Untitled

Well once again, what a weekend! 

Another weekend made wonderful by Enchanted Burlesque. What is Enchanted Burlesque, I hear you say. 

 Enchanted Burlesque is happiness. It is a company? Shows? run by the wonderfully lovely Angel and James LaVey. Showcasing the very best acts in beautiful Birmingham theatres. And hell do you get a lot of bang for your buck. £18 for a full evening of fantastic talent. Though I think my favorite thing about these shows is the people you meet.  Everyone will talk to you and they are all lovely people. This doesn’t happen in many other places.

http://www.enchantedburlesque.com/

This show was a first for our friend Phil, a football fan that likes everything manly. He agreed to come with us but he was still unsure. He laughed the hardest out of all of us. He wants to join us again at Enchanted Burlesque and Joe Black shows.

Phils first show

Performers

Joe Black

Terms of Unnervement

Mister Meredith.

singing along

Got seats in the front row

Phil was terrified that he was going to be picked on

the feeling afterward

the sunday feeling

So I have had a right weekend of it! Traveling all over the country, well… to London and Birmingham.A long time ago… When I bought my tickets… this seemed like a completely plausable idea. But after getting up at 9am on Friday and boarding a train where for the whole two hour journey a child poked my Coraline tattoo in an intrigued manner, while brandishing a pair of rather sharp looking scissors in the other hand… Now it may just be me…. But I don’t think picking a fight with a child that has a weapon is a good idea… Hmm.

I met one of my best friends from home in London and we spent the day wondering around Camden Market… I can’t quite think of a better way to spend an afternoon. We got to The Jamboree half an hour early from my rather wonderful route remembering skills ^_^ And bought a bottle of beer each at the shop and sat outside, listening to the sound check. (After using a cash machine that had a language selection; English or Cockney, list… May have nearly cried with happiness.) Stocked up with two glasses of wine we sat on the floor in front of the stage… and I must say, that is one of my favorite things about attending gigs like this… People do not give a toss what you do. They don’t judge it.

Joe Black’s set was as hillarious and impressive as ever. And he gave me the set list after. Which is now proudly stuck to my bedroom wall. The show really took Sarah under its wing. Last time we saw him together she didn’t quite understand the appeal. But was sat enthralled by every song this time. A wonderful thing to see. ^_^

Some people, seem to be under the notion that my love of Joe Black is not for his music or the feeling of finally finding where I can be myself. But that I am trying to convince him that we need to be married immediatly and live in a cottage in Spain. Which is not the case. Not every kind of respect for someone that is entertainment has to be of that nature, for example, my Rev tattoo. That got so many reactions of ‘You only got it cos you fancied him.’ Which was not the case… I didn’t. I simply admired who he was, how he treated others and his contributions to art and the way that affected my teenage years.

I have a boyfriend, who I love more than I ever thought I was capable of. Surely that would secure my sanity enough?Only recently have my housemates accepted my taste in music and actually shown curiosity in attending a show with me. But better late than never.Bitter Ruin played one of their new songs. and as with every time I have heard it, I had to put a lot of effort in to not crying. It was so beautiful and powerfully performed. They took part of their set outside and everyone sang along to the songs performed, it was a truly incredible gig moment, out in the beautiful summers evening.When the evening came to a close, We went to look at merch, (and as I already own everything, I bought one of the new tshirts. ) I got my Vile Volumes and all of my Bitter Ruin cds signed ^_^And we had our obligatory gig photo taken, but in a rather victorian family portrait style, so we may keep it fresh. :P  

We got talking to a couple we had seen during the evening and tried our very first Absinthe.They were really lovely, as may be expected from the people that attend shows like that. And as locals they got us safely back to Euston station. Many thanks to you both :)Although I had to sit outside Euston for 2 and a half hours, as mine was the first morning train at 5.30am..The journey back wasn’t that bad… it stopped, EVERYWHERE, but I got back in to Cov at 8.30…. Had a well deserved nap and started preparing for my night at Enchanted Burlesques show at the Asylum 2. A place to which I had never been and only really realised that I had never been too 5 minutes before getting the train… Though I did okay… and turned up half an hour odd early. ^_^  James put my mind at ease about turning up to two shows, as most people were like;

”Two….. In…….. in two nights??’I was really nervous at first, as I had gone on my own. And although I do quite enjoy going to shows on my own, as my enjoyment will never be tainted by others if they don’t like it. And I am quite happy to travel alone, it was scary. But I settled in quickly and sat on the floor in front of the stage with out a worry for what others would think.

Drag were good, but not really my scene, I could understand the appeal though and took some videos to send to others.

As he had claimed at the London show, Joe changed outfit and set list :P And played Emotional Weeble, which I asked if he would after being asked if there was anything I wished to hear.

All of the songs were very well performed and I watched the faces of a group I had over heard saying, that they had never even heard of him before. They were all grinning like idiots and laughing. It was a lovely thing to see, by the middle of the set everyone had relaxed in to it and the atmosphere was fantastic.  Enchanted Burlesque always promise to be fantastic and they definitely are. A night of fun, friendliness and talent, every time with out fail. As my music taste is gaining support from friends, I am slowly drifting them towards attending E.Burlesques October show with me.Could it change how they treat their freedom as it did for me?Let’s wait and see!  

Gosh! Well where the hell do I start!

