Crazy B!tch Magazine Issue 2: The Entertainment Issue

LOCAL MUSIC

THE REAL BACKBONE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY Over 90.7% of artists actively making music are considered undiscovered. The top earning 1.1% of mainstream artists have 87.3% of Facebook page likes. They also have 88.4% of Twitter followers out of all musicians. Smaller and undiscovered artists get only 9.7 percent of all the music & music video views on YouTube. Justin Bieber’s YouTube play count is greater than the combined population of China and India. Even mainstream and hugely “successful” artists, may not be as successful as we perceive them.

Reports suggest that for every $1000 sold, the average record artist signed musician only gets $23.40. The music industry has changed rapidly in the past 20 years, with digital downloads and piracy. This is why many artists, even in the mainstream, are giving their music away for free and focusing on making money from touring, merchandise and endorsement deals. Streaming plays outnumbered radio spins 132 to 1 in 2011. This is also why many larger artists are also starting their own record labels and/or producing themselves and their fellow artists. The good news with this is, it’s entirely possible for a hardworking local band to make a small, but tidy, living from developing a devoted fanbase, performing shows and touring. The only thing in their way is the existing perceptions, (or often misperceptions,) about what it means to be a successful musician. Despite the tremendous work ethic required to stay in the game as a starving musician, many do so because of the passion they have for their craft. Like any artist, the music is inside of them and it needs to get out, almost at any cost. The public’s perception around the music industry, however, can make it hard for a local musician to sell tickets to a show, even to their friends and family.

Why is it so hard to convince someone to spend $5-25 on a cover for a smaller band that is just as talented as a mainstream artist one wouldn’t hesitate to drop $60 per ticket on or more. Local & independent musicians are truly the backbone of the industry and it’s time we begin recognizing them as such. For all the talk of “manufactured music” created by the music industry from start to finish, 4 chord songs and 20 writers for a simple auto-tuned tune, the majority of major artists started out at smaller independent artists.

Furthermore, many independent artists have reached a cult-like status with sizable followings and financial success, despite retaining control over their music and remaining independent from record labels.

The idea that a smaller artist is “selling out” when they get a record label or start to get a fanbase outside of their geographical home base is also damaging and untrue. Fans should be happy that their favorite musicians are gaining traction, followers and financial success. This isn’t a hipster competition.

Websites like Patreon have made it possible for artists from a variety of fields, not just musicians to make a predictable monthly income based on amounts that their fans or patrons have pledged to pay monthly in exchange for ongoing exclusive content provided by the artist. Amanda Palmer has been a huge proponent of Patreon from the beginning. From Amanda’s own words on her Patreon page after putting out over 13 different things in just over a year for her patrons,

“I've been struggling since I got off my label in 2008 to find the right platform for ongoing support, through which i can release constant material (and get paid). I've gotten to know myself. as a creator, as a songwriter, and as a recording artist, I thrive on instant gratification and a direct mainline to my audience without having to go through labels, distributors, the machine, the mass media. i love making things and instantly sharing. and i know my fanbase: you're smart, kind, supportive, future-platform embracing people.

We all started learning how to trust each other with kickstarter, pledgemusic, indiegogo. i think subscription sites like patreon are a new revolution in music-release and art patronage. What i'm doing flies in the face of most conventional approaches: I try to release pretty much ALL MY ARTISTIC CONTENT for free: the songs and videos live FREE on youtube, bandcamp, my site, wherever. (in some cases, like david bowie covers, i have to charge, because bowie's publisher charges me for the use of the songs. but usually, stuff's free). THAT IS HOW I LIKE IT. not everybody wants to buy it. that's fine. it's yours, it's everybody's, you can take it, you can share it. But to DO this: i need support, true patronage. those willing to be the driving engine to pay for the recording studios, the filmmakers, the office rent, the staff costs, the gas, the food, the lodging. i need a salary and a budget. Im friends with jack (the CEO) and the fine folks at Patreon, as i was pals (and still am) with Yancey over at Kickstarter. i *really* believe in the future of crowd-power and what these people and companies are doing. it isn't making world news, because it is what it is: a quiet, underground network of artists connecting directly with their fans, bypassing the entire commercial system. this is AWESOME. It is, in these days of negativity and tumblr outrage, the bright side of the net: it is how the web can really *save artists* in an art-economy that is floundering. AND it means YOU need to step up and support the artists you love, the political cartoonists you want to see bravely satirizing the system, the painters you want to see reflecting their realities, the musicians you want filling your hearts and your speakers, the journalists you want to see writing about the state of the world. THIS IS HAPPENING!!!! HERE YOU ARE!!!!

