Lady Vagabond checks in, with pretty photos
My voice is on vacation today. She did leave me some warning that she was leaving, but I have to be a very nonverbal pixie today and tomorrow if she's going to be back by Thursday's show in Chicago. Please do not call, or if you must, please be happy to speak with omnisti and not with me.
This past weekend gave me a very colorful trip through brand-new territory. This afternoon I write from sunny, gorgeous Clear Lake, Wisconsin, which is full of trees and hummingbirds. omnisti and I are taking a rest day so that I can get my voice back. Tomorrow we head south to Chicago, unless I'm still not talking, in which case we'll stay put and head down on Wednesday.
Only a week ago we were in Seattle.
Last Tuesday we departed the Northwest and had a lovely, day-long drive to Boise, where we crashed with new friends Annie and Dan and their household. We slept beside a tiny and impressive working wood stove (a treat for me), and in the morning, I discovered Beannacht by John O'Donahue tacked onto Annie's bathroom wall. I remember now with a smile that I purchased the late author's book Anam Cara at Horizon Books in Capitol Hill last summer and have yet to read it. Now I just have to figure out where in the country I left it to wait for me. Could be Redmond, could be Colorado Springs, could be Mom's in Arkansas.
On Wednesday, from Boise we drove to Salt Lake City, where we completely failed to steal a visit with any of our friends in town. We stopped there for the night and pushed on across Wyoming and into Nebraska through Thursday, enjoying the high open country, blue sky, and crafty prairie dogs at Wyoming rest areas who run a serious game of being cute and thereby getting fed by all who stop in.
We arrived under the stars Thursday night at the Kearney (pronounced Karny) Nebraska home of kittenpants and khryseos , who proceeded to feed us within an inch of our lives and introduce me to their lovely soaking tub. We slept on bamboo cloth sheets, and let me just say: forget satin, people. Bamboo is where it's at. I am a fan. I woke on Friday to the song of the wind teasing the corners and window edges of the house, to see green grasses dancing across soft hills for miles and miles. After much too short a visit and a breakfast of home-made bread and spiced honey, we were off to Lincoln, Nebraska, to see and to sing at the home of scarletandjade and her Joe.
Our beautiful house concert crowd in Lincoln was 80% belly dance hotness (which is never a problem. Ladies, you warm my heart and make me glad to keep the tribal company I do. Also, you make me long to settle somewhere and study dance again. The time will come), 20% various flavors of geek awesome, and 100% fabulous. There was steak, there was cheese cake of omg, there was laughter. Thanks to everyone who came to listen. Thanks also to Murphy's Magic Mess on the air for helping spread the word!
Friday's setlist:
RAVENS IN THE LIBRARY
GIRL WITH THE LION'S TAIL (new song, for Lucia in Palimpsest. mp3 coming soon to the Quartered download page.)
TAGLIO!
CAROUSEL
THE TRUTH ABOUT NINJAS
BAD APPLE LAMENT
EULOGY SONG
THE PIXIE CAN'T SLEEP
GODDESS
DON'T GET MY HOPES UP (new song, about love and appetites)
EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE (cover)
HYMN TO HERNE
NEPTUNE
TO MY VALENTINE
THINGS WE SAID TODAY/AIN'T NO SUNSHINE (cover)
ALLIGATOR IN THE HOUSE
There were many new faces in attendance on Friday night, as well as some folks I haven't been able to sing for in at least a year. It was good to be surrounded by love and light and Tribe in a new land, as it were.
