(written drunk, posted sober)
I did musical improv last night which I had basically sworn to never, ever, ever do. Ever. The idea of singing in public terrifies me. And the idea of not at least having a familiar chorus to fall back on terrifies me more. I think coaches who suggest “made-up hot spot” as a warmup are bad, lazy people who can’t think of anything better to suggest.*
Landlords have a monthly show at the Creek called Tapas! Tapas! Tapas! which basically justifies the entire existence of the Creek all by itself. Teams are given two ten minute sets to do something weird. Something they wouldn’t do in a different venue or with more time to be held accountable to. And then one five minute dramatic set. And Robber Baron did the show tonight. And I suggested musical improv. I suggested it. I hate it. And I’ve spent the last ten months living in constant fear that these lunatics would eventually yes-and our way into a musical set at some point. So I decided to head them off at the pass. And our only trained singers were unavailable. And you know what? It was un-fucking-believable. Zero fear. Potentially a combination of a beer, a magical dramatic set right before, and doing my brief song with Terry Fucking Withers. I cannot describe the feeling after the song ended. It’s not like it was the greatest song you’ve ever heard in your life. But the feeling was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Total hysterical joy.
If you were not there, you will never understand that magic of Eddie Brawley’s “Spaceships and Thermometers.” And I am so sorry for you.
*I don’t really think this but it is the only warm-up I hate.
RB was great. Tapas! x3 is great. Nicole is great.
This was such an amazing set by Robber Baron. After the ”Spaceships and Thermometers” revelation, I fired up my camera and was lucky to catch one photo as things were getting mind-blowingly awesome. It was exactly the type of set we were hoping for when we created Tapas.
Sadly, this was my last show with the Landlords. The group has been so important in my transition from DC to NYC and it wasn’t an easy decision. I was so glad my last show on the production side of things was so fun. Even playing my last set in the Landlords with “my replacement.”