Almost 25,000 of you supported my Kickstarter, and i don't expect those kinds of numbers here - this is more of a commitment: though you do get to road test it if you're scared (you can pull out before you're charged at the end of any month, so it's risk-free).My Kickstarter was a one-time deal, this is more of an ongoing commitment to me and my music and spontaneous art-making.

Kickstarter was like a serious date, this is like getting married. More backstory? I’ve been flailing (often happily, for sure) since I left my label in 2008. Self-releasing and distributing vinyl & CDs isn't easy. Giving my music away for free online has been an adventure, but not as sustainable as I expected. You may be surprised to know that "Theatre is Evil" - even with 25,000 backers and rave reviews in the press - sold relatively few copies in stores. But while Kickstarter is awesome for huge one-time projects, I don't want to do get repetitive and exhaust the fanbase with "HEY I'M MAKING YET ANOTHER RECORD, PRE-ORDER HERE….AGAIN!."I just want to be able to go into the studio, make music with friends, call a film director, make a video, take a few months off, write, record, and press PUBLISH when i'm done, the way i can with my blogs. bam, bam, bam.

INSTANT ART. I also don't want to have to think up clever merchandise (I know we love fuzzy posters, and t-shirts, mugs and tea-cozies....but how much Stuff is too much Stuff before we don't need any more Stuff cluttering up landfills?)Don't get me wrong: I’m not going to give up on physical or merchandise (I mean, manufacturing my own vinyl and nudie pens brings me great joy) and I'm not going to give up on collecting my music into "albums". but I know me and I’m addicted to PUTTING OUT THE THING NOW. I’ve seen what's happened to me when i'm able to slave all night on something and wave it around immediately the next day online or at a show. without that possibility, 8in8 (the all-night record I made with ben folds and Damian Kulash and Neil Gaiman: http:// www.eightineight.com/band.html) wouldn't have happened. and I don't think I ever would have written "Gaga, Palmer, Madonna" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dxDREaCyjE) if I hadn't been able to upload it directly to YouTube that night. The immediate thrills me. Getting PAID to make this art instead of just doing it for kicks thrills me even more. About money: SOME THINGS COST A LOT OF MONEY! some of the patreon projects listed above had budgets of $15,000. and SOME THINGS COST ALMOST NOTHING! a song like "a mother's confession" cost me a few thousand dollars (to pay my kind engineer for his studio and mixing time). The idea here is that you trust me to use the ongoing budgets as I see fit. not every project will cost the same...but the more budget I have, the more fun crazy shit i can do, the more staff I can pay (and the better I can pay the staff I already have), and more I can spend on my artistic collaborators. I like feeling like a pipeline through which money can flow. it gives me great pleasure to be able to pay other artists to Do Their Things with my budgets. Here's the key: THIS IS A HUGE EXPERIMENT. If you guys know me, you know I LISTEN. we're here to make this sucker work together, and we will. even if you're a one dollar backer, I want to know what you're digging about the platform and what's bugging you. the conversation (via comments here, and on Twitter and Facebook, and on the live webcasts) has already been ON FIRE, and I hope to keep it that way. Every patron who's supporting me is important to this community, YOU'RE who I’m creating for, and I'm glad you found me here. Whether you're backing me for a dollar or ten dollars...THANK YOU. ALLL THE THIIIIIIIIIIINGS!!!

