”
I gotta put the shades on for this one,
”
announced 15-year-old Wyatt Rocheleau before slipping on his
sunglasses and busting into Jay-Z’s
”
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
”
on Saturday.
“I gotta put the shades on for this one,” announced 15-year-old Wyatt Rocheleau before slipping on his sunglasses Saturday and busting into Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder.”
Rocheleau, who will be a sophomore at Christopher High School, attended this weekend’s event to help out with the CHS football team booth and decided to have some fun in the at the Garlic Festival karaoke stage.
“I just love music,” Rocheleau said after his performance. “You can pretend to be someone different for once.”
Dozens of attendees performed a range of material this weekend, from hip hop to classic jazz. The karaoke stage, run by Gilroy-based J & J Karaoke, has remained a popular fixture at the festival during the past few years.
“There’s a mixture of talent, but the major part of it is them having fun,” said J & J Karaoke owner John “Junior” Diaz Jr.
Hundreds of people throughout the day took turns watching the hodgepodge of acts in the tent. Many audience members were merely seeking respite from the 85-degree temperatures outside. Performances included off-kilter versions of classic rock tunes to a mesmerizing version of Etta James’ “At Last” performed by Gilroy resident Pam Doughty.
Doughty recalls how she could sing “Jesus Loves Me” before she could talk, and she spent several years doing the karaoke circuit up in the northern part of California. These days, she mostly keeps to singing at The Foothills Church in Gilroy.
Although Doughty said she was not shy about performing, it was not the case of everyone at the festival. One boy fled the tent after his name was called while his friends burst into laughter.
As the day wore on and adults consumed more alcohol, people seemed a bit looser with their performances.
“Everyone thinks they’re a superstar,” Menlo Park resident Roy Souffront said with a laugh while watching a not-quite-sober rendition of the Jacksons’ “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).”
The idea for the karaoke tent stemmed from a former Garlic Queen’s suggestion that the festival include more activities for young adults, Diaz said. The festival responded by creating a Garlic Idol contest, which ultimately was replaced with karaoke activities, Diaz said.
Diaz regularly offers karaoke Thursdays and Sundays at Gilroy’s Station 55 Restaurant, which he describes as his “local singing hole.”
Attendees this weekend said they were glad to have the opportunity to accompany the tunes served up by J & J.
“Everyone can share their hidden talents and stuff,” Rocheleau said.
