Springtime means LOTSA gigs!!!

Friends.... after emailing you seemingly every other day for a month.....I thought you might need a break....but now, let me say, I am honored and blessed and overwhelmingly grateful to all the support you all showed me during my supremely intense kickstarter campaign..... which was SUCCESSFUL! This summer I am going to Europe to sing at the World Body Painting Festival in Austria and then spend a month traveling with my videographer Smokin' McQueen as I search out and sing with jazz musicians and on bridges all over the continent! I have musicians in Belgium, Paris, Madrid, Berlin and I'm getting bridge suggestions from Malta, London and Bristol.... I cannot wait! THANK YOU!!!!!!! So much planning! 

Between now and then I have shows like mad! 

TOMORROW NIGHT April 1, 2015, 10 p.m., Smiling Moose, South Side

I am making a special appearance with a world traveling troupe of side show marvels who never fail to amaze me with their wild feats of human daring and ever increasingly stupefying and beautiful shenanigans! Join us for Circus Convergence III!! The Steel City Kitty Show presents Squid Shift Solutions with members of the Squidling Bros. (Philadelphia), Pain Solution ( Oslo, Norway) and Swing Shift Sideshow (Las Vegas), local acts Phat Man Dee and Kat de Lac! 

more info:

https://www.facebook.com/events/669929943129244/

Next week on Monday April 6, 2015

I am singing as one of many incredible artists at the annual B-Pep (Black Political Empowerment Project) Annual Jazz Marathon

This event is extremely exciting to me, for it showcases nearly the entirety of the Pittsburgh jazz community in a 7 hour long extravaganza! Tickets $35 and available at the door!

http://thesoulpitt.com/main/easter-monday-jazz-marathon-a-musical-fun-raiser-for-b-pep-on-april-6th-at-bridges/

The following week on April 18, 2015 I am excited to participate in a video screening with the filmmaker of my music video "Hey Phat Chick!" by Smokin' McQueen at the Blue Moon in Lawrenceville! Also screening that evening is The Nomi Darling Show "The Indecent Episode"! Other live performers include Lilith Deville, Smokin McQueen, the Indecent Divas, Veronica Lustt and Nomi Darling! More info:

https://www.facebook.com/events/434108646736594/

Thursday April 23, 2015 

Altar Bar, in the Strip, all ages, $10 doors, show 6:30 pm

I am *SUPER* excited to announce that I have been working with a new group of social justice activists, who are also, like me, performing artists. Our new group "Pittsburgh Artists for Social Change" is dedicated to affecting positive social justice through the use of our art and music. 

Artists, activists and promoters in the Pittsburgh community have come together to present a concert to benefit the Afro American Music Institute. 100% of all proceeds from the door, and in addition Drusky Entertainment shall also contribute a portion from each and every ticket sold at one of their concerts at Altar Bar for the period of one year to AAMI. 

For this concert, I am one of the hosts and organizers, and I will be singing with the gospel chorale (I joined a gospel choir, yes it's true, and they are fine with me being Jewish....haven't explained SubGenius yet.....we'll get there!) and I will also sing with Christiane D and Geña in our new project "The V*Sage Sangers". Also, the students I teach with Liz Berlin in the We Rock Workshop will also be performing!!!! 

Scheduled Performers include
Reverend Deryck Tines and the Lemington Gospel Chorale
Faculty Jazz Instructors from Afro American Music Institute
Afro Cuban Duets by Miguel Sague Jr and Miguel Sague III
Puerto Rican standards by Geña y Peña
Christiane D and the V*Sage Sangers 

Launka Zimeir
Shad Ali 

John Basement 

Bluey 

Sosa 

Billy Pilgrim
Students of We Rock Workshop!
DJ Mike Canton of the Soul Show on WYEP
DJ Nuke Knocka of PR7X
Hosted by Phat Man Dee, Lita D'Vargas and Dr. HollyHood

Speakers to include
Tim Stevens of B-PEP
Anupama Jain of Pittsburgh Coalition for Racial Equity in the Arts
Human Rights City Alliance

