Baltimore Round Robin feet night

I went to the Round Robin tour in baltimore on friday, feet night.  It was a little much.  The performers were great.  About half of them I had seen before, the other half were new.  The crowd was what was really intense.  The way the venue was set up, there were about seven "stages" where performers would play.  Without introduction or an MC the bands would alternate in different orders and play one song here and one song there all over sonar.  This idea was fantastic and really fun, the only thing is you can't really escape the crowd and stand in the back when there really isn't any back.

Some highlights would definitely be an electronic group called adventure.  They were great and super fun video game-ish music.  Very fun and danceable.  Also, Lizz King who knows some people in this area had sort of Peaches like tunes that were sexy and fun.  Better than I thought it would be.  She had videos to go with projected on a sheet behind her.  Also Nuclear Power Pants were super fun and colorful.  They had a good mesh of sounds.  That seemed to be a reoccurring theme of the night.

It was a great experience and I am really happy I went, it was just about four hours long and I could not do that every night.  I am looking forward to seeing the bands again independently.  

My favorite happening of the night though was at towards the end of the night, me and my friend melissa were exhausted.  She was leaning against the stage, I was looking the other direction at the other band.  All of the sudden that band ended, and another person started on the mic.  I was turning in my spot looking to see where it was coming from and finally found it, dj dog dick was the guy leaning on the stage shoulder to shoulder with melissa.  I had the privilege of seeing melissa's face go from confusion at mine to realization that the guy next to her in the tapestry vest was the performer.  A performer she didn't even like, so she couldn't move.  He awkwardly leaned on her and her chest the whole song, which was accompanied by me cracking up the whole song.  afterward she leaned to him and said, "how did my boob help your show?"  All in all, it was a great time.  

Stoopla

I FINALLY FINISHED MY GRAD SCHOOL APPLICATIONS... which means I can go out again.  What better event than the stoop holiday hoopla.  I have been to stoop before (and might be telling bad date stories at the Valentines one, which scares me to death) but anyway,  this holiday stoop was special because it was at the Meyerhoff theater, which I have never been to, and was beautiful.

I was really excited about this event because A) I love stores, B) I love holiday stories, C) I have been in dire need of some heart warming laughs.  Well the stories were good, and I got the heart warming, but they were a little short on the laughs.  The thing I like about stoop is "everyone has a story" right?  I like how anyone can sign up, anyone can tell one, but, for this event I think the caliber of teller was impressive, between the mayor, "the wire" stars, ace of cakes stars, etc.  But they should have focused on the caliber of story.  Not just because I'm bitter that my hilarious friend Ben got booted out by the mayor, which I am, but I really feel like the story variety was lacking.

Anyway, I love that the mayor told a story about her brother pooping on her.  The Mayor was first, she told a very short story about sharing a room with her brother and sister every Christmas eve.  One year her little brother pooed on her.  This got me and my friends a thinkin'  How many people have hilarious poop stories?  a lot right?  For stoop to redeem itself with the funny, we think there should be a poop stoop in honor of the Mayor.  Alright guys get that crackin'

The other stories were very good too, about a home made doll better than cabbage patch kids, a cartoonist getting the gift of a hilarious looking politician to write about, the frivolities of working in entertainment for the holidays, and of course heart warming stories of family heritage.

But, my favorite story was not about the holiday, surprisingly, it was the last story of the Ring.  (Look this up on stoopstorytelling.com.  I just don't feel like explaining it) Anyway, the last woman who won the ring was great, not because she talked about finally getting over a broken heart, or finding her soul mate, but because she was accepting of how things were, she had been dating for 20 years, and she was still looking.  The audacity of hope, she called it to keep dating and meeting new people after all previous experiences haven't worked well.  I thought this was funny and very charming story was the perfect end.  Oh well, even though I really wanted it for a time, the quest for the ring will never happen.

P.S. speaking of stories, (I was going to write a whole entry on this but realized I'm biased because I have a wicked crush on him), but this guy I know Benjamin, won the city paper short story contest.  I love the story and can't wait to see him again and ask him about it, but read the story, read the comments on the story, let me know what you think of either. here 

MONDAY!!!!!!