MOAR THINGS FOREVER!!!!!! let's DO THIS SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love, AFP” You might have heard of Amanda Palmer from the Dresden Dolls. Her vagabond attitude is a breath of fresh air and she truly Gets It. She gets that the music industry isn’t about a competition of who can sell the most records or who can play to the biggest stadium. It’s about making a connection. In Amanda’s Ted Talks speech from 2013, she recounts her life before music as a living statue. She talks about the connection she made with people doing what she did, without ever saying a word. She discussed how she couch-surfed with fans and used Twitter to connect with her fans on the road and meet up for meals while touring with the Dresden Dolls. She recounted walking around with a tip jar after the show, asking for tips to help them get to the next destination. She explained that the people who viewed asking as begging were missing the point. That the connection between fan and musician is the point and that is the exchange that’s being made. The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help is a 2014 memoir by American musician Amanda Palmer with a foreword by Brené Brown and is her book on this same subject. The music industry has much left to learn from Amanda Palmer. She spoke of how her label considered her album a failure when it "only" sold 25,000 copies in the first few weeks despite her being thrilled with that number.

Despite that being the same number of people that contributed to her Kickstarter campaign post label.

Inspired by the sounds of rocknroll, doom, metal and blues...we are Sisters Ov The Blackmoon and we invite you to join our Coven

Members: Sasha Wheatcroft - Vocals Josh Alves - Drums Andrew Vega - Guitar Dan Schlaich Guitar Jared (Scuds) Anderson - Bass We met up with Sasha Wheatcroft from Sisters ov The Black Moon to discuss how they got

started and the difficulties of being a local band in a big city like Los Angeles.

"Growing up my dad was super into Rock n' Roll and he actually worked for a radio station in Kansas City. He booked bands like Kiss & Deep Purple, then he moved over to the film industry.

Growing up, he would take me to concerts. I think my very first concert was ZZ Top and Joan Jett and he put me on his shoulders and everything, I was a little kid. He was always very supportive of me wanting to be involved in music. I always wanted a band, I never had voice lessons, I tried guitar lessons and just wasn't into it. 2 and half, 3 years ago, I think I just finally reached a point when I was ready. I was confident enough and everything kind of fell into place.

The band came together organically.

Originally it was me and Josh, our drummer. Josh was probably the very first person who was nice to me when I started to go around Hollywood. We talked about what we wanted to do. His music taste and background is very different from mine. He has a very technical metal background. I was all about Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac is my favorite band, and I wanted to do something sort of in that vein but harder. That's where Andrew came in. I actually met him through OkCupid. We went on a date. We decided that we liked each other more than just to date each other. He is so much like me. I think we started listening to Uncle Acid together. We are very much into that kind of 60's-70's stonery doom. Dan, I actually met two years ago in line at Amoeba Records. He was actually just visiting from Pittsburg and he was wearing a Graveyard shirt. I was like "That's a cool band." and he was like "Yeah it is." We ended up going to the show that night and became great friends and he played guitar so BOOM he's in the band. The bass was actually the hardest person to find. Although somehow, Jared, our bass player, I've known longer than any of them. I know him from high school. He's always been in other bands and we'd never been able to quite mesh it together. So, we started talking again and I told him that this is the project I have. We'd already recorded Blood Cauldron without a bass player. He was all for it, came to a couple of practices and everyone got on well and that was that. " "Our band is like a big family and we have each other's backs. We all have very different musical tastes, which I think explains why our band can't really be put into one specific category. It's kind of occulty and goth, but it's not goth music and it's like bluesy Janis 70's but it's more than that. It's a lot of different things. I'm really glad that we all came together and can add in different aspects of what we like. " The largest festival they've played to is Wasteland Weekend which they're playing again this year.

It's a festival that is apocalyptic/Mad Max themed and you can't even get in unless you are dressed in apocalyptic sort of attire. They created a stage for the event out of an old truck bed and they had pyro.

