Aaron Lee Tasjan (Madison Square Gardners, Enemys), Mystie Chamberlin (Just Another Folk Singer), Jim Boggia singing Neil Young’s “Helpless” along with Jesse Malin, Marah, Willie Nile at the grand finale of the Benefit For Lucinda’s Kids Sunday 04.29.12 @ Bowery Electric (327 Bowery, NYC). Video snippet by David Fleming
Performance #210.
Credits: Just Another Folk Singer (Mystie Chamberlin) performing original song “Dramaville” for “My Conjoined Twin” art show presented by the Antagonist Art Movement on 01.20.11 @ Niagara Bar & Lounge (112 Ave. A @ 7th Street, NYC). Filmed by Eric Wallin. Performance # 162.
Photo by The Merch Grrls
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
Filed under Post A Day / Post A Week
as filmed/edited by Ethan Minsker:
The Merch Grrls (photo by Samantha Levin)
So what is a girl with a guitar and a few songs to do? Why, she should start another band, of course (and by “start a band,” I mean “find a bass player”)!
Fortunately, I just happened to know a bass player who was looking to start a band. Char and I were already spending much time working together as merch girls for other bands, participating in local music video filmings, and boozing in bars in and around the East Village that forming a band seemed like a natural progression. More so, we had the same vision.
So in what little spare time having three jobs apiece afforded, we began to practice. We would rehearse in Tompkins Square Park, in bar basements, in my livingroom, or anywhere. For fun, we started covering “Honest” by the Long Winters and Mike Jordan’s “One More Whiskey and Water (link covered by Michael McDermott),” because we figured we could relate to the lyrics and they were somewhat easy to play…at least they were somewhat easy the way we played them.
The band name, the Merch Grrls, came about pretty easily as well since that was what we were usually. We sold merch for the Antagonist Art Movement’s art slams every Thursday night and other occasional openings. We also sold merch for bands like the Duke Spirit and Ayabie. Other people either loved the name or loathed it, but we thought it was suitable so we kept it.
Artist James Rubio had a housewarming party in Jersey City, and Schocholautte was playing. He and comedian Julian Stockdale invited the Merch Grrls to open, and Char and I thought it would be amusing. We had a handful of practices and learned a cover of Cinderella’s “Shelter Me” to add to our four song set. There was just one thing I did not count on…stage fright.
Once all eyes were on me, all I could think about was how every single part of my body was jittery. I was proud of my song and the way we performed the covers, but no matter how much I tried to convince myself that I was surrounded by friends and that everything was okay, I could not relax. In retrospect, I think I was self conscious. I was worried too much about what the audience thought, even though they were mostly friends and close acquaintances. Perhaps it would have been better had I performed first in a room of complete strangers.
I did everything one is not supposed to do. I acknowledged my mistakes, and I started songs over. I even apologized to the crowd. I do not think I stopped sweating until about 20 minutes and two Red Stripes after we had finished.
Filed under Are you ready to rock?
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