The other night, I just have to say, was perfection.  Went to the show around 10 and there was next to no one there.  It was just me and My friend Meg in my party.  About eleven Future Islands went on.  I have seen there names on a lot of club posters and events, so I knew they would be good, but they were great.  The played a whole bunch of new stuff.  And were nice and high energy.  Plus the Zodiac space is great.  They left more room for dancing this time than before so me, being a dancer, really appreciated this.  They had a somewhat electronica sound very dance-able, with a lead singer whos voice and demeanor was a bit punk, a softer version of LeTigre with the same idea maybe.  Plus I think the lead singer was wearing the same pants my high school Marching band had.  Hooray!

Second, was the always amazing Dan Deacon.  I'm so glad I got to bring Meg to his show since she only got to see him in the hirshhorn sculpture garden.  This was the best show I had seen of his in a long time.  First of all, the crowd seemed to be a bunch of his friends from Purchase College, who were wicked fun.  My friend Benjamin was there (who I'm totally in love with, and does amazing work {www.showbeast.net} just throwin' it out there)  and I was talking to him before the show, when he said Dan was only going to play songs he wrote from 01 to 04 (the years at Purchase) I didn't know what to expect.  This was me being stupid and not realizing I saw him in 05 so it was pretty much the same music and bantar that I love.  Any absurdist commentary about Space Jam is fine by me.

So, I know there is usually some form of interactive dancing, I know the last time there was a dance circle, where two had a dance off then chose people from the crowd to go next, I didn't know Meg and I would be 2 of 6 girls there.  Therefore we were definitely chosen for the dance off.  Hopefully no one was scarred for life by my braless moves.

So yeah that was great, but after all that shakin' a leg, we were way pooped.  We stayed for a couple Blood Baby Songs, which had a great beat, also funny bantar from Adam Endres But the Band had a lot harder and definite rough edge.  I'd love to see them a time that is not 1:30 at night when I have to teach at 7 the next morning.  Anyway, it was a great night, I recommend those acts highly.  I'm so glad my friend Megan was there to share it with me.  Thanks again for the Ass and titties call out.

Fresh Air Boxes

So my good friend Deb had one of the most wonderful ideas I have ever heard of, about a year ago.  Lets just say a lot of people in our lives are addicted to smoking, and she wanted to help encourage them to quit.  So she took an empty cigarette box, turned it into a piece of art specifically for that person, filled it with notes, good wishes and things to help that person quit, things that when they were having a craving and really needing a cigarette, they could take out that box, hold it, look at it, and know that they are important, someone cares for them, and that they don't need the addiction.

She has been making these boxes for a year, giving them to people to give to others they care about.  So she hasn't really known what to do with this idea, but everyone is so excited about it, and now it is finally reaching a larger number of people.

So today we taught a workshop on making them at carol community college since it is going smoke free.  The students were so excited and into it.  They made great boxes and more importantly had a great dialogue with themselves about the people in their lives struggling with addiction and how much they care about and want to help them.  I really think this is a great thing, and hopefully it will turn into something everyone can experience.

Jurassic Park

 Alright, where do I start with this event.  What i thought would be a nice little play certainly turned into an event.

First of all, I will Preface this telling you guys that going to this I was in a bad mood.  I was sick from eating TWO JUMBO SLICES the night before, I didn’t really know where I was going because wham city likes to keep you guessing, and I was by myself, which usually I like going to things by myself, but for some reason I just wanted company... Anyway.....

I get there, get directions, meet these nice people going up there (the girl had a shirt on that said “mason sucks.”  Must have been his sister of girlfriend maybe.)  We get there a half an hour early and its in a hallway area and already full.  I don’t know why they didn’t  think people would show.  We get the last seats and I luckily get to sit in the middle of obnoxious Goucher students who won’t stop complaining, making bad jokes, and making fun of Wham City members and people who weren’t students seeing the show.  The wait time was unfortunately long too because they couldn’t turn the lights off.  I felt bad but I was dying in that crowd.  Anyway, the place is packed, people sitting on the ground, stairs, and everywhere.

