TW: election.
I've been mostly on hiatus from social media for the last little while, but now that the election is done with, I know I can't just stay hidden and silent.
Because that would give the haters a win. ;) Can't have that.
The following words are for any and all of my friends and fans worldwide who are struggling with fear, grief, numbness, or rage today, after the Presidential election here in the US. If this doesn't describe you, maybe you ought to sit with that for a while, and think on the reasons why. If this doesn't describe you, I urge you to attempt understanding and compassion if and when you encounter someone who is worried or upset about the election results.
Please stay strong.
Please please don’t give up, not ever.
We need each other’s light and colors now more than ever.
We need each other, and we have each other, and this has not changed.
Fellow women, my Queer tribe, my witches, my POC neighbors, my Muslim neighbors, I know right now it feels as if the bullies have knocked us down, or that they're going to very soon.
That just means that it'll be our turn again next.
The people who want us scared and divided forever are in for a bit of a shock.
I'm not saying you gotta start building the barricade, but I am saying that we already know how to fight for what we have and what we need and what we believe. We already have been. And wouldn't we rather fight and win than have it handed to us? Wouldn't we rather survive and thrive, out of love and/or spite?
Fellow women, my Queer tribe, my witches, my POC neighbors, my Muslim neighbors, I know right now it feels as if the bullies have knocked us down, or that they're going to very soon.
That just means that it'll be our turn again next.
The people who want us scared and divided forever are in for a bit of a shock.
I'm not saying you gotta start building the barricade, but I am saying that we already know how to fight for what we have and what we need and what we believe. We already have been. And wouldn't we rather fight and win than have it handed to us? Wouldn't we rather survive and thrive, out of love and/or spite?
I'm not saying to go pick a fight with your relatives or your neighbors. I'm saying stay woke, and remember that you're not alone, not ever. I'm saying that we need to be ready to give 'em hell. To speak up and speak out, to sing and to write and to paint and to create, and to keep on. To vote in the 2018 election, and every midterm and primary that comes along.
Get some rest, take a shower, eat something. When you're ready to stand again, there will always be a place for you. Freak the fuck out and THEN carry on, when you can.
And yes, I would die for all of you if it came to that. Over and over, for as long as it takes.
We are damn expensive player-characters, and in the words of the late great Drew Hayes, we get the experience points, like it or not.
I think we're all gonna have a LOT of XP to spend after the next few years together.
So be it. Get your character sheet.
saveours00j community helped save my booty. It's a very happy booty today, and I am shaking it for you right now. :DTwo of our beloved number are working on an anthology project together, and it falls under the pay-it-forward, make-it-better umbrella. At their request, I am boosting the signal here.
alexandraerin is accepting submissions for a chapbook! The chapbook will be available on a "pay-what-thou-wilt-shall-be-the-whole-opopelizbet, she who oft puts her injured-but-mighty shoulder to the grindstone to help so many others.Check out the post, send help, send love, send creativity! Thank you all so much. <3
- Current Location:The Snowy Banks of Timberlake
- Current Mood:
content - Current Music:see entry
Photo by
lordandrei :)- Current Location:KCMO
- Current Mood: content
- Current Music:see entry
I am breaking up with the word Gypsy.
It does not mean what I and many other poor fools wish it did.
I am so very sorry. I have done wrong, and I repent of my ignorance.
Those of you who have contacted me, thank you for doing so with such eloquence and kindness. From this point, I shall work to be certain that I deserve it.
In order to properly execute this breakup, I may ask you all for help. Here is what I would ask you to do if you are willing.
-Previously I have incorporated the word Gypsy into my bio, websites, taglines, and press releases. I have attempted to hunt down all of these instances and correct them, omitting the word. If you should run across at a web site or social media platform over which I may have direct control and you find it there, please contact me directly via email (and not in comments here, thank you, as I may not catch it) and let me know. For my sake please keep your message as civil as you can. You have my gratitude. sjtuckermusic at gmail dot com is the account I check most frequently.
-As of this moment I can think of only three pieces that I have written and released, and one that I've not written but have recorded and released, in which I used the word Gypsy in lyrics: "Lady Vagabond", "Taglio", "The Gaselli", and "Storm". If there's something I'm forgetting from my catalogue of songs that you know of, please contact me directly via email. See above.
-If you have thoughts on any of this that you wish to discuss with me directly, I want you to know that you will be utterly safe in doing so. My goal is to proceed from this point with respect and to do better- that means that anyone who contacts me about this issue who wishes their words to be kept private, for any reason, needn't worry. One of my many regrets connected with this is that of the people who've contacted me about my use of the word, only two have responded to me when I've written them in turn. The two follow-up conversations I've had have been indispensable, and I am very grateful for them. Please, please don't be afraid to talk to me. See above for my email address.
Let's all be civil in comments here, as I know that this is the kind of thing that can spark heated discussions. For my sake and for all, please be kind when you type. I promise to do the same.
I want you all to know that I am not doing this to get attention. I am not doing this to gain any increase in public opinion, number of likes/subscribers/followers/what-have-yo
Apart from this post, here is what I have done so far. There are many bright spots in this list.