About Afro American Music Institute:
Afro American Music Institute (AAMI) began in 1982 by founders Dr. James Johnson and his wife, Pamela. On August 15, 2003 AAMI moved into its current location at 7131 Hamilton Avenue in Homewood. The facility provides a more inviting location with larger rooms and professional appearance and atmosphere. Consistent with its mission, the Afro-American Music Institute provides programs of excellence under the guidance and tutelage of its committed staff and board members. They seek out youth for enrollment and completion of programs and courses offered at AAMI. Their many students gain self-confidence, self-esteem, creativity and problem solving skills. Their curriculum provides specialized instrumental and vocal training in all styles of African-American music, gospel, Negro spirituals, jazz and more. People of all ages who wish to learn music from an African American musical perspective may study piano, voice, percussion and more at this incredibly powerful institution. 
See more at:: http://www.afroamericanmusic.org/

Please join us for this, I am honored to have so many wonderful people on board, and it would mean so much to me to have you as part of this historic evening of wonderful music!!!! 

More info:

https://www.facebook.com/events/965074193512294/

Here is some video of my friend Howard Alexander who teaches at AAMI with the Boys Choir:

I am honored to be in a world with you..... and I am grateful more than ever to know how many people truly respect my work and have shown their support with such thunderous waves of applause int he form of monetary donations and sharing of my now funded kickstarter.... Thank you....I am going to spend the next couple months before I leave planning my journey, sending off the rewards to the beautiful people who donated and doing the shows and gigs which led to you believing in me so much...... 

Love, light and faith,

Mandee

Once, there was a little phat girl, and she had a very big dream!

Right now....in a land known as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there sits, at her 12 year old desktop imac, a little phat girl who has dreamed of singing in Europe for the past 25 years. Since the birth of her dream, she has studied and made music with Pittsburgh jazz greats, ballet orchestra cellists, vocal teachers of great renown, medieval German bagpipers, Afro Cuban dance bands, Puerto Rican bomba bands, Egyptian classical and electronic composers, Middle Eastern master percussionists, Afro Latin master percussionists, gospel choirs, punk rock circus side show bands, heavy metal mavens, social justice singers, SubGenius spiritualists, hip hop producers, flamenca guitaristas, burgeoning rock operas about Burning Man, complaint choirs, I even led a Pan Spiritual Multi Lingual choir at Sankofa last year and we backed them all up with my jazz band, the Cultural District!!! I give thanks every day for the AMAZING power of the Lord, the Lady and Bob.... I am a pan spiritualist, I love God and the Goddess in all their forms and I feel blessed by everything every day. I was alienated as a child, felt bullied (was bullied) for being fat, weird, Jewish.... you name it.... small town, middle of Pennsylvania.... you know.... and as I grew I have come to understand we are ALL made to feel "less than" for some reason or another. Some friends of mine, it's because they're Black and we live in an inherently racist world with a ton of work left to do, some beautiful new friends of mine in Puerto Rico apparently STILL don't have the right to vote cuz of some CRAZY OLD racist laws on the books, some for religious, sexual orientation or economic bias, there are so many reasons for people to hate you in this world.... BUT I DIGRESS..... As an adult, I have turned the hurt and shame of being me around into joyous celebration of self and those around me through my music and art and it has allowed me to see the beauty of everyone else, I love language, culture, music, the flavor of a people can be heard in their songs and I want to sing with them ....

Here is example of the kind of videos I would make in Europe, on bridges.... this one I am on the Smithfield Street Bridge, down the street from my house:

As of this posting I am 22 hours from my deadline, at 10 AM EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) tomorrow, my kickstarter campaign expires and if I don't get it all, I get nothing.... I am so close to this that I can hear the accordions in Rome and the jazz trumpeters in Belgium..... and the bridges are singing in my mind's ear..... I just added some amazing last minute rewards.... music listening sessions with my bassist/producer/arranger Tony DePaolis, you can choose ANY RECORD YOU LIKE from his massive and seriously eclectic catalogue of vinyl (this comes with a wonderful souvenir of the session), glass figurines by Ed Pinto accompanied by my poetry, a photo shoot with me as co model and stylist with photographer Erica Dilcer, Saturday morning cartoon watching parties with Tommy Amoeba and I in our home with overly sugared cereal, laser printed clutch zippered wallets by Suz Pisano, Phat Man Dee jewelry by Angela Rocco..... or go whole hog and book my band for a special event, private party, wedding, Bas Mitzvah band.... (though if it's for a Bas Mitzvah, it won't really be "whole hog", I can keep it kosher...) you can see some pictures and look at the updates here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/402781557/help-phat-man-dee-get-outta-tahn-and-document-the/posts/1163720

Please help me make this reality. I love living in a world with you. We're all weirdoes and freaks and artists and we need to support each other. Every little bit counts, and if you don't have a couple bucks to send....share a link to someone who might. If you already have, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I can't wait to post the videos we will be making across Europe.....I have $1557 left to raise from my budget of $16,200, that means FOURTEEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE DOLLARS has been raised by wonderful people who want to see me sing in Europe..... THAT IS AMAZING!!!!  Still need a little bit more to toss me over the edge.... 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/402781557/help-phat-man-dee-get-outta-tahn-and-document-the

One love, I am ever grateful for the love and support we share together in this mad mad world we call home....

