Last night was WCU LGBTQA’s 4th Annual Drag Show, and it couldn’t have gone any better!
ANT, one of the coolest people of EVER, hosted our show, and he was absolutely amazing. He kept the Greek jokes coming and it made my life. He’s such a role model for queer Hellenic people.
I got all ‘ho’ed up, compliments of Hannah’s Ho-porium.. my ass was literally hanging out. And it was pretty hilarious.
During the drag portion, I performed in my roommate, Hannah’s, “DOUCHEdrag” act as Ruth’s “5-minute girlfriend”. She did a song called Electric Six’s Vibrator. The story behind Hannah’s act? “Douchebag Awareness” and social activism. Ruth and I are this lesbian couple strolling along when we come across Hannah, who is this total d-bag… you know, the frat boy that thinks he can “turn” a lesbian “straight”… The total misogynist prick who thinks that a woman’s place is with him inside of her. So, she was wearing a Jägermeister polo shirt and my aviators and just looked like a total d-bag. Then, she broke apart Ruth and I when the “she don’t need no vibrator” hook came in. Meanwhile, Ruth and I are, like, “WOAH?? DUDE! WTF!!!” Then, Hannah is all ‘macho’ and ‘badass’ and blahblahblah… So Ruth and I tie her down with a rainbow flag and walk away, happily ever after. Awesome, eh?
Then, Jane and I performed some “Dropkick Drag” to The Dirty Glass.
The back-story? I am a pissed off drag queen (aka “Darcy Darling” aka the bar) that is madly in love with Jane, who is this gorgeous drag queen dressed up like a devil and full of her self/a former/current/whatever flame of mine. She starts the song showing herself off and being a diva, while I’m singing to her about how much I’m longing for her and giving her googly eyes. All the while, she’s ignoring me because she’s full of herself. She then hears my song and get’s pissed off, ripping off her drag/throwing it at me and changing to get the hell out of my bar as fast as possible. I’m SHOCKED… Then, I’m all sad and wahwahwah and it turns to being pissed. So we fight a little back and forth because I’m pissed at how rude Jane is being after I’ve “taken care of her” (aka fed her lots of booze, because “Darcy” is a metaphor for a bar). I get in her face, so she throws more shit at me, pissed off. I keep storming off and pouting from not getting any affection. On the line that says “listen to the big shot with his pager on call, you spent most of those nights in my bathroom stall”, i pull out a flask from jane’s bra and wave it around, showing that there was a past relationship of some sort there (because I know where she keeps her booze). She pulls the flask out of my hand drinks more. Drunk as shit, she stumbles on me, forgetting that she hates me for a moment in the reprise of the opening. We dance. Then, she realizes that she hates me again as the loud, angry music returns, sobering up for a moment and being all “WOAH??” So we fight some more, and then storms out… so I chase after her.
She then comes to her senses (or is too piss drunk to care) and falls in my arms, kissing me.
So, here’s a video that Heather took of our performance… have fun!
We had quite a bit of fun doing this. Jane got to beat me up on stage, and I got to pull out a flask from her boobs.
And ANT was amused. (Did I mention how starstruck I still am??)
It was a pretty awesome night. I’ll post more photos and things later!
a while ago, in june, i made a post about the top ten albums half-way through the year…
so here is my updated list of favorites. these albums are the ones that blew my mind or i couldn’t stop listening to this year. it’s was pretty easy to pick for once, as most of my favorites didn’t release albums this year… and one album just blew everything else away. (maybe that’s a bad thing, letting some fine work slip from my radar?)
i think i’ve been doing one of these since my first journal in middle school, so i guess it’s kind of a tradition? yea. we’ll go with that. i might do a shorter one of these tomorrow for my favorites of the decade…
1. enter the haggis – gutter anthems this album, released in march, is easily 2009’s best album, if not one of the best albums released the past decade. i can’t say enough in praise of gutter anthems. it’s a really mature album from a band i grew up listening to/following around, and a nice brainf*ck/eargasm. eth is a band that i first encountered as a cute little quirky/dorky canadian celtic punk band with an interesting instrumentation that was jamming their faces off. their instrumentation still *shouldn’t* work, but it does. this year, they totally grew up out of nowhere and did nothing but blow my mind constantly. (they’ve been doing that for years) i can’t decide if it was their rage against the machine cover (with bagpipes) or acoustic cameos. or how most of gutter anthems evolved on stage since craig downie’s brief stint with a saxophone at the 2008 celtic fling. while still having hints of their celtic punk/rock roots, they’ve grown into a really progressive and eccentric sound. and they have incredible showmanship and energy to back up their awesome work (as if their work needed any help? ^_^) there’s not one song on this album that i don’t like *something* about. it opens with an organ/pipes intro and closes with eth’s signature style of instrumental awesomeness in alternating 7/8 and 6/8 (broken line) with a bunch of fine songs that showcase their musical diversity and personalities in between. and brian buchanan’s instrumental credit list in the liner notes? yea. did i mention that these guys can double like woah? craig downie is the most quirky/unique wind doubler out there. the thing i must say that i love most is how this album just shouldn’t make sense, yet all of the songs just *fit* with each other.
i’ll just stop rambling now and tell you to go listen to this frigging album!
