Formed in 2009 after founder and bassist Graeme Hinde put out a call on Craigslist, the band plays regular shows just about every day of the week across L.A. and Orange County, attracting courageous first-timers and returning fans for the chance to sing anything from ABBA to AC/DC to Adele.
An impressive catalog of more than 300 genre-spanning songs runs the gamut from Johnny Cash classics to Ginuwine’s “Pony.” On a Friday evening at one of their regular shows on the patio at El Tepeyac in Industry — one of the only places in the Greater Los Angeles area you can karaoke outdoors, and where the lackluster Mexican dishes won’t entice you as much as the $12 margaritas and $5 daily sangria specials will — Hinde, drummer Rich Smith and guitarist Chris Miranda expertly jammed out Dion’s “Runaround Sue,” Britney Spears’ “…One More Time” and “Alone” by Heart without missing a beat.
Yes, singing with a live band is more challenging than regular old karaoke. It’s also a huge adrenaline rush. But Casual Encounters’ rotating lineup of talented musicians is extraordinarily generous to anxious crooners and will skillfully guide you if you lose track of the lyrics.
It’s no wonder fans follow the band across county lines like they’re the Grateful Dead of karaoke. Catch their regular residencies from Glendale’s Jewel City Bowl on Sundays to Hollywood’s Hard Rock Cafe on Friday nights, with stops in Eagle Rock, Koreatown, Westwood, Anaheim, Brea and Lincoln Heights in between, or book them for private parties, weddings and birthdays and front the band all night with your friends.
“I think it’s a lot better than regular karaoke,” Smith said with a grin after a singer with bright pink hair, a faux leopard-print coat and confident swagger, put her own spin on Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” and a follower from Orange County sang a haunting rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep.” “It makes you feel like you’re the lead singer of a band, and a lot of people don’t get that experience.”
Parking: Varies by venue.
Hours: Varies by day; check website for schedule.
Cost: Free to sing; reservation requirements may vary depending on host venue
Pro tip: Can’t find your dream song on the band’s exhaustive list? For a fee, you can request to add a title, and the maestros of Casual Encounters most likely will have it ready to rock within a week.
