I looked across the room and saw a face shining in the dark

So because Grim loves us, even when we do madcap things like go to his store and take over his throne, or (somehow) get wedged between Grim and said throne, he gives us some stellar group gifts. This is the latest.



May I present the "Lenore" Tombstone Spectacles from /Vae Victis\.



So bit of explanation, because normally I move at least a little during photo shoots. I was in the Slippy Ship (that name still makes me giggle) that is the live music venue in Aphrodite. See, when the Fender sim returned to the mists--the one that was a HUGE performance space for the Dirty Grind collective--a lot of us scrambled to find new places for folks to play. Some of the folks behind Hotel Chelsea set up new performance dates for music and poetry in a couple of venues, and in the meantime, Tannhauser's Countess pondered if the bar on the scrappy little moon drawn into Tanis' orbit might work. We decided, in discussions with performers, that Wednesdays could work, so most Wednesdays now, the sets start at four pm SLT with either Corwyn Allen or Justinejohndory Amethyst, followed by Gypsy Dhrua, usually followed by Effinjay, or sometimes just Frogg Marlowe solo.

I haven't been able to make all of them, but the ones I have are starting to have that same feel that the Grind has--slightly run-down, graffitied art on the walls, and good music to groove to.



The down side, for me, is some nights...volume hurts. Like, I want to listen, but...some nights the headache interferes. So rather than be dancing on the lower floor, I was on a couch upstairs in the gallery.



And no, I don't know who the fellow was behind me. But here's the HUD, which features five separate parts that can be tinted seven different shades, to go with any conceivable look.



All in all, these are simple, elegant, and gorgeous. And, with the glasses being mod, they can be shrunk for Dinkies and tinies, or slightly enlarged for furry snouts. They'll work either way.

So how do you get your grabby paws on these? Nothing simpler--drop by the mainstore (linked above), and join the group. It'll cost you a ten-spot, but after that, you can pick these up free. Yay all around!



Now if you'll excuse me, more tests on the morrow, so off the keys I go! Onward!

when everything feels like the movies

So, there's been a hugely large gap between when this show actually happened, and now, but here's a few more from one of Rusty's City's Edge shows, because some of the pics are just too fun to delete.



I did manage a few close-ups where he's visible, at least.



And then...lost him again.



And again.



And again...



And this could be a poster for Haight-Ashbury, I swear.



So could this.



And then--attack of the prim shapes!



Followed by pink starbursts...



And Rusty glowing like a strobe light.

'cause things are getting creepy in this sleepy state of Oregon

So there's a poet and singer I've been following for a while, Rosedrop Rust. I've mentioned him before on the blog, at least once, if only in passing. He's good. More importantly, he's got a great stage presence and can really work a crowd.

But two nights ago...things were...different.

That's when he performed at City's Edge again. He's performed there before, he generally opens for a singer named Oceane, German lady, really intriguing singer. But he's on first, easy manner, playbook of standards, good on piano, guitar, and keyboards that I've heard to date.



There was someone in the audience running a light show...Rusty tells me her name is "Kalyca Goes Overboard". Seems to fit.



And I kept losing sight of Rusty.



Hells, I kept losing sight of the stage. I mean, seriously, here, there's a light show, and then there's PARTICLE OVERLOAD.



And the colors were pretty, don't get me wrong. Some of the shapes were odd, but some were okay, it was just...WAAAAAAY too many of them, yeah?



And maybe, next time, don't occlude your performer, and the host, onstage quite so often?



It was seriously difficult to figure out what to look at--performer, stage, dancers, lights...dizzying, and not always in good ways.



And maybe don't blind your audience, because...this was the dance floor!

All in all, great show, but...TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS, sheesh!