Encore Superstar heating up

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^Kelly Newcombe (last singer before break)

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^Kelly Newcombe

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^Kelly Jameson - "Oh Darlin"

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^#4 Dennis Sullivan

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^#2 Scottie Levesque

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^#1 Laurie Gilcreast - singing "What Makes You Happy"

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^Kelly Newcombe (last singer before break)

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IF YOU GO

Encore Superstar third preliminary

WHERE: The Timber Grille, 57 Factory St., Nashua

WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 2. Registration for singers starts at 7. p.m.

COST: Free to attend. $5 registration fee to compete.

MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.encorebuzz.com/ superstar.

NASHUA – Another week, another “threatening” Tuesday snowstorm. Is it something about Tuesdays, or is global warming just messing with our heads?

But the folks at Killarney’s Irish Pub, at the Holiday Inn on Northeastern Boulevard, were not deterred. They laughed at Mother Nature’s attempt to dissuade singers from showing up for Encore Superstar’s second preliminary.

Killarney’s was at capacity by 7:20 p.m. Doesn’t Mother Nature know how serious and hard-core New Hampshirites are about their karaoke?

They were rewarded for their fortitude when last year’s Encore Superstar, Bobby Baker, reprised his winning performance of Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones.”

Lori Gilcreast, of Nashua, opened the night with Sheryl Crow’s “If it Makes You Happy,” while Scott Levesque, of Nashua, followed up with Toby Keith’s patriotic “American Soldier.”

Dawn Tomei, of Nashua, went disco with The Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back,” and Dennis Sullivan, of Nashua, brought in the ’80s ballads with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.’” Nancy Bugler, of Nashua, went country with “Don’t Close Your Eyes” by Keith Whitley, and Katherine Hemenway, of Hudson, followed up with Celine Dion’s version of “At Last.”

Karen Ashman, of Nashua, delved into the psychadelic with Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” Jenny Coutermarsh, of Nashua, sang “Weak” by SWV, and Kelly Barbosa, of Dunstable, Mass., did Trisha Yearwood’s “She’s in Love With the Boy.” Kelly Jameson, of Nashua, returned this week with the Beatles “Oh! Darling,” and Kelly Newcomb, of Nashua, rounded off the hat trick of Kellys with “Alone” by Heart.

After the first break, Bethany Moore, of Manchester, recentered the crowd by bringing the soul with “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Matt Kendall, of Milford, continued the trend with Bill Wither’s “Lean on Me.” Doug Solberg, of Nashua, changed the tempo with Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Christina Demmons, of Nashua, then sang Faith Hill’s “It Matters to Me.”

Dave Piteri, of Hudson, crooned away with Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” while Susan Finnegan, of Londonderry, belted out “Where the Boys Are” by Connie Francis. Jan Martin, of Nashua, followed up with Scandal’s “The Warrior.” “Five Minutes” by Lorrie Morgan was then sung by Bonnie Boutin, of Nashua. Becky Welper, of Nashua, finished off the second round with Martina McBride’s “Broken Wing.”

Dallas Santos opened the final round of the night with Craig Morgan’s “Almost Home.” Laurie Bell returned to sing with “Break It To Me Gently” by Juice Newton. Claire Gardner, of Nashua, then sang “Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar. Kristen Dumont, of Nashua, followed her with Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.”

Joe Testa, of Lunenburg, Mass., then slowed it down with Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Charlie Simoneau, of Nashua, returned with the rock this week with Nickelback’s “Rockstar.” Chris Williams, of Nashua, ended the night’s competition with John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold.”

With an even more difficult task at hand, the judges went off to make their decisions. As tough as it was, they finally came up with this week’s winners: Joe Testa, Kelly Newcomb, Bethany Moore and Laurie Bell.

Bethany Moore said the preliminary and winning was “amazing” while Laurie Bell was “super excited.”

Kelly Newcomb said she was thrilled about the win and that it’s a “woman’s time to win.” About his win, Joe Testa, was humble, but wanted to promote a Boston-based gangster comedy movie “Conned” that he’s in (check out the Web site – www.connedthefilm.com).