THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410200167
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
Five years ago, while visiting Cameron Village in Raleigh, Mike Kelly noticed a line forming at one of the nightclubs.
Kelly assumed the club featured some big-name entertainment. Wrong. Inside, a line of men waited for a turn to play ``air guitar.''
Kelly saw guys mimic the riffs of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen and other guitar heroes. Playing air guitar was the entertainment.
Many of the air guitarists brought a fan club. The crowd's reaction and the energy of the performances surprised Kelly.
``I couldn't believe people were lining up to win $l00,'' says Kelly.
He brought the idea back to the beach. Teaming with a local radio station, Kelly started an air guitar/lip synch contest at his restaurant and nightclub in Nags Head.
Two of the radio station's disc jockeys, Todd Mitchell and Linda Kapps, met with Kelly to design a format. It was simple: The contest would be held every Tuesday at midnight. As many as 10 contestants would play air guitar or lip-synch songs for a cash prize. In this case, it was $95.30, to correspond with the radio station's frequency of 95.3.
With radio advertising and Kelly's in-house promotion, the contest drew a large opening-night audience.
Most of the first-year contestants ``played'' long air guitar songs. Such long song standards as Led Zeppelin's ``Stairway to Heaven'' and The Eagles' ``Hotel California'' played on a weekly basis.
But the air guitarists rarely won. Most of the winners were lip-synchers. Some of the contestants dressed as the singers they mimed. A regular that first year was ``Anna Banana.''
Anna became Bette Midler and Tina Turner and Janis Joplin.
Todd Johnson was Axl Rose, Billy Idol and Hank Williams Jr. Todd and his brother became the ``Blues Brothers,'' complete with the John Belushi-inspired flips and the Dan Ackroyd dance steps. The Johnsons' version of ``Soul Man'' took home the prize many times that first year. In the year-end contest, the Johnsons bagged $195 for the blues bit.
According to Kelly, the air guitar playing faded after the first year. Week after week, the contestants who came in with a routine that had been practiced would win.
One of the disc jockeys even got his act together. Todd Mitchell mimed Meat Loaf. Mitchell, who bears a slight resemblance to Meat Loaf, didn't just lip-synch the rocker's ``Paradise by the Dashboard Lights'' - he embodied it.
Mitchell/Meat Loaf developed a cult following. Usually around 11:30, the lights would dim and Mitchell became his hero. On some occasions, spectators would hold up lighters and matches while chanting ``Meat Loaf, Meat Loaf, Meat Loaf.'' Mitchell handled both Meat Loaf's vocal and that of Meat's female partner. (It's a lot easier to do when lip-synching.)
By the third year of the contest, Linda Kapps was out and Lee Lovingood was in.
Lovingood is still at it. This year, according to Lovingood, the performances have improved. ``We've seen some good stuff. Some European girls did the Village People's `YMCA.' They won hands down.''
By the way, Anna Banana is still at it. She still dresses and sings as Bette, Tina and Janis.
Is anybody really bad?
``Oh yes, some people have been booed,'' says Lovingood. ``But they usually finish their act.''
The audience decides the winner. It helps to bring a fan club.
And Lee, any advice for contestants?
``Pick a short song. A novelty song is best. We had some guys to do the Romantics' 'What I Like About You,' a few weeks ago and they knocked the crowd dead.'' MEMO: John Harper covers entertainment on the Outer Banks for The Carolina
Coast. Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head,
N.C. 27959.
ILLUSTRATION: WHAT & WHERE
What: Lip Synch/Air Guitar Contest
Where: Kelly's, U.S. Route 158,milepost 10 1/2
When: Every Tuesday
HARPER'S INDEX
Most lip-synched song: ``Respect'' by Aretha Franklin
Most popular air guitar song: ``You Shook Me All Night Long'' by
AC/DC
Mike Kelly's favorite moment: The ``dream quartet'' of Bouncing
Bob, Kelly, Steve ``The Dream'' and Rick Ostlund singing
Most frequently performed song this year: ``Baby Got Back'' by
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Most unusual act: Woody and Paul as Green Jello singing ``Three
Little Pigs''
by CNB