A wonderous chaos....

And a musical one, these past several weeks has been so consuming, so insular, I have been neglecting basics, like eating or sleeping..... or promoting shows that are well impending...... To explain, I haven't been slacking off, we just finished the run of the opera last week (SOLD OUT SHOWS FOR 3 WEEKS!!!) , then cleaned out the rehearsal studio in West Oakland, and then immediately caravaned to the Hollywood Hills with a sack of burritos to record a cd of the music for the opera with many of the cast members and orchestra. It's been a physical and emotional whirlwind and we have made some wonderful music together. Last night we finished tracking the song I helped write the melody for and we had naked recording sessions of several of the tunes. My friends from the opera Renfey (fire elemental and gorgeous diva extraordinaire) and her husband David Bergeaud (brilliant musician and producer) opened their palatial home in the Hollywood Hills to our motley rag tag newly formed tribe of musicians and madmen and let us at the studio for 4 days (16 hour days) straight. They have an incredible home and studio just up the street from Charlize Theron's place.... but whatever, the real party was right here, under their magical tree, across from their lighted dome, beside the pool and jacuzzi.....I said we were busy working, but we made some time for a little pleasure too.... the naked choral session was pretty lovely.....maybe that video will make it into the extras portion of the directors cut of the dvd release......no promises though......you don't really want to see me singing "Chance is a dance, designed to align, reality and the mind" in 3 part harmony with 20 other people do you? No I didn't think so.....
Here is a photo of me and Renfey, our diva , fire elemental and gracious host with the incredible
offer to come into her home and record this music.

So back to reality.....

In San Francisco, tomorrow night, at 8 pm I am taking the stage with some of my wonderful friends from the opera and beyond. David Kaye has invited me to perform at the Climate Theater's Music Box Series, and for musicians I have Charles Darius, Aaron Taylor, John Hollis (all from Burning Opera) and John McManus. For soloists and special guests I have Marisa Lenhardt, and David Erik Petersen and Leslie Freeman (also of the Burning Opera) and my friend Rose Harden (dancer) will be joining us as well. I am expecting a thick and tasty musical madness to heal and inflame the body and soul......
Doors 7:30pm - Showtime 8:00pm sharp.
Most shows are $7-15 sliding scale
Climate Theater, 285 9th Street @ Folsom, San Francisco, 94109
http://www.musicboxseries.com/

After this concert, I am heading over to the Jellyfish Gallery at 1286 Folsom to sing a short set for the Ripper Journey Art Auction, a benefit for the Tom Kennedy Art Foundation. Please come to the show at the Climate Theater and then follow me to the gallery! Tom and his art mean a great deal to me and though he is sorely missed, bringing his message of peace and art to the world is in some way very healing.
http://www.tomkennedyart.com/

And then, hold your horses happy humans, I am heading to north to my favorite peace of heaven on earth, Point Arena, California, where I am singing on Halloween as the opener for a great show called "Lord Loves a Working Man" at the Point Arena Theater. Joining me will be Chris Campbell on drums and John McManus on bass, other players tba. There is a costume ball at 8 pm to begin the evening and doors are at 7 pm, tickets are $15.
214 Main Street, Point Arena, CA 95468
http://www.arenatheater.org/

So for now, I remain your ever loving, if never writing, Phat Man Dee. I am so grateful for your love and support as I try to negotiate this world of music, chaos and joy. I am looking very much forward when the dvd comes out of the stage show at Teatro Zinzanni and then a cd of the music from this wonderous experience, "How to Survive the Apocalypse, a Burning Opera".
Please read the review of our show in the San Francisco Bay Guardian! I am really excited about the future of this show.
http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/pixel_vision/2009/10/burning_opera_the_fires_almost.html

I am doing my best to keep picture logs on flickr and facebook.....
links:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=130044&id=19202236991
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phatmandee/sets/72157622461821010/

The whole opera is breaking up right now from Renfey and David's house, it is sad, but this fire will burn for a long time..... as the poet Erik Davis once said "Dust is only dust, so let it burn!"
Erik Davis seen here:

photo by Michael Rauner

A week of joy and tears.....

Hello dear friends!

It has been a magnificent and equally emotional week in the world of Phat Man Dee. The Burning Opera company opened our show, "How to Survive the Apocalypse" at Teatro Zinzanni this week to sold out and we received very positive responses. We have even added a third week
due to sell out crowds! Maybe someday we will realize our dreams of taking the show on the road across North America and Europe..... fingers are crossed for sure!

Here are some wonderful press and blog postings!
Laughingsquid post:

photo by Michael Rauner

Contra Costa Times:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/entertainment/ci_13463898

My own behind the scenes evolving set of photos, here with David Petersen as we prepare for the opening of the show with the song "Gypsy Dogs"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phatmandee/sets/72157622461821010/

That said, even between gigs, I never rest, I never sleep, I only think of new and wonderful ways to entertain the beautiful people who come to hear me sing......
Tonight, sorry for late notice, I been a little busy, if you are in San Francisco early tonight I am singing at Red Hots Burlesque at El Rio, 3158 Mission St! Doors at 7:30 pm, $10, come early, seats sell out fast! A new and different show each week,including bizarre beauties,senseless sideshow, drag, burlesque and comedy! Each Show Features burlesque by DOTTIE LUX and film stimulus by VAL KILLMORE
Seating is limited to reserve seating please email redhotsburles...@gmail.com For a complete show calendar please see the RHB myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/redhotsburlesque
Accompanying me tonight is the lovely Charles Darius, he is one of the wonderful musicians from the Burning Opera, and I am not sure who all is dancing, but Dottie puts on a great show, and if you like tassel twirling and g strings, El Rio is THE place to be!

Hope to see you tonight, but if not, then maybe at the opera! Buy your tix now, I think next week is sold out!
http://love.zinzanni.org/burningopera.htm

Love and fried garbanzo beans,
Mandee

P.S. I say week of joy and tears because on Sunday we (the cast and crew of the opera) tried to go to Baker Beach to celebrate where the Burning Man got started, and thus led us all down the path which led to each other.... but these days it's closed at night and the cops ran us off and no one had enough $$ to go any one else's bail, so we made our way to Ocean Beach for some fire and music action. It was difficult for me, because earlier this year we lost a wonderful artist
and activist there, Tom Kennedy, and in that moment, I was in no way prepared emotionally to deal with an immediate confrontation of that geographic location AT ALL. It was a hard night for me, but it was nice to be with the opera, who remind me of how much we have to live
for..... and then last night, on our night off, we all sat down to watch video from our Wed night performance, to critique and whatnot, but beforehand we watched some video of one of the last Pepe Ozan desert operas, Eye of Rudra.....these productions, while very different from our own definitely inspired many of us in some way, some of us helped write direct and star in them, and then, without warning, across the screen of the video walked my friend Felicity. She passed away last year, and in sitting down to watch some video with my friends, again, I simply wasn't prepared for the sight of her...... Basically, I lost it, both Sunday and last night, in the middle of
such joy and intense passion of good music and performance, I was blind sided by the pain and utterly senseless loss of two people for whom I cared very deeply. I know if Tom and Felicity could see us now, both would be so proud of the work we're doing and probably be involved, or be roping us into some similar madness and artistic expression..... So friends, know that whatever time I have been able to spend with you, I consider it a blessing and for as long as we have together, I do not want to take a single moment for granted. I can't do everything I want to, but I sure as hell can try. Thank you for being in my life, thank you for being in my community, just thank you for being the you who has spent some time with me, I consider *you* the gift.