Former rock bassist opens concert-style karaoke venue in West Hollywood

Leo Kremer, a former bassist for Third Eye Blind, and his brother Oliver have opened Mic Drop, a karaoke venue in West Hollywood built around concert-level lighting, sound and staging.

The opening reflects a broader push to reimagine karaoke as a premium, performance-driven experience — a concept familiar to Korean-American communities across the greater Los Angeles area who have long favored upscale norebang culture.

The Kremer brothers visited karaoke venues in Seoul, Tokyo, Helsinki and Stockholm before finalizing the concept, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Leo Kremer said that global research shaped the venue's focus on high-end staging and spectacle. "Full light show, like concert level sound, like big stage, this is where you go to have your rock star moment and it's a vibe in here," Kremer said.

Mic Drop includes 13 private studios for groups of varying sizes, alongside a main stage, ABC7 reported. A feature called Battle Mode lets patrons scan a QR code on their smartphones and compete in live singing contests decided by audience response.

The cocktail menu carries through the musical theme. Options include Pink Pony Club, Bahamian Rhapsody and La Vida Loca — drink names drawn from pop songs and artists.

Kremer said the West Hollywood location was a deliberate choice, citing the neighborhood's foot traffic and social energy. "Right here in the heart of West Hollywood is like the energy and the self-expression and the community. And people come here to like go out and have fun. And so we wanted there to be an element of serendipity," he said.

The owner added that vocal ability takes a back seat to the full performance experience. "It's not just how you sing, it's really how you perform on stage and it's been so cool to see that. At the same time, karaoke's not about perfection and half the time it doesn't go that way and that's great, too," Kremer said.

Mic Drop joins a growing category of premium group entertainment venues in Los Angeles targeting audiences — including the region's large Korean-American population — who seek a performance-centered night out beyond standard karaoke bars.