"Usually our bigger crowds are in L.A. with audiences we've curated ourselves. We are really big on never doing pay-to-play. We've been focusing on getting with bands that are our friends and sort of making a family out of bands in L.A. Because L.A. is a tough scene and either you're accepted or you're not. There's so much competing for attention every night of the week. Live shows and things going on constantly, it can be tough as a local band to get that slice of attention in a city this size. We'll do certain events, like one of the biggest was a TOYS FOR TOTS benefit but we sort of flipped and did a Krampus theme. It was us and a couple of bands from L.A. of different genres. There was a good turnout and we got a lot of toys donated, so it was good for charity too."

"We got our name from the Fleetwood Mac song Sisters of the Moon, but we're harder than Fleetwood Mac so, Black Moon. And "Ov" is kind of like our nod to our love of Norwegian Black Metal even though we aren't black metal at all.

CHECK OUT SISTERS OV THE BLACK MOON on Facebook, Youtube & Reverb Nation and if you're in SoCal, catch one of their upcoming shows. Also stay tuned on the CRAZY B!TCH MAGAZINE Instagram & Youtube channels for videos of the full interview with Sasha and the rest of the band.

RED VELVET CRUSH One of very few bands making a living playing music in Kansas City: "Red Velvet Crush makes unapologetic rock n roll.

Taking direction from more radio-friendly late 90s and early aughts rock, the band does well to inject the form with a more contemporary sound. Red Velvet Crush’s vocal melodies stay stuck in your mind for days while their heavy riffs give their pop structures a brooding texture." - Brian Clifton, Mills Record Company.

Red Velvet Crush is a 5x award winning female fronted pop/ rock from Kansas City, Missouri; built on dreams and a passion. Through song, Red Velvet Crush tells the stories of courage, motivation and of making choices to make a change, for the better.

Realizing what you know and what you dream to create the life you desire, the person you aspire to be; to move past what has held you back in life, to always strive to move forward to break boundaries in your life to achieve your dreams and goals.

Red Velvet Crush's new EP Crystal Clear was just released to an enthusiastic, loud crowd at Riot Room in the band's hometown of Kansas City, MO. Equally showcasing both sides of the 5x award winning acts love for pop and rock, with a brand new full band lineup RVC put forth a high energy set premiering each new song off the band's new record as well as a couple fan familiar favorites - Crystal Clear was produced by Joshua Gleave in the heart of Music Row in Nashville, TN with studio drums by Lester Estelle Jr (Kelly Clarkson, Pillar) The new EP features four brand new original songs that are each to their own in sounds and story and effortlessly meld pop and rock together with the magnetic and punchy guitar riffs of Daniel Mendala and the bold yet vibrant vocals of Jillian Riscoe that also blend in the perfect amount of rock n roll edge to the songs. Find more info on the band at RedVelvetCrush.com and download Crystal Clear on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and more. soundcloud.com/ redvelvetcrushmusic

STRENGTH WHERE THERE IS NONE Living Life to the Fullest and Rising Above Debilitating Illness

Healing my Heart

By Emily Clede

If someone asked me to encompass the last twenty years of my life, I would not really know how. It’s a disorganized mess of experiences. Of heartbreaks and feeling like I was never enough, of crippling pain, being told I was shy, awkward, or slow and feeling misunderstood. For years I have fought a debilitating condition but felt alone because no one listened to me or understood what it was. But this year I’ve been given an incredible gift, the opportunity to have a voice and the chance to fight for my life OUT LOUD. My name is Emily Clede and I was just diagnosed with Late Stage Lyme Disease in October of 2015. I am THIRTY years old and I have been suffering since I was ELEVEN years old. The peace that has awakened in my heart from validation, having a path to fight for healing is probably one of the greatest gifts I could ask for. I have people in my life now who legitimately love me and support me in what i am going through. But it forces me to face all the pain and anger I feel for those who never understood me, who never gave me a voice for the pain I have been suffering.