Mandee

PS The 20th Annual Ides of March March is this Sunday March 15, 2015, we meet at 12th and Carson, South Side, Birmingham Square, Pittsburgh, PA Fly your freak flag high and put on the dog! Bring a drum and beat the gong soundly!

New Rewards on my Kickstarter! New Gigs Announced!

I swear to you, asking for help is the most humbling thing I have ever done. And then, receiving it, even more so. I am blessed with the love and support of some incredible fans. I am grateful to live in a world where so many kind people respect me and my work. I have raised over 1/3 of the monies I need to take my music to Europe and create a video document of the journey. I have invitations to sing with musicians, in clubs and festivals. I want to make a video web series of me singing on bridges across the world, to symbolize the connection our city has to the rest of the world as an international hub of art, music and culture and THE BRIDGES THEMSELVES! What doesn't say multi lingual jazz like singing on a bridge? Please, I still need a little help. Every little bit helps, and I have awesome rewards at all levels. I really want to sing to you from the Eiffel Tower. I really want to hand deliver a pie to your home with a song. Please be part of the magic and the project. Also, I should say, if I don't get all the money pledged, I don't actually get any of it.... Kickstarter won't charge anyone's card if the project doesn't get all the funding. I think I made a pretty reasonable budget, and I don't want to take half the $ I need to make it happen and then do the project half way, I want to make it happen right, for real for true. Please donate what you can and please share it around. I didn't become Phat Man Dee all by my lonesome, I became Phat Man Dee because of the wonderful people I have known in my life who helped me get here. Thank you. 

kickstarter link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/402781557/help-phat-man-dee-get-outta-tahn-and-document-the
facebook event page for fundraiser link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1459809560906487/


Future gigs to keep in mind:

Sunday March 15, 2015 The 20th Annual Ides of March March


Meet 6 pm at Birmingham Square in South Side, S. 12th and E Carson, parade to 21st St, cross street, come back down the other side! This year marks the twentieth annual Ides of March March.... For the past twenty passings of our planet, our giant communal space ship, around our sun, we, artists, freaks, clowns of every ilk, sideshow marvels, dancers and mad blue bakers, we have marched through our neighborhood to warn the good people of South Side of Pittsburgh, PA that we, the Ides of March March, are ever watchful of our own return. Please join us this in this historically lacksadaisacal insistence that we are who we say we are! Put on the dog and let the horns be heard high, we are, and have been and this year we shall continue to be the one and only (except for the one in Phili and we are gonna try to have a virtual satellite feed of their parade to ours, kinda like in that one South Park episode where Kenny had to stay at the video staore so the others taped an ipad to a stick and brought his head trick or treating with them? kind of like that) 20th Annual Ides of March March! 6 pm! Sunday March 15! South 12th and E Carson St at Birmingham Square! Sahs Side! Bring drums! Sidewalk floats! We're on the sidewalk, not the street...remember, this is happening for no particular reason at all..... it's just exactly what it is..... 


Saturday March 21, 2015 
Winterstar Ball : A memorial to Jeff Rosenbaum 
The WinterStar Ball is a fund raising event to honor the life and legacy of Jeff Rosenbaum. The money raised will be utilized to place a headstone at his grave site. Any funds raised that exceed the cost of the headstone will be put towards the continuing vitality of the Starwood Festival which is the enduring legacy of Jeff's life work. Come be a part of something quite special! There will be workshops, live music, a psychic fair and merchants catering to many specialties. 
https://www.facebook.com/events/524968607642338/

Also dave these April dates, more info to come! 
Monday April 6, 2015 
B-Pep Annual Fundraiser tix $50, jazz jam session featuring over 50 of the regions finest jazz players in one room at one time! More info tba! 

