In November of 2007, I half-jokingly started a band, ThrowAway Grrls. I quietly harmonized and plunked the bass while my friend crooned and thrummed the guitar. Along with two other friends attempting percussion, we practiced for a few weeks in a desperate attempt swiftly to master our instruments for a premature show into which we had managed to charm our way. We were scheduled to open for a few tribute bands on a sold-out Saturday night at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, but as soon as we walked into the upstairs club for our first sound-check, all our feet froze to the floor. We knew we were ill-prepared; we did not even know which amp was for the bass and which one was for the guitar. We only prepared four slap-dash songs, but with the help of a patient sound engineer, we persevered! Although, I must admit, for those 15-20 minutes, I wobbled like a gelatin dessert.
Around August of 2009, I grew frustrated with the constant, suffocating stage fright. Until then, I averaged a show or two per month. I spent hours with my head in my hands wondering what ways to overcome my cowardice. At the behest of an ex, I slammed one fist into the other palm and challenged myself to play 100 shows to remove forcibly the fear through repetition and experience. I did not give myself a deadline, because I was unsure of how to count a performance. However, I eventually decided to count any time I performed in front of a crowd of strangers, anything from an open mic to a proper show.
Beginning that September, I counted 15 prior performances. As much as I pep-talked myself to be non-nonchalant and reiterated that I did not care what others thought of my lack of technique, the thought of making a fool out of myself overwhelmed my convictions. Fortunately at that time, I re-read Writing Down The Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, which not only inspired me, but also helped me feel less inferior since I realized that I was no better or worse for trying than were my peers. By January 2010 I reached performance number 65, and throughout the month I played 25 more times including one of my personal favorites, an “in-store” performance at Never Records, a fake record store. Continue reading →
I started a blog because I wanted one place to anchor all of my endeavors. In 2009, when I decided I wanted to write songs and learn how to play guitar, having a web log seemed like a logical idea to chronicle my efforts. It was, and still is, one of my favorite projects. At first I mainly wrote because I was still learning and did not have much else to contribute. As 2009 became 2010, and I diligently worked up to playing 100 shows, my written posts decreased, and more footage (images and video) of my live attempts we posted. By that May, I even had my first official recording, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
From Team WordPress.com: The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Minty-Fresh™.
Crunchy numbers
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has 296 steps to reach the top. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2010. If those were steps, it would have climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa 4 times
In 2010, there were 70 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 81 posts. There were 81 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 30mb. That’s about 2 pictures per week.
Christmas morning I awoke with a throat like sandpaper, but in decent spirits nonetheless. David and I had spent New Years Eve with our adopted New Jersey family playing Beatles Rock Band (David on guitar for once…and me on wine…as usual). He had mentioned wanting to record an alternate version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. One that was perhaps a bit more somber. So he was excited to discover, by way of Wikipedia, that the orignal draft by Hugh Martin was slightly more depressing than what ended up being used in the film Meet Me In St. Louis. We didn’t have much time, and the only guitar I had was a refurbished busted toy guitar, but we decided to try to record it by 4pm that day, despite the fact that my vocal cords were channeling Tom Waits.
Teh Typos cover of Hugh Martin’s original draft of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” 12.25.10 Catlap Sessions in NYC. Recorded by David Jordan.
Just Another Folk Singer (Mystie Chamberlin) performing “Dramaville” on a toy guitar 12.18.10 @ Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel (1401 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, NJ). Filmed by Lucinda Gallagher on a Flip.
The entourage was at the hotel to celebrate Billie Jo’s birthday and to see Marah as well as Jesse Malin & the St. Marks Social “It Came Upon A Midnight Beer” holiday show @ The Stone Pony (913 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ) .
Leah Lax and Mystie Chamberlin (Just Another Folk Singer) performing “Guitar and Heart Strings (a song for Nathalie)” at “Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social, Richard Bacchus and Friends Live at Drew’s” (Benefit for Nathalie) 11.06.10 @ Drew’s House (247 Cupsaw Rd., Ringwood, NJ). Video by Bob McAdam.
“My Conjoined Twin” Thursday October 14, 2010 @ Antagonist Gallery / Niagara Bar (112 Ave. A, NYC). Curated by Shannon Daugherty (shannon.daugherty@gmail.com). Video filmed by Ethan H. Minsker. Music by Mystie Chamberlin. Art by: Marissa Bea, James Rubio, Maya McCarthy and words by: Richard Allen and Brother Mike Cohen.
For one night only the Antagonist Art Movement presents “My Conjoined Twin”. 5 Artists and 5 writers have been selected for story telling of a different kind. Each pairing will work together to create a one of a kind audio and visual experience.
Artwork will be on display from 9PM-12:30 AM, writers will take the stage from 9-10:30 PM. Artists include, James Rubio, Maya McCarthy, Betty Rose, Marissa Bea, & Chris Soprano. Writers on the mic include, Brother Mike Cohen, Richard Allen, Mystie Chamberlin, Dave Perry, & Jack Jerz.
Come out for a drink, and a laugh! This is not to be missed!
Just Another Folk Singer Online is a personal web-log. The opinions expressed herein represent my (Mystie Chamberlin's) flights of fancy. Likewise, the thoughts and ideas expressed within, express the person I was the moment I chronicled them, and may not accurately express the person I am at the present time. I retain any and all rights to change mind and opinion, however these views were/are my own and do not reflect on an past/present employers, fellow artists, and/or acquaintances.
Any mistakes/misunderstandings are completely unintended. You are encouraged to have an open mind and your own opinion, but I retain the right to delete any comment for any reason.
To quoth Bob Dylan: "All I can be is me, whoever that is."
Just Another Folk Singer Online Blog content and all material therein is copyrighted by Mystie Chamberlin and Just Another Folk Singer Online unless otherwise noted.
Unapproved use/duplication of components without express written consent from Just Another Folk Singer Online's author/owner is strictly forbidden.
Excerpts and links may be used for personal and promotional purposes, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mystie Chamberlin and Just Another Folk Singer Online with proper and accurate direction to the original material.
Click for more official JAFS sites.
