Shenanigans Night Club

I used to be a regular Shenanny, back in my crazy days. I was there just about nightly and would often eat dinner from the grill, not sure if that is still there but if so it was awesome. I loved this place. I read that they recently went smoke free which I am super excited about as I no longer smoke but always really liked to hang out here and have avoided it as of late because of the smoke. Looking forward to throwing some darts tonight. Check this place out, it's a great dive!

A diamond in the rough if you're looking for simplicity and good people.

My friend and I are new to Austin and we went looking for "karaoke" bars and we scoped out 2.  One was Graham Central Station(nice if you're teen and like country music) and Spotlight Karaoke(unfair KJ, poor karaoke selection, smokers).  

We drove by Shenanigans and saw that they do karaoke as well.  So we gave it a shot and we were pleasantly surprised.

The drinks are reasonably priced and the karaoke is what really surprised us.  They have a better selection that some of the other places that specialize in karaoke.  The crowd is very respectful and everyone gets cheers no matter how great or how badly you sing a song.  And the karaoke heads that come out and are actually good aren't full of themselves.  They're there to have fun and act a fool which(to me)is what karaoke is all about.  And the KJ's are super cool!  Rae Rae, Billy D and JT are awesome.  They even let us bring our own karaoke jams on a flash drive!

My only complaint is the mens bathroom.  It's practically a closet!  

The place in general has the potential to be an amazing joint but I'm not the owner/manager.

For what it is, you get a cool laid back experience.  We'll be coming back for more fun!

I'm really not sure how to approach this review. Shenanigan's embodies the cliche, "It is what it is".  I needed a place nearby Casa Shoehead to watch the VCU game and have a beer. If I had cable or satellite, it would BE Casa Shoehead, in the comfort of my uncomfortable couch.  But, that not being the case, I employed Shenanigan's, and it delivered.  In fact, I started out this review at a three, but I'm bumping it up, because right after the game ended (Almost as if it were a courtesy extended to Your Ol' Pal Shooey's game-watching), karaoke kicked in, so I got to croon as well as watch my alma mater destroy Akron! (hehehe The 'Zips').  I really wanted to Rick-Roll the joint, but they didn't have "Never Gonna Give You Up". Had they that selection, I may have bestowed at fifth star on the joint, factoring in my jubilation at the game's outcome. (I looked at the other reviews--this place could use some love.) I instead had to dazzle the crowd with my Boomtown Rats' "I Don't Like Mondays" and Billy Idol's "Rock the Cradle of Love". Added bonus--I got to scare away a pretty girl with great legs by regaling her with tales of heart surgeries and high blood pressure!  *sigh* What have I become?

So Shenanigan's--Cheesy? Yes.  Blue Collar? Yes. Divey? Yes. Hipster-free? (Possibly a good thing) A definite yes.  But, they let me watch the game on a huge screen, and I had a few Lone Stars that were nice and cold. Karaoke and scaring away pretty girls--icing on the cake! Enjoy the four stars, my cheesy divey friend. I'll be back for more shananigans, very soon...