Cat's Meow Happy Hour. Downtown

Cat's Meow runs a live band behind your karaoke, which is the detail that separates it from every backing-track setup on the block. You get a real stage, a proper sound system, and musicians who adjust to your range and quietly cover your mistakes. The song book is deep, the crowd is there to cheer rather than judge, and bombing a song earns the same applause as nailing one.

The happy hour is the fuel. It runs daily, 5 to 8pm, with 2-for-1 drinks across well drinks and domestic beers. Order one, get two, and the math makes signing one more song easy to justify. There is an appetizer menu to keep you upright through the evening, so grab a few plates if you plan to stick around.

Starting at 5pm gives you time to scope the song list before you commit. By the back half of the window you will have a couple rounds in and a Bon Jovi number queued up whether you planned to or not.

It is downtown at 450 Fremont St, Suite 201, on the second floor of Neonopolis, right in the action, so expect a mix of tourists, locals, and the occasional bachelorette party. Come early in the window for a calmer room, later for full energy. Performing with a live band on 2-for-1 drinks is a cheap way to make a real night of it.