Sing Your Heart Out, COMO

What to expect at Eastside’s Karaoke Nights.

If you’ve ever wandered downtown on a morning, you’ve probably witnessed the hustle — people juggling calls, scrambling to beat the traffic lights, checking their Apple Watches incessantly, and fueling up with a nice, hot cup of coffee before class or work. But when evening rolls around, downtown shifts gear. It’s as if everyone collectively exhales, ready to slow down, grab a drink, and soak in the community vibe.  

That’s especially true at Eastside Tavern, or simply “Eastside,” a cozy, offbeat bar that has been a downtown Columbia staple since 1997. For more than seven years, it’s hosted the city’s longest-running weekend karaoke, filling Thursday through Saturday nights with music. With its classic horror memorabilia and eclectic crowd, Eastside is a place where different aesthetics and generations come together.  

A Mic, a Melody, and a Community  

Gianni Vitale, singer of the local band Red Leader, is one of many Eastside regulars and a longtime fixture in the karaoke scene.  

“My first time going to karaoke was back in college when I was out with my bandmates,” Vitale says. “By then, I’d been singing on stage for a while, but I really got into the habit of karaoke right after my wife and I separated. Eastside just became a place I went to regularly.”  

Vitale has tried several karaoke spots around town, but he always returns to Eastside for the music, the crowd, and the welcoming vibe. It’s a place where he can do what he loves while developing genuine connections with others who share that same passion.  

“I’ve definitely built a network of friends [there],” he says. “We don’t really meet up or talk much outside of Eastside, but I know they’ll be there every week, so I just keep showing up. There’s a community aspect to it.”  

Step inside the bar, and you’ll likely see singers like Vitale playing musical chairs, bouncing between tables, initiating a friendly game of pool, and striking up conversations before their turn at the mic. Sometimes, even unexpected friendships form between people of different ages, backgrounds, and styles. Yet at Eastside, music bridges the gaps, uniting everyone in the room.  

Singing Through the Stage Fright  

When it comes to his song of choice, Vitale keeps things engaging. One night, he might channel Sinatra; another, he could be belting out System of a Down, Damien Rice, or Deftones. His song always depends on his mood. If he could share the stage with anyone, dead or alive, it would be the legendary Freddie Mercury — his ultimate dream duet partner.   

But no matter what Vitale sings or how much stage experience he has, one thing never changes: the nerves.  

“Every single time, I have to hype myself back up for it,” he admits.  

As a child, Vitale struggled with speaking and took speech classes to learn how to pronounce words and communicate in front of others. Even now, performing is something during which he often dissociates, but he finds the act of singing deeply freeing — an outlet for the raw emotion that shines through during his performances.  

 “Once they call my name, I just take a deep breath. I grab the microphone, and I’m like, ‘Okay, what’s my angle? How am I going to sing this song?’”  

Occasional singer and audience member Stephanie Mayse says Eastside’s welcoming environment helps ease stage fright.  

“They [Eastside attendees] don’t care what kind of person you are or where you came from. Everyone there is like family. You don’t have to be self-conscious,” she says.  

While Mayse is less frequent with her attendance and performing than Vitale — usually once every few weeks — she still takes note of the unspoken etiquette that exists among the audience and the singers. Regardless of whether the singer has the prowess of Adele or Beyoncé or seems more suited for singing alone in the shower, the audience generally claps and cheers for everyone. There’s an understanding that the singer is likely performing a song that holds personal significance for them, and they have taken the brave step of getting on stage in front of everyone.  

“If you’re confident, people will love what you’re doing. Even if you’re not a very good singer,” Mayse notes.  

She also says that attending karaoke with a group of friends can alleviate any anxiousness, as it’s common for the singers’ friends (and other audience members) to surround the stage and cheer for them or dance and sing along.   

“You get to feel like a rockstar when you’re on the stage.”  

Vitale adds to this sentiment, saying that if you’re afraid to sing but really want to get up there, duets are a great way to overcome your fear. However, you should be careful about going up after a duet, he jokes.  

“There was a couple that did a duet together [one night], and at the end of it, the man proposes, and she says yes,” he recalls. “Everyone’s like, ‘Woo-hoo!’ and cheering. And next up, it’s me, and I’m singing “B.Y.O.B.” by System of a Down. I’m like, ‘What a terrible way to follow this magical moment.’”  

A Night to Remember  

Moments like that are part of what makes Eastside’s karaoke nights so memorable, from heartfelt lyrics to more raucous rock anthems to surprise proposals.   

If you’re eager to get on stage, it’s best to arrive at Eastside Tavern around opening time — 8 p.m. — and sign up early, as the mic stays hot on weekends. But even if you’re just there to listen, you’ll find yourself swept up in the music, a medley of drinks, the company, and the kind of atmosphere that makes a night out feel like a shared experience rather than just a stop along the way.   

At Eastside, the music never stops, and neither do the good times. There’s always a song waiting to be sung and a crowd ready to cheer you on.