Kelly's Pub

Not a bad little bar if you bring a scuba tank.  I don't mind drinking here, but don't enjoy the need to wash myself and anything that I brought through the door.  Being in TN, most bars are smoky but this place takes it to the next level.  Besides that it's a solid three.

The place has been remodeled, or at least repainted.  It's much lighter in there now that the walls aren't black.  

There is always an interesting crowd and the service is pretty good from the bar tenders.  Beware, I often see it get rowdy in here.

This is a lively pub, with many draft beers and a full bar, although no food, and prices are reasonable.  The bartenders are friendly.  The crowd is very young, about college age (over 21, of course), and most of them seem to be regulars who know each other.  They have karaoke from 10 pm to ~ 3 am Wed-Sat.

My first awareness of the pub was on the Saturday before Halloween.  I had a ticket for the midnight performance of The Rocky Horrow Show a block down the street and had arrived early, so I dropped in at Kelly's Pub.  People were in costume and they were all having so much fun I was almost sorry I had to go to see the play.  I spoke with the KJ for a few minutes and he was very nice.  People were singing in the usual way people sing karaoke, and it looked like a lot of fun.  I decided to come back on Halloween.

On Halloween, the bar was the same, the crowd about the same, but the KJs were different.  They were nice enough, I suppose, but for some reason could not believe that I had actually come there to sing along with the others.  Probably a misunderstanding -- I did get to sing a couple of songs, and all's well that ends well.  The worst part of the karaoke was that the PA system for the singers was turned down so low even I could not hear the others, and I was right there by them, and the fact that there is no "book" -- they said tell us what you want to sing and we will tell you if we have it.  (!!!!)

I am probably spoiled by karaoke and pubs in the San Francisco Bay area and Silicon Valley, where I am now, but I will never forget Halloween at Kelly's Pub!

This bar on Franklin is not as classy as Blackhorse, but it's a fun atmosphere with local talent performing some classic songs.  There is a pool table in the back.