"I sing myself and celebrate myself, and what I assume you shall assume,for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you" -Walt Whitman
I am Tumbling and Rolling to keep up with my Bliss Being this week and so, all Time is spent getting ready for this exciting weekend. That's why this review is so short and sweet. Life is Messy, Love the Mess. Act Two was a perfect mess of me and Baba acting out a very rough draft of what I heard some folks in the audience say was a great re*minder to free their Being and live in the Now. The audience was a 10/10, patient, loving, howling, answering, active participants. I'll leave the rest to imagination and just say that I've never had so much fun as I am these days, at The Tumbleweed Cabaret Of Re*membering The Dream!X=h/m -Howling to you form the holy road, Lizzie and The Dharma Dog too
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
James's Review Of March 17th Show
"The show was GREAT! When I was part of the audience, I too was more reserved than usual; the reasons, I think, were that I knew that the evening was being recorded and didn't want to intrude on the beauty of the songs, and the other confusion was related to the narrative aspect of the cabaret; since it flowed, there wasn't a clear break in the action to indicate an audience response--I didn't want to break the continuity of the narrative (and maybe miss part of the continuing story). It's kind of like at a concert when a song has a long pause in it near the end but you're not sure it's really over, so you wait to see if there's more. Maybe the recording should be done without mention, like a candid photo, and without signs. Just some thoughts!"
Your performance was, AS USUAL, intimate, polished, and "on the money"! Since we see you perform so often I guess we sometimes just assume that you know that's how we feel, and don't say it out loud.
Howls and love,
James
Your performance was, AS USUAL, intimate, polished, and "on the money"! Since we see you perform so often I guess we sometimes just assume that you know that's how we feel, and don't say it out loud.
Howls and love,
James
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.
"Great Art Needs A Great Audience..." Walt Whitman
Overall Show Rating: 7/10
Hosts: (10/10) The Holy Road House and Arts Co-op is hosting our March residence (we are some of our own hosts, two hats is confusing sometimes, but necessary to living well in this world.) Anyway, I'm just so thankful to have this enviroment and family to come home to every few months. The team we're all creating together at The House (The Tumbleweed Hotel) is doing a great job learning how to make a perfect enviroment for us (and so, the other traveling artists who will benefit from the holy road when the time comes.) Alisa, Miker, Kaos, Mike Clark, James, Brandon, Karla, Blake, (Zeek back in New Yoork) me, Baba, The Dharma Dog and all the growing family worked hard to make last night (and this whole month, Aly and Ron on the hike, Peter's making the Kansas City show happen) a success. Matt Bearman and Scott filmed and recorded.
Venue: (8/10) The Holy Road Easy Speak
Matt Bearman is recording these shows and Scott Wilson is filming them. The sound check has a whole buzz of its own. The house was full of people getting ready for the show. Matt was making sure the sound was perfect, like a real artist of sound. His energy was really inspiring, he just seemed to care so much that everything was perfect and we were all so thankful for that. Baba was getting The Wizard Of Oz on the TV so it'd play silently in the background. Alisa made signs for silence (Shhh, we're recording) and ordered Pizza for the crew, Mike and Kaos got the front desk together. Mike Clark showed up in costume as requested. Zacharia arrived early to make sure he was ready to host the night. The best thing about our venue is Mama's grand piano and also, the fact that everyone is quiet (like in a theater).
Promotions: (2/10) We've been super slacking on the promotions front. It's easy to be lazy about it 'cause it's such a small venue.
Opener: (10/10) Natalie Greer was great. She brought several folks to be a suportive crowd and she sang like an angel who needed to let the world know she was real. A supreme choice and it was Alisa who made that happen. In this case, we had an after show Open Howl which was full of such extraordinary talent. My god...Bart Bean with his songs, harmonica and sacred drum!! Bones, James, Natalie, Baba, everyone was a light carrier last night.
Sound: (10/10) The sound was excellent for me but my guitar had problems, which badly effected my performance and maybe the audience reception. I didn't get any comments from the crowd so i'm not sure how it was for them. Karla and Blake brought their sound system over and added it to ours, so we had perfect monitors and the room was full of song.
Stage: (8/10)Brandon built the stage which doubles as a drum and makes for great dance numbers... so I can shimmy like I do. James opened up the pocket doors so we can fit up to 30 folks (they were very jammed when we first moved in). Baba got the piano tuned. It felt like an intimate cabaret theater. Lighting needs work though, to have the sort of dramatic impact our show needs. The stage and audience almost felt like one (which I liked). The seats were full and the faces warm.
Audience: (7/10) The crowd was focused and respectful, but shy. I think it's my fault, I confused everyone from the start when I told them that we were treating this like a theater piece when, in fact, I meant a "Happening". People seemed timid about applauding between songs. They didn't seem to realize just how important they are to the remembering. They are characters in a play that we have all agreed to perform, a play in which we all remember how to be create peace. Their participation in the happening is as important as mine. They howled like true howlers though and they answered "Now" big and loud when I asked them what time it was. I'm not sure everyone drank the tonic though, and the truth is, that's really the problem. If we'd all just drink Dr. Tumbleweed's Anti-fear Tonic, we'd be so much less afraid to set the spirit free and revive the child within. It wasn't a 10 'cause I think people were too careful about listening and not wild enough about singing, howling, and being a kid. Maybe, though, they were just too busy trying to understand what the hell I was talking about. I think lots of folks will be back next week and I think they'll be freer with their souls, since they have a better idea of what to expect now and they'll be more ready to remind me to remember to remind them. I remember, that's how it happened!! Howlelujah, the time is now.
