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Categories: Karaoke, Dance Clubs, Lounges
Neighborhood: Santa MonicaMon-Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I'm a sucker for karaoke, cheap drinks, and cute bartenders. So this place got me.
Came here on Friday and it was packed. Lots of talent singing, especially the chick running the karaoke, she is awesome. someone give her a record deal. and of course you have your random drunk asses singing (more like howling). but a good time nonetheless. No cover either!
What I love about this place is that every night is Karaoke night! Unlike most karaoke bars in LA, this place isn't over-run with wannabe actors hoping they'll get their big break. This place is filled with people who like to have fun, sing karaoke, and drink beer. People belt out both tunes you don't normally hear at Karaoke like The Killers, Oasis, Snoop, as well as the classics.
If you get there early enough, you can snag a table and a bucket of beers for around $15. And Sweet Baby Jesus, if there is a theme night, you might just think you were in the most incredible and magical place EVER.
Beware some of the regulars though, some are jerks. Also, Keep track of your tab. I once thought they over charged me and had to ask for my itemized receipt. It was just a tally sheet. However, I never saw that bartender again.
Definitely a place where you think white college students go to. I felt like I was in a movie, where a white person returns back to his small town and this is the bar all the locals go to.
A very fun atmosphere and packed! There's a karaoke stage where you can go up and sing. Also, the crowd is great because ppl just joyously sing along with whatever you song you picked. I think this is definitely a place to go back to.
Definitely pre-game before coming here. If not, then make sure you get a few drinks... cuz everything is a whole lot BETTER once you're buzzed... hahahaha
I've only been to 2 karaoke bars in the LA area and both are pretty much the same to me. Like someone has said, if you've been to one karaoke bar, you've been to 'em all... Gaslite is a lot smaller than I'd expected & it becomes much smaller once the place started to fill up.
There's a funny story to tell about this place. So my girls & I parked the car... walked to to place to get in... didn't know where the bouncer was... then we saw this one guy giving us a weird/confusing look... turned out he's the bouncer... walked up to us... asked us where we're going... we said, "here"... he said, "are you sure?"... we were like, "huh? isn't this the Gaslite?"... for some reasons we got confused too... hahaha. Anyway, he said, "yeah, this is it. Didn't know you girls were gonna go here cuz I saw some hot girls earlier & they walked pass the place to next door. I thought maybe you hot girls were gonna do the same thing."... we said, "no, we wanted to come here for some karaoke"... he said, "great, you girls just upgraded the place for me."... So yeah, what a compliment... hahaha
Anyhoo, my girls & I met up w/ some other friends here later on. The party started for me after 3 cocktail drinks... hahahaha. Overall, it's a decent place to go w/ friends... We did sing one song though. I'm not much of a singer so I had the group pick a song that everyone can sing along. I'd recommend those tune-deaf singers (like me) out there to do the same... hahahaha. Cuz if you sing a song everyone knows, they'll join in & no one really is gonna listening to you & sing in group too... hahahhaha
We all had fun so I think we'll come back here again someday =)
An old co-worker of mine told me about this karaoke bar a couple of years ago and I haven't had the excuse to go until last night (Saturday). I've experienced both good and not-so-good karaoke bars in l.a. since I've moved here, but for the most part have been satisfied with anything since I never knew of any karaoke bars prior to moving to l.a. 3 years ago.
- Parking sucked, but I got lucky.
- The bouncer was really nice and got people in VERY fast; no BS.
- It's A LOT smaller than I imagined.. and PACKED!
- The crowd consisted of mostly white peeps in their 20s to mid 30s.
- I expected divey, but not GHETTO. After scoping the place out I honestly felt that I could set my apartment up the same way, if not better. The xmas light decorations were a bit tacky, the fans above were old school and looked dusty, and the furniture needed an upgrade. I kept having to remind myself that it's supposed to look this way by saying "this is a dive bar" over and over.
- There were lots of peeps on the dance floor and everyone looked like they were genuinely having a great time.
- Drinks were just ok and not worth the price.
- I realized that what makes this place "good" are the people who make it fun, and not the actual bar itself. The KJ was pretty hype and kept it moving pretty well. He even grabbed the mic and joined the singers on stage every once in a while. But one thing I didn't like was when he talked about health care reform and how he said that if you were against it you could screw yourself. Politics is serious and shouldn't be discussed in a public place like a karaoke bar because it could offend people.