On Saturday afternoon Jade and Joe invited me to come along to the (teensy tiny and adorable) JAV Renaissance Festival just outside of town, as Jade's belly dance school had a couple of performances. I went happily, glad for the chance for some fresh air and sunshine, and also to give my own attention and appreciation back to so many of the previous night's audience members and their sisters, as they danced in shade and sun in many layers of bright and mostly heavy costuming. Due to that invitation, I have renewed gratefulness for the fact that omnisti 's new packing system for our tours this year lets me have a costume suitcase as well as a suitcase for regular clothes. You get one guess as to which is the larger of the two. This was super-handy on Saturday, as I discovered that I cannot make myself go to Faire without dressing up, no matter what. I had several more than adequate options in my bag, and I ended up pulling out my blue corset and striped Moroccan cotton pants. Diving into my notorious bindi stash as well, so that I matched the girls at least a little, I pulled on boots, belt, and poi, and I was ready. Inbetween performances by the dancers, I made at least one friend just for having my poi with me. The weather was perfect and cool, (there was even a lull in the breeze for most of the swords-on-heads section) which meant that the dancers didn't die when they performed on the green, which was almost entirely in the sun.
The ladies were wild, lovely, and inspiring. Any dance performance with this much gorgeousness in it is impossible to ignore, with skill soaking every movement and bold jewel tones catching the light at every turn. I'm very glad to have tagged along. Jadelove, Joe, thank you both for everything.
...Jade stretches... ...and they're off!
Beautiful Sam is beautiful... Sam and Jade in the shade!
Off to the home of bryirfox in Omaha after that, for the second show of the weekend.
bryirfox graciously allowed me to take over her driveway and make it into a proper stage, with lights and sound gear and a handy tapestry which turned her Jeep into a backdrop. We had about ten sweet folks in attendance, including alexandraerin , whom I was delighted to see again. I have a new young fan named Nico, who was delighted to have me blow bubbles for him as pre-show entertainment. Once I got going, my small crowd got comfortable in the grass and made me feel perfectly welcome. The neighborhood definitely knew we were around. Two boys from the building across the street even joined us as long as they could, until they were called home. bryirfox and company saw to it that a wee fire in a portable fire pit was kept alive so that we all stayed reasonably thawed throughout the show. I played two short sets and unfortunately had to go inside and head up to bed almost immediately afterward, as I was feeling a bit under the weather all of a sudden. Sebastien the cat, a fine, friendly ebony fellow, kept me warm and kept me company for about half the night, and I was glad to have him. Kim, AE, Lynn, Sarah, Alex, Nico, and everyone else whose names I can't remember, thank you for coming! bryirfox , thank you for taking care of me.
Saturday's setlist:
DON'T GET MY HOPES UP
GIRL WITH THE LION'S TAIL
RAVENS IN THE LIBRARY
UPON FINDING MYSELF (cover)
THE PIXIE CAN'T SLEEP
CRYSTAL CAVE
BOGTAIN BLUES
APRIL FOOL'S DAY
WENDY ON BOARD
RED-HANDED JILL
THE DROWNING
GODDESS
ALLIGATOR IN THE HOUSE
Sunday we got up early and stumbled out of town to head north to Minnesota. I was feeling dreadful when I woke up, but as the day progressed I knew that I would at least be able to sing by evening. We arrived early, just after 3pm, in front of the Sacred Paths Center in St. Paul. Inside, we found a charming store front with an equally charming hostess - Teisha, together with her partner Paul and their two sweet and helpful daughters. Teisha and family helped us load in and set up, conjuring snacks out of thin air and relocating an afternoon meeting to another space in the building so that I could get to know the performance space and we could get everything where we wanted it with plenty of time.
Setup time before shows is a luxury I covet. When I get it, I almost always am more relaxed and confident during the show itself. Sometimes we forget to explain to people that the concert can't start on time if we don't get a chance to see where I'll be singing and put the equipment together, etc, well before showtime. Teisha and crew are angels, and I thank them for being so sweet, so cheerful, and so flexible. I know that I put on the best show I possibly could have last night as a result of my hosts' kindness.
The show in St. Paul last night was definitely the crown jewel of the weekend for me. The Sacred Paths Center is a fabulous place. It was packed too, my first time ever in the state of Minnesota, which means I may have to perform somewhere larger when I get back. Always bittersweet, but a huge compliment and victory, nonetheless. The crowd was warm and welcoming, with even a few brave dancing souls in it; made of Storytellers, crafty women, and smiling faces. I couldn't have asked for better. Special thanks to Teisha, Nels, and Judy for making it happen and doing 95% of the getting the word out, as well as for feeding two weary travelers. Special thanks to Paul for giving me a quiet place to rest afterwards. Special thanks to everyone who came (Elyse, Mike, Mary, everyone) for making my night. I will see you again.
