Paul T. Bradley

Jenn and Ti and the delicious Occupy Karaoke calendar.

Karaoke maxim: There's more to life than karaoke, you know, but not much more. --Occupy Karaoke participant Ti, with help from Morrissey

"So, have you heard of these kids who are doing karaoke for 25 days in a row? Occupy Karaoke?" we ask a fellow bar patron.

We're in the Atwater Village watering hole Bigfoot Lodge last month, on the hunt for a cabal of karaoke partisans.

"No. That sounds lame," replies the beefy patron.

"You think so? I'm kind of hoping they've got some singing chops," we rebut, taking exception with his negativity.

"If there's karaoke here tonight, my wife and I are leaving -- I can't stand that shit." He retorts, after ordering two double whiskeys on the rocks. Oof. We hope they're not driving.

Karaoke is a polarizing enterprise, apparently, and we still have yet to find the crew responsible for taking that polarity to the next level -- they haven't responded to our emails, phone calls or smoke signals and we're scanning the crowded digs looking at faces and checking them against O.K.'s tumblr photos. No luck.

They tweeted they'd be here, and so far no one knows what the heck we're talking about -- we're even scanning for their signature advent calendar. Have we been duped?

Photos by Steven L. Sears

For the debut evening of Cosplay Karaoke last month, the promo literature asked, "What would Harley Quinn sing if she had a chance? What would Peter Parker belt out? You have a chance to find out as NerdMelt hosts COSPLAY KARAOKE!" and warned "YOU MUST BE IN COSTUME IN ORDER TO SING!"

The rules were relaxed for Saturday's second go-round, once again presented by renowned comic book writer Scott Lobdell and hosted by Playboy Radio personality, adult star and "cosplay queen" Nicki Hunter. For one, just a single lone attendee explained her karaoke choice (Lana Kane of FX animated series Archer dedicated Pink's "There You Go" to her titular ex). And two, there was a whole lotta singing by those who remained un-costumed, including an "I Got You Babe" duet, Journey's "Don't Stop Believing," Dom the Nerdmelt bartender crooning Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" and a LA Weekly reporter who shall remain nameless taking the stage for 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up."

Paul T. Bradley

Nicki Hunter and her superfan: a night's expectations achieved.

Ok, you know that one where the librarian loses the glasses and becomes the master of all things sexual? All it takes is a change in music and a little lighting...and voila! Seymour becomes...wait...Seymour? Yeah, Seymour. Seymour Satin is the former corporate librarian turned kingpin behind the world famous Porn Star Karaoke.

For the uninitiated, every Tuesday night at Sardo's in Burbank, porn industry veteran and starlet alike gathers to unwind with drinks and karaoke. Yes, the favorite actors, actresses, directors, and producers behind your favorite "private browsing" sessions all have to unwind after a full day's work, too.