If you have never heard of Lyme Disease, it may be hard to imagine all of the pain that a simple tick bite can cause. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and you feel bolts of electricity pulsing up and down your arms. Your limbs tremble uncontrollably, and there’s this awful achy feeling in your spinal cord and swishy feeling in your brain. You try to cry out but you can’t get the word “help” to come out of your mouth because you feel paralyzed. In front of your eyesight are dozens of transparent blurry floaters filtering your vision. Sometimes when I wake, I can’t move my eyes and have to wait for them to “wake up” with the rest of my body. In highschool, when I attempted to get my Driver’s license, I had such a difficult time with my short term memory and sensory overload that to this day I have gotten by without driving. I was once having coffee with my friends when suddenly my hand opened holding the hot cup, and I quietly scrambled to grab the hot drink with my other hand because I was embarrassed and afraid. I spent the last nineteen years of my life seeking answers and suffering these challenges. Today as a diagnosed woman, my doctor says it’s because my Central Nervous System is in fight or flight mode due to infection. So my short term memory is very compromised, my motor control is constantly jacked, and my messed up heart is making me dizzy almost all of the time. Tiny, living creatures in my blood have literally been causing my body to attack itself all of these years.

Speaking of my heart… it is not the most peaceful place in many ways. I want so bad for it to be, but I need to find closure. When I was a little girl, I was vibrant, energetic, and goofy. I was one of those kids you better not give me sugar or caffeine, because I would be bouncing off of the ceiling. I wanted to be a comedian... I loved making funny faces and making people laugh made my heart feel happy. Then one day I was playing in a field and everything came to a halt. I came home that night to find a tick bite with bullseye rash on my arm, and although I didn’t know what it meant, I sought help from my parents. They are the first who told me about Lyme disease at that point in time, and despite knowing it’s seriousness, they mentioned not wanting to spend fifty bucks for a Doctor's appointment to get me tested. According to the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, a Bullseye rash by itself is diagnostic of Lyme disease. My parents told me “Let’s wait it out and see if the rash goes away” They even mentioned “With Lyme, you won’t feel so bad for several years anyway.” I bit my lip, and as my rash faded in a couple weeks, many of my abilities faded also. I became a very pale, quiet, struggling little girl. I would be given class assignments or told lists of chores but forget within seconds what was said. I was no longer able to run around giggling, so my family labeled me as depressed. They tried to brush it off, saying “you’re being lazy all of the sudden” or “you must have a learning disability, because you’re so slow” and my heart felt sad. I would fight crippling exhaustion and a need to stay in bed all day sometimes, and my parents would ground me from seeing friends thinking I was being lazy on purpose. It’s a mixture of neglect and ignorance that put me into this situation. Because before I got sick I was a vibrant hilarious girl, after I got sick I fought short term memory loss, heart trouble, walking difficulty, and severe exhaustion. The little time I got to see doctors they did not understand because no one talked to each other to see the big picture. “You have juvenile arthritis in your knees and have to wear braces for several months” “You have Attention Deficit Disorder and learning difficulties” “Your heart is being abnormal so let’s make you wear a heart monitor for a month” concluded by the time I was age 12. Since turning 18 I have had various doctors concerned about Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, and Epilepsy because I’ve begun to suffer symptoms you see in each. How do I forgive those people in my life for choices they made that literally debilitated my life every day since? It is not easy but it’s a choice.

I choose to forgive because I would not wish this on ANYONE. In 2008, a pivotal event happened which deeply changed me. I know some won’t understand or might feel anger for me sharing this about my father, but my message to you is this: This is a part of my story. I am proud to have survived this. I had moved back into my family’s home after a mold issue in my apartment made me very ill and I was transitioning into a new place. But one night I fell in the hallway with convulsions and I could not get up. I cried out for help. As I lay there trembling on the wooden floor, My dad yelled “No one will want to be your friend if they see you like this” and he told me I was faking everything and threatened to record it with my camcorder to show my friends “what a fake I was”. He told me to be quiet, that he didn’t want to spend the money to take me to the hospital. I felt paralyzed and I could not control my muscles to get up and escape.