Sunday's setlist:
FOR LOVE OF ALL WHO GATHER/WITCH'S RUNE
GODDESS
SNAKE STAR SONG (with backline)
MUMMY MEDUSA (half-step down from recorded version)
DAUGHTER OF THE GLADE
TAGLIO!
HYMN TO HERNE (with Judy's gorgeous djembe - buy drums from Nels, you guys, seriously)
THE DROWNING
FIREBIRD'S CHILD (again, using Judy's sweet drum)
GO AWAY, GODBOY! (reggae version) (by now I knew that my voice was in trouble)
RAVENS IN THE LIBRARY
RABBIT'S SONG
IN THE HOUSE OF MAMA DRAGON
ALLIGATOR IN THE HOUSE
BOGTAIN BLUES
THE PIXIE CAN'T SLEEP
COME TO THE LABYRINTH/FOR LOVE OF ALL WHO GATHER REPRISE
I should have stopped the show somewhere around 'Godboy' and saved my throat. But I didn't. As a singer, this was the worst possible choice. As a Bard, perhaps not.
Something about singing for a crowd that really gets it, that seems to really need the energy I'm giving, will make me keep singing until I just can't anymore. This is what happened yesterday.
I'm paying for it now, sitting here with absolutely no voice to speak of. But I have emergen-C in one hand, apple juice in the other, and if I don't nap first, I'm going to take a walk in the fresh air which will hopefully help me recover, too. I am being very quiet, because I'm not going to Chicago, or to WisCon shortly thereafter, with no voice. She'll come back.
In the meantime, properly focused healing energy is always welcome from those of you who have it to spare. I'd call and ask you directly, but that whole not being able to talk thing is preventing me from doing so, alas.
It was worth it. It will always be worth it, to do the work that I do and give what I have to give. All will be well.
Thanks, everyone, for an intense and amazing weekend.
This past weekend gave me a very colorful trip through brand-new territory. This afternoon I write from sunny, gorgeous Clear Lake, Wisconsin, which is full of trees and hummingbirds. omnisti and I are taking a rest day so that I can get my voice back. Tomorrow we head south to Chicago, unless I'm still not talking, in which case we'll stay put and head down on Wednesday.
Only a week ago we were in Seattle.
Last Tuesday we departed the Northwest and had a lovely, day-long drive to Boise, where we crashed with new friends Annie and Dan and their household. We slept beside a tiny and impressive working wood stove (a treat for me), and in the morning, I discovered Beannacht by John O'Donahue tacked onto Annie's bathroom wall. I remember now with a smile that I purchased the late author's book Anam Cara at Horizon Books in Capitol Hill last summer and have yet to read it. Now I just have to figure out where in the country I left it to wait for me. Could be Redmond, could be Colorado Springs, could be Mom's in Arkansas.
On Wednesday, from Boise we drove to Salt Lake City, where we completely failed to steal a visit with any of our friends in town. We stopped there for the night and pushed on across Wyoming and into Nebraska through Thursday, enjoying the high open country, blue sky, and crafty prairie dogs at Wyoming rest areas who run a serious game of being cute and thereby getting fed by all who stop in.
We arrived under the stars Thursday night at the Kearney (pronounced Karny) Nebraska home of kittenpants and khryseos , who proceeded to feed us within an inch of our lives and introduce me to their lovely soaking tub. We slept on bamboo cloth sheets, and let me just say: forget satin, people. Bamboo is where it's at. I am a fan. I woke on Friday to the song of the wind teasing the corners and window edges of the house, to see green grasses dancing across soft hills for miles and miles. After much too short a visit and a breakfast of home-made bread and spiced honey, we were off to Lincoln, Nebraska, to see and to sing at the home of scarletandjade and her Joe.