Thursday April 23, 205
Unity Concert at Altar Bar! 
Produced by Pittsburgh Artists for Social Change and Drusky Entertainment! 
All proceeds to benefit Afro American Music Institute and Hosanna House! More info tba! 

Thank you for your time, you art, your love, yor support, your life, just being on the planet with oyu, there is so much happening, some good, some bad, some really bad.... and I feel blessed to just know we are here and doing everything we can to leave this world a better place then we found it. 
One love,
Mandee

PS My kickstarter....OMG PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!! WHY DID I DO THIS? IT IS TERRIFYING AND I SHOULD HAVE JUST BECOME A LAWYER OR A VULCAN LKE I MEANT TO DO WHEN I WAS YOUNG CUZ THEN I COULD HAVE EITHER JUST PAID MY OWN WAY OR STOLEN A STARSHIP AD GONE THERE MYSELF!!!!!!!

PPS Rest with God Mr. Nimoy, you were an inspiration and a mensch. 

Lordy Lordy.... Phat Man Dee's 40!!!

Friends! I do not know how this has happened.... I have been told that time waits for no Mandee.... and while that was fine by me, as I believe that time is cyclical, everything just comes around and as long as you know the chords, the improv will fall in and around as it desires.... but sometimes you must not ignore the call to get yourself to the gig on time, and it is in those situations I find that thinking in a linear fashion is more appropriate. One step in front of the other til you meet your goals and so on.... Keep the eyes on the prize and all that.... With that in mind, now, in this fourth decade long trip coming to pass during my journey with you on this big blue ball shaped space ship we call the Earth, I have decided (and been advised) that NOW is the time to make my way to Europe to begin my journey as an internationally touring jazz sensation! I have been offered opportunities to sing at the World Body Painting Festival in Austria, as well as some clubs and festivals in Paris, Berlin, Munich and London. To realize these goals, I have JUST launched my FIRST EVER online fundraising campaign of any kind..... I am blessed to have so many fans and friends in my life and I ask, if you can to pledge, and if you can't (cuz I don't love you for your money, I love you cuz you like art and music and weird things.....and so do I) just share it and ask people to share or pledge as well. I don't make alot of $$ as a jazz singer in Pittsburgh, but I really believe if I can get my show to Europe then I can make the connections I need to begin traveling with regularity and take my musicians and co performers in my troupe with me. Pittsburgh has a unique and talented pool of artists and I will share us all with the world. I shall make a web documentary of my trip with filmmaker Alistair McQueen, and we shall post a video travel blog showing my musical collaborations with the musicians I meet along the way. My other dream is to sing on every bridge I can find.... I am from Pittsburgh, the worlds city of bridges, more bridges than anyone else in the world, and I wish to musically connect our brides to the bridges of the world..... So I will sing and document my singing on the bridges of Europe. I will sing my songs, write new ones and learn songs form the people I meet on my way. I have some great rewards for those who can support me and I sincerely appreciate every bit of support I receive. I wish I could do this on my own, but I need help. 

Here is the link, please share and donate if you can! 

 

photo by Chris Koontz, Philadelphia, PA at J J Jamesons Battle of the 5 Carnies Late Night Cabaret! 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/402781557/help-phat-man-dee-get-outta-tahn-and-document-the

If you would like to see me more locally and sooner than July, I must recommend these beautiful happenings: 

This Sunday February 15 at 3 PM I will be joining Pastor Deryck Tines City Wide Gospel Choir at the Father Ryan Arts Center as part of their 5th annual African American Art Show, this years theme is Black Lives Matter! http://www.fatherryanartscenter.org/

Then at the end of the month on Friday February 27, 2015, I will be performing with my trio The Cultural District 

at the Sweetwater Center for the Arts in Sewickley for their Sweet Jazz Series. 

Please come out, tickets available on their website! 

Facebook link:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1526948090904781/

Thank you for tuning in to my transmissions, one love to you all, I am grateful that we are in the world together right now. We will make it a better place together. 

Yours, Mandee

on twitter @phatmandee 

More info: http://www.phatmandee.com

PS OMG I almost forgot!!!! My friend Alistair McQueen at Smoke This Productions made the most delightful music video for my new song "Hey Phat Chick!" I hope you like it!!!! 

Stand up and be counted with all the rest, cuz everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam!