He kicked me in the head and dragged me across the hallway floor by my elbow. My arms trembled uncontrollably. The pain was intolerable and feeling so unloved was almost unbearable. Thankfully a friend from church happened to call that evening and she gave me compassion and a safe place to stay. I have not slept a night in my family’s house or stepped foot in it since shortly after that night. My friend’s choice to reach out literally saved my life and helped change me into who I am today.

Although I’ve been told that these horrible things would make me undesirable as a friend, in reality it’s revealed who I really want in my life. In 2014 I woke up one day in horrible pain in both feet. It was like they had shards of broken glass in them and walking was extremely difficult. I spent months trying to figure out what was going on, seeing Podiatrists and physical therapists. I had to depend on a wheelchair because it was so challenging to walk. I was engaged to be married and struggled through trying on wedding gowns barely able to stand by myself. One evening right before Christmas, my elderly neighbor friend Theresa showed up at my door with a walker in her arms. She said “This is for you, Emily. I love you. Merry Christmas!” She set it down on my porch and threw her arms around me and we both started crying. The sacrifice she made was so huge. She was in living in the retirement home near me, in poor health, and financially often struggled to feed herself. Yet she saw what a difficult time I was having with walking and wanted to show love. To me that is one of the greatest gifts I received because I knew what a huge sacrifice that was for her. She is someone I am honored to have as a friend. I feel blessed beyond words and her actions help transform my heart.

As the months continued on without knowing why I could not walk, I felt so frustrated. But losing my walking ended up being visible symptom that led me down the path to learn I have Lyme Disease. If my feet had not become too swollen to handle shoes without explanation, then I would still be stuck with all of these invisible symptoms and no understanding of what was going on. I’m incredibly grateful.

Today, I have a renewed hope that I never thought I would get to experience. Six months ago I started the continuous IV antibiotic treatment which I have so badly needed since twenty years ago. To my amazement, little by little, the true Emily is coming back. The Emily that bounces off the ceiling with laughter. The Emily that makes funny faces and wants to be a comedian. I’m no longer considered shy and awkward. And this is all so new to me, I have only been able to start fighting six months ago. Knowing now what I was missing out on, the grief over my family weighs even heavier. I was neglected so deeply that no one acknowledged that I wasn’t able to express my true self anymore. To have that ability back is the greatest gift, it’s like breathing air for the first time in twenty years. But no one from from my past recognizes me now. I have an enthusiasm and joy that’s full of life yet no one from my past to celebrate with. Twenty years of brain fog are becoming a thing of the past. I believe I will get better. I finally believe I will get better, yet it will be a long journey.

Last week I’ve stopped my 6 month round of IV Antibiotics for now and the next step in treatment is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy which will help oxygen get to my brain and allow me to heal faster.

The money we have raise so far has allowed me to do the IV antibiotics. I need to raise approximately $6000 in order to procure the Hyperbarics machine I need. The monthly cost of supplements I require is $700. My friends put together this Youcaring page for our medical expenses. Getting the opportunity to feel better slowly day by day is so huge to me after 20 years of suffering! Your support for my medical treatments would be greatly appreciated. https://www.youcaring.com/emily-clede-487979

Me before Lyme.

Me shortly after contracting Lyme.

The field where I played that started it all.

Photographer: Gary Brown (Shovelhead Studios)

Photographer: Keith Foster

Photographer: Mark Grant

KELSEY ROBERTS

When all that you have known to be real is stripped away, only then are you free to dream without preconceived notions about who or what should be in your life to be happy. Any woman who has had to fight a battle & won is probably a 'Crazy Bitch'...Perhaps she has earned the title?