Our beautiful house concert crowd in Lincoln was 80% belly dance hotness (which is never a problem. Ladies, you warm my heart and make me glad to keep the tribal company I do. Also, you make me long to settle somewhere and study dance again. The time will come), 20% various flavors of geek awesome, and 100% fabulous. There was steak, there was cheese cake of omg, there was laughter. Thanks to everyone who came to listen. Thanks also to Murphy's Magic Mess on the air for helping spread the word!
Friday's setlist:
RAVENS IN THE LIBRARY
GIRL WITH THE LION'S TAIL (new song, for Lucia in Palimpsest. mp3 coming soon to the Quartered download page.)
TAGLIO!
CAROUSEL
THE TRUTH ABOUT NINJAS
BAD APPLE LAMENT
EULOGY SONG
THE PIXIE CAN'T SLEEP
GODDESS
DON'T GET MY HOPES UP (new song, about love and appetites)
EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE (cover)
HYMN TO HERNE
NEPTUNE
TO MY VALENTINE
THINGS WE SAID TODAY/AIN'T NO SUNSHINE (cover)
ALLIGATOR IN THE HOUSE
There were many new faces in attendance on Friday night, as well as some folks I haven't been able to sing for in at least a year. It was good to be surrounded by love and light and Tribe in a new land, as it were.
On Saturday afternoon Jade and Joe invited me to come along to the (teensy tiny and adorable) JAV Renaissance Festival just outside of town, as Jade's belly dance school had a couple of performances. I went happily, glad for the chance for some fresh air and sunshine, and also to give my own attention and appreciation back to so many of the previous night's audience members and their sisters, as they danced in shade and sun in many layers of bright and mostly heavy costuming. Due to that invitation, I have renewed gratefulness for the fact that omnisti 's new packing system for our tours this year lets me have a costume suitcase as well as a suitcase for regular clothes. You get one guess as to which is the larger of the two. This was super-handy on Saturday, as I discovered that I cannot make myself go to Faire without dressing up, no matter what. I had several more than adequate options in my bag, and I ended up pulling out my blue corset and striped Moroccan cotton pants. Diving into my notorious bindi stash as well, so that I matched the girls at least a little, I pulled on boots, belt, and poi, and I was ready. Inbetween performances by the dancers, I made at least one friend just for having my poi with me. The weather was perfect and cool, (there was even a lull in the breeze for most of the swords-on-heads section) which meant that the dancers didn't die when they performed on the green, which was almost entirely in the sun.
The ladies were wild, lovely, and inspiring. Any dance performance with this much gorgeousness in it is impossible to ignore, with skill soaking every movement and bold jewel tones catching the light at every turn. I'm very glad to have tagged along. Jadelove, Joe, thank you both for everything.
...Jade stretches... ...and they're off!
Beautiful Sam is beautiful... Sam and Jade in the shade!
Off to the home of bryirfox in Omaha after that, for the second show of the weekend.
bryirfox graciously allowed me to take over her driveway and make it into a proper stage, with lights and sound gear and a handy tapestry which turned her Jeep into a backdrop. We had about ten sweet folks in attendance, including alexandraerin , whom I was delighted to see again. I have a new young fan named Nico, who was delighted to have me blow bubbles for him as pre-show entertainment. Once I got going, my small crowd got comfortable in the grass and made me feel perfectly welcome. The neighborhood definitely knew we were around. Two boys from the building across the street even joined us as long as they could, until they were called home. bryirfox and company saw to it that a wee fire in a portable fire pit was kept alive so that we all stayed reasonably thawed throughout the show. I played two short sets and unfortunately had to go inside and head up to bed almost immediately afterward, as I was feeling a bit under the weather all of a sudden. Sebastien the cat, a fine, friendly ebony fellow, kept me warm and kept me company for about half the night, and I was glad to have him. Kim, AE, Lynn, Sarah, Alex, Nico, and everyone else whose names I can't remember, thank you for coming! bryirfox , thank you for taking care of me.