- I must say that out of all the karaoke places that I've been to, I'd probably be most comfortable singing here because of the environment. Mad props in that respect.
Recommendation: Pre-party before coming here so you don't have to spend too much money on their drinks. Oh, and come early to find parking on the streets.
So when you don't get a chance to sing, it obviously sucks. But in general, you can figure out a way to get up on stage. Also, its not a stage that is awkwardly placed away from the dance floor/rest of the bar. People are always jumping on and of stage, and singing along as necessary.
Also, the karaoke guy/DJ does a great job of alternating between karaoke performances and and dance songs.
First I'll start with the pros: the Gas Lite is in a convenient location next to the swanky V Lounge, restaurants all around, and being on Wilshire Boulevard, an easy spot to spot (+2). There wasn't any cover so its a good place to start or end the night, and the crowd was very welcoming and receptive to newcomers and any singers, regardless of skill level (+2). It wasn't too crowded for a weeknight and there was enough seats or standing room so you didn't feel claustrophobic (+1). And the DJ was great at getting the crowd hyped up for singing and sing-alongs (+1). The staff was very nice and helpful, which can sometimes be a deal-breaker for any establishment (+1).
There were a few bad points, some that could be helped and others that can't. Parking, just like anywhere else in Santa Monica, is impossible after 10pm (-1), so plan to get there early. The drinks price were a bit on the expensive side, and the strength of the drinks didn't really justify the cost - one vodka red bull drink isn't supposed to be stronger than two Washington Apple shots (-2). I'm not a beer fan, so if you're looking to hitting the hard liquor bottles, the less mixing in the drink, the better.
Overall though I'd definitely come back and suggest others to do the same. The atmosphere feels the same as having a garage party with a karaoke machine and a bunch of close friends, so even the shyest patron can feel comfortable coming off the wall.
The key to making your night at the Gas Lite a great one--and I'm going to be blunt--is to be drunk by the time you walk through the door. Why? Well, who wants to listen to karaoke sober, that's why. This makes the Gas Lite the perfect place to finish up a Santa Monica pub crawl, but don't show up too late! If you make that mistake on the weekend there is liable to be a medium-length line and you might not get the chance to belt out your favorite tune!
On the subject of tunes, things run standard... There is a big old book with lots and lots of songs listed: You find yours and write your name and the code on a clipboard. Depending upon the crowd, you might get called a couple minutes or a few hours later.
Anyway, drinks are not the Gas Lite's strong suit. Chalk it up as another excuse to pregame. They have a fairly limited selection of beers and they certainly aren't crafting specialty cocktails. I can't complain, though... It is a karaoke bar, after all.
That said, they have one thing that makes up for all their shortcomings in the drink arena, and it isn't the song selection... It is the incredibly awesome popcorn cart in the back. Good God, I love that popcorn cart. When I think about how much I pay for popcorn at the movie theater, I am nearly blown away by the fact that I can shovel basket after basket into my face for free at the Gas Lite.
If you're in the mood for karaoke, and willing to put up with hearing a bunch of other drunks do it too, then the Gas Lite is the place for you on the Westside. They are open from 6am (!!!) until 2am every day, so swing on by for 20 hours a day of karaoke goodness!
PROTIP: They tend to keep things a bit more old school toward the end of the night... If you show up late, you're best off picking some classic rock or another karaoke staple. If you're like me, and want to spit Luda's verse from "Yeah!" with all your heart and soul, you should probably show up a little earlier.
I love a good dive and The Gaslite satisfies. I love people who just are who they are. Those who frequent the Gaslite before 10pm (and you will know who they are) are just chillin and having a good time. They get the karaoke started when there are 12 people in the bar. Are they good? No. Who cares? Not them. Not me. It's fun and unpretentious with a fantastic mix of people.
I've never had a poor experience with the bartenders, karaoke MCs, or the bouncers. I have a tendency to be extremely nice to these people however, as they do have the ability to give you (or not to give you) what you want.
Other facts:
- If you get there before 9pm $10 buckets (maybe $12) of beer.
- You can reserve a booth for a large group if you call a few days in advance.
- Get there early, bring a DD or enough cash for a cab home!
Went Saturday night (11/14), and the DJ was a complete asshole. I won't be going back.
Mark the Bouncer was cool, though.
For someone who is just discovering all the bars on Wilshire...this place is kinda cool....