The hardest battle I have had to fight, and am still fighting every single day, is against a disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Photographer: Brian Mitchell

I have been quoted as saying "When all that you have known to be real is stripped away, only then are you free to dream without preconceived notions about who or what should be in your life to be happy. Any woman who has had to fight a battle & won is probably a 'Crazy Bitch'...Perhaps she has earned the title?" The hardest battle I have had to fight, and am still fighting every single day, is against a disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is described by the Ehlers Danlos National Foundation as a heritable group of connective tissue disorders, caused by defects in the synthesis of collagen.

There are currently 6 types of EDS. "All share joint laxity, soft skin, easy bruising, and some systemic manifestations". (The Ehlers-Danlos Society. www.ehlers-danlos.com). Symptoms "range in severity from mildly loose joints to life threatening complications." (The Ehlers Danlos National Foundation. www.EDNF.org).

EDS is diagnosed by physical examination and clinical observations such as testing how the skin stretches or soft it is; the Brighton Score; examining the patient's medical history for EDS symptoms that have been exhibited in the past and possible family history. The type of EDS is identified by identifying of manifestations that match the major and minor criteria for each type and, in some cases, genetic testing. (The Ehlers-Danlos Society. www.ehlers-danlos.com).

While it sounds relatively straightforward to be diagnosed with EDS, it is actually quite difficult for most patients because EDS is a rare disorder and most doctors are unframiliar with it, and thus reluctant to diagnose a syndrome with which they lack experience. EDS patients are called Zebras because in medical school doctors learn "If you hear hoofbeats look for horses, not zebras" but for an EDS patient, the hoofbeats (collective symptoms) are actually the rare medical problem. She is the zebra that doctors have been warned not to look for which makes it difficult to see her for what she really is: an Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome patient who needs help.

In my case, I was diagnosed as having hypermobility syndrome in 1994 after a catastrophic knee injury. I dislocated my left knee cap at gymnastics practice and was taken to the ER in Rochester, Minnesota. The following months of physical therapy and orthopedic follow ups were at the Mayo Clinic simply because that is the large medical center where I grew updodge Center. Minnesota. . At my last appointment before being cleared to return to normal activity the orthopedic surgeon asked me a lot of questions about any previous injuries, my extreme flexibility and other health issues I might have had. I remember him rolling a stress ball on his desk and looking at me very seriously over his glasses while telling me I had to avoid any activities with impact because I would be prone to serious joint injuries and health problems. The doctor told me I was hypermobile and needed to be very careful because it was a serious problem. At that time, Benign Hypermobility Syndrome was not classified as EDS. In 2002, Hypermobility became EDS Type III or hEDS. The Orthopedist decided I could try to do without surgery at that time but when it happened again I would need extensive surgery.

Over the years, many specialists mentioned hypermobility syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome starting with my knee surgeon my freshman year of college at the University of Kansas where, contrary to specific medical advice, I had walked on the Varsity Women's Crew team.

I had my first big knee surgery in November of 2006 after my kneecap began to dislocate on a regular basis and was maltracking. It was horrendous- I spent 4 days in the hospital on a demerol drip following the surgery. It did not end there. For me EDS has led to many joint problems: I dislocate both kneecaps, shoulders and several of my fingers and toes. I sublux both hips coming painfully close to full dislocations. I have torn and ruptured tendons in both ankles and also in my right hip. I also have slipping rib syndrome which means I slip the rib heads off my spine. "Joint laxity" is, in my case, excrutiating and causes almost daily injuries. I now walk with a cane to reduce the number of falls I have from joint instability.

EDS is not limited to joint problems and pain. I have a myriad of health problems including interstitial cystitis which causes significant urological issues that have necessitated numerous bladder surgeries, chronic kidney infections and sepsis; vocal chord dysfunction; pulmonary issues; Chronic Pain Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, significant gastrointestinal problems including slow gut motility, malabsorption and intestinal tearing;Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and had endometriosis. I am intolerant of many drugs and spontaneously develop serious food allergies because I have developed hypersensitivities. I have many other conditions that are problematic but these are the ones that impact me most and all of these health issues are comorbidities with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. In the last 2 years, I have been in the hospital more than 30 times. It is life threatening for me and I frequently am fighting a desperate battle to survive an episode in the Intensive Care Unit.