Once again, had an absolutely incredible night last night seeing Mister Joe Black in London.

I have been waiting for this gig for so long, as I ordered a ticket as soon as they were released.

 

Getting ready was when it struck me, that going to London, On my own, was actually quite scary.

Wearing a dress I had made out of a duvet cover and carrying a Ukulele… I wasn’t exactly going to blend in. So my thoughts were not ‘YEYEYEYEYEYEYEYEYEY.’ But ‘I’m gunna die. I’m gunna die. I’m gunna die.’’

I braved the train into London and the underground like a true commuter… Not talking to anyone.

I got to Cable Street from the station… and started walking down it.

After 10 minutes I felt like it had all been a massive troll.….

20 minutes and I found a corner shop. (After bravely walking past four groups of bloody terrifying looking London Gangsta’s.) I asked the owner if he knew where the Jamboree was, as he was on the same street. And he told me I had to keep going for another half mile. (When I find you shop man… I am going to throw Satsuma’s at you. ¬¬) I thanked him and left…. Another 20 minutes and I got to a new road. I now wanted to cry.

I saw a pub called The Artful Dodger and went in to ask, with even the slightest hope that they would tell me the way. There were 10 people in the pub and they all rushed to help. Saying people had been in before asking after it and they weren’t going to give up until they had found it for me. They got it up on Google Maps and did a street view, which showed it was right near the station. And that I would do well to get back on the train to Limehouse as there was a station a minute up the road and it would save me being any later. (It was 8pm now.) I thanked them and left and got to the station to get a tap on the shoulder… two of them had followed me to give me my map back in case I got lost again.

Sending you all a Christmas card! I am not one for Christmas but you guys truly showed the best of human kindness, Thank you

Never have I been so pleased to find a venue. I rewarded myself with a glass of white wine and sat by the bar, soaking up the sheer incredibleness of the room. It was breathtakingly beautiful. So many pictures were taken simply of the walls!

THEY DIDN’T PLAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC!

I cannot stress how much that pleased me, after being bombarded with the sodding stuff for months everywhere I go.

They did play ‘You’re a mean one Mr Grinch.’ But that is acceptable, as the song and story is rad and the only way to celebrate Christmas.

I had never heard of Izzy Cox before and had no idea what to expect. She was incredible. I couldn’t get her cd’s soon enough. She had the sharp wit and soft charm to be able to sing songs of serial killers and seem like someone you would want to leave your kids with. One to search ladies and gents. Asap.

 

Joe Black, Amazingly funny set. No one covers Brittany Spears as well as he. Everyone was in stitches and once again, he had immediately endeared himself. He played songs off of the new album which was fantastic as I haven’t been able to stop listening to it since its release.

   Honestly, I don’t think there are words to describe a Joe Black show. It’s a feeling. You don’t think about all the things that are bothering you, or even where you are. You’re just happy. In the true sense of the word and always leave with a refreshed view on the world.. His whole set was flawless with a talent for musicianship well beyond his years.

  I took as many pictures as I could and quite a few videos which are on my Youtube account;

http://www.youtube.com/user/stephiola/videos

Photos on my Facebook;

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.291379244239354.66761.100001018413489&type=3

After his set I went over to get my Ukulele signed. And with a squeal of excitement, he did, it looks so awesome.He also wrote the notes under the strings for me which shall help no end as I haven’t used it yet from being terrified of making it sound like a dying giraffe.

He taught me the chords for Coin Operated Boy by The Dresden Dolls and I recorded him doing it, so I could use it when I got home… but my camera only recorded 4 seconds of it!

FUCK YOU NIKON, FUCK YOU AND ALL THAT YOU STAND, SIT AND LIE DOWN FOR. L I hope you end up on a trampoline with angry cats…. I’ve NEVER been so gutted. :(

I left with a huge smile on my face though and just managed to catch the last train home.

I sat singing Bitter Ruin songs to myself with my headphones in. Which seemed to scare the people around me, but I was on too much of a natural high to care.

Every time I get out of a Joe Black show. I have restored faith in humanity, I am not so scared to like the things I do, Or dress the way I wish too, because it is what makes me happy. After the week I had had this was exactly what I needed. The perfect start to the Christmas break.

I cannot wait to make a start on my sleeve in the new year, based on the paintings of Victoria Frances, with all of my musical and artistic influences. Joe Black shall be the Ring master on my forearm. :)

And now with this renewed faith, I wish to say, to all of the people, that keep telling me that  an Art Degree is pointless, that art isn’t a career choice and my doing it can only mean I am stupid.

Fuck, you. =]

It is what I love. It is what I wish to do. I could easily get an office job like yourselves… earning lots of money and wishing I had a different job and more time. Or I could work hard on building up my portfolio and be doing photo shoots and making music videos. Being completely happy with what I have and actually living.

Following the crowd and admitting defeat on being who you are, who you want to be, may work for you. But I will not change myself to fit in. I like to consider myself a good person, I never hurt anybody intentionally or put myself ahead of my friends and family. If you are going to pass judgement on me, base it on who I am. Not what I wear, or my choice of study. That is dumb.

Thankyou Mister Joe Black for keeping my spirits up when I want to give in.

Thankyou for being a performer, Don’t stop until you have to! I cannot imagine a life without Joe Black shows.

This is living, This is music.

xx