It's literally a dive bar with about maybe 5 booths total and the rest is at the bar and standing room only...we got there like 915ish and was able to get the big booth...sang just a few songs...got the crowd pumping...it was fun...
since it is a dive bar...the beer selection was horrible....same domestic crap...and a few imports like stella and heineken...
besides that...the ratio was 3:2 girls to guys...which was odd...but then if you think about it...most guys are not into karaoke..especially open mic unless u really wanna make a fool of yourself or have no shame...but when the ladies are drunk fellas...u definitely feel like a rock star when u are on stage..and if u are good and chose a good song...it feels like groupies are raping you when u step off stage...hahaha...
then again...when its a dive bar...you get a certain type of "clientele"
If you're looking for rockin' karaoke, a bona-fide dive bar, and a fun time in Santa Monica, this spot definitely delivers.
HOWEVER (and there is a however), I have never experienced ruder female employees in this town (and that's saying a lot in LA, where bad service is often par for the course!). My friends and I arrived around 10 pm one night and were some of the first people there; yet it took more than two hours for the karaoke hostess to call our names to sing. When someone from our party went up to inquire, she gave them major attitude -- then, when we finally made it on stage, she rudely said "Let's just get this over with" with a smirk.
A few songs later, my friend was called up to sing, and he had put my name in right after his. She called the name "Jon J" with my song and I went up to her and said, "Do you mean, Jen J?" She then shot me a look that would have melted the North Pole and said, "NO. JON J. Get off the stage." No one went up, and a few minutes later, she said "Jen J?" I went onstage, and she said, "Your friend NEEDS to learn how to write more clearly" and gave another of her patented death stares. OVER IT! Isn't one of the requirements for a karaoke hostess a personality? I thought so until that night. And the bartender was equally as rude.... Luckily, my friends and I had a blast, but these sourpusses definitely soured the experience.
wow. I never thought in a million years that I would sing karaoke... don't worry, I wasn't one of those american idol wannabe chicks that annoyed you so much. Nor was I part of that 30+ group of girls crammed onto the stage cause omg its tiffany's birthday. no. two words: tiny. dancer. :)
In the end, I really do like dive bars. While there, I usually cringe at the bar's overall dingy-ness and the creep factor of its lurking clientele. But then I go home and just remember all the fun I had. The bartenders were cool cats. We were there til closing arguing which star wars is best (Empire Strikes Back!!). There. I got the last word in.
I walked in for happy hour at about 6:30pm on a Thursday night and the place seemed a bit empty. It looked like one big red room with Christmas garland hanging, two very unique ceiling fans and a few regulars at the bar. It reminded me of what I imagine the Regal Beagle would look like in real life. The first thing I noticed was the smell of popcorn and sure enough there was a popcorn machine. Score 1 for the Gaslite, I love popcorn at bars!
My friends and I sat at a large, round, red booth underneath a large HDTV - one of several in the bar. The Lakers were playing and it was all Lakers on all TVs.
Score 2 for the Gaslite? Happy hour that lasts until 9pm! Happy hour 'til 9? Really?! Sign me up! $2 off all drinks and these awesome buckets o' beer. $12 or $16 for six domestic or import beers in a bucket. If I weren't driving, I probably would have purchased a bucket all for myself!
Around 8:30pm once the Lakers game was over, the karaoke heads started coming out. There are some pretty dedicated American-Idol wannabes here and their enthusiasm is fun to watch. The woman who runs karaoke is actually a pretty good singer! By 10pm this little place was packed with people ready to show that not everyone in America's got talent.
The only thing missing here is food. While they do sell hotdogs during football game days, other than the popcorn they don't serve any eats. They do, however, have a book full of menus and places willing to deliver to the bar including the Koo Koo Roo next door.
Parking was easy - there's plenty of metered parking out front (availability likely dependent on your arrival time.)
Fun place to go with a group - get there early if you want a place to sit before the karaoke crowd rushes in.
Went with a friend a few years ago. It was fun, we sang and drank cheap beer. The lines for karaoke were very very long. Had to pay the DJ off to get a spot.
Overall this is a great dive bar on the westside. Just not my scene.
Don't let the recession get in the way of drinking. In fact, to make things better, have a drink at happy hour (everyday till 9 pm). Don't just have 1 beer, have 6 beers for only $16 total! (or 12 for domestic beer yucky). Costs of beers don't get better than that! AND free karaoke and popcorn and parking too!!! This is the best happy hour place during the economic downtown!