-I have written new lyrics to replace the ones I composed in error. If and when I perform the songs of mine in which the word Gypsy appeared as written, I will perform them with these new lyrics or I will not perform them at all.
-Tricky Pixie will be back together again shortly, and we'll make time to have a similar discussion when we see each other again, about retiring or re-imagining other pieces in our repertoire (and aspects of our promo) that want correcting.
-Yesterday I located all of my audio backups from recording sessions over the years. This means that I have what I need to rerecord/re-edit "Lady Vagabond", "Storm", "The Gaselli" and "Taglio".
-I have disabled downloads and my own direct sales of "Lady Vagabond", "Storm", "The Gaselli", and "Taglio". It's going to take some time to get the songs pulled from iTunes, Amazon, and the bigger distribution companies. It may take even longer for me to replace them on future print runs of my CDs. But I am taking those steps.
-As mentioned above, I have worked to pull the word Gypsy from all promo efforts over which I have direct control. I will continue to work on this, and I will not use the word in my own promo in future.
Again, I have done wrong, and I apologize.
Thank you.
Jasmine Lunamadre asks the following: What mythological creature do you take the most inspiration from and why?
Kettle's on. Make yourselves comfortable.
We live in a world rich with stories. Magical or mythical creatures and folk have always fascinated me.
It started with the Greek myths, when I was about eight years old.
The women on my mother's side of the family, my elders, are all beautiful, brilliant, and I think just a little wicked.
The foremost of these in my mind is my great aunt Jane in Louisiana. Jane has been my standard of beauty since I was small- she is redhaired and classy, quick to smile.
It doesn't hurt that I'm named after her; she's the J in S. J.
My fondest memories of Jane are wrapped around the fact that she made a point to bring me books whenever she was close enough to visit. The most treasured and oft revisited of these gifts was a collection of Greek myths called The Golden Fleece. I still have it.
Yup. That was me at eight. Reading about Zeuss transforming into swans and being very naughty.
What captured my young imagination most were the seemingly half-human folk in these stories, Medusa and the Minotaur in particular.
I love that I've made so many friends in my adult life who love these stories too. When I think of all the creative people I know who strongly identify with Gorgons and Minotaurs...the list is long, and most everyone on it makes me smile.
Imagine my joy when I found a spiritual community in the Northwest, filled with people who work with the Greek gods in the here and now! ATC peeps, you rock my world!
Back to my childhood, and more half human folk. Mermaids. The Last Unicorn. And of course, dragons. Smaug, Puff, Pern, Custard, The Reluctant Dragon, and so many other grand stories and beasts. Nowadays, it's Temeraire who's my favorite. Look up Naomi Novik if you're interested. Also Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, which is a delightful, dragon-heavy novel that has a lot of social relevance to it.
More than anything in my grown self, it's the shapeshifters who captivate me. Coyote and Anansi and Loki. My beloved Selkies. A Were-owl or two. Tattercoats and Tam Lin. Red Riding Hood and her shadowy lupine family history. I'll own that this is because I've been accused of being a shapeshifter myself- sometimes in fun, sometimes in all seriousness. It helps to be able to transform, at least from character to character, when you're up on a stage. And who doesn't want a moment to feel a little bit special, a little bit magical, a little bit dangerous, or a little bit different?
So here's to those of us who prefer to see wonder in the world. Here's to those of us who love and devour the strangest, oldest stories. Here's to looking for the extraordinary in our daily lives.
I'd love to know how YOU would answer this question. Fire away.
Oh. And I forgot to mention, in my original post, the time when the wisest of my Minotaur sisters was inspired to write me into one of her beautiful stories- as the reflection of a girl who wanted nothing more than to be just like the Firebird who raised her. <3
- Current Location:The Snowy Banks of Timberlake
- Current Mood: content
- Current Music:(internal) "Rootless"
It exists.
And it's for sale. EDIT: SOLD! To the beautiful
ladyaraia!!! YAY!!Know how I know?
I autographed it myself, at the request of the restoration team. :D
Click the link to see:
Wordpress, you make me crazy with your formatting issues, but I will forgive you this time. Grr.
She's so pretty....
More info about the concert.
2. I'm running an art/music/creativity contest on my Facebook music page through Saturday, inspired by a new song I wrote this month called "Little Bird". Check out the contest, the rules, and the beautiful entries already posted. There's still plenty of time to participate, and everybody who jumps on board gets a free mp3 of "Little Bird" from me as soon as it's recorded!
3. Ok, I lied. Muffins, not cookies. Gonna try to bake chocolate chip pretzel muffins sometime this week, because that's the kind of thing that crazy nomadic girls do when they finally get a place that can satisfactorily be called home. With an oven in. And also, according to Arjil and the cat, a full-grown speckled king snake, while I was off working in my recording studio yesterday. O.o
- Current Location:Camp Timberlake
- Current Mood:capable
- Current Music:(internal) "Not the Villain"
- Current Location:pinecoon
- Current Mood: content
- Current Music:see entry
...about bad reviews and how to process them, specifically geared towards other creative people, whether we’ve met or not.
