SCAT etc.

Last night I did a live solo perf for cable TV in Somerville, MA. It was part of the Rock Candy show. http://www.therockcandyshow.com

The set will air each Friday in November at 8PM on Channel 3 in Somerville. They are going to provide me with a copy of the show, which I'll try to turn into YouTube clips or something, since only Somervillians can watch the show in real time...

It was a lot of fun. My old friend from Berklee, Tim Franklin, is the audio engineer, and he got me the gig.

I wasn't nervous at all, really, and I chalk that up to being tired from my show with Black Fortress the night before.

But, boy, did we rock. A lot of new material and a PJ Harvey cover where I song the Thom Yorke part and Tony sings the PJ part. Pretty fun, and funny!

Anyway, I've Roct this Tober. Looking forward to a little rest over the next few days.

SCAT etc.

Last night I did a live solo perf for cable TV in Somerville, MA. It was part of the Rock Candy show. http://www.therockcandyshow.com

The set will air each Friday in November at 8PM on Channel 3 in Somerville. They are going to provide me with a copy of the show, which I'll try to turn into YouTube clips or something, since only Somervillians can watch the show in real time...

It was a lot of fun. My old friend from Berklee, Tim Franklin, is the audio engineer, and he got me the gig.

I wasn't nervous at all, really, and I chalk that up to being tired from my show with Black Fortress the night before.

But, boy, did we rock. A lot of new material and a PJ Harvey cover where I song the Thom Yorke part and Tony sings the PJ part. Pretty fun, and funny!

Anyway, I've Roct this Tober. Looking forward to a little rest over the next few days.

That's Entertainment

Last night was the debut.

Firsts are important to me. And this was the first time I played out with a full band doing my own songs.

IT FUCKING ROCKED, MOM.

A lot of friends came out to support. It was pretty full and the energy level was high during our set. People liked it and we had a blast, so that's a successful show.

My friend Tinuviel drove down from Maine to check it out, and to say hi to Dame Darcy, too. T rocks for trekking down.

I didn't get to chat with folks too much afterwards. I chilled out backstage for most of the night. I expended too much intense energy to be able to interact meaningfully. It's so emotionally exhausting. But worth it.

Tonight I'm gonna do a TV thing and I hope somebody anybody comes to the taping. Otherwise, it'll sound like "Live, at the Peach Pit A-Go-Go"...clap...clap.../.../.../...clap...

Hee hee. I'm trying to think of a pretty outfit to wear tonight, though I'm so tired from last night that I really just wanna curl up at home. I got dolled last night. Pulled out coat, dress, and boots stops. It felt so good to wear something different onstage.

But I still wore my cartouche 'cause that's who I am. The muthafuckin' qweeeen.

My rap album will be out in 2008.

Bloggy Dew

Recent Dreams of Note:

Night before last~
Dreamt Syd Barrett was an old man. He was holding my hand like I was a little child again. He was guiding me, probably through nature into a boggy dew...unicorns, and the like.

Hint: Another side project is forming. This one's got a lovely concept. I think Warren's gonna be in it.

I woke up crying after the dream, fighting back the tears again. But don't worry because nothing is wrong at all. I'm in a very happy place.

Last night's dream:
Dan and I were at the deli again. They still wouldn't serve me. Why the snobbery??

Dreamscene Amongst

As I type this, the treetops around here are ablaze with most lovely hues. Inspiring and life-affirming.

Last night I played at Toad, in Cambridge, opening for Monique Ortiz.

Monique was awesome. She and her guitarist, Jim Moran, play beautifully together. She tells the story, and lays down the groove, and he play soft occasional tones. So minimal and so effective. Downright made me miss TQ.

It was kind of a rowdy crowd, especially when I went on. Some folkies played before me and got everyone all riled up.

Brian and Amanda in my dreams again. This time, I was hanging out with HUMANWINE, though, when A&B rolled onto the dreamscene. I chalk this up to reading Amanda's blog periodically, seeing a DD's email yesterday, and seeing a pic of ::aforementioned band who insists on being spelled with all caps:: online yesterday.

Figuring out where dreams derive comforts me.

Playing Ad's BDay tomorrow. I hope there's cake!!

Warren's been sweet about taping cable shows like Signe Chanel for me. Yay where rabbits live...

Too Much Flesh and Not Enough Action

That was a phrase from an article about being fat - esp. kids whose parents have poor eating habits.

Anyway, so I have news. Yesterday I bought a new mandolin. Yes, new. Not too pricey, but a necessary tool of my trade as a troubadour.

It's acoustic-electric, which means I can now hear what I'm playing despite the din of the countless doom metal bands practicing all around me. Yeah, baby, I can really rock out now.

It's a Fender. Made in Korea:( But hopefully it'll still last me awhile. I didn't want to deal with the issues my old one presented, but now I see there are only bright sides to having something new. Except for the $$$ factor.

Thanks to my bandmate for pushing me to better my set-up. This time has come.

Now I can keep my old one at home - and who know, it may inspire me to write new songs on it.