2. the decemberists -hazards of love ok… the decemberists’ 2009 release is incredible. it’s an hour-long “rock” opera about a woman named margaret who has fallen in love with william, a shape-shifter and the crazy adventures that happen with other characters such as an evil rake and jealous forest queen. the instrumentation on this album is absurd. there’s slide guitar, banjo, accordion, pedal steel guitar, harpsichord, strings and a bunch of instruments that *shouldn’t* make any sense together… even better? the genref*cking that hazards does is a brilliant mix of folk, folk rock, rock, prog rock, metal and country, just to mention some, and they pull it off flawlessly. colin meloy and jenny conlee did something incredible with this album. seeing it performed live at philly folk fest was probably one of the best performances i’ve ever witnessed. so powerful. i think i’m still recovering, but we can also blame ETH for that one, as it’s their fault for blowing away the rest of my brain that day… the very little that colin meloy left. i get shivers listening to hazards of love 2 (wager all). other sections that also stand out (ok, the story as a whole does) are annan water, the rake’s song and the wanting comes in waves/repaid. i get shivers listening to repaid.. as the alto, shara worden, has a frigging powerful voice… and she can *belt* like woah. this is my favorite decemberists album, but i don’t think it’s the perfect album for a first-time listener.
3. the young dubliners - saints and sinners released early in the year, february, saints and sinners is the young dubs’ finest. some damn good irish rock here. i want to dance my ass off every time a song from this album comes on my ipod. it’s really fun, slightly serious (eh, not really) and has some pretty catchy tunes on it. i can’t get backseat driver out of my head no matter how hard i try. the title track is pretty kickass as well. young dubs never fail to deliver fun and a good time. i was just pissed that i missed them at bam margera’s bar this year because i had an orchestra concert. hopefully they’ll be back there in 2010. i’ve seen them once and they know how to work a stage and be a fine show to party at. so yea. listen to saints and sinners.
4. mute math - armistice this album, released in august, is some pretty awesome alt-rock. the rhythm section on this album is incredible and sets the tone for the album right away with the nerve. it pushes through the entire album. the vocals are tight. the instrumentals are just… mind-blowing. this album is just *tight*. the last track, burden, is an awesome last track. it’s got a really catchy melody and some fine instrumentals. and their lyrics? awesome. armistice is a well-written album lyrically and instrumentally. it’s comforting to know that fine alt and prog rock is still being written and mute math is an excellent example.
5. lacuna coil – shallow life lacuna coil’s most recent attempt. another band i grew up listening to, one of the first bands i ever got into. italian symphonic/gothic metal band with cristina scabbia’s incredible mezzo voice at the lead and andrea ferro on background vox. cristina and andrea sound incredible. it’s not my favorite coil album, and it’s not the most mind-blowing thing i’ve heard…. but it’s different. i like their sound and new direction, but parts of this album feel too forced. i enjoy this album.
6. the von bondies – love, hate and then there’s you an indie/alt rock band that i’ve gotten into the past few years. this is a pretty cool album, but it reminds me too much of their last one. it’s enjoyable, happy music. chancer and modern saints are my favorite tracks. their sound is interesting and fun. i think that’s what i like about it… and their drummer doesn’t suck. i really enjoy this album.
7. butterfly boucher – scary fragile i just can’t stop listening to this album. it’s addicting folk/alt-rock. it’s really catchy and shows off butterfly’s versatility as a musician. she plays all of the instruments and sings all of the vocals on this album. she also shows a maturity from flutterby, her first album. i guess my biggest/only problem with it is that it is too short; a little bit over a half hour. but it’s not length that matters most, it’s the work… and she creates some pretty fine music. my favorite track is to feel love. it’s so angry, reminding me a bit of aimee mann or maybe tori amos. part of bitter song sounds a lot like the slow section of radiohead’s paranoid android, or at least the tune does. i’m not sure if it was intentional… but it’s brilliant. it’s the final track on the album and a really interesting way to end the album
8. steven pasquale - somethin’ like love ok… i generally don’t like jazz. but i *love* steve pasquale. dilemma! so, in this album, we have a pretty-good-but-still-higher tenor pretending to be a baritone. this album is so low on my ‘top ten’ list because i can’t get over the fact that he can sing a lot better than he does on this album. it’s enjoyable background music… and his voice is still pretty freaking incredible… but i can’t put my finger around what i don’t love about this album count your blessings instead of sheep is cute… and his ode to his wife, tony winner laura benanti, is gorgeous… but it’s they all laughed that’s my favorite. it’s a cute little song about how society generally laughs at brilliance. but maybe it’s the jazz that gets to me… i just can’t get into jazz no matter what i do…or how much i love steve pasquale’s voice. it’s worth a listen.