Most of you reading this are no doubt pretty good at dealing with dorks by now. :-)
Take it or leave it: this is advice I’m trying to give to/accept myself right now, first and foremost.
I am sensitive, and I get upset easily: SO not a bodhisattva.
But it’s all good.
It really is.
Here we go. Starting with a few facts.
The number of happy reviews I’ve seen in ten years of recording and touring and performing full time: countless hundreds.The number of unhappy reviews I’ve seen: three.
You can guess which ones I’m trying to let go of. (wink)
We all do this. We all get bogged down in the things that make us sad or angry or disappointed. Especially when we see them in print. Especially when they are delivered in response to something we’re proud of.
I should take comfort in the fact that I have so many more good reviews than bad ones, right? But so often the internal susurrus kicks in and starts saying things like, “well, what if that’s because only two people had the balls to tell you what they thought when they didn’t like it? What then?”
In the wise words of Ben Deschamps, f*ck ‘em.
You cannot please everyone all the time. That’s not why we write songs or poems or plays or stories. We get creative because we *have* to, because it beats and burns inside us all the time, and it’s better for everyone if we let the
Muse out to have her way.
You can’t please everybody.
You have to please yourself, especially where your own art and your own creative pursuits are concerned. I know how selfish
that sounds, but it’s true.
It’s your choice whether you send your art-babies out into the world and let other people have a chance at reacting to them. It takes guts.
There’s a limit to letting your creativity run rampant. I recognize that. But it’s not like people on my level can afford to go into work- be that art studio, writing desk, or recording studio in this case, take every drug they can find, and spend tons of time and money just messing around for days to capture whatever comes out (see producer Bryan “Chas” Chandler’s opinion of the sessions for Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland). We really do make an effort to craft our words and our work, to make
sure that it’s going to go out into the world and be palatable to someone besides ourselves. I know I do.
There’s a limit to everything.
Seriously though, if someone just hates your stuff and s/he’s honest enough to tell you so, that’s a blessing, especially if you consider that person a friend. It means s/he trusts you not to stop speaking to him/her/per when s/he speaks his/her mind.
But don’t let it ruin your day, certainly not your life.
No one, friend or foe, has that much power over you. Don’t give it to them.
I give myself this piece of advice right now, as well. I’m no Jedi Master where letting things go is concerned, quite the contrary.
I have had a reviewer, who was also a friend of mine, worry that I would stop speaking to him when he published a review that wasn’t glowing and effusive.
I straightened him out about that as soon as he told me so.
His review was full of constructive criticism, and he still gave me pretty high marks, even though he wasn’t in love with the work in question. I was thrilled. Besides, it wasn’t like he was calling me names, or saying that my work was an insult to the entire world of music. Far from it.
I will always be grateful for the honesty of those around me, where my work is concerned.
Even when it stings.
The trick is to take what’s useful from the stinging bits, and then, let the rest go.
Right now.
Just flush it down and forget about it, like so much poop.
It gets easier. Just like potty training.
Maybe the reason I’m not good at this yet is because I haven’t had to practice much.
Maybe the balance is about to shift because more people are hearing my music now than ever before.
Maybe a couple of people love everything I’ve done, except for one song.
So be it.
Some people will tell you that any press is good press.
This is true.
But you don’t have to let someone else’s reaction influence you, not if it isn’t useful intel.
Take the bad reviews and turn them around- see the blessings in disguise if you can. If so, nourish yourself with them, and move on to the next big thing as soon as possible.
If not, if it’s just a bunch of name-calling, and it’s clear that the reviewer was predisposed not to dig what you’re doing, delete that sh!t, and move on to the next big thing as soon as possible.
You have my permission. I’ve got your back.
We’re all mad here, and it’s okay.
Keep doing your thing. It’s all right.
Never, never give up.
Love you.
- Current Location:The Last Homely House
- Current Mood:sleepless
- Current Music:(internal) Jimi Hendrix
Many of you may remember me mentioning something about an audiobook job recently.
That would be this book.
I am SUPER excited to get to read to all of you soon! I do not know whether the book and the audiobook will be released at the same time. What I do know is that the story is amazing, and yes, I am still working on a tie-in album of songs inspired by the Fairyland books. The song featured in this book trailer, "Wonders", will be the title track. I plan to release that song, along with at least two of its siblings, as digital downloads this fall. Stay tuned, and enjoy the stories around you.
catvalente and I are working together to make sure I can be part of at least a couple of her book release events this fall in the USA- the book comes out when I am still on tour in the UK, but I get back before it's too late. I'll keep you guys posted on all things Fairyland that I get to be part of.Fanbridge was supposed to cross-post this for me, but I didn't see it happen. So here it is, just in case you haven't seen it. :) Feel free to share this around!
This month is gonna be a wild one for me. I'll be lucky to get my taxes done on time, but I suppose that applies to most of us. :)
I've got shows and workshops in Arkansas, Ohio, Minnesota, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa! Whoo!
It all started THIS THURSDAY, in my hometown. I had a small but dedicated crowd in Dumas last night who braved the rain to hear me sing. Thank you all!