My performance: (7/10) The audience and I were one. Neither of us could quite let it fly but we both had a good time getting to know eachother again.
Baba: 10/10 AS usual, he was my rock and the audience celebrated him the whole time. His performance of Prayer was truly moving, his Louise Rag was so playful, and after our set, he performed a wonderful solo piece with America The Beautiful in it.
Set List Highlights: Bones playing Bones on a couple tunes, Universal land, The Remembering, Gently Bring Me Home, Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep, Louise, Jenny
Overall Show Rating: 7/10
Hosts: (10/10) The Holy Road House and Arts Co-op is hosting our March residence (we are some of our own hosts, two hats is confusing sometimes, but necessary to living well in this world.) Anyway, I'm just so thankful to have this enviroment and family to come home to every few months. The team we're all creating together at The House (The Tumbleweed Hotel) is doing a great job learning how to make a perfect enviroment for us (and so, the other traveling artists who will benefit from the holy road when the time comes.) Alisa, Miker, Kaos, Mike Clark, James, Brandon, Karla, Blake, (Zeek back in New Yoork) me, Baba, The Dharma Dog and all the growing family worked hard to make last night (and this whole month, Aly and Ron on the hike, Peter's making the Kansas City show happen) a success. Matt Bearman and Scott filmed and recorded.
Venue: (8/10) The Holy Road Easy Speak
Matt Bearman is recording these shows and Scott Wilson is filming them. The sound check has a whole buzz of its own. The house was full of people getting ready for the show. Matt was making sure the sound was perfect, like a real artist of sound. His energy was really inspiring, he just seemed to care so much that everything was perfect and we were all so thankful for that. Baba was getting The Wizard Of Oz on the TV so it'd play silently in the background. Alisa made signs for silence (Shhh, we're recording) and ordered Pizza for the crew, Mike and Kaos got the front desk together. Mike Clark showed up in costume as requested. Zacharia arrived early to make sure he was ready to host the night. The best thing about our venue is Mama's grand piano and also, the fact that everyone is quiet (like in a theater).
Promotions: (2/10) We've been super slacking on the promotions front. It's easy to be lazy about it 'cause it's such a small venue.
Opener: (10/10) Natalie Greer was great. She brought several folks to be a suportive crowd and she sang like an angel who needed to let the world know she was real. A supreme choice and it was Alisa who made that happen. In this case, we had an after show Open Howl which was full of such extraordinary talent. My god...Bart Bean with his songs, harmonica and sacred drum!! Bones, James, Natalie, Baba, everyone was a light carrier last night.
Sound: (10/10) The sound was excellent for me but my guitar had problems, which badly effected my performance and maybe the audience reception. I didn't get any comments from the crowd so i'm not sure how it was for them. Karla and Blake brought their sound system over and added it to ours, so we had perfect monitors and the room was full of song.
Stage: (8/10)Brandon built the stage which doubles as a drum and makes for great dance numbers... so I can shimmy like I do. James opened up the pocket doors so we can fit up to 30 folks (they were very jammed when we first moved in). Baba got the piano tuned. It felt like an intimate cabaret theater. Lighting needs work though, to have the sort of dramatic impact our show needs. The stage and audience almost felt like one (which I liked). The seats were full and the faces warm.
Audience: (7/10) The crowd was focused and respectful, but shy. I think it's my fault, I confused everyone from the start when I told them that we were treating this like a theater piece when, in fact, I meant a "Happening". People seemed timid about applauding between songs. They didn't seem to realize just how important they are to the remembering. They are characters in a play that we have all agreed to perform, a play in which we all remember how to be create peace. Their participation in the happening is as important as mine. They howled like true howlers though and they answered "Now" big and loud when I asked them what time it was. I'm not sure everyone drank the tonic though, and the truth is, that's really the problem. If we'd all just drink Dr. Tumbleweed's Anti-fear Tonic, we'd be so much less afraid to set the spirit free and revive the child within. It wasn't a 10 'cause I think people were too careful about listening and not wild enough about singing, howling, and being a kid. Maybe, though, they were just too busy trying to understand what the hell I was talking about. I think lots of folks will be back next week and I think they'll be freer with their souls, since they have a better idea of what to expect now and they'll be more ready to remind me to remember to remind them. I remember, that's how it happened!! Howlelujah, the time is now.
My performance: (7/10) The audience and I were one. Neither of us could quite let it fly but we both had a good time getting to know eachother again.
Baba: 10/10 AS usual, he was my rock and the audience celebrated him the whole time. His performance of Prayer was truly moving, his Louise Rag was so playful, and after our set, he performed a wonderful solo piece with America The Beautiful in it.
Set List Highlights: Bones playing Bones on a couple tunes, Universal land, The Remembering, Gently Bring Me Home, Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep, Louise, Jenny
Monday, March 05, 2007
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.