And here in Pittsburgh, and Ferguson, and Staten island and all over the world....
(If you are not familiar with the song referenced in my subject liner, please refer to the great Nina Simone's song "Mississippi Goddam": http://youtu.be/hBiAtwQZnHs )

Friends, as an artist and musician I long have enjoyed the blessings of working with thoughtful, beautiful, inspired and learned people, many of whom have been people of color, Black, African American, Latino and more.... and I find that while I have always "believed in a just society" and I have fought interpersonal racism in my life, it is, for me, way past time to stand up and say something more loudly. I feel that if I am not part of the solution, then I am part of the problem. Jonny Gammage, Mike Ellerbee, Jordan Miles, Leon Ford, Tamir Rice, Mike Brown, Eric Garner..... the list of names of people taken by systematic racism and an un just "justice" system could go on and fill scrolls which would cover the earth a hundred times.... It is time to "End White Silence" and insist that "Black Lives Matter". it doesn't bother me to say that, because I never felt like my life didn't matter and if my friends and community has people who were not raised to think that by an unjust society, than I am honored to tell them that society was wrong, cuz they really do, matter. So, I am working with a wonderful group of extremely diverse and international and local activists of multiple generations to be part of several events this weekend and I hope you will join us for all of them.....

Thie Fri Jan 16
Bloom-Fest, Rock Against Racism

https://www.facebook.com/events/629444013832903/
The Pittsburgh Music Community comes together in a night of music and merriment for a cause, to help raise some awareness and funds for activists working on racism and anti brutality issues.. this is an offering of community in peace and solidarity which many in the Pittsburgh music community find to be unacceptable....
For $10 you can get a wristband which will allow you into 6 venues featuring over 50 bands, for a complete line up see the FB event page.....
I am personally singing at Howlers at 8 pm with my friends Miguel "Cha" Sague III and Carlos Peña, but whomever you see, know we are all donating our time and artistry to support the good work of "We Change Pittsburgh" and the work that they are doing to fight racism through protest and actions in solidarity with Ferguson and beyond.

Mon Jan 19

Mass March Against Racist Wars at Home and Abroad

I am part of the coalition of activists organizing this march and rally, and I will be singing at the downtown rally after the march.....
At 6 pm we will gather at the intersection of Forbes and Bigelow Ave, in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, have a short rally and then march downtown to City-County Building, on Grant St.

As Dr King said: "Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go out into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism."
So, on his birthday, we shall march and rally against police brutality and racism to keep his legacy alive.
We demand an end to all forms of racist wars: from the domestic war waged against the poor and working Black and Latino communities to the imperialist wars on the poor and working people all over the world.
This is part of a national call to action - the #4MileMarch happening all over the country to bring awareness to America's epidemic of racial profiling and police brutality, and to honor all those who have been injured or died as a result of police violence.

Speakers shall include Pastor Shanea Leonard, Carl Redwood, Pete Shell, Vanessa German, Julia Johnson, Tayfun Gol, Joan Mukogosi, Brandi Fisher.
Socially conscious musicians shall include Miguel Sague Jr, Idasa Tariq, Blak Rapp Madusa, Phat Man Dee, Kelly E Parker, and Timbeleza.
For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/events/412272628919716

Later that same evening I will be singing for the annual Dr King Birthday concert to benefit the Duncan and Porter Homeless shelter run by long time peace and justice activist Vincent Eirene.
For more information on that event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/787513721327432/

Future appearances of mine include the Sweetwater Arts Center "Sweet Jazz Series" where I shall sing on February 27, 2015, 7-9 pm, with my full band with Donna Davis, Mike Houlis, and John "Smitty" Smith.
Tickets are $15 and info about Sweetwater can be found online at:
http://www.sweetwaterartcenter.org/

Other helpful links if you want to get involved locally with the pursuit of social justice:
http://wechangepittsburgh.com/
http://thomasmertoncenter.org/
http://wwhatsup.wordpress.com/

As a final note.... please hear the music of a man who made Pittsburgh sound like one of the prettiest places in the world....Rest with God Gerald "Shotgun" Haymon..... your groove will never be forgotten.

Justice....If not now, when?

I think my "friends" and "fans" and "followers" may be becoming tired of me posting about race and change and justice.... I think I get more "likes" when I post silly mundane stuff, I think people might be "hiding my posts" because they don't want to hear it anymore.... I want my friends and fans to understand, that I don't want to post about it anymore either! I don't want to go outside in the cold and protest, I just had hernia surgery last week! I should *not* be running around downtown screaming "No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police!" But more than that... I don't want to live in a world where we *have* to talk about it!