Next week, I'll be flying to Cleveland to give a concert at Baldwin-Wallace College.
Wednesday March 14, 2012 — 8pm
Baldwin-Wallace College
Student Activity Center
96 Beech Street
Berea, OH 44017-2037
Parking available behind the SAC building.
Sponsored by the Allies Group. $5 cover for non-students.
During the afternoon, I'll be leading a discussion on campus about bisexuality.
All students and faculty are welcome to attend and take part.
All possible kudos go to Patrick for helping me set up this trip! I can honestly
say that it would not have happened without him. :)
Then it's off to the Twin Cities, zoom, for PaganiCon and the All Snakes Ball!
Weekend of March 16-18, 2012
PaganiCon 2
Double Tree Park Place
1500 Park Place BLVD
Minneapolis, MN 55416
952-542-8600
S. J. and Christopher Penczak are guests this year!
Then home again to Arkansas very briefly, where a massive (and sexy) band
convergence will happen once again! Heather, Ben, Betsy and I (aka The Fair Folk!)
are getting together with our Big Bad Gina sisters to make some noise in Fayetteville!
Wednesday March 21, 2012 — 7:00pm
Big Bad House Concert: Sooj, Heather Dale, & Big Bad Gina!
Hosted by One Wild Tribe
RSVP for tickets & directions: melodie@bigbadgina.com
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Space is limited; please RSVP soon!
Doors open at 6:30pm. Don't miss this one!
Renee tells me that the concert is already halfway full. I want you guys to be there,
too, so please RSVP as soon as you can!
(update: Renee tells me that the concert is now full, but the waiting list isn't! Looks like we better come back in the fall and do this again!)
After Fayetteville, we hug our sisters goodbye and load up the Fair Folk caravan
to head to Memphis, St. Louis (it's been too long!), and Chicago.
Thursday March 22, 2012 — 7:30pm
S. J. and Heather Dale!
First Unity Church of Memphis
9228 Walnut Grove Road
Cordova, TN 38018-7743
(901) 753-1463
$10 donation, all ages.
Special thanks to Andrea & June!
with Ben & Betsy in the band!
Buy a ticket if you'd like: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2
MEMPHIS! YES, YOU! I MISS YOU! Please come and rock out with us!!!
Friday March 23, 2012 — 7:30pm
S. J. and Heather Dale!
Lafayette Park United Methodist
2300 Lafayette Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63104
Doors open at 7:00pm.
$8 - $15 suggested donation plus a canned or non-perishable food item
with Ben and Betsy in the band!
Buy a ticket if you'd like: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2
Saturday March 24, 2012 — 7:30pm
S. J. and Heather Dale!
Chicago Latvian Community Center
4146 N. Elston Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
773-588-2085
$8-$15 suggested donation, all ages.
Special thanks to Ray, Ronnie, Adam, Ange & Joan!
with Ben & Betsy in the band!
Buy a ticket if you'd like: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2
After this tiny, triumphant tour, I'll part ways with my beloved Canadian bards
and my cello mastermind to stick around Chicago. I've got something relatively
new to share with you.
Sunday March 25, 2012 — 4:00pm
Class: Music & Magick
Life Force Arts Center
1609 W Belmont
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-7224
$45 per student, limited to 15 slots.
More info here:
http://tinyurl.com/76byypv
This Music & Magick class is something I've been pushing myself to teach more often
lately. I taught it a couple of times last fall (yay MuseCon and FOS!), and I had taught it three times
previously, at various events. It's been well received each time I've taught it,
so I decided to take it on the road. Sista Sherry Kirk was the first friend who encouraged
me to start teaching, back when we hosted an intensive weekend together a couple of
years ago. The class, as I've developed it, has been a very rewarding thing for me.
In the Old World, people recognized that music had a lot of power. My goal is to
help people gain an awareness of that power these days, and to find (and trust) the
music inside themselves. Check out the class description at the link up there if
you'd like to know more.
(Joan wrote me today to let me know that we have only 6 slots left for the class! Sign up soon. If we get a Huge waiting list, I'm considering teaching a second one the next day, or at least coming back to town.)
And now, on to Iowa! I have a house concert in Ames and an in-store appearance in Des Moines.
Tuesday March 27, 2012 — 4:00pm-6:00pm
Afternoon concert & autographing hosted by
Ancient Ways- Ingersoll location
3029 Ingersoll Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50312
515-274-9034
Wednesday March 28, 2012 — 7pm
House Concert!
The Crow & Dove House
RSVP for directions: croweanddovehouse @gmail.com
Ames, Iowa
$10 Suggested Donation.
with special guests Cheshire Moon!
Special thanks to Lizzie and Eric; it's been ages since I last got to stop and play in Iowa!
Zoom! Down to Kansas City next, for a three-event weekend!
Friday March 30, 2012 — 7:30pm
Class: Music & Magick
Amethyst Dreams
4301 Main Street, Suite 110
Kansas City, MO, 64111
Amethyst Dreams is a healing center, botanica, gallery & boutique
presided over by the incredible Rev. Aislinn Awatake Firehawk.
