- as your favorite rock star, your 5th grade math teacher, the Pope, a pimp, a gimp, whatever. In addition, onstage you will find wigs, hats, and various accoutrements for spontaneous costuming on stage.
Is there a host?
Yes, your hostess is Rachel Arieff.
How do I sign up?
Just show up, fill out one of the forms on the table with your name and the song you wanna sing, and give it to our dear maestro in the sound booth. Rinse and repeat.
Is there food?
The clubs don't serve food, but right outside you'll find lots of bars, restaurants and take-out joints at reasonable prices.
I still have unanswered questions, dammit.
Email Rachel the Anti-Karaokeatrix at 
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ANTI-KARAOKE in MADRID:
The last Wednesday of every month (except July):
Wednesday May 28
Wednesday June 25
Wednesday July 16
22 - 1 h.
El Sol, C/ Jardines 3, Madrid
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| Exciting News! |
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 ¡New videos from last Wednesday's AK-Madrid!
Next AK-Madrid: Wed. May 28,
11 pm - 1 am. |
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 ¡Read the chronicle of the AK-Madrid anniversary show!
Next AK-Madrid: Wed. April 30. |
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 Rachel on the cover of
Time Out BCN
Click to read article
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 Attack of Ernesto The Naked Man!
Click on the photo for the whole story....
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 Read colorful
article
about Rachel
& Anti-Karaoke
in El País!
(Yep, in English) |
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| Do you like to watch? Are ya a good photographer? A-K needs reliable videographers to videotape shows. If you're interested, contact Rachel at |
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OHMYGOD!!! CARMEN DE MAIRENA in Anti-Karaoke!!!
"Arieff, who's been visited by groups such asThe Cult and L.A. Guns, hopes that her next special guest will be Carmen de Mairena, with whom she shared a taxi."
- El Mundo, 16 February 2007.
Excellent fotos by Dani El Fotógrafo! Click on the fotos to see them queen-sized -- the proper way to view Miss Carmen! View gallery of the evening.
Thanks Carmen for coming to A-K!
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Purchase your official Anti-Karaoke T-shirt to wear to your crappy job! On sale every Monday at Sidecar during the show for 10 €. Being hung over at work was never so much fun!
Click on the image for more info. Supermodel: Fosy of The Cancerberos
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Rachel says: 
Fun video of Rachel singing New York,