I didn’t realize my friend Ben was playing the Fat Newman Character who sabotages the park.  Also, I forgot that this character eats the whole  time.  Since Ben is a Raw Foodist he was eating raw chicken, steak, and cracking and eating raw eggs the whole time.  He was disgusting everyone and loving it I’m sure.  Listening to the complaints and knowing how sweet he is was really funny to me.  All of the characters were hilarious.  The costumes were great.  The dinosaur puppets were done really well.  (I want them to have a big puppet show.  Between Ben’s and the rest of wham cities talent it would be awesome.)  The actor who played Timmy looked just like the kid in the movie, which was creepy.  Everything was going great, the music was excellent.  Then the fire alarm went off.   At first we thought it was a joke.  Then all the students and scenesters had to clear out.  Luckily it was just long enough for the ultra cool looking, organic endorsing, biking to reduce emissions kids, to have a cigarette.  

We all watched until the end and all sang together in the Finale.  It was a really good show.  You could really tell they worked hard on the scenery, costumes and acting, channeling absurdist comedians and having child-like whimsy throughout with adult acting, which was really funny.  Ed Shrader played the old man/park creator and really reminded me of the “daddy” character in Strangers with Candy, if that character talked.  They exaggerated the awkward relationships and the acting in the movie beautifully, and dedicated it all to the memory of the author.  With all the glitches, I’m really happy I got to see this uninhibited creativity.  Hold on to your Butts!

Vixen Variety Show

Thursday night I had the pleasure of checking out the Palace of Wonders.  It is a divey, old school, punk retro kind of place.  (hopefully that didn’t sound too pretentious)   I went with my friend Troy Cool, yes that is his real name, who is a wonderful fine art model and really cool guy.  It was smaller than I expected with a nice bar area, little stage, and very cool small upstairs where you can also view the stage.  The crowd there was very small, but very hilarious.  Some of the women hecklers were fantastic.  GOOD heckling might be one of my favorite things ever, I am just not very good at it.  But anyway, the decor was very cool too, it was what you would expect a burlesque club to look like.  Lots of dark reds and dark woods, with freak show and human oddity souvenirs all over the walls.

I went to see the Vixen’s Variety Show.  I didn’t know what to expect, but was impressed.  It was very comfortable to be in the crowd there and very easy to love the acts.  It was my first time seeing a black burlesque performer as well, Miss Private tales. She and Lil’ Dutch were definitely the highlights of the evening for me.  Their first two acts were very good, one to a chicago medley, the other to a sleazy lounge version of Brass Monkey.  But their second acts were fantastic and very very funny.  Private tales portrayed herself as an old woman singing the song “if i can’t sell it, i’ll keep sitting on it”  that lends itself perfectly to burlesque.  You have to check it out.  Then Lil’ Dutch decided to turn into the Poultry Queen dancing in white feathers and yellow stockings to the chicken dance.  Her facial expressions are fantastic and watching her lay eggs was well worth the 10 dollar cover.  In the words of Troy “we’ll never be able to go to a wedding reception again.”

The other acts were also very entertaining.  New to the monthly Vixen’s Variety was Laura Ernst who was a beautiful juggler. She had a very impressive act to 99 Red Balloons. 

The rest of the acts consisted of very talented belly dancers Samantha and BellaDonna, both who were very talented.  BellaDonna performed twice to a more traditional song with fire which was very impressive, and then a smashing pumpkins song, both really showed what she could do.  If I could get as low as her I would never have a problem being single.

All in all, it was a really entertaining night.  I really encourage you to check it out and be as sassy, heckling, money throwing, and raunchy as you want.  Gotta love activities that foster that kind of behavior.

Stoop Storytelling

Monday night I went to Stoop.  This is in baltimore at the center stage, check out the website www.stoopstorytelling.com.  Everyone has a story, right?  This is an event where every month there is a theme and 7 set storytellers.  they have 7 minutes to tell an interesting story on the theme and then other people can sign up through out the night to tell their own story.  I think this is a great idea.  