"GREAT ART NEEDS A GREAT AUDIENCE" - Whitman
Overall Show Rating: 10/10
Hosts: (12/10) Our new family in louisville remind us to remember to remind. They host, care, guide, sing, gather, rap it, bring it, sing it. Everything from the apartment to the food to the walks to the tumble is taken care of by The Sirens who sound the alarm.
Venue: The Hideaway, Louisville, KY
The sound check was a great scene. It felt like the show had already started. The place was packed with energy. The Sirens brought special mike stands and made sure to be there with us, setting up sound and untangling chords. The Blue Umbrellas let us do our thing 'till we got a decent mix. The bartender was an angel and she set the energy from the start. Upstairs, the hideaway is just what the name makes it seem. It's a dive bar treasure with enough vibe to make up for no dressing room and lacking monitors. I can't wait to come back there. I suppose that's means the venue is a star of bars.
Promotions: Posters were hanging all around Louisville and were uop at the club. The show was promooted on the radio a bunch.
Opener: The Blue Umbrellas were power girl accoustic pop. They brought a great crowd and they got the house all warmed up for us.
Sound: Like I said, it wasn't the sound that made it a 10 show, but we were able to make it work and we, us and the audience had a mutual revival.
Stage: The stage was is a nice size for two of us. I had plenty of room to move.
Our friends Angie and Kato joined us on mandolin and bass and we could all enjoy plenty of space. No piano.
Audience: (9/10) Local Louisville designer, Nina Rosenberg made me a costume before she met me and it couldn't have been a better fit. She was there at the show and she brought me the first patch for the Mythic Quilt Of Man. Heather, Kri. Nick, Trevor, Janet, Angie, Amy, Renee, and all our new friends made the night perfect. The show was an hour and a half or so. The room was full of evolutionaries fulfilling their promise to get the fire lit and make it roar no matter what. They howled, answered "NOW" and sang along with the songs. The back of the bar was too loud. In any other show, they could have brought the overall rating down to below a five but because of the wealth of heart in the front of the room, they only devalued the experionce slightly. By the middle of the show, I made sure the back of the room had a chance to sing, by themselves, for the rest of the crowd. That was fun. From the first "reaching for light" we all joined together. The Tonic was passed around the room and by the end of the show half the kicking crowd was on stage with us. We all sang together on Starfish Lullaby and "Get Up Stand Up." The Sirens spoke it as a layer on top of the music and The Troubadors Of Divine Bliss gave all their dream power to make sure they helped us all remember. It was a night I'll always keepo close to my heart.
My performance: (9/10) I'm getting tired 'cause it'slate night after the gig, so I'll just say that I was a match and half the crowd were matches too. The fire lit, fast, from the moment I opened my mouth. There were no demons and there was no wrestling match. I was out of the way and the spirit came through, shared the tonic, made sure everyone got some, and the revival was real. Howlelujah the time is now. Thank yoou Louisville.
Baba: 10/10 AS usual, he was my rock and the audience celebrated him the whole time. His Louis Rag was especially courageous.
Set List Highlights: Chariots Rise, Reaching For Light, Starfish Lullaby, Look What They Done To My World! Louise, Rope Me In and Smoke me
Overall Show Rating: 10/10
Hosts: (12/10) Our new family in louisville remind us to remember to remind. They host, care, guide, sing, gather, rap it, bring it, sing it. Everything from the apartment to the food to the walks to the tumble is taken care of by The Sirens who sound the alarm.
Venue: The Hideaway, Louisville, KY
The sound check was a great scene. It felt like the show had already started. The place was packed with energy. The Sirens brought special mike stands and made sure to be there with us, setting up sound and untangling chords. The Blue Umbrellas let us do our thing 'till we got a decent mix. The bartender was an angel and she set the energy from the start. Upstairs, the hideaway is just what the name makes it seem. It's a dive bar treasure with enough vibe to make up for no dressing room and lacking monitors. I can't wait to come back there. I suppose that's means the venue is a star of bars.
Promotions: Posters were hanging all around Louisville and were uop at the club. The show was promooted on the radio a bunch.
Opener: The Blue Umbrellas were power girl accoustic pop. They brought a great crowd and they got the house all warmed up for us.
Sound: Like I said, it wasn't the sound that made it a 10 show, but we were able to make it work and we, us and the audience had a mutual revival.
Stage: The stage was is a nice size for two of us. I had plenty of room to move.
Our friends Angie and Kato joined us on mandolin and bass and we could all enjoy plenty of space. No piano.
Audience: (9/10) Local Louisville designer, Nina Rosenberg made me a costume before she met me and it couldn't have been a better fit. She was there at the show and she brought me the first patch for the Mythic Quilt Of Man. Heather, Kri. Nick, Trevor, Janet, Angie, Amy, Renee, and all our new friends made the night perfect. The show was an hour and a half or so. The room was full of evolutionaries fulfilling their promise to get the fire lit and make it roar no matter what. They howled, answered "NOW" and sang along with the songs. The back of the bar was too loud. In any other show, they could have brought the overall rating down to below a five but because of the wealth of heart in the front of the room, they only devalued the experionce slightly. By the middle of the show, I made sure the back of the room had a chance to sing, by themselves, for the rest of the crowd. That was fun. From the first "reaching for light" we all joined together. The Tonic was passed around the room and by the end of the show half the kicking crowd was on stage with us. We all sang together on Starfish Lullaby and "Get Up Stand Up." The Sirens spoke it as a layer on top of the music and The Troubadors Of Divine Bliss gave all their dream power to make sure they helped us all remember. It was a night I'll always keepo close to my heart.
