Unique Entertainment
Veteran KJs fill bill at Buffalo Gap Saloon
Seven years ago, Greg Swain and Dean Cramer saw a need in the Portland area for a way to provide clubs with entertainment that would draw people, while providing something venue management could afford.
The duo decided to form Unique Entertainment and fill that need with Karaoke. Beginning with Ole's Medium Rare on Hwy 224 in Clackamas and Pogo's Lounge in Sellwood's Moreland District, they managed to expand to where they currently service over eight establishments with six active KJs and a few in reserve. Considering how the current economic climate has forced many businesses to shut their doors and lots of working class people making choices on how to spend their entertainment dollars, that is impressive.
About six years ago, The Buffalo Gap, at 6835 S.W. Macadam at California St., began using Unique Entertainment to provide Karaoke to its customers on Tuesday Nights. Jesse Swain, son of one of the co-founders, has been the KJ there for over three years now. Karaoke at The Gap, as locals call it, is featured upstairs in the Attic and has become extremely popular. At least one area group, MeetInPortland.com has adopted the local as one of their regular hangouts. Others come in after playing or to watch sports and then hang around. Some groups hold their meetings at The Gap, and members stick around to participate afterwards. No matter how or why they show up at the south waterfront tavern, they all have fun taking a turn on the mike or watching their friends do their thing.
Karaoke is very popular because it allows people to exercise a dream of performing in public. Many of these singers are actually quite good. Others, well, let's just say they have a great time trying. One thing for sure, everyone in the crowd seems to find a reason to support anyone with the where-with-all to get out in front and put themselves in a position that could be embarrassing. This support helps newer singers get through the jitters that many professional performers take for granted.
Karaoke at The Gap is so popular that on most nights, Swain does not have to even take to the mike after opening the show at 9. He's very comfortable entertaining, as he is also a member of a local band called I Never Heard The Bullet, but with large crowds looking to get a turn with the mike, he kicks back and watches as patrons enjoy themselves. Occasionally, there is a theme night (created by MeetInPortland.com).
Swain works Karaoke three times a week, hosting shows at Ole's Medium Rare on Friday evenings, and Saturday nights at Bogie's in Gladstone. He brings in a quality sound system and over 42,000 songs for potential American Idols to choose from.
Unique Entertainment provides Karaoke at Ole's on Saturdays also, as well as Friday and Saturday at The Penguin in Sellwood and The Brew in downtown Milwaukie. On Wednesdays there's Karaoke at The Mt. Tabor Legacy on S.E. Hawthorne and on Thursdays, they host Karaoke at Old Chicago in the Ross Center on 82nd Ave. at Causey St.
The Buffalo Gap offers entertainment five nights a week. In addition to Karaoke on Tuesdays from 9 to midnight, Chuck Warda hosts an open mike on Wednesdays and the Zydeco/Reggae stylings of Papa Coyote on Thursdays. On Friday and Saturday evenings, top local groups are featured. For the entire line up, visit TheBuffaloGap.com, go to MySpace.com/BuffaloGap or just call them at 503-244-7111.