816-349-9931
$30 per student, space limited to 25 students. https://www.brownpapertickets.com/e
This is the same class as the class I'm teaching in Chicago. :)
Saturday March 31, 2012 — 7:30pm
House Concert!
Hosted by Rev. Aislinn
RSVP for directions: aislinnfirehawk @gmail.com
Kansas City, MO
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/e
Space is limited.
Here's the jewel in the crown, all on an April Fool's Day Sunday!
Sunday April 01, 2012 — Noon-3pm
We're All Mad Here!
April Fool's Mat Hatter Tea Party!
Amethyst Dreams
4301 Main Street, Suite 110
Kansas City, MO, 64111
Amethyst Dreams is a healing center, botanica, gallery & boutique
presided over by the incredible Rev. Aislinn Awatake Firehawk.
816-349-9931
Honoring Mama Dragon's April Fool's Day Tradition, attendees shall wear a Silly Hat (this is mandatory),
spark many a great & goofy conversation, and have a LOVELY TIME! Join us.
with scones and tea provided by our hostess!
Zoom! Up to Lincoln Nebraska, for the first time in far too long!
Monday April 02, 2012 — Doors at 7:30pm, music at 8pm
Bija Bhoga Community Room
1700 S 24th
Lincoln, NE 68502
Bija Bhoga is Sanskrit for The Source or Seed of Sense Enjoyment
$5-$10 suggested donation, all ages welcome.
Thanks to sweet sister Jade for hosting this little Monday show!
Whew!
On April 3rd, I'll be teaching my class and giving a concert at Crone's Hollow
in Salt Lake City. Then it's on to Washington state for ATC Spring Mysteries!
I'm just getting the April schedule posted on http://www.skinnywhitechick.com
More good stuff added as soon as it's confirmed- I'll be performing solely in
Washington state for most of next month, with stops in KC, Nebraska, and Utah on the way.
WHAT DID I FORGET?
Let's see. I'm home for a few days to rest, and I'm working on the film score
for EMBER DAYS, which includes pieces by both Alexander James Adams and Bekah
Kelso. My cute little recording studio in the woods continues to be a happy place.
I'm also writing the last few songs for the WONDERS album, which will be
the book soundtrack for The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her
Own Making. The sun is shining today, and it's hard not to just play outside
all the time lately. I'll try to send some sunshine along to all of you, no
matter what the weather on the ground.
Last thing: Indierhythm.com is shutting down their physical CD webstore and going digital soon. They still have some stock of mine, including the otherwise out of print album, For the Girl in the Garden. Grab them while you can:
http://indierhythm.com/product.php?c
Thank you all for being part of the magic, the journey, and the story.
- Current Mood:
accomplished - Current Music:April Fool's Day
I was having such a wonderful time in Chicago today, walking in the snow and having lunch with friends (
lilrongal, adamselzer, arjil, tadghlughan) that I forgot all about it. For almost the entire day. Isn't that something?Your support, efforts, prayers, and well-wishes, then and now, are why I was healthy and happy enough to forget for a while that it ever even happened. I truly would not be here without you, and you all know who you are.
Thank you, my Ravens and my friends. I'm so glad you're here, and I'm so glad you're reading this.
- Current Location:windy city
- Current Mood: grateful
- Current Music:hans zimmer
magick4terri if you haven't already. Unbelievably sweet auctions are going on there, having started this very day, to help one of our brightest faery godmothers, Terri Windling, in her time of need.
I have not had the great pleasure of meeting Terri yet in this life, but all of you know that she took part in your herculean rescue efforts when I was so horribly sick and afraid, not so very long ago. Her stories haunt my songwriting dreams at this very moment.
There will be some long-secreted Ravens rearing their heads to take part in this bit of magick, oh yes.
Love to you all. :)
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BEETZ.
Rough recording, from my iphone, at rehearsal about a week ago.
Renee and I started writing this at the Whole Foods salad bar in Memphis the day we headed out to the river for Festival of Souls.
It seems I'm not done with silly salad songs. :D
I've got one show left this year, at Voulez Vous Lounge in Eureka Springs on Black Friday (that's this coming weekend), with Big Bad Gina. The sistaz and I will definitely have this one on the setlist, for its live debut.
stealthcello just got to hear this for the first time, and she is one big grin.heeheehee.
- Current Mood:
spoonless - Current Music:see entry
You are all amazing. So amazing.
Operation Fly In Betsy is PAST its goal. In under six hours.
*PIXIE DUST EVERYWHERE!!!*
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.
- Current Location:US, Oregon, Umatilla, Co 1332 Rd, 32414
I have two concerts at PhilCon this year, in November.
Here's the link for PhilCon, with info about the other guests (Cory Doctorow, Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell!!), and where you can register:http://2011.philcon.org/
Both of my Philcon concerts were going to be solo shows, because PhilCon had budget enough to bring me, but not to bring my beloved cellist, Betsy ![[info]](../../img/userinfo.gif?v=3){kind=small}
stealthcello, whom most of you know and love.
Now, I love doing solo shows. But at this point, Betsy and I won't get to perform together again until February 2012 at the earliest.