Too bad there's no food. A girl can't be eating popcorn all night, but you can order take out and bring it to the bar.
Girls - all I have to say is that this bar is full of men. ;) It's a small bar. The odds of "accidentally" bumping into a cute straight boy when you're walking across the room are pretty good.
Karaoke is great when you are able to participate. This place can get busy even on a weeknight and sometime it can be impossible to get a song. The woman in control of the machine tends to play favorites. It appears that she wants to be the star every night. She must have been an Idol reject or something. The hip-hop music between songs is a cool idea, but when the place gets crowded it can be hours before you get a song. Keep the show moving!
The crowd can be a little fratty here, but it is fun when everybody in the place is drunk though. You can also find a few weirdos here. The beer selection is poor and the service is poor.
This place couldn't suck any harder if it was a hoover vacuum. For one, there's an unreasonable wait to get in when it's 9:30 on Saturday. Yeah, I know it's Saturday, but why I am outside when the place is 1/3rd full.
Getting drinks was actually kind of reasonable. The waiting staff were generally polite, cute, and the drinks fairly priced for a Saturday night in Los Angeles.
It's kind of dark inside, and it gets real crowded, real quick. Now, I love karaoke, I consider myself even kind of good at it. I also have an idea what to expect, as I've been to 6 different karaoke joints since I've been in LA, and one in Orange County. The karaoke guy is total trash. I put my name down on the list at 10:30, and d-bag # 1 running karaoke still had not called me up on stage by 1:00. Look, I know it can take a while to get to your song, but there were not that many people on the list when I signed up. He also plays songs between karaoke singers. LONG songs. If I wanted to go to the club I'd go to Holly's West just down the street. I want Karaoke, period, get on with it.
And here's where I'll never return to Gaslite. For one, the guy running karaoke, (he's the tool who's like like 5'10 and looks like Steve Gutenberg) felt it necessary to talk to trash to my friend before she sang her song. THEN, and this is the kicker
He has the nerve to cut my friend off midsong, so he can sing with his buddies. What the hell is up with that?!? HE CUT HIM OFF MID SONG! THAT NEVER HAPPENS!
Please note, that this all took place after we waited over 2 hours for our chance to sing.
This place is terrible, plain and simple, if you want to actually have FUN, go to Sonny's on a Saturday night. It's like 6 blocks east, the karaoke guy plays minimal songs between karaoke singers, and some of the regulars are actually quite good. Especially Mini-loaf.
DON'T GO TO THE GASLITE!!!
AWESOME if you go in the middle of the day. Dark, divey.
ABSOLUTELY SHITTY if you go during Karaoke. It is FULL of people (you may even have to wait in line!) and these people are THE WORST specimens of human beings and can't sing anyways, not that you can hear the songs above the noise. And the song list is FULL for the rest of the night by like 10 p.m.
Plus the bouncer there one night was getting a major kick out of abusing his beloved, yet miniscule, power. Seriously, it was a gross showing.
However, one other night, I Karaoked with Emerson of Lake and Palmer fame. That was very cool.
So, in a nutshell, it's hit-or-miss.
You have to be a hardcore karaoke lover to hit up this place in the middle of the day. I am definitely not one of those people, especially because I only like doing things I'm good at...like napping and eating duck fetuses. I hadn't even finished my first drink, and my classmates were already crooning GNR on stage. This is probably why I don't have friends in school. I'm just not always "down" with what the white people want to do.
Though this place is a hole in the wall, drinks were not the super cheap dive bar prices I expected ($7 for a vodka tonic), but the bartender was pretty nice. I also have no idea why this is place is listed under "dance clubs." There's hardly enough room for a Jenny Craig death match.
I am a tough critic. They say this place is world famous for karaoke, yet unless you know the DJ sometimes there is an hour + wait to sing. So drink up, bring some friends, sing along, and hit the tiny dance floor. It doesn't get way too crowded, but you may be rubbing shoulders with the next american idol while grooving to some "Sweet Child of Mine".
It's much smaller than I thought, but it is a fun place to go if you are a diehard karaoke singer.
I came from Montana to visit my sis in LA. I am an avid Karaoke fan and she had never been. We decided on the Gaslite. We had sooo much fun in this place. There are a lot of singers on Friday night. We got there just before 9 signed up immediately and were only able to sing 2 songs. However the crowd was fun, dancin' and singin along and for a stranger from Montana, I had so many people tell me how they loved me and my songs etc. This was definately the funnest night I have ever had at karaoke and I have been at it for 25 years!!!