My performance: (9/10) I'm getting tired 'cause it'slate night after the gig, so I'll just say that I was a match and half the crowd were matches too. The fire lit, fast, from the moment I opened my mouth. There were no demons and there was no wrestling match. I was out of the way and the spirit came through, shared the tonic, made sure everyone got some, and the revival was real. Howlelujah the time is now. Thank yoou Louisville.
Baba: 10/10 AS usual, he was my rock and the audience celebrated him the whole time. His Louis Rag was especially courageous.
Set List Highlights: Chariots Rise, Reaching For Light, Starfish Lullaby, Look What They Done To My World! Louise, Rope Me In and Smoke me
Friday, March 02, 2007
Audience and Host Review, Maryland, March 1st 2007
West Dazzles, Entraces
Sangha, a free-trade store in Takoma Park, Maryland known for it unique items from Tibet, Guatemala and other far-flung places across the globe, played host to singer and song writer Lizzie West and her long-time counterpart Baba "the White Buffalo" Thursday night. The crowd that braved the rainy weather to turn out, healthy for a weekday night, was the recipient of a raw and honest eighty-minute set.
West covered a lot of ground in her time on stage, running the full range of her repertoire, from "Chariot's Rise", a song that played an integral part in the James Spader, Maggie Gayyenhall film "The Secretary", to the whimsical "Sparty", written for one of the two dogs that has toured with the pair over the years.
"Chariots" was in particular memorable, performed this time with an essentially unreleased set of lyrics and a deep emotion reflective of the personal nature of the song. Also of note was her rendering of "Take These Demons", a new song from her most recent effort, "I Pledge Allegiance to Myself" which was released last year. The coffee house environment offered by Sangha clearly appealed to West as she played, and she interacted with those present numerous times, even taking a list of requests once her initial set had finished.
West currently splits her time between upstate New York and Columbia, Missouri, moving back and forth every few months, touring the cities along the way in between. She heads to Louisville next, and then on to her self-described "spring residency" in the midwest. For those who missed it, West will return to the area this May as part of her "Midwest Tumbleweed Roadshow".
Michael Horlick
Sangha, a free-trade store in Takoma Park, Maryland known for it unique items from Tibet, Guatemala and other far-flung places across the globe, played host to singer and song writer Lizzie West and her long-time counterpart Baba "the White Buffalo" Thursday night. The crowd that braved the rainy weather to turn out, healthy for a weekday night, was the recipient of a raw and honest eighty-minute set.
West covered a lot of ground in her time on stage, running the full range of her repertoire, from "Chariot's Rise", a song that played an integral part in the James Spader, Maggie Gayyenhall film "The Secretary", to the whimsical "Sparty", written for one of the two dogs that has toured with the pair over the years.
"Chariots" was in particular memorable, performed this time with an essentially unreleased set of lyrics and a deep emotion reflective of the personal nature of the song. Also of note was her rendering of "Take These Demons", a new song from her most recent effort, "I Pledge Allegiance to Myself" which was released last year. The coffee house environment offered by Sangha clearly appealed to West as she played, and she interacted with those present numerous times, even taking a list of requests once her initial set had finished.
West currently splits her time between upstate New York and Columbia, Missouri, moving back and forth every few months, touring the cities along the way in between. She heads to Louisville next, and then on to her self-described "spring residency" in the midwest. For those who missed it, West will return to the area this May as part of her "Midwest Tumbleweed Roadshow".
Michael Horlick
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.
Host, Audience, Venue Review: Maryland, March 1st, 2007
Overall Show Rating: 9/10
Hosts: (10/10) We were invited to come to Maryland by Michael and Liz Horlick. They suggested the venue and offered to host us. They were amazing hosts. We arrived (at 10:00pm Wed night) to Tibetan flags being blowing in the breeze of their front yard. They cooked for us, gave us their own master bedroom (they took the guest room), led us on walks through the local parks with the dogs, shared their brains and extensive knowledge of Mythology and Linguistics, and made sure we were well rested for the show. They printed fliers and posters and spread them around town. They couldn't have been more gracious. The information they shared is going straight into my writing as I work on the novel. I, now, write from their sweet 1920's brick home just before we (me, Baba and The Dharma Dog) head for Louisville. This morning they gave is our own set of Tibetan Flags to hang at The Holy Road House in MO and blessed our travels with silk prayer scarves around our necks.
Venue: Sangha, Takoma Park, MD (10/10)
As soon as we arrived, Jennifer (the venue owner) greeted us with hugs. She made hot tea for us all. The venue is a Fair Trade Store with a stage in the back room and it sells all kinds of beautiful things that feed the collective mind and bring us into The Now. Jennifer lit candles and filled the room with love. The room seats about 30 happily but it can fit up to 150. The Dharma Dog was allowed to be with us in the venue and so, he made himself comfortable. He inspected all garbage cans. couches for sitting and found himself a pair of hand made nomadic Mongolian boots, made from hide, to eat. Much to his dismay, I discovered him before he did too much damage, bought the boots for 50 bucks and tried to find him some dinner (to his credit, he was legitimately hungry since I'd forgotten to feed him). Jennifer was an angel about it. I insisted she take the cash. The venue was a truly inspiring place to fly through the valleys of these songs and stories that we share. They gave us %100 of the door and %100 of Merchandise and so, we love them for that too.