I have many shows across the nation before I get to PhilCon. My last scheduled show with Betsy was this past weekend. I haven't even left the house yet, and we're already wishing we had more time to make music together.
Many of you have seen and benefited from the magic that Betsy and I can conjure when we're on stage. PhilCon deeply regretted not being able to bring her in with me.
We all decided we weren't happy with the situation, and we decided to do something about it.
And we need your help. :)
I've been emailing back and forth with my con liaison and with several dear sweet people on the concomm this week. We've all been
brainstorming to find a solution, and we think we've hit upon the perfect thing.
Let's call it Operation Fly In Betsy.
Our objective:
raise the $500 it will take (thank you, Thanksgiving plane fares) to get Betsy to Philcon from Seattle and back, so that she can join us all at the con and join me onstage.
How you can help:
become a Betsy Sponsor by contributing at least $5.00 USD via Paypal.
We all know from experience that even a tiny amount adds up, and we've all seen amazing fundraising efforts come to great success on the internet and in our tribe before.
What you'll get:
-an exclusive live concert from the two of us at Philcon for Betsy Sponsors only that you can attend in person if you join us at the con,
or exclusive access to the online live stream of that concert if you can't join us...
OR...
-If you can't join us at the con for the exclusive concert, and you can't join us online to watch the live stream either, or you'd just
prefer this option, a free year's worth of exclusive downloads (one nifty, unreleased, shiny thing per month that you couldn't get any other way) from me, sent to your email by me, over the course of the next twelve months, starting in November.
My subscriber/sponsors have gotten unreleased recordings from me, sneak peeks of upcoming songs, poetry, spoken word recordings, and other special things.
ANYONE WHO DONATES $5 OR MORE gets access to his/her/per choice of these two thank-you gifts.
ANYONE WHO DONATES $25 OR MORE gets access to BOTH the concert, online or in person, AND the year's worth of exclusive goodies emailed to you by me personally.
Thank you all for reading, and thank you all for considering making my Philcon shows, which are my last shows of 2011, twice as awesome for the presence of our favorite cellist on the planet.
Very special thanks to everyone with PhilCon for being so helpful this week and so very supportive of this idea.
- Current Mood: accomplished
I wish that I had even more new music ready for all of you, besides these.
I hope they fire your hearts and heal your dancing souls.
omnisti is still getting together a bonus download of visual goodies to go with the single that you can download from the same album link. If you just want the music, go ahead and grab it. If you want to wait for the bonus goodies, they'll be there soon. Most of them are intensely beautiful visual desktop backgrounds of Rob's art and the bones I painted with woad while at Burning Man this year.- Current Location:eugene, or
- Current Mood: calm
- Current Music:see entry
The important bits, for those of you who are skimming:
-Betsy & I are performing at Faerieworlds Harvest this coming weekend. LOTS of stage time, all 3 days, but the big shows are Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon/evening.
-"Rootless" and "La Sirene" are coming out as a digital single, perhaps as early as day after tomorrow.
-The video for "Neptune" is almost done.
-Faerieworlds emcee Mark Lewis is doing a Soulfood concert with me on Sept. 24. He's also teaching a storytelling workshop that afternoon at Betsy's house. We have 17 slots left available for the workshop. If you're interested in taking part, leave me a comment.
-I love you.
A gift for reading this far: I wrote a new song today, something of a ghost story, something of a love song. Lyrics under the cut.
Hope you enjoy.
( Dream of MississippiCollapse )
- Current Location:pinecoon
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:see entry
- Current Mood: happy
- Current Music:see entry
Glad to be back, though.
It's been a season and a half of upheaval, but there's always light- and not just at the end.
I've been making myself go back through all of my entries lately, aaaalllll the way back to the beginning.
I wouldn't trade any of it, because I worked, together with
omnisti and so many others over the past eight, ten, twelve years to build a dream that I've been living now for quite a while.But I see now: it's no wonder I got so sick and so tired.
I don't have to work quite so hard now, not all the time, to keep the dream going. It's a difficult habit to break, working.
Now I know what it feels like to see your dream realized and to have the world pulled out from under you when you discover that you no longer have the faintest damn clue of what you want. I can laugh about it now, as the clues for the future roll gently in, but I was in some deep dark places about it in recent months. Not so dark now.
To all who have helped me and mine, in whatever fashion, thank you. If I've never said so, or if it didn't come across as thanks, I apologize.
Thank you.
Thank you for your efforts, your care, your patience, your generosity, your wisdom, and your awesomeness.
Thank you.
The process of learning to rest, to take care of me, to grow and to change continues.
Album projects continue to fill up my head.
I continue to hear from people all over the place that I have inspired creative works of their own.
The sun comes up.