This months theme was money.  There were tales of winning and losing thousands of dollars gambling at 19 (told by the very handsome host of NPRs show, the signal ), winning 100,000 dollars at horse racing, funny antics of young millionaires in the tech boom, and heartwarming stories of help after tragedy.  All in all it was a good night.  My friend Annliese said it lacked humor of a lot of the other nights, but hey, we are in a recession, what else is there to expect.  

I'm very excited for the holiday spectacular.  If everything goes right my friend Ben will tell a hilarious holiday story that will have me rolling in the isle.  There will also be more music there.  The house band, which is a sort of alt country band with an amazing lead singer Caleb, is called Caleb Stine and the Breakmen (which you can check out on myspace).  They are the house band and fantastic, they had me knee slapping like a grandma at the fair.

I think I am going to sign up to be a storyteller for the valentines show so I can share some of my bad dates, which are in abundance.  So look forward to that entry.

Hirshhorn Afterhours Dan Deacon Style

On friday I went to the Hirshhorn after hours to go see Dan Deacon.  Now, anyone who knows me knows that love wham city stuff and Dan Deacon.  I have seen him four times now.  I first saw him open for grandbuffet in high school, and then again at a few other warehouse and alternative tiny places.  Those shows were amazing.  Loud, colorful, intense, smelly, involving of all senses pretty much.  Dan's music is pretty experimental and you should check it out on youtube or myspace for the full effect.  

Even though I think his music is amazing his absurdist banter is pheonominal.  The first show I saw had stories of abduction and traveling into harry potter's meatus.  Also, we did samuel jackson countdowns, and new years count downs so sassy that the walls turn

ed purple and prince himself came out with diamonds and pearls.  A good example of this online is the video drinking out of cups.  That is one of the best youtube videos I have ever seen.  He has cut the talk a little bit over the years, but I really hope he brings it ba

ck in a big way.  Keep Boinking Ragedy Anne, thats what I say.

Anyway, about the Hirshhorn show.  Lets just say it was a great accomplishment for him that was terribly underwhelming for us, all things out of his control ofcourse.  We stood in line for 2 hours to get in.  2 HOURS!  I don't think I have waited in line that long for anything.  Once we got in, there were so many people, lines for everything, the sound was so quiet an muffled and one side of the speakers cut out half way through.  The talking that dan deacon did do, no one could hear.  A lot of the DC crowd was way to fancy to dance and I don't think the

y knew what to think.  The cops even told him not to have us run in the middle.  BUT, it was totally worth the twelve dollars to go through the smelly armpit tunnel all the way around the sculpture garden. AMAZING.

Reconstructing Wood

I went to my friend Noah McWilliam's art show the other day at the blue elephant art center. (We used to share space together there, its a co-op type of center.)  I really encourage you guys to check out this show.  It is some of the best art I have seen come out of frederick.  Especially go if you like texture.  He explores a lot of textures with food, a chalk piece that is a portrait of a croissant, a wall length installation like, chalkboard piece that is just the glare off bags of grapes, and one of my favorite pieces, close up views of sunflower seeds, the value done in shades of brown made with lemon juice and a heat gun.

Chalk, jersey, and other less than fine art materials are used all throughout the show and used in a beautiful and thoughtful way.  I particularly liked another piece that is a self portrait of prayer portrayed with contradiction in a very and personal way.  So check out  this work.  Hopefully he'll tour it around a bit.  It is definitely strong enough.

what are you going to be for halloween..

so this sort of has something to do with art, but halloween is tomorrow and Buck 65 never lets me down.  Go to his myspace and check out his new halloween song titled the same as this entry. UNICEF! UNICEF!

and if you like rap and johnny cash, you'll probably really like his albums.  Spoken word and country beats with that canadian edge.  can't beat it.  Plus he is mighty attractive ::wink::

don't cry for me

So anyone who knows me, knows I love cartoons, and comics, and weird humor, therefore I love the simpsons.  

 I found this comic online, that frans from a previous blog told me about helping with and I totally fell in love with it.