Promotions: Poster was on the front door. Our wonderful hosts had spread posters and cards all around Takoma Park.
Opener: No Opener.
Sound: We did our own sound and provided our own PA, which means that the sound is limited but it does the trick and it's nice 'cause we're in control of the energy during set up. We don't have room to carry extra monitor speakers with us so that is always a draw back for us. A couple audience members told me the room sounded great overall.
Stage: The stage was nice, small, surrounded by paintings, love worn chairs were up close and personal. No piano.
Audience: (9/10) The show was about an hour and a half long. We started it off mellow 'cause the rain was coming down and the room felt quiet. By mid show, I was downing "The Tonic" and letting it loose, shaking it, with Baba ripping ragtime solos and we were screaming with the audience, "Look what they done to my world, They went and fucked it up, ma!" The Tonic was not passed around the room but a few folks did get some when I handed it off the stage to the front row. I feel bad about that today, I should have made sure to share it with the whole crowd. In Louisville, I will! Anyway, even without the tonic, they howled, they shouted with us, they sang softly, "tie a yellow ribbon 'round Takoma Park" and they answered "Now" whenever I reached for them with Eternity's question of Time. In short, they started out tame and possibly apathetic but they turned revivalist by the end. THey helped me remember to remind them to remember. Some of them said they had heard "19 Miles To Baghdad" on Democracy Now. It hit me, as we all sang "Look What They Done", that we were in DC and that it was important for us to be here, in this political town more often. I did wrestle with my beast through the show some. But it was Liz and Michael who upped the Audience rating and helped me out too, (they were the paper in the front row and they made sure my spirit won and the beast became the vessel for my voice. We all rode Home together. We got the key by the end and unlocked our clocks. That's good. Real good. I was the match and the air, but so was Liz, so was Baba, so was Michael. We all took to the fire pit, as evolutionaries committed to making a fire that would last 'till we were all back together again. Everyone else in the room agreed to be paper, easy dry kindling (especially Melissa and Sarah who sat to the right, on the couches). Jennifer and her Sangha friends were good dry logs that took to lighting well and promised to last 'till May. Liz and Michael and the rest of them know they can go to Sangha to get lit when they need it. We sold lots of cds and gave away tons of stickers. Howlelujah, friends, the time is now.
My performance: (9/10) Like I said, I started off in a wrestling match but the Joseph Cambell helped. Then, "Reaching For Light" got me lit enough to look for matches among us. They were there and they helped me. The rise of the rest is a blur until I downed "The Tonic" and shook it with "Look What They Done" but I think Chariots Rise may have been the first kicker for me and for all of us. I had a blast, so happy to win the wrestle and take the beast into that flight across The Divide. By the time I landed back on Earth, at the end of the show, bringing the key to the crowd, I know my own soul had successfuly traveled through Eternity's domain into The Now.
Baba: 10/10 His playing got the audience howling. He kept me clear and made sure I didn't lose the wrestle until it was clear we had won and were riding the beast together, through the glory and the fields of Now.
Set List Highlights: Chariots Rise, The Day We Met, Take These Demons, Reaching For Light, Long Live The Poet, Starfish Lullaby, Gently Bring Me Home and Look What They Done To My World!
Overall Show Rating: 9/10
Hosts: (10/10) We were invited to come to Maryland by Michael and Liz Horlick. They suggested the venue and offered to host us. They were amazing hosts. We arrived (at 10:00pm Wed night) to Tibetan flags being blowing in the breeze of their front yard. They cooked for us, gave us their own master bedroom (they took the guest room), led us on walks through the local parks with the dogs, shared their brains and extensive knowledge of Mythology and Linguistics, and made sure we were well rested for the show. They printed fliers and posters and spread them around town. They couldn't have been more gracious. The information they shared is going straight into my writing as I work on the novel. I, now, write from their sweet 1920's brick home just before we (me, Baba and The Dharma Dog) head for Louisville. This morning they gave is our own set of Tibetan Flags to hang at The Holy Road House in MO and blessed our travels with silk prayer scarves around our necks.
Venue: Sangha, Takoma Park, MD (10/10)
As soon as we arrived, Jennifer (the venue owner) greeted us with hugs. She made hot tea for us all. The venue is a Fair Trade Store with a stage in the back room and it sells all kinds of beautiful things that feed the collective mind and bring us into The Now. Jennifer lit candles and filled the room with love. The room seats about 30 happily but it can fit up to 150. The Dharma Dog was allowed to be with us in the venue and so, he made himself comfortable. He inspected all garbage cans. couches for sitting and found himself a pair of hand made nomadic Mongolian boots, made from hide, to eat. Much to his dismay, I discovered him before he did too much damage, bought the boots for 50 bucks and tried to find him some dinner (to his credit, he was legitimately hungry since I'd forgotten to feed him). Jennifer was an angel about it. I insisted she take the cash. The venue was a truly inspiring place to fly through the valleys of these songs and stories that we share. They gave us %100 of the door and %100 of Merchandise and so, we love them for that too.