Onward. :)
- Current Location:betsy's basement
- Current Mood:
contemplative - Current Music:(internal) Ekova- Ditama
Hugs for everyone missing
uglygrandmother and smiling when you think of her today. Carrot vs. Athame: still a valid question. **Love**In the House of Mama Dragon
April Fool's Day
Also,
rosefox points out that my sanity is crowd-funded. ((smile)) Truer words were never spoken. Thanks so much everyone- loves, fans, friends.- Current Mood: calm
- Current Music:kan'Nal - All Things Change
catvalente and I got interviewed while we were dyeing each others' hair purple, as one does. This is one of my favorite interviews ever, over at the Interstitial Arts Foundation website. My heart is currently smashed, but at least I can still make art in the world, wounded or not. It's why I'm here. Time to throw myself into the creative well again, deep. Hope you're all doing well this week.
I'm performing at Spring Mysteries at the ATC in a few weeks, and I realized that I am not entirely certain which of my songs are best for gettin' down with the Greek pantheon...SMFgoers, what would you most like to hear? Request soon and often in comments, please, so that I can practice and bring my A-game for you. <3
- Current Location:nyc
- Current Mood: crazy
- Current Music:(internal) me- Girl Into Devil
catvalente on stage next to me. Only screwed up the words a little bit. ((grin)) Life is all over blessings. I concede a bit of breakup angst in this one, but it's genuinely written for Deathless as much as it is for me, with cameos by Lebedeva, Chairman Yaga, Ivan, and of course Marya. Composed in Cat and Dmitri's house in Maine just exactly a week ago, in the nick of time...Girl Into Devil
Copyright S. J. Tucker 2011. All rights reserved.
"Who do you belong to, little girl?
Why do you wander in the deep dark wood?"
The answer should be easy, but not this time.
She fits your little story, but she's up to no good.
Growing up means growing into war,
waiting be broken just to understand,
and going where you've never gone before,
changing into devil just as fast as you can.
Wolves shall croon in your merciless ear.
Don't believe everything that you hear.
Wear your color high and tilt your head just so-
Maybe nobody will know.
Who is more a dragon or a danger? Who's to say?
Stolen fairytale girls never get to choose the easy way.
A danger and a devil disguised as a child at play,
Masha raises her head to say
"I belong to me.
Even now, even here,
I belong to me."
Drink the souls of songbirds, little girl.
Spin your lie like thread and suck the music down.
Counterfeit to hardness all you will,
everybody knows that you're from out of town.
Trust the devil never to let go,
mixing hell and romance just like any other fool.
Wisely, you must heed a sister's words:
love comes down to nothing more than who is to rule.
Coral coaxes, red compels,
green for daring, blue for bargains fell.
You are dear to me and I'll never tell
how afraid you are.
Shouldering a rifle more to prove with every breath,
stolen fairytale girls make the difference between life and death.
It all comes down to choices, but you've only the hard ones left
and so all you can say is (yes)
I belong to me,
even now even here.
And when he comes a-courting with a kingdom in his hand,
clever fairytale girls strike the hardest of all bargains.
As long as love's around we'll tell the story again and again.
I think this is where I came in.
"Who do you belong to, little girl?
Why do you wander in the deep dark wood?"
It's not an easy answer, I'm afraid.
I may fit the story but I'm up to no good.
- Current Location:just this side of Queens
- Current Mood: crazy
- Current Music:see entry
Also, you can hear me read
catvalente 's poem, The Secret of Being a Cowboy, if you wanna know what the Mythpunk Gals get up to late at night on the island. (smile)- Current Location:Peaks Island
- Current Mood: cheerful
- Current Music:(internal) September's Rhyme
Hear the show
Donate directly
As soon as I get a little bit of brain, I'll be setting up some eBay auctions for Doctors without Borders myself, of some of the last remaining copies of the Ravens in the Library anthology. My hope is to raise some love for aid in Japan and aid in Haiti. I'll post when those auctions are ready to go.
- Current Location:chez valente
- Current Mood: calm
- Current Music:(internal) Jesca Hoop - The Kingdom
omnisti and the Traveling Fates and I would be very grateful. Please let me know in comments. EDIT: elisem and sweetmusic_27 have rescued me and helped me find table space. <3 <3 <3 thank you, sisters.Also still looking for crash space for us two and the band in Madison as well. UPDATE: got crash space for K and me secured, just need safe places for Ginger and Bekah to sleep now. urgh, feeling like I have really dropped the ball, but I know it will be all right. Anybody have beds/floors/need room mates? Again, please let me know in comments.
Lastly, would anyone like to help us throw a concert in Madison, house concert or otherwise, just in case the concom doesn't ever respond to our concert proposal? Comment if you're willing.
Thanks, everybody.
Just feelin' a little small and discouraged at the moment. I know it will be grand. <3
I'm happy to say that there will be Fates shows in Chicago (May 24, Tuesday) and in Reedsburg, WI (May 25, Wednesday-thank you, Ghetto Shamans!) on the way to WisCon, and those at least are coming together. :)
- Current Location:ellicott city
- Current Mood: anxious
- Current Music:(internal) imogen heap
Alexis, thank you for posting this. I finally get to see what was happening down there. :D
and now I take myself to the spa. :)
Hope you all have a delightful day. 2/22/2011 is a pretty nifty number, I think.
- Current Location:pinecoon
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:see entry
to the Winterborn to know:
of icicle kingdoms this side of the veil,
of sigils writ across the snow.