Saturday's setlist:
DON'T GET MY HOPES UP
GIRL WITH THE LION'S TAIL
RAVENS IN THE LIBRARY
UPON FINDING MYSELF (cover)
THE PIXIE CAN'T SLEEP
CRYSTAL CAVE
BOGTAIN BLUES
APRIL FOOL'S DAY
WENDY ON BOARD
RED-HANDED JILL
THE DROWNING
GODDESS
ALLIGATOR IN THE HOUSE
Sunday we got up early and stumbled out of town to head north to Minnesota. I was feeling dreadful when I woke up, but as the day progressed I knew that I would at least be able to sing by evening. We arrived early, just after 3pm, in front of the Sacred Paths Center in St. Paul. Inside, we found a charming store front with an equally charming hostess - Teisha, together with her partner Paul and their two sweet and helpful daughters. Teisha and family helped us load in and set up, conjuring snacks out of thin air and relocating an afternoon meeting to another space in the building so that I could get to know the performance space and we could get everything where we wanted it with plenty of time.
Setup time before shows is a luxury I covet. When I get it, I almost always am more relaxed and confident during the show itself. Sometimes we forget to explain to people that the concert can't start on time if we don't get a chance to see where I'll be singing and put the equipment together, etc, well before showtime. Teisha and crew are angels, and I thank them for being so sweet, so cheerful, and so flexible. I know that I put on the best show I possibly could have last night as a result of my hosts' kindness.
The show in St. Paul last night was definitely the crown jewel of the weekend for me. The Sacred Paths Center is a fabulous place. It was packed too, my first time ever in the state of Minnesota, which means I may have to perform somewhere larger when I get back. Always bittersweet, but a huge compliment and victory, nonetheless. The crowd was warm and welcoming, with even a few brave dancing souls in it; made of Storytellers, crafty women, and smiling faces. I couldn't have asked for better. Special thanks to Teisha, Nels, and Judy for making it happen and doing 95% of the getting the word out, as well as for feeding two weary travelers. Special thanks to Paul for giving me a quiet place to rest afterwards. Special thanks to everyone who came (Elyse, Mike, Mary, everyone) for making my night. I will see you again.
Sunday's setlist:
FOR LOVE OF ALL WHO GATHER/WITCH'S RUNE
GODDESS
SNAKE STAR SONG (with backline)
MUMMY MEDUSA (half-step down from recorded version)
DAUGHTER OF THE GLADE
TAGLIO!
HYMN TO HERNE (with Judy's gorgeous djembe - buy drums from Nels, you guys, seriously)
THE DROWNING
FIREBIRD'S CHILD (again, using Judy's sweet drum)
GO AWAY, GODBOY! (reggae version) (by now I knew that my voice was in trouble)
RAVENS IN THE LIBRARY
RABBIT'S SONG
IN THE HOUSE OF MAMA DRAGON
ALLIGATOR IN THE HOUSE
BOGTAIN BLUES
THE PIXIE CAN'T SLEEP
COME TO THE LABYRINTH/FOR LOVE OF ALL WHO GATHER REPRISE
I should have stopped the show somewhere around 'Godboy' and saved my throat. But I didn't. As a singer, this was the worst possible choice. As a Bard, perhaps not.
Something about singing for a crowd that really gets it, that seems to really need the energy I'm giving, will make me keep singing until I just can't anymore. This is what happened yesterday.
I'm paying for it now, sitting here with absolutely no voice to speak of. But I have emergen-C in one hand, apple juice in the other, and if I don't nap first, I'm going to take a walk in the fresh air which will hopefully help me recover, too. I am being very quiet, because I'm not going to Chicago, or to WisCon shortly thereafter, with no voice. She'll come back.
In the meantime, properly focused healing energy is always welcome from those of you who have it to spare. I'd call and ask you directly, but that whole not being able to talk thing is preventing me from doing so, alas.
It was worth it. It will always be worth it, to do the work that I do and give what I have to give. All will be well.
Thanks, everyone, for an intense and amazing weekend.