I am no longer able to work- I am completely and totally disabled. I was granted disability within three weeks of applying because I fell under the "dire need" exception- normally reserved for terminally ill cancer patients. I have a Juris Doctorate from The University of Kansas School of Law and a Bachelor's degree in English Literature. I was successful in my career life though the deterioration of my health caused absenteeism and strain. The life I thought I would have- the career, the income, the types of friends and mother I thought I should be have all been erased by this disorder. I am in excruciating pain nearly every day of my life and I am unable to do even the most basic tasks some days.

However, I refuse to accept the bleak picture my illness has painted. While it is true that EDS causes awful problems for me, I have learned what it means to be strong. I am a "crazy bitch" for battling through the hospitalizations, pain, and fear to live my life to the fullest that I am able each day. I am a "crazy bitch" for being happier than I've ever been because I know exactly what I have in my life to smile about I am the mother of a wonderful 10 year old boy who is the light of my life. He is without a doubt one of the most beautiful souls I have ever come across. McEwen (Mac) is empathetic, a math super-star, musically inclined, artistic, athletic and has a wonderful sense of humor. He is so brave and a just a great kid- helpful and independent. Mac is also gorgeous! I am biased, of course, but everyone who meets Mac is left with the impression that they just met a very special little boy who has a bright future and is genuinely a pleasure to know.

The first time Bryan told me he loved me, I was in critical condition after going into acute respiratory failure and septic shock. Bryan ran into the room where I wasn't breathing on my own or conscious. He said "Come back to me, Pretty Girl. Come back to me.

Open your eyes for me." And... I did. I started making noises and pulled the mask off my face, opened my arms and felt his strong, safe arms envelope me and pull me into his broad, comforting chest. In that moment, I knew I was going to be alright. Bryan settled himself in the bed next to me with all the tubes in my body and held me. I was crying so hard because he was there and I was happybecause I am a "crazy bitch," I was happy in ICU. Before Bryan left, he leaned over me and told me that he didn't need or want to love another woman in this life but he met me and found he was not past that point in his life after all. Bryan said "I love you." And it made me happy to hear but because of the way he treated me, talked to me with such genuine pleasure and lit up every time he saw me I already knew I was his beloved. I am the "crazy bitch" who believed I was loveable and capable of loving a Bryan the way he deserved in spite of catastrophic illness and significant disability. We have been together for more than 2 years and I have more joy with Bryan than I imagined possible. Because of EDS, I get to have the pleasure of knowing this extraordinary human being every day. I am watching him grow in to a fine young man and we have so much fun together. I am a "crazy bitch" because I am grateful that while EDS took away my ability to work and left me disabled it gave me the time to get to know my son and appreciate him. I love McEwen and am so, so proud of the young man he is and the man I know he will become.

I also have a wonderful relationship with a man who loves me like most women dream about being loved and I am a "crazy bitch" because I dare to believe in our love. I didn't know it was possible to love another person as much as I love my boyfriend, Bryan. Neither of us were looking for anything serious when we met but for me it was love at first sight. It took a little longer for Bryan to fall in love with me but only by a couple days, unbeknownst to me at the time. Bryan makes me laugh and he is my best friend. He is supportive, sweet, romantic and has a smile that lights up any room. I look at him and see the most handsome, sexy amazing guy I could have ever dreamed up (seriously, his body and baby blues alone make me weak in the knees every time I see him) for myself.

I'm a "crazy bitch" because I am a professional model who has been published internationally; even though I am much older than most working models, short, curvy and post-baby body insecurities. I was a model in my late teens and twenties with a great agency in Kansas City- I&I. Coming out of full retirement after a baby and many years into a high pressure legal career was unexpected but also a wonderful experience.

As I became more comfortable with myself in a larger size than when I had been when I first began modeling, I went from shooting TFP to charging an