Promotions: Poster was on the front door. Our wonderful hosts had spread posters and cards all around Takoma Park.
Opener: No Opener.
Sound: We did our own sound and provided our own PA, which means that the sound is limited but it does the trick and it's nice 'cause we're in control of the energy during set up. We don't have room to carry extra monitor speakers with us so that is always a draw back for us. A couple audience members told me the room sounded great overall.
Stage: The stage was nice, small, surrounded by paintings, love worn chairs were up close and personal. No piano.
Audience: (9/10) The show was about an hour and a half long. We started it off mellow 'cause the rain was coming down and the room felt quiet. By mid show, I was downing "The Tonic" and letting it loose, shaking it, with Baba ripping ragtime solos and we were screaming with the audience, "Look what they done to my world, They went and fucked it up, ma!" The Tonic was not passed around the room but a few folks did get some when I handed it off the stage to the front row. I feel bad about that today, I should have made sure to share it with the whole crowd. In Louisville, I will! Anyway, even without the tonic, they howled, they shouted with us, they sang softly, "tie a yellow ribbon 'round Takoma Park" and they answered "Now" whenever I reached for them with Eternity's question of Time. In short, they started out tame and possibly apathetic but they turned revivalist by the end. THey helped me remember to remind them to remember. Some of them said they had heard "19 Miles To Baghdad" on Democracy Now. It hit me, as we all sang "Look What They Done", that we were in DC and that it was important for us to be here, in this political town more often. I did wrestle with my beast through the show some. But it was Liz and Michael who upped the Audience rating and helped me out too, (they were the paper in the front row and they made sure my spirit won and the beast became the vessel for my voice. We all rode Home together. We got the key by the end and unlocked our clocks. That's good. Real good. I was the match and the air, but so was Liz, so was Baba, so was Michael. We all took to the fire pit, as evolutionaries committed to making a fire that would last 'till we were all back together again. Everyone else in the room agreed to be paper, easy dry kindling (especially Melissa and Sarah who sat to the right, on the couches). Jennifer and her Sangha friends were good dry logs that took to lighting well and promised to last 'till May. Liz and Michael and the rest of them know they can go to Sangha to get lit when they need it. We sold lots of cds and gave away tons of stickers. Howlelujah, friends, the time is now.
My performance: (9/10) Like I said, I started off in a wrestling match but the Joseph Cambell helped. Then, "Reaching For Light" got me lit enough to look for matches among us. They were there and they helped me. The rise of the rest is a blur until I downed "The Tonic" and shook it with "Look What They Done" but I think Chariots Rise may have been the first kicker for me and for all of us. I had a blast, so happy to win the wrestle and take the beast into that flight across The Divide. By the time I landed back on Earth, at the end of the show, bringing the key to the crowd, I know my own soul had successfuly traveled through Eternity's domain into The Now.
Baba: 10/10 His playing got the audience howling. He kept me clear and made sure I didn't lose the wrestle until it was clear we had won and were riding the beast together, through the glory and the fields of Now.
Set List Highlights: Chariots Rise, The Day We Met, Take These Demons, Reaching For Light, Long Live The Poet, Starfish Lullaby, Gently Bring Me Home and Look What They Done To My World!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.
"Great art needs a great Audience..." -Walt Whitman
This is new. To review. I've started asking the audience to send reviews of our shows to me and I'll start posting them on this blog. I promise to do the same, start reviewing the audience, our generous holy road hosts, and the venues too. I want to make this agreement, to be here now and to talk about what we're experiencing and why. So here it is.... days are busy and the reality is shifting again, changing...staying in touch with it is a challenge, not drowning in it but growing with it. I have lots to do in Maryland today. Walk, write, rehearse, sound check and perform but I'm going to review the NY Show some and tomorrow I'll review the D.C. show. It's a balance, of course, and essential that you know, I do not come from a place of judgment. Whether you are reading this as a "fan", a Holy Road Tours Family Member, an "audience", a venue, or a Holy Road Host, I mean whatever I say as a friend of the evolution. I come from an honest place of hunger for the healing. It's about all of us aknowledging that we are, whether we like it or not, creating our reality and affecting eachother's worlds. From the moment I walk in the door, the experience begins defining itself. Is the sound man warm, happy to be where he is, has he researched the music he is about to manifest, does he take pride in his own art form, as a music lover, as a sound designer, as a creator of mood and function? Things like that...Okay, 'nough explaining. Here's the sharing, please write me your reviews of my reviews, the shows, the venues, and all the experiences we share. Thanks so much, my friends, for reminding me to remember to remind.
Venue: The Cutting Room, Feb 27th, '07
Overall Show Rating: 6/10
Promotions: We were not listed on the club calander inside the venue, no posters up and no fliers out.
Opener: We had not been told he was opening for us. He pushed our start time so that the show started 40 minutes late. An audience member told me he was not a good match for us, "too depressing" she said.
Sound: Chip was pretty brazen. Didn't seem inspired to be there. Didn't seem to care who I was or curious about the road I was traveling. He wanted to get us on and off stage as fast as possible. He seemed poisoned by the Zombie Town poison and he had a screen of apathy over his eyes. I introduced myself. He was polite but disinterested, just doing his job. That was my impression. anyway The sound had the same vibe. That said, the mix was decent and the monitors let me hear myself okay. Though the audience called, quietly, for an encore, Chip cut off the show.