I will NEVER go back.
First, apologies to the bartenders, you guys and gals are great. And apologies to the concept, I am an unrepentant kareoke appreciator, and its a good space for it (dive-y with room behind the bar). Basically I want to like this place very much, but unfortunately thanks to some of the rudest bunch of assholes this side of a NY cab, the whole thing is ruined.
Please, management, read your reviews. Your bouncers are scaring away customers b/c for whatever idiotic reason its ok at your bar to be complete dick on a horrible and pathetic power trip to customers whose patronage you rely on to exist. And Ive been to plenty of bars and seen the full gamut of bouncers, so I know the normal reasons one may be refused entry or asked to leave. Not at this little toilet. Gaslite bouncers seem to want nothing more than to make sure you have a bad time and/or that you get kicked out. Whats funny to me is the fat tub of crap I dealt with didnt care at all that my and my friends money keeps his ass employed so he can go home to his taco bell and chicken wings and keep pluggin away at those arteries.
Second, the guy running the DJ booth (guy with curly brown hair) is right up there with the bouncers. Extremely sarcastic, rude, and for no reason at all. I asked to if I could see the book to change a song and all i got in return were the type of snide pithy comments that youre just like, why would I ever return?
And thus, I will NEVER come back.
If you want to karaoke in Santa Monica The Gaslite is not the place to go. Their sound system sucks (it broke down twice). Their mics are god awful and most importantly their wait staff is the worst. I and my man friend were sitting at a table and the waitress approaches us and ask us if we wanted something to drink. We said sure. I order a coke because i do not drink. The young lady asked me if it is cash or open a tab. I said cash. She said you must pay up front. I found this to be very hard to comprehend. Every bar I have gone to in and outside the country you pay after you get your drinks. She said that this is the owners rules. So I paid ahead of time. I asked the people at the table I was sitting at did she ask you to pay ahead of time and he said no. Now there was only two differences between he and i ! He was male and he was Caucasian. I have had heard of racial profiling when the law is concerned but not when it comes to karaoke and drinks. Now the fun did not stop there. The same and only waitress working on 01/15/2010 continuously kept asking us to relinquish our table. "There are people outside that really want a table" So my question is why is that my problem and why do you keep coming to us. My table consisted of 4 people and there were table where there were only two patrons at them. Why did she keep coming back to us. hhhhmmmm Now I am not daft I know the main goal is to making money but you do not make tips and money by treating your patron like they are not wanted. Oh yes and the waitress said that the owner told her to ask for the table. I really question the owner and his/her morals. If you condone Prejudice behavior and bad quality entertainment by all means go to the Gaslite.
Seriously, the Gas Light might be the greatest place since Disney World. You pretty much have to experience it for yourself but to give you an idea of what you might see there, here is a breakdown of my last birthday:
We walk in and immediately are handed quadruple shots of crappy tequila. We pounder whether or not to take it and induce what will later be known as the T.I. incident or to puss out and be ridiculed for the evening. Hey, it's my birthday, I'm not about to douche out. We take the majority of the shots and immediately blew chunks in a trash can literally in front of the bar (not the building). I mind you, I'm in the center of the room in front of the bartender, blowing chunks and her response is, "you pussy, here's a panty dropper". My mind raced and couldn't figure out why I wasn't being bounced but ran with it. We ended up drinking about $150 worth of booze and paid for maybe $20. The rest of night consisted of straight debauchery and singing karaoke rap songs from high school. Oh and we finished the original shots.
Yeah, it's always one of those nights at this place.
This place is an unapologetic dive in the middle of Santa Monica.
Whacky karaoke, only the way it's done in LA? . Even the bartender shuts down the bar periodically while he goes and knocks out a tune.
Super-cheap, all day happy hour?
Nice, unpretentious barflies?
Count me in!
Only note of caution for those who appreciate the hole-in-the-wall funkiness: Go before 10 on a weeknight if you want to avoid the trust fund crowd. They know about it too, and it changes the vibe. On weekends, it's all theirs.
Atmosphere is divey yet warm. Clientele were artsy freakish, yet likable. Drinks could have used some stiffening.