9. metric – fantasies i just love metric. and this album is some of my favorite indie rock. ohhh broken social scene, why the hell are y’all such an awesome super-group that keeps pouring out some awesome groups like metric? they’re one of the very few indie rock bands that i love with a chick singer. emily haines is a pretty awesome alto. this album is full of really catchy tunes with driving indie rock instrumentals. sick muse has been stuck in my head for a while. i can’t stop listening to this album. but thanks to ETH and the decemberists being so epic this year, fine albums like this one almost slipped off my radar. i’m sure that i’ll be listening to it more often in 2010.
10.dream theater - black clouds and silver lining i’m sure you were wondering where dream theater was on this list.. (or not.) they’ve appeared on a lot of these lists… because they’re just epic. some really fine mind-blowing prog metal. mike portnoy and john petrucci are genius. this is one of their darkest albums. ok, i don’t really like some of their lyric choices this time at all… that seems to be the biggest criticism the album’s gotten from most listeners… but their instrumentals are mind-blowing, as they’ve always been, and this album’s best and most redeeming feature. they’re still pushing the limits of prog metal, even on their tenth album. but i can’t get past the lyrics and they’ve been bothering me since the release of this album. overall, one of my favorites this year. i can’t say it’s one of the best of the decade though. worth a few listens, yes… but good luck separating the lyrics from the rest of their work.
notable mentions
tori amos - abnormally attracted to sin i frigging love this album. ok. enjoy. it’s still growing on me, seven months later. i’m not sure if i like the direction she’s been going in at all… i love the folkier sound of this album… and the prog rock influence… and the lyrics. not dying today is an awesome song. but i don’t like how her voice is becoming the primary focus. where’s the piano?? i’ve always loved her for doing some cool things with a piano. she’s sounding more like the october project meets pop… i think that’s what is still growing on me. she’s still evolving. so maybe this album will grow on me more. i don’t really dislike it…. but it’s memorable for this year. it’s good, but not incredible. some tracks stick out, but some are forgettable. it’s still worth a listen though.
sonata arctica – the days of grace love this album. it’s really catchy. it’s nice symphonic metal. not my favorite sonata album… but it’s a good attempt. it’s… fluffly. sonata arctica is one of the first bands that i got into and they’re still creating some good music.
badly drawn boy – is there nothing we could do? just released two weeks ago… i haven’t had enough time to listen to it enough to get a good feeling for it… but it’s probably better than dream theater’s album overall… and i am a huge dream theater fan. black clouds just didn’t do it for me lyrically… and badly drawn boy is a fantastic lyricist. so, we’ll see.
filter – the very best things i love this greatest hits album… it’s a good intro to filter for new listeners and a nice retrospective of fine music for long-time listeners.
upcoming some albums i’m looking forward to in 2010?
oh gawd, i’m gonna be broke really fast.
-barenaked ladies – all in good time. their second album as a quartet (the first was 1994’s born on a pirate ship) scheduled for release in march. after hearing some of the new work on youtube, i’m happy that my favorite band of ever can hold their own sans one of my heroes. i am beyond excited for this album.
-steven page : two albums… his ‘first’ solo album post-BNL (does vanity project count??) and the release of his art of time ensemble performance. also a re-release of the vanity project under his own name… it’s steven page… that’s the only reason i *need* to be excited about.
-dropkick murphys – hell yes. new album. whee!!
-lostprophets – the betrayed. recently got into them. should be a decent album.
-cold war kids – behave yourself. technically, it’s been released a few days ago… but not? i don’t get it, but i’ll probably give it a listen.
-patrick wolf – the conqueror. an artist that i’m just starting to get into. i’m enjoying his songwriting style for how unique it is.
-vampire weekend – contra. another band i’m just starting to get into. i saw them at some festival or something like… two years ago and they’re pretty nifty.
-serj tankian- elect the dead symphony. i just love soad… so it has to be pretty good. and there’s a greek dude that’s credited with arranging it. and! there’s a song called beethoven’s cunt. win.
- rhapsody of fire – the frozen tears of angels. ok… i just love metal. specifically symphonic metal. *sticks tongue out*
-owen pallett – heartland. in his attempt to not get sued (after going as final fantasy for a good part of his solo career), he is releasing a new album under his own name. cool! he’s pretty awesome and this album will be sweet.
-massive attack – heligoland. i just frigging love massive attack.
-anathema – horizons. an album that didn’t get released this year that will surely be awesome.
-angels and airwaves – love. to be released on valentine’s day… cute. i’m just getting into them.
