Features

Jon Short was in a band that used to do the pubs and clubs around Sheffield over the years which evolved into starting a band without a singer!

Rockaoke (L-R) Dan, Basil and Jon

Rockaoke is Jon Short on bass, Dan Richardson on guitar and Basil Hoult on drums, but hold on. Where are the lead vocals?

Well, they do have an MC, Kirsty Crawford. She keeps the karaoke singers in check with lyrics and also does sing with the band whilst the crowd warm up (or in some cases drink up and prepare themselves for vocal carnage!)

Jon explains how the band became karaoke band 'Rockaoke'

“Neil Finn, the lead singer from the band Crowded House did a gig in Sheffield a couple of years ago were he got his fans to play at this gig and called it  ‘A Band of Strangers’ and I was fortunate to play bass in the band that we had just put together. That really sowed the seed of idea for me and the band that we had evolved in to ‘Rockaoke’ in 2006.”

It works in the same way a karaoke night would work but with an added extra, your very own band. How can anyone resist that?

“The band get 30 seconds before we know what we are going to play. We shout someone’s name out, the crowd go wild.

“A wide range of people just rock up and get up. The difference between us and karaoke is that we can keep in time with them! That is our art and we have near as we can perfected that.

“It can’t fail because people just want to have fun. Everyone can be part of the band and we get the added bonus that we get to sack every singer after each song!”

In the past 12 months the band have stepped up their performances. This Summer (2009) they will be performing across UK festivals including Leeds festival, Wireless and Latitude and have gained notoriety on the London circuit, gaining residencies in the big smoke.

Ricky Wilson with Rockaoke

Even well known artists who are often imitated during karaoke nights want to join in on the fun. In 2006 they were joined on stage by Kaiser Chief lead singer ‘Ricky Wilson’ to sing ‘I Predict a Riot’

And among all that, they have gained Radio One stardom. They haven’t quite made it on to the playlist but they were involved in a karaoke night with Breakfast show presenter, Chris Moyles and the possibility of doing some more events in the future is looking likely.

More importantly everyone wants to know about the highs and lows of this Sheffield Rock and Roll karaoke life style, and of course, what song to pick!

“We get some funny looks from people when they are singing. Sometimes it’s really hard, for example Johnny Cash – The Ring of Fire. At first hand people know the song and think it will be easy to sing but it has one or two funny timing issues.

Jon admits he’s been tempted to take it off the set list but Dan chips in ‘Its only three chords.’ This can only be any guitarist's dream.

“It’s amazing how a lot of people can hold a tune but not many people can count one to four! It’s really weird, that’s our job though!

“The beauty of it, you never know what’s going to happen.”

Worst moments on stage, “There are far too many to mention, songs going wrong etc.. The charm is that it’s funny and people come to see people sing badly. Once or twice you get real energy on stage and some great singers, alongside making a bit of money!”

Rockaoke at work

Dan “We have been described in newspapers as, ’Release your inner Bon Jovi.’ It’s amazing – people just fit in to character, people go in the zone. There are so many Amy Winehouses’ and Liam Gallaghers’ outthere, these people just go in to the zone.”

Jon and Dan banter over what songs are the preferred choice of hearing, “Delilah is the band favourite. In terms of what people ask for ‘Living on a Prayer – Bon Jovi’ for the lads and ‘Valerie by Ame Winehouse’ for the girls, alongside Dolly Parton 9 to 5. We have our backbone of classics and then refresh the modern songs which come and go.

“We’ve got a couple of Pulp tunes too on the set, Disco 2000 and Common People, oh and the Arctic Monkeys. The keys that people sing in need changing too. Some songs just don’t work in a different key though so not only do we have to learn 200/300 songs but learn them in different keys too!”