Last night, I went to the Model after rehearsing tonight's set. I was hanging out with some friends and handing out flyers, when along comes Bill Desmond. I introduced myself. Been wanting to meet him for years. He was friendly, also handing out flyers - for an upcoming Bentmen show (10/21). He bought us all drinks, and told us about his daughter's set at TT's the night before. It's so cute to see a proud papa:)

I'm busy the next few days - show tonight, show Friday/friend's BDay, PURE artshow participation on Saturday, underwear party Sat. night...

And then Narcovember shall descend upon us. In a cold wind, when leaves swirl 'round...

I LOVE CAMBRIDGE IN THE AUTUMN.

I've begun work on a battle cry for The Fortress. Afyonkarahisar, as I said before, is rich with lore and history.

A few facts:
It was settled by the Romans, then the Byzantines. This was after the Hittites, Lydians, and Phrygians passed through.

I'm also working on a cabaret/piano bar-type project. It's called Medicine Chest. More soon.

Dreams

Part 1:

Traveling again. Large body of water. Darkness. A strange feeling like going through a tunnel. Turkiye. With my parents. I didn't have my passport. But then I did have it.

Lately, I have many dreams about traveling and missing flights, etc. What does it mean???

Part 2:

Cynthia. Recalling a story to me, as if a dream within a dream. I found some kind of document with her writing that was like a letter to me or something. Her voice, in a voice-over. Vignettes. One involving a pipe with some disgusting fluid flowing harshly through it and spilling out along its way. It was like blood bile and puke and some other bodily stuff. It was the color of grapefruit juice. As I saw this disgusting liquid, I heard Cynthia's voice telling me she had protected me from certain things, but not in such obvious terms.

It's like I was in Ouspensky's basement. Perhaps I am.

Lately some days I'm not sure if my outfits match anymore, and it makes me think I may be losing it.

Camille Paglia said it's the artist's obligation to withdraw from society to create a body of work. I can see why.

Where did all my time go? Email? That's pathetic.

I read the new Uncut - all about Syd Barrett. There was a little quote about him from Damon Albarn, too. He mentioned a record he did a few years ago that he didn't think anyone heard, one that was totally inspired by Syd. DemoCrazy it's called. I have it. It's a 10" vinyl record. Cool and trippy. I bought it on a whim, as usual. It seems as though Albarn is rising in my mind as an inspiration.

The onion the oignon.

I barely spoke to anyone last night, and it felt nice, quiet, tranquil - calm. {Except when an old lover's cell phone rang me twice by accident.} Still, even that didn't rattle me. It can be so nice to just sit and read and sleep. I'm so lucid most of the time it can be exhausting.

I feel a certain erosion of personality taking place, even as I become stronger and more sure.

John Cage spoke of complete contrast and being comfortable with two opposites.

Painting the Red Door BLACK

Yeah, so Black Fortress did a warm up gig in Portsmouth, NH. Though, it was initially booked under my name.

Cute little place. Kind of a nice wine bar vibe. A little bigger than my local haunt of ZuZu. Lots of candles. The series is called Hush Hush Sweet Harlot, after the Bette David flick (according to my boyfriend's roommate). And there was indeed a hushed vibe during the perfs.

Tony, my guitar player and guiding light, could not get there before a certain time. There was a brief moment where the booker seemed annoyed because, although she had previously informed us we wouldn't be playing until 9:30/10, this night she wanted us to go on first at 8:30.

SO we went on last instead. The room was pretty empty by then. 2 friends, the booking agent, another of the performers, and finally some rakish lads looking for a nightcap.

That aside, the set went well. Felt fuckin' good to play some new stuff. I'd previously only performed ONE of the set's songs with any band. People seemed to like it. I could hear myself ok.

The mando gave me trrrouble, which Tony pointed out is unacceptable. I'm in the market for a newer, nicer one. One that doesn't go out of tune every two seconds and has a pickup and a volume knob.

On the way up to the gig, I was relegated to the backseat. I was cramped in amongst the gear like a stowaway. My booted legs in my lap. This was for over an hour. My legs felt kinda funny the rest of the night.

But never mind that. One must accept and be humble at times. Suck it up and use it somewhere else.

While waiting for our set time, I was enjoying my whiskey when some dude next me started trying to chat me up. Anyway, at some point after I thought he had left, he calls me out by name and motions me over. He half-introduced me to some chap who promotes bands or something. This chap was vague about who he was/what he did. I asked if he was gonna stay for the show, but he mentioned something about owing someone in the room quite a large sum of money, and so probably not.

Then he signed over a check to me. That check is my current bread and butter. Quite literally.

A stranger giving me money. A first.

Anway, Joe shot video of our set, so I'll post some of the BFof O page as soon as I get it and build it.

Setlist included:
Crack and Pool
Model Cafe
Ari
From a Woman to a Man
Dulcet TV (based on one of Warren's blogz)
Twelve Gross

We're gearing up now for our first BIG Boston show at the Lizard Lounge on 10/24.