Karaoke holds a special place in many people’s hearts because it’s where talent (or enthusiasm, take your pick) and grittiness fuse together to form a solid crystal of awesome. But then American Idol took karaoke and vacuumed it until all the dirt and irony was gone, leaving nothing but the fresh scent of perceived success. This is the model Rising Star at Universal CityWalk was built around, but while it doesn’t really resemble karaoke as diehard fans know it, it does offer patrons a chance to sing with a live band and feel like a bonafide pop star (minus the ticket receipts, of course).
Décor: Set up like a grand performance stage, Rising Star is classy fashionable, with balcony seats, grand columns, and a monstrous stage to house the band. There is little to no standing room, so when you get there (and pay your $7 cover charge) you’d do well to bypass the bar and find a seat and let a waitress get everything for you. The tables seat four to five people maximum, so large groups might have trouble sitting close. The menu holds the 60-70 song list, and you hand your request slips to one of the hosts down by the stage (but that’s a long walk, and a star like you has people for that kind of thing, like waitresses). Smokers will not be holding a lit cigarette as they cradle the mic, either (as this is CityWalk), so they have to get their fix out front (be sure to get your hand stamped so you can get back in).
The Bar: Normally karaoke and martinis don’t mix, but again, this isn’t really karaoke, so feel free to indulge in one of the several fruity concoctions available for about $9. Cocktails, like the signature Rising Star with Razzmatazz, orange juice, and cranberry juice, go from $6.50 up to $10. Several varieties of Jäger bombs are also available for $8 a pop. Onto more traditional karaoke fare, there are several wines for $6 to $8 (though most are $8), and draft Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Amber Bock, and Blue Moon are $3.75 a glass. You may be scratching you head thinking “Wait, this is CityWalk, how can those prices be so low?” Well, for starters tax is added to everything, and the glasses look to be around 10 ounces (though the receipts suggest 14 ounces, but it’s all in perception, you know). The service is generally pretty quick and friendly, considering the large capacity of the place.
Sounds: The live band is pretty talented, and only need a break about once an hour, which is about on par with a karaoke DJ. Rising Star also does a fantastic job of balancing the music with the singing, allowing your friends to hear over the raucous live band just how terrible you really are.
Crowd: It seems like a lot of American Idol fans, young and old, show up and turn their slips in. But whoever gets on stage, the backup singers and the MC help make them look at least moderately good, which is more than be said for the naked charisma you need for straight-up karaoke.
