getting back into things

Oops...

After an almost 3 month break I am pretty much ready to blog/mail again.

To those who have been emailing about my silence, texting for tips and plain old-fashioned asking me if I'm going to take it back up - well, hello again I did it.

By way of brief explanation and excuse - for the first month I was just enjoying spending a little more time reading and I saved myself for a blowout at the electric picnic where I heard a good bit though George Clinton & P-Funkadelic was all that really took my socks off. Then I had a briefish stint doing backing vocals with Brian Deady & his evolving band which was alot of fun and is getting on great, though I wasn't the lady for the job I'm afraid - a knock to the ego, but hey. I cheered myself up ith a season ticket to the Film Festival and the last few weeks have been about getting ready for the jazz festival, getting back into learning bass after a lazy summer and just surfing the music scene I guess...

My main reason for not taking things back up though was a feeling that I'm not managing what I set out to do. I really hoped that by passing on the info about all this great music happening under our noses a lot of readers/gig-goers would start trying out more types of music and support all the artists and producers and that I'd meet ye all at unexpected gigs - which yeah, happened a bit, but not as much as I'd hoped I guess. It's nice that people say "I really enjoyed your mail this week even though I didn't get to any of it" but well, it kind of got me down too.

Those mails can take ages! Surfing to make sure I know what's to choose from, then look up and listen to the people I haven't heard of, try and work out how to express the good stuff so you will want to go as much as I do and finally working out the formatting and stupid stuff... I don't like being whingey, but it was good to take a break. So now I'm going to try and come full circle. I am planning to take a break from gig-going so I can keep reading and getting to grips with the world outside music (I had no idea how fast things had deteriorated while I was growing up and we are living in times of such change my first love music is kind of put into perspective) - but my plan is to spend some of the extra time I have to list the gigs that I would go to in the hopes that you'll take my place at them and tell me how they were.

Sounds a bit pointless/crazy? Well if it doesn't work I'm sure I'll thing of something else.

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The tips bit

There's not a whole lot of music in it but I really enjoyed the Irish premiere of Itsoseng (click for info) tonight. Not only is it a captivating performance, entertaining and really 'important' but it came along bang right when I'm reading the section on South Africa in Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine and it gives a real insight into life there in the last 15 years since the ANC wrested nominal power from the capitalist establishment (but had their hands so tied their commitments had no chance). And boy is it nice to see a great international show in town outside of a festival! Please support it! It's showing at the Everyman Palace every night until Sunday ie. Weds 29 - Sat 1st Nov, definitely worth stirring out after the jazz festival for.

Tomorrow (probably today when you read this) Wednesday October 29th I'm going to see Micah P Hinson who I didn't have the head for at the Electric Pincnic - I've become a big fan of his recordings though, kind of rough dark poetic folkish stuff... he's in Cyprus Avenue.


John O'Brien's production featuring Karen Underwood as Nina Simone I've heard is really great - back in the Half Moon Theatre on Saturday night at 9.30 ... I had a nice few minutes with the great Simone during the jazz festival thanks to a video screen, God what a pianist she was. The show's called The Nina in Me, a bit steep at €26 maybe but quality by all accounts.

And that's all you're getting from me this week but a few parish notices for musicians and artist-folk in general.

First, if you haven't checked out www.mutantspace.ie join the community and get collaborating...

Secondly, here's a thing - BOUTIQUE BULESQUE SEEKS PERFORMANCE & VISUAL ARTISTS

After three sell-out shows this year, Boutique Burlesque (www.myspace.com/boutiqueburlesque) is taking place again on Wed. 26th of November in Cork's Crane Lane Theatre. Having developed the popular burlesque-themed club nights into a platform for new work, its organisers are now looking for artists interested in showcasing on the night. Previous gigs have featured as many as 25 performers/artists (musicians, dancers, comedians,
puppeteers, walkabout characters and visual artists) on a single night, and they are currently welcoming new applications to add to their programme.

Do you have something you are working on? Does the burlesque & cabaret theme inspire you? And would you like to test your show / performance / walkabout character / installation / work with a live audience?

Please contact Joya on:
E: boutiqueburlesque@gmail.com

T: 085 7770969
W: www.myspace.com/boutiqueburlesque


and finally

THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE FOR MUSICIANS
Introductory Workshop
Firkin Crane Theatre, Shandon, Cork
Sunday 16. November @ 1pm – 5:30pm
Cost 50,-Euro
To book a place please ring 087-9584232 or email kathryn.doehner@gmail.com

The Alexander Technique forms a part of the professional practice of thousands of musicians worldwide and is an integral part of training at all leading music & drama teaching institutions around the globe. Practising the Alexander Technique, efficiency and freedom in movement are achieved minimising stress and strain often associated with music making.

Most musicians at some stage in their life experience some physical pain, tension in performance, stage fright or other anxiety, which can limit the playing of their instruments to the best of their ability.

In the long term professional musicians are just as likely to be permanently sidelined by an injury as professional football players. And amateur musicians are not immune from pain and injury either.During the workshop participants will become more aware of the structure and function of the body as it applies to playing music, learning how to make changes to become free of pain and injury.

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