Not too crowded - which may have been from my singing. And it was a Thursday night. But this was no regular Thursday night. It was a Thursday night that happen to be on my birthday. I had a blast seeing my friends again and belting it out for the sake of belting. I shall suggest an encore visit.
Everyone knows I love the Gaslite. I love watching all the regulars mid-week. Some of them can barely speak, let alone sing English but still manage to get up on stage and belt out their favorites. I love the bad singing. I love the red streamers. I love the free peppery popcorn and the tables' stickiness. I love the buckets of beer. I love how many times it's been re-modeled but still ends up looking almost the same. (Remember the short lived stripper pole and the additional bar in the front? Is the hot dog machine still there?) I love bribing the DJs so my friend can sing karaoke on his birthday. I love that it looks like an old drive through bank. I love when their billboard says, "If you lived here you'd be home by now." I love that they open at 6am. I love how many people in costume I've seen there, including myself.
Things I am not as crazy about are the big college crowds and big lines on Saturday nights (go early, or on a weekday), and the fact that it's not as cheap as a divey bar should be. But, these are things I can deal with in exchange for my time on stage. This is my favorite dive bar in LA.
I could see it being funner if you were looking to sing and dance to karaoke and were your early thirties. However, that was not the case; plus it was a sausage fest. If your a single lady, I would go here to get hit on by mid-aged men.
I honestly have no idea what this place looks like because I was so busy trying to get through the crowd. It is packed. I don't think you can really be comfortable in this place on a weekend night.
And considering it is a bar, I judge drinks very harshly. While they were on the cheaper side, or average priced ($7 for a mixed drink), they were SMALL. I mean, think small wine glass for a seven dollar drink. Then, you would think... maybe it is small, but atleast it's strong. No, not here.
Between the seven to two ratio of men to women and the weak ass drinks, I don't see myself going back any time soon.
On the plus-side, there is no cover though...
Wow. Some of the best people watching in the area.
Tiny karaoke bar that packs them in. Gets really crowded on Saturday nights. Get there early as there are only a few tables. Otherwise you will be standing/dancing shoulder to shoulder with a few hundred other people.
Happy hour ends at 9:00 and oh what a difference in drink prices after 9pm! If you are a beer drinker I suggest loading up on a bucket of your favorite beer right before 9:00 to save mucho buckos.
Many regulars here, some great singers, some not so great, but everyone is having a good time.
The book of sings is enormous and is probably in size 4 font so there are more than enough songs to select from. The other night some girl sang awesome renditions of Material Girl and Shelia E's Glamorous Life. It's always good to play Name That Tune with your friends.
Parking is a pain. Watch out for the Santa Monica Parking patrol if you park on the strret. They come out of nowhere like gnomes to give you a hefty ticket. The lot of the Gas LIte is tiny. We sometimes go to the valet parking next door at the V Lounge.
This place definitely has potential! Although we came here on what seemed to be an off night, you gotta figure that only serious drinkers were going to be up late on a Wednesday night to belt out some tunes. To me, that's generally a good thing.
Seemed like there were a lot of friendly younger regulars around and the kareoke jockey knew what she was doing - nice transitions by the way!
And the bartender made me the STIFFEST gin and tonics I've had in a while. Damn girl, if I wanted a punch in the face I would've commented to my ex about those ill-fitting jeans of hers! No, seriously, I liked the drinks - thank you!
The other reviewers seemed to have got it right. This is a place to go and just have a good time. People that are too caught up in being in a scene generally don't hang out if places like the Gaslite.
I'll be back soon for an update!
If you're into bad karaoke and getting your drink spilled by strangers by all means go for it, but I give it such a low rating because it has potential that's being ignored. The red plastic seats are great, the lighting is nice, but the karaoke and TVs ruin it. It needs more tables, not a dance floor. College douchebags should be replaced by people with beards and tattoos that have great stories to tell and would get your back in a fight. Whiny drunk blondes should be replaced by Gladys who's seen it all but has some words of advice for you.
If you listen closely, you can hear the walls whisper: "I'm supposed to be a dive bar with a jukebox, but the owner won't let me be who I really am". Let the karaoke dream go...
I came here for drinks on a date one time. It was karaoke night. Drinks were fine but nothing special. Karaoke was rather sad. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of karaoke. But this place seemed to have an excessive number of the people you know come week after week to sing the same songs again and again- you know, the ones who never quite made it but can't let go of their dreams to be a singer. Even though they're 50. With a pot-belly.