I don't want to live in a country where children are regularly shot and killed by rabidly mad and militarized police who are then vilified as thugs while their grieving parents' churches are burned to the ground by white supremacists while they're in mourning for a child who can't be at thanksgiving dinner ever again! I don't want to hear about people shot and left to burn in their cars because they're protesting injustice. I don't want to live in a city where children are beaten and paralyzed by the very people who are supposed to protect us, and I find myself thinking "Well, at least poor Jordan and Leon aren't dead, cuz Michael Ellerbee and John Gammage are never coming back and their killers are working on the force and free"?!?

That's not good enough!!!! We can do better!  I don't want to worry about my biracial niece and nephews and their beautiful Black cousins and wonder how long until some one feels threatened by them and decides shooting them is the right idea..... I don't want to worry for my friends' children and wonder if Teira's killer will ever be caught.... I'm sick of living in a world where it's even an issue! We have KKK madmen functioning in a world as policemen and doctors by day and murderous monsters in masks by night....and they aren't just over in Missouri, they're in my backyard, right here in Pennsylvania and they don't just hate Black people, they hate all of us, including the actual originally indigenous inhabitants of this land, cuz those fools are too ignorant to know that we're all immigrants! Unless you're indigenous, you aren't from here and you never learned any of their languages!!!

I hate that more people vote for American Idol than their congressional and senatorial representatives. I hate that there is looting going on in the banks and stock market and the pursuit of profit are destroying our economy, our ecology and our souls..... So are you tired yet? Of my ranting? Of my posts that aren't about kittens and cute little kids eating cupcakes? Then go do something about it, tell your racist friends to shut up! Tell your sexist friends to fuck off! Stand up for someone sometime! See how it empowers you and the people around you. Turn off the tv and look at a person and say "Hi, my name is" and make a friend who doesn't look like you and see what kind of power it brings into the world!

And then, after we've all fixed it, and there's no more hate, no more threats and no more attacks and everyone has food, shelter, healthcare and we're not killing the planet to do it...... THEN we can look at some "kitten waking up" videos and coo..... Then I can show you the Dr Who slippers I want for my birthday, and my adorably infuriating little dog who barks at everything, and I can sing "Nature Boy" to you over drinks, and the yinzer version of the "Girl From Ipanema"....and we can all laugh and love and I won't feel guilty for enjoying the little things, because then I'll live in a nation where cops aren't killing innocent children anymore......

Won't that be awesome? Won't that be cool? Let's do it, I triple dog dare you.... And if you are still tired of my posts, and you still think I'm yelling too much about boycotting Black Friday and supporting small business.... Well delete me then. I don't care. I didn't like you anyways and I don't know why we're "friends" cuz you obviously don't really know me. Vote at the ballot box, vote with your dollars, what we do on this earth matters and if we don't fix this now, when do you think we should do it? Cuz it's broken, and we are supposed to fix it.

Yours in solidarity for justice, freedom and peace,
Phat Man Dee

Do you know what it means? To miss New Orleans?

I do, I know very well. I know the pain of being too far away for far too long from New Orleans. But late is better than never, so I am bound for the swamp, the land that spawned the music I love so much, to sing to the people who have survived both massive flooding and the Bush administration. So, if you have any friends down that way, do tell them to stop in.

My first stop is actually in Valley Head, Alabama. I have never been to Alabama. I am going to be part of a Women's Weekend, Aspects of the Mother, at the Hawkwind Earth Renewal Cooperative on Nov 7-9, 2014. I will be leading a basic vocal workshop and teaching basic breathing technique. 
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/683955878359684/

Then, rested, and in touch who I am in this world, I shall venture furthur south, for 2 wonderful engagements with and for some of my favorite people in the world.

Wednesday Nov 12, 2014
"A Musical Rogue's Gallery" 

 w/ Phat Man Dee, Vinsantos & Damien Youth at ALLWays Lounge, New Orleans! Show at 10 pm, no cover. (Bring tips, cuz none of us are rich!) 
Address: 2240 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
Phone:(504) 218-5778 
More info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1485794431669174/



Friday Nov 14, 2014
"Bella Via's Birthday Bash"
I am blessed to have such a friend as the artist, Bella Via. She once painted me when we helped break the world record for largest # of body painted people at the American Bodypainting Festival at Brushwood many years ago. She is a beautiful soul and a wonderful artist. I am honored to be invited to sing at her birthday party at the Circle Bar.

