Anti Valentine’s Day

What? You don’t like tiny polar bears with hearts sewn on their stomachs and 6 month old Russell Stover’s ? Well neither do I!!!! Thankfully there is an Anti Valentine’s Day show happening tonight. And guess what? They are gonna have a fucking FRUMPIES cover band!!!! There will also be bands covering songs by Babes in Toyland, Mika Miko, and X!!! Sounds like a blast.

TMI?

I recently did an interview for Collapse Board that made me think a lot about the difference between public and private, and what the line between the two means to me. Back in olden tymes, when I was a stripper, it was important that the character I was at work, and the customers I had, STAYED in the club, and that when I walked out, at 3am, my “real” life began.

In my life as a singer it’s always been kind of the opposite, I’ve WANTED  to be accessible to the people who come see me perform or listen to my music. Most people use this accessibility as an opportunity to connect in a meaningful way, though some use it as an invitation to be vicious, or demand that I meet their outrageous expectations. In the end though, the love and generosity this permeability has allowed me to experience has proved totally worth it. But for sure I am always searching for that perfect balance between being accessible as a performer and having “me time”.

For awhile I was doing interviews one after the other for days and even weeks at a stretch and found myself saying the same boring shit over and over. One of the reasons I was especially guarded was because I was living with someone who is kind of famous, and was super nervous if anyone ever asked me about our relationship. It just felt wrong to talk about it and like a line I didn’t want to cross.

And then something happened. I realized other performers were sharing intimate details about their lives on twitter and using their blogs to talk about things that were important to them. I also realized that there were times when I wanted to shout from the highest mountain how proud I am of my (now) husband, and it started feeling weird acting like we were strangers when I was asked about him.

So I got my shit together and started a website and a blog and have been uneasily trying to figure out my  relationship to this kind of thing ever since. And while I haven’t reached any overarching conclusions, I have decided that since I would rather read an interview with someone who is being honest, I should probably try to be more honest in interviews myself. Even when it makes me look like a fucking dork or gets me into trouble.

Thanks to Bianca for making my most recent one so enjoyable that I  just wanted to blab on and on, and of course, felt perfectly fine mentioning my wonderful partner in crime.

Okay now I’m Just Showing Off

This is a picture of me with two of my favorite artists of all time Neal Medlyn and Carmine Covelli (who I also play in a band with) . Many people have been asking us when our damn record will finally come out…which, don’t get me wrong, is awesome and flattering, but all I can say is we are not in the business of rushing things and realize that in the end, taking breaks from the band to do things like Carmine performing in Neal’s amazing show Wicked Clown Love (as a singing DJ/wrestler), Kenny continuing his busy schedule performing with fellow downtown luminaries like Taylor Mac,  Sara teaching at her very own guitar and drum school, Kathi working on some extra secret bizness , and you know, me sitting on the couch watching People’s Court and blogging…this may sound like we are slow pokes but in reality it is all adding to the excitement we have about what The Julie Ruin will soon be releasing. We’ve been working hard in our home studio everyday, in between People’s Court episodes of course, and things are definitely moving ahead.   On a sidenote, NYC and Brooklyn is having a total renaissance and some of the best art and performance is happening here, now….I am so honored to be surrounded by such amazing energy. Thanks to Murray for snapping this pic!

It was bound to happen someday

Seen at Strawberry’s by our on the scene reporter JD Samson

Best Best Ever Ever

Thanks to Everett True for bringing this to my attention.

More info here as well.

Wicked Clown Love

As mentioned in a previous post I was fortunate enough to design  the sets for Neal Medlyn’s latest opus Wicked Clown Love, What I didn’t mention is that this officially means that I also collaborated with one of my all time favorite visual artists, Larry Krone who not only designed the costumes but is also IN the show.  I am equally honored that the true juggalo family blogged about the event and seem as excited as I am about the show.  This is just ONE of the many costumes Larry made for the show. Prepare to lose your minds people.

Confused?

                            I am thrilled to have worked with Neal Medlyn on his latest show.

Snow Day

Esme Barrera

Esme Barrera was murdered in the early morning hours of New Years Day. She was a counselor at Austin’s Rock Camp for Girls, loved music and had a huge amount of devoted friends. I didn’t know her personally but was brought to tears by the many loving descriptions of her and wanted to let people know that her family has set up a blog to help them with funeral expenses if you would like to contribute. I can not imagine what they are going through. This is just absolutely heartbreaking. UPDATE

Okay Maryland Suburbs I still love you