Stage: The stage at The Cutting Room is nice and big. The grand piano was out of tune but we are always so thankful to have a piano that we hardly cared. Baba moved the drum set and made sure we got the best enviroment we could. It's a great space for me to dance and move around on. The lights are dramatic but it was hard for me to get Chip to shine them on the house enough (a requirement for me to have a happy show), so I could see the audience faces. By the third time I asked, he finally did it.
Audience: (5/10) I had some "Birth Family" there as well as "Earth Family." My nephew was sweet but he was also a little distracting during the ballads. The house was full of reserved love, like a hug from an arms length. When I asked, What Time Is It? Almost all of the audience answered "Now" which fed me when I needed it. It seemed like about 1/4 of them sang with us when I turned the mike around. Nice applause. No howling though. Overall.... it was not a revivalist audience but it was warm enough to keep the show moving. I am realizing that the audience and I are there together to start a fire which needs to keep us warm until the next time we are together or until the next time a "light exchange" happens. Here's my question? Who's the match? Who's the kindling? Who's the paper? Who's the blowing air? Who's the ember?
My performance: (6/10) I started off with "The Remembering Monologue" which I think scared the new yorkers a little. It was confusing for them and I don't think I delivered the "Remembrance " very well. I think, they didn't seem to understand why I was passing the "Dr. Tumbleweed's Anti-fear Tonic" around and they didn't realize why I was asking them to drink it. I don't think they made sure that everyone got some either, which is not good! In fact, one audience member told me she was reallly sad 'cause she didn't get any. In short, I worked hard to get the fire lit at this show and keep it lit. A little too hard. I was the match and the breeze and the paper this one. There was a great piece of paper and stick in the front row, (that was Alex), and in the middle of the room (couldn't see her face but I could feel her) and in the back of the room, there was a young man and woman willing to be the paper too. I loved talking to folks after. The woman who traveled acround the Eqautor (Monique), Margeaux, and Beth... they all made me feel as if I had lit them from within and so, I did my job and felt happy about that when I went to sleep Tuesday night.
Baba: 9/10 He was amazing, kept me growing throught he whole show and played like the genuis he is!
Set List Highlights: Universal Land Part I, Tumbleweed, Look What They Done, Starfish, Hallelujah, This Land Is Our Land, Little Boxes, Thank You.
This is new. To review. I've started asking the audience to send reviews of our shows to me and I'll start posting them on this blog. I promise to do the same, start reviewing the audience, our generous holy road hosts, and the venues too. I want to make this agreement, to be here now and to talk about what we're experiencing and why. So here it is.... days are busy and the reality is shifting again, changing...staying in touch with it is a challenge, not drowning in it but growing with it. I have lots to do in Maryland today. Walk, write, rehearse, sound check and perform but I'm going to review the NY Show some and tomorrow I'll review the D.C. show. It's a balance, of course, and essential that you know, I do not come from a place of judgment. Whether you are reading this as a "fan", a Holy Road Tours Family Member, an "audience", a venue, or a Holy Road Host, I mean whatever I say as a friend of the evolution. I come from an honest place of hunger for the healing. It's about all of us aknowledging that we are, whether we like it or not, creating our reality and affecting eachother's worlds. From the moment I walk in the door, the experience begins defining itself. Is the sound man warm, happy to be where he is, has he researched the music he is about to manifest, does he take pride in his own art form, as a music lover, as a sound designer, as a creator of mood and function? Things like that...Okay, 'nough explaining. Here's the sharing, please write me your reviews of my reviews, the shows, the venues, and all the experiences we share. Thanks so much, my friends, for reminding me to remember to remind.
Venue: The Cutting Room, Feb 27th, '07
Overall Show Rating: 6/10
Promotions: We were not listed on the club calander inside the venue, no posters up and no fliers out.
Opener: We had not been told he was opening for us. He pushed our start time so that the show started 40 minutes late. An audience member told me he was not a good match for us, "too depressing" she said.
Sound: Chip was pretty brazen. Didn't seem inspired to be there. Didn't seem to care who I was or curious about the road I was traveling. He wanted to get us on and off stage as fast as possible. He seemed poisoned by the Zombie Town poison and he had a screen of apathy over his eyes. I introduced myself. He was polite but disinterested, just doing his job. That was my impression. anyway The sound had the same vibe. That said, the mix was decent and the monitors let me hear myself okay. Though the audience called, quietly, for an encore, Chip cut off the show.
Stage: The stage at The Cutting Room is nice and big. The grand piano was out of tune but we are always so thankful to have a piano that we hardly cared. Baba moved the drum set and made sure we got the best enviroment we could. It's a great space for me to dance and move around on. The lights are dramatic but it was hard for me to get Chip to shine them on the house enough (a requirement for me to have a happy show), so I could see the audience faces. By the third time I asked, he finally did it.