Address: 1032 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

Phone:(504) 588-2616

As much as I would love you all to come with me, I know many of my friends and fans are not able to come so far away with me! If you are in the Pittsburgh area, please allow me to make some suggestions, cuz there's alot going away while I am gone and I'm sad to miss it, but there's no reason you couldn't go!

Thursday Nov 6, 2014
If you like some hip hop and soul, my sister Elizabeth is throwing a major event at Howler's Cafe.... PR7X "LIVE" a Hip Hop Soul Event. PR7X.com - #PirateRadio "LIVE" Broadcast with #PR7XDJs Nuke Knocka, DJ. KB (Keygen Bryant) and DJ. Rob Chilldren with Performances by Jamar Hubbs, Shad Ali, Soul Dean, MaVe Sami and Get Down Gang Fan Page... it's be very exciting.
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/856577351026880/

Saturday Nov 8, 2014 
My dear friend Danielle Robinson is a multi faceted artist who creates things of great beauty, and she is participating in a group show called: DOUBLE MIRЯOR EXHIBIT 4! The event is in South Side on E Carson.... crazy, I don't evem remember the last time I was invited to a visual art show in South Side... If I were in town I would def brave Carson Street madness for this.... More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/703372816418970/

Thursday Nov 13, 2014
"Rumor Rides Again" a film by Emmet Frisbee is having it's world premiere at the Regent Theatre as part of the Pittsburgh Filmmakers Film Kitchen. I actually play a role in the movie and am in the opening sequence. The event includes guest speakers and live music by Jimmy Sapienza and Five Guys Named Moe. I also am contributing a movie short, my first attempt at a music video, with live footage from my cd release party by Jodi Lincoln and Smokin' McQueen and also some footage shot last night (as of this posting) at Filmmakers sound stage. 
More info on the event: http://3rff.com/films/film-kitchen-special-edition

Same night...Nov 13, 2014 

The Steel City Kitty Burlesque And Variety Show featuring my dear friend Smokin' McQueen is happening at the Smiling Moose as part of the Steel City Kitty Burlesque and Variety show. This monthly event showcases local and national burlesque stars, I have been on her stage several times, and I assure you, it's always a debaucherous blast. More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/713432362085014/

Same night ...Nov 13, 2014
And last, but assuredly not least, a terrible decision...cuz you can't do it all, which is unfortunate, as my old friend, supremely talented master percussionist Nicholas Ragheb is coming home for a couple shows and you should absolutely catch him wherever you can.
Min Zaman
2nd Annual Autumn Belly Dance Recital with live music. This evening of dance will feature Benafsajii (students of Karianne), Joanna Abel, Karianne and showcase live music with Nick Ragheb, Luke Williams, Phil Coatsworth and Ancien!!
$10
Doors at 7:00pm
Show starts at 7:30pm 
www.karimerlina.com
karianne@karimerlina.com 
Venue: 
3rd Street Gallery
220 3rd Street
Carnegie, PA  15106
Tickets can be purchased via PayPal (fee included), through Kari and Joanna or at the door. 
NO REFUNDS UNLESS THE EVENT IS CANCELLED

Saturday Nov 15, 2014 
Nick is also teaching a workshop on Saturday. This Middle Eastern Music 101 for Musicians and Dancers will be a day spent learnign and playing with Nick Ragheb, and I am very sorry to miss it. Hosted by Joanna Abel & Karianne.
For details on how to attend this event, please go to: http://www.karimerlina.com/nick-ragheb.html

So, dear friends, I say unto you, I am southern bound to sing to old friends and hopefully to some new ones as well. But you need not fret, for I am but one of many wonderful performers and musicians who live in Pittsburgh, PA, and any one of them will assuage your need for music, art, dance, film and more.

Love, light and rhythm,
Phat Man Dee
Follow me on twitter and facebook for more up to date stream of consciousness ravings about any and everything....

One more thing, please enjoy some delightful video of me singing with drumming and dancing by the Hamer Sisters, Maria and Christine. We're lucky to have them, so make sure to support them. The song I am singing was written by my dear friends Halim and Deborah El-Dabh. Halim is a magical being. He invented electronic music and ethnomusicology. He gave me this song to sing, and I hope you enjoy this rendition.