We have loved Frances Farmer Organ Karaoke since it first began a little over a year ago. We’ve written Slog posts about it, columns about it, and this Stranger Suggests about it:
You hate karaoke? Prepare to be converted by the near-religious experience that is Frances Farmer Organ Karaoke—karaoke accompanied by live organ. The Organ Monkey (aka certified Stranger Genius Korby Sears) knows one million excellent songs. In addition to the lyrical, the songbook offers delights such as Christian Bale’s “Angry rant on the set of Terminator 4” accompanied by the Batman theme song. You may use a microphone or a megaphone (or both). The alcohol flows in Vermillion’s pleasantly cavernous back room. No one’s really sure what Frances Farmer has to do with it, but the greatness will blow your ever-loving mind. (Vermillion, 1508 11th Ave, www.ffok.net. 8 pm, free.) BETHANY JEAN CLEMENT
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now: Tonight is the very last Frances Farmer Organ Karaoke.
In honor of FFOK’s passing, Organ Monkey Korby Sears wrote a piece this week about the things he’s learned at FFOK.
Some of those things:
There is one audience member at FFOK: me. The entire room is the stage, every attendee is the cast. This show is about getting people to entertain me. Having said that, my job is to make you look good, regardless of your skill level. That entertains me, too.
While preparing lyrics for the book, I noticed the older the song is, the fewer words it has. “Fly Me to the Moon” (Bart Howard, 1954) has 12 lines. “Jumpin’ Jumpin'” (Destiny’s Child, 2000) goes on for four pages. Pop music is getting more verbose.
People have a fundamental desire to scream. Maybe it’s release, maybe they just want to be heard. I have a business idea for a soundproof booth in the middle of downtown during the business day, charging $5 to step in for 30 seconds and scream your head off.
There’s nothing interesting about a piano. They are everywhere, like nickels on the ground. Organs are inherently funny, mysterious, and unrespectable. They’re like $2 bills.
The show got physical very early on. People started performing from the back of the room, over the crowd. Male nudity now occurs regularly. I learned quickly to strap down the lyric book with bungee cords, or else it would disappear.
Get FFOKed tonight.