The drawing is a very cool unique style, the narrative is an awesome mix of wit and poignancy, and the characters are totally relatable, which makes it even more heart breaking.

I love to see people who are my age making terrific art like this.  It is a great piece and totally deserving of recognition.  So if you know the simpsons, (and like me, always say, "stupid sexy flanders.") check it out.  I hope there is more where this came from. 

www.sugarboukas.com look at short "don't cry for me i'm already dead"

P.S. anyone interested in doing some comics with me?  I am totally down for some collaborative stuff.  Let me know.

organic rap song (the real deal)

I don't know what you guys think about the whole "organic" band wagon.  I mean i am a healthy girl, i believe in taking care of yourself and buying locally.  but I don't understand the people who are leading the way in organics that are bat shit crazy.  its almost like they are a farse of themselves.  

I went to visit my friend colin who is an amazing artist, great thinker, and strong in his beliefs but also really accepting.  (his work is at www.myspace.com/cozmonot and was a member of zendik, beautiful idealist, etc.) so he knows about art and organic gardening.  but anyway his boss at the garden randomly came up to him and said "we have to reach the young people... make a rap video about being organic."

Colin of course rocked it, took a week and came up with a totally cool video. he and tom wrote it, did the costume, and everyone who works at the farm is in the video.  those poor garden variety hoes.  check it out on you tube and type in "organic rap song the real deal".  eh, art in any form i guess.

72 hour film fest

So i went to the 72 hour film festival this past weekend.  I went on friday night so i could see all of the movies.  It was pretty good... but really long, which it was last year too. (for those that don't know me i was in a movie last year.  i have never acted in my life and then forced to be the "star" of a film. Just youtube the horrible video "art is what you can get away with".)  

Here is a photo of us (me, tracey who makes awsome comics about fish mongering and we are thinking about getting a booth together at SPX next year if anyone else is interested too, and audrey who is one of the best fine art models around) at the film fest.

Anyway, making a movie is totally fun and really great for the town and the local artists and actors.  One of my favorite films actually had my friend clayton star in it. youtube "mirage 72 hour film fest".  I thought he did a great acting job, and it was pretty thoughtful in a serious but not too serious way.  That is the thing about the 72 hour film fest, I think it seems so long because a lot of the films are soooo serious and try to be so heavy and inappropriately violent.  The whimsical films are always the best.  My favorite from the whole fest, (i tried to find it online and maybe i will later) was one where a couple is sitting in the park fantasizing about their future and home together.  The crew made everything they describe out of cardboard in an ever changing scene behind them.  Very clever and simple and the perfect amount of effort to be impressive and not seemingly pretentious for a five minute film.  All in all a good show to everyone who participated.  Its worth catching every year.

SPX

I went to the small press expo yesterday.  Great work and very inspiring.  I would love to play around with that type of format if anyone has some writing for me.  Who knows maybe it'll be good practice for my own narrative within my work.  The printing made me drool too.  There was more color and fun, humor and beauty there, then i have seen in any museum.  My friend, who had great work there frans, on fransboukas.blogspot.com, described it perfectly as door number 3.  Who wouldn't love that.  Though i did notice this year, among all the witty dialogue and nostalgia, there were a ton of fart, poop, and mustache comics... must be a trend.

I picked up one and the guy in the booth said, "its all girls farting", and it was.  worth the dollar.  I got some good stuff though, and it is funny to me, it seemed the guys gave me a ton of free stuff because i am a girl.  Stared at ben blankly when he was right behind me.  Doesn't make sense to me since so many of they guys were so dreamy.

this is a lame doodle i did at work a long time ago.

Favorites:

www.idiotsbooks.com, really funny stuff, smart words and art.

www.maidenhousefly.com, funny in a childish, uber relatable way.

www.markburrier.com, creepier than you would think, thoughtful

www.partykausa.com, really beautiful and dark, more optimistic than you would think.

p.s. didn't see her at SPX, but if you like witty relatable comic strips, check out dina kelberman at importantcomics.com.  some of my favorite to send, very clean stylistically, cleaner than i could ever do.