-tarja turunen – what lies beneath. tarja’s second solo album since getting kicked out of nightwish.
-tobias sammet’s avantasia – the wicked symphony/angel of babylon. i love tobias sammet. and a double album? yay!
i have an american elegy stuck in my head, and it’s not going away any time soon.
we (allentown marine band) played it tonight for a pretty decent-sized tuesday evening audience at west park. such a beautiful piece… and one i’ve wanted to play since the first time i heard it. i just didn’t think i’d be playing it on bassoon the first time i’d get the chance. (and messing it up that badly after my mouth turned to mush in the beginning of it…)
the first time i heard it was sometime in late 2001 or early 2002 when
i was still very much in shock and mourning over the tragic and very sudden loss of a friend… and this piece is one that i associate with him. i guess because of columbine’s influence on its composition and the gun violence it memorializes through a beautiful work. my facebook hubbie played me an mp3 of it that he’d found on napster (hahaaaa napster)… in his usual, overly-dramatic fashion, he had told me that it was the ‘most beautiful thing you’ll EVER hear’… and i vaguely remember him saying that it would get my mind off of the recent horror. it did and it didn’t…
other music that reminds me of him includes girlyman’s say goodbye (of which the title of this entry comes from) and just about anything that shostakovich composed… (because he had introduced me to shostakovich just before he was murdered.)
music is always with me, and with EVERYONE, so again… i shall take this moment to express how i think that administrators that want to get rid of something so perfect from schools for budget reasons should be given a good blow to the head to knock them out of their fantasy worlds where music is not necessary for life.
i am generally not a violent person and hate violence… but cutting music from schools is VIOLENCE. /end aside
some of you may know… on the evening of november 15 2001, a day that i will NEVER forget, i lost a friend to gun violence and homophobia in allentown.
i was out with some friends, most of us being quite underage, celebrating the barely 18 year old boy’s recent acceptance into college… our group split off into two to head home, and i never saw his beautiful smile again…
the horrible waste of life that gunned him down simply did so because they assumed that he was gay because he’d just walked out of an lgbt establishment. i won’t go into the horrifying details here, because i am honestly trying to block them out (and have been successful for a while)… but that night changed my life and perhaps stole my childhood away.
i’ve been a devout pacifist (does pacifism count as a religion?), anti-ALL forms of violence, and a huge supporter of teaching tolerance in schools since then… as well as terrified of the sight of guns, the sound of guns and everything about guns… and hamilton st. for many years, i refused to drive or BE anywhere near the spot. if i had to be in allentown for anything, or went to the stonewall or croc rock (which is on hamilton) with friends… i would add quite a bit of distance and time to avoid being on the street. i would go in circles just so i wouldn’t have to feel… and it drove me insane.
it was not until after a marine band rehearsal earlier this summer that i finally sucked it up and drove home using hamilton all the way to bethlehem. it was really hard to do, but it was the last thing that reminded me of him and i’m glad that i broke that pattern finally. i even ended up going to the spot on bike/foot a few times, just to see if i could mentally handle it… while it was quite a challenge… i did it… and it ended my long fight with myself over physically being unable to be anywhere near where it happened.
while i don’t think i’ll ever get over his death… i’ve been able to accept it as something that’s made me who i am. i moved on a few years ago. i stopped constantly thinking about him… he stopped haunting my thoughts and nightmares.
can’t change any of it… but it sometimes baffles me just how powerful music can be in making me just know that everything will turn out pretty OK…
ticheli wrote this piece as an expression of hope, after all.
the hardest part of playing that piece tonight was the memory of eric creeping its way into my mind for the first time in months.
22.october.1983 – 15.november.2001
rest in peace…
i was going to post a ‘part two’ to the last entry, but i’m not right now.
yet, this entry is still about music… (surprise?)
i could never imagine doing ANYTHING but music for life. and sometimes, i get chances to meet people who i probably would’ve never met if it weren’t for music. i think it’s moments like that where i lose any momentary doubt i may have had about anything.
for this reasoning, last night ended up being pretty cool. i’d had a long day lifeguarding, and felt kind of bad about leaving the rest of the staff with one less guard to go across the street to the park to play… so i was just hoping to play and get outta there ASAP. damn, was i wrong!
one of the community bands i’m in, the bethlehem municipal band, shared the stage (errr… roof of a bomb shelter) with the [salem moravian band] (check out their site/tour blog), a community/church band from south africa. these folks traveled a pretty long way, but a shared love of music brought us all together. i am obviously a huge advocate for community music, and this band really made me see the importance of it even more. they come from a part of the world where instruments are pretty hard to come by, as their economic situation is less-than-ideal… but seeing how music has made their lives better? truly a wonderful thing. i’m sure that they bring a lot of happiness to their community… how could they not? more…
Awesome, eh?