Pretty small room, and the decorations are a bit gaudy. Also, it was fairly loud, so it was really hard to talk without yelling. Though I guess on the flip side this can also be a good thing, because you have lean in really close to talk... on the plus side, from what I remember the drinks were fairly cheap. No idea about their happy hour deals, but I'd imagine it'd be pretty good (lots of booze for very little money).
Not terrible, not great. I wouldn't choose to go here again, but if others wanted to go, I wouldn't balk at going, at least not to start the night. I wouldn't make this my final destination of the night, at least not on a weekend.
The Gaslite is my new favorite weekday night spot. Happy hour lasts til 9, during which time you can mix & match a bucket of domestics for $12 or imports for $16. Combine that with a basket of their popcorn w/tobasco sauce, and you gotz dinner! I'd give five stars but the drink prices after happy hour are no bueno, so load up on the buckets beforehand. That, and one of the DJ dudes/parking patrol was a jackass who doesn't know when to quit, but whatevs.
I don't think I've ever been to a funner public karaoke-ing. This is not really the place for American Idols - the sound system is awful, so this is all just for fun. The dance floor gets crowded with peeps dancing and singing along to the performers, even the terrible ones. I danced so zealously that I sprained my ankle. The crowd is definitely of the friendly variety; as I lay dying, fellow partiers materialized with ice packs and shared similar tales of woe, then hoisted my wounded leg aloft so I could dance and elevate at the same time.
"Don't stop! Believing!" This is the best karaoke place I've been to in LA. Yes I have been to K Town and Brass Monkey and what not, but this place takes the cake.
I won't spare you with details because, there are 47 reviews on this place...
So here are the reasons why I love The Gas Light:
- Popcorn and Tabasco sauce
- Shots of patron with beer chasers
- Crazy regulars
- Drunk groups of girls singing "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
- A dingy dance floor that is always occupied with wasted karaoke lovin' groupies
- The pictures of my friends and I the next day
- Having to eat a breakfast burrito or cup o noddles the next morning to recover
Prepare yourself for simply some of the worst karaoke your ears have ever been exposed to. There is a definitely lack of talent at the Gaslite but that's ok. That's what makes it fun. Only the extremely demented who think they can sing hang out here, which is great because its not like other bars where people take themselves too seriously and sing Unchained Melody.
Drinks are crazy stiff here (probably to take the edge off the torture they classify as singing) and expect to get drunk. There is no other way to survive. You might surprise yourself and actually have some fun in this tiny place and even..
(drum roll please)
SING!
The Gaslite can be nice and empty in the early evening, but a few hours later it will be packed like a sardine can. It has a mixed crowd depending on if it is karaoke night. The place is small and unpretentious. Be prepared to elbow for room if you are here during karaoke hours.
My buddy lives half a block away from this place and he is a regular therefore it felt like I was with Norm going to Cheers when we entered. Bar tender was sweet as can be. Couple of locals were friendly and chatted us up. Karaoke sounded fun and as the night grew older I sang along to some of the music I grew up on. I would go back because it was a chill place and nice people.
The Gas Lite is a great divey bar to hit when you're in the mood to either: 1. Get a little crunk and sing some bad karaoke joints in front of an encouraging crowd or
2. Watch people who take karaoke way to seriously and spend hours prepping for their big debut at the gas lite.
I love this place, always have a good time! The only thing is that it is definitely not the typical LA bar filled with good looking douchebags. Instead you have the 40-something divorcee crowd, and a bunch of cougars who sing obscure songs from the 60's/70's.
But if you want to just have a good time without any pretense, then you should check it out. Especially for Sunday 6am Karaoking.
Stars earned for the karaoke. This is a stage, and there are some really amazing performers who get the crowd going. It's so awesome to witness.
Sign up, and wait your turn, it could take damn near all night before you get to sing your jam in front of a bunch of happy drunk strangers.
Drinks: Overpriced, and weak as f*ck. I got my signature redbull, and it was about 1/4 of the can and a bunch of luxurious ice. Mmmm.
Friend got a vodka/redbull. A feeble, dissatisfying expenditure.
I.e. double jack and diet coke: $16. Wow!
So glad I don't drink. But if you do, there's no shame in parking lot pimpin' to save your scrilla.
Go "bar hopping" to the place next door, it's way doper.
50% off wine bottles every…
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Los Angeles, CA
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Neighborhood: Santa Monica
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Neighborhood: Santa Monica
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