Audience: (5/10) I had some "Birth Family" there as well as "Earth Family." My nephew was sweet but he was also a little distracting during the ballads. The house was full of reserved love, like a hug from an arms length. When I asked, What Time Is It? Almost all of the audience answered "Now" which fed me when I needed it. It seemed like about 1/4 of them sang with us when I turned the mike around. Nice applause. No howling though. Overall.... it was not a revivalist audience but it was warm enough to keep the show moving. I am realizing that the audience and I are there together to start a fire which needs to keep us warm until the next time we are together or until the next time a "light exchange" happens. Here's my question? Who's the match? Who's the kindling? Who's the paper? Who's the blowing air? Who's the ember?
My performance: (6/10) I started off with "The Remembering Monologue" which I think scared the new yorkers a little. It was confusing for them and I don't think I delivered the "Remembrance " very well. I think, they didn't seem to understand why I was passing the "Dr. Tumbleweed's Anti-fear Tonic" around and they didn't realize why I was asking them to drink it. I don't think they made sure that everyone got some either, which is not good! In fact, one audience member told me she was reallly sad 'cause she didn't get any. In short, I worked hard to get the fire lit at this show and keep it lit. A little too hard. I was the match and the breeze and the paper this one. There was a great piece of paper and stick in the front row, (that was Alex), and in the middle of the room (couldn't see her face but I could feel her) and in the back of the room, there was a young man and woman willing to be the paper too. I loved talking to folks after. The woman who traveled acround the Eqautor (Monique), Margeaux, and Beth... they all made me feel as if I had lit them from within and so, I did my job and felt happy about that when I went to sleep Tuesday night.
Baba: 9/10 He was amazing, kept me growing throught he whole show and played like the genuis he is!
Set List Highlights: Universal Land Part I, Tumbleweed, Look What They Done, Starfish, Hallelujah, This Land Is Our Land, Little Boxes, Thank You.
Reviews From The Road
Cutting Room performance - NYC
27 Feb 07
Dear Lizzie West,
i am moved to respond - to share my thoughts about your show - truly genuine, engaging performance - you are an unique fusion between janis joplin and bob dylan - i left last night speechless in the corridor of your light and poetry - thank YOU for being authentic, following your heart - being present in the NOW !!
octavio paz, so eloquently said, that 'each poetic adventure is distinct and each poet has sown a different plant in the miraculous forest of speaking trees.'
cheers to you and Baba Buffalo for spreading your love and joy - living your Holy Road quest - uncovering & planting seeds along the way !!
warmest regards,
monique stauder
27 Feb 07
Dear Lizzie West,
i am moved to respond - to share my thoughts about your show - truly genuine, engaging performance - you are an unique fusion between janis joplin and bob dylan - i left last night speechless in the corridor of your light and poetry - thank YOU for being authentic, following your heart - being present in the NOW !!
octavio paz, so eloquently said, that 'each poetic adventure is distinct and each poet has sown a different plant in the miraculous forest of speaking trees.'
cheers to you and Baba Buffalo for spreading your love and joy - living your Holy Road quest - uncovering & planting seeds along the way !!
warmest regards,
monique stauder
Reviews From The Road
Audience and Show Host Review, Cambridge Show In Feb, 2007:
Marla and Max Felcher were Holy Road Hosts. They invited us to Boston and hosted a concert in their wonderful home. It was one of my favorite shows I've ever performed. Their show hosting was ideal in that they provided a full house, great food, and inspired a completely focused enviroment. The crowd howled, answered "Now!", sang and bellowed from the core of their Beings, they were a revival audience, Baba shined in perfect harmony, melody and time, the audience reminded us to keep reminding and remembering, folks bought a bunch of cds, everyone signed the e-mail list. We provided our own sound and Baba made it feel real good. In short, I give the Venue, The Hosts, and The Audience a 10/10. Hoowlelujah, the time is now and something good HAS begun!
From the Host:
"If there is a better way to spend a cold winter evening in Boston than listening to Lizzie and Baba play in my living room, I certainly can't think of it. From the moment the duo played their first note, the thirty friends who had gathered in my living room for a house concert were smitten and transfixed. Remember a time in our country when people took a heartfelt stand for what they believed? We need people like Lizzie and Baba to remind of us that time, to bring that time to NOW, and to leave us with a sense of hope. Thank you guys, for an evening of beautiful music, and hope."
Marla and Max Felcher were Holy Road Hosts. They invited us to Boston and hosted a concert in their wonderful home. It was one of my favorite shows I've ever performed. Their show hosting was ideal in that they provided a full house, great food, and inspired a completely focused enviroment. The crowd howled, answered "Now!", sang and bellowed from the core of their Beings, they were a revival audience, Baba shined in perfect harmony, melody and time, the audience reminded us to keep reminding and remembering, folks bought a bunch of cds, everyone signed the e-mail list. We provided our own sound and Baba made it feel real good. In short, I give the Venue, The Hosts, and The Audience a 10/10. Hoowlelujah, the time is now and something good HAS begun!
From the Host:
"If there is a better way to spend a cold winter evening in Boston than listening to Lizzie and Baba play in my living room, I certainly can't think of it. From the moment the duo played their first note, the thirty friends who had gathered in my living room for a house concert were smitten and transfixed. Remember a time in our country when people took a heartfelt stand for what they believed? We need people like Lizzie and Baba to remind of us that time, to bring that time to NOW, and to leave us with a sense of hope. Thank you guys, for an evening of beautiful music, and hope."
Marla Felcher
Cambridge, MA
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