Taken above Cedar Creek Falls, Petit Jean State Park, Petit Jean Mountain, Thursday February 3, 2011.
Photo by s00j, all rights reserved. :)
- Current Location:hbf
- Current Mood: impressed
- Current Music:(internal) Ginger Doss - Ma Belle
I am tucked in on the couch with my mama in southeast Arkansas, warm and safe while the (unprecedented) snow continues to fall outside.
I know it's been a little odd for some of you to imagine me on winter vacation and not out on the road bustin' ass and playing shows constantly... But I have more than a little to show for it. And I'm feeling gifty tonight. So. Here, have a FREE NEW SONG!
By the way, this new song has a music video as well, which means I HAVE A MUSIC VIDEO! FINALLY! Thanks to the brilliant Ben Dobyns of Dead Gentlemen Productions, I have a music video! I haven't even seen it yet, but I was there for the filming day...during which we got silly and were awesome at a sweet comic shop in Tacoma...so I KNOW it's delightful!
aaaand I don't have a link for it yet, BUT I WILL SOON. If you're in Tacoma Washington this Saturday, you can see it at Dead Gentlemen Productions' screening of JourneyQuest at the Tacoma Little Theater--more information on that here.
The video will be included in the special features of the Dead Gentlemen DVD rerelease of The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, set to hit stores in April 2011. Dead Gentlemen Productions is known for its RPGeek-friendly films, such as The Gamers and The Gamers: Dorkness Rising. Castmembers of those films, including the sinfully gorgeous Jen Page, guest star in the music video. I FEEL VERY GEEKILY FAMOUS.
You can watch all sorts of Dead Gentlemen videos at their website, linked above.
I hope you guys dig the song. This is my first time writing and releasing a parody: "D&D" is sung to the tune of "The Napoli" by Mr. Steve Knightley of British folk group Show of Hands. Vixy & Tony turned me on to their music right around this time last year. Definitely give a listen to the original as well as to my parody version--it's every bit as cool for different reasons, being about a (relatively recent) shipwreck...there's piracy. Tony did the tracking in Seattle, and I am hoping that in the near future I can add Vixy!singygoodness and Betsy!cellogoodness to the recording.
Little bit of free music industry trivia, to go with your free download: I had to ask permission to release this parody and to move forward with the production of the music video, because songwriters in the UK actually have some right of veto over who does spoofs of their stuff--we here in the United States have no control over that whatsoever. Weird Al asks because he is Nice, not because he Has To. EDIT: apparently this is not universally true (see comments if interested) in the USA; I guess I wasn't finished doing research after all.
This is very exciting for me, guys, not least because I have proof now that my years of filling out character sheets has, in fact, paid off...or it will, if you help me spread the word. Please download the song and share the link with others--encourage friends to explore my other available downloads as well; you know how it works, every little bit makes a difference!
So thanks Ben and Barry and Jen and Chris and the whole gang; thanks Mr. Knightley and Mr. Pearce; thanks Vixy, thanks Tony, and thank you!
- Current Location:chez mama
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:see entry
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you!
Among the shining examples of getting it right or trying their damnedest to get it right are the following festivals and groups I've worked with in the past or am currently working with, in no particular order:
Heartland Spiritual Alliance/Heartland Pagan Festival
CAYA Coven, CA
WytcheHaven, AR
Wolvenwold, MO
Mid-Missouri PPD
Witches Brew Denver
The Sacred Paths Ctr, St. Paul
Summerland Grove, TN
SDCW, ATC, AR
The ATC, Washington state
Pagan Unity Festival, TN
The Goddess & the Moon, Nashville
Florida Pagan Gathering (though I've heard there's been some static about being able to feed vegan performers lately--wtf guys, it's a lot less trouble than feeding omnivores can be!)
Phoenix Festivals (AutumnMeet, PhoenixPhyre), Florida
PantheaCon (which admittedly is pay-to-play and a bit of a madhouse, because SO MANY PAGANS OF DIFFERENT FLAVORS UNDER ONE ROOF ZING!! but I found it to be a wonderful madhouse, and when I asked for sound gear and a room to put a concert in, I got both, at the appointed time, and that room got packed.)
Bengalhome
Mystickal Voyage/Lori Savko Perdue, Maryland
Squanderosa, Maryland
Brotherhood of the Phoenix
HeARTbeat Collective, Boston
TOTEM, Oklahoma
Pooh Clan and CMA, TX
OurHaven (I love you!)
Faerieworlds/Faeriecon/Mythic Faire (we have our speedbumps, but everything always turns out well in the end.)
Sunflower River, NM
Albuquerque Witches' Ball
...and any other festival/group I may have forgotten in error. I am not including filk cons or scifi cons in this list because I think they deserve their own thank-you note.
Thank you all. You are in my fondest dreams and memories. Thank you for supporting me, for giving me sacred space in which to make music and/or fire, and for always inviting me back. You mean the world to me, you do. I urge you to keep up the good work, and to keep on making your guest performers AND guest authors feel like rock stars.
- Current Location:LesbiHood West
- Current Mood: grateful
- Current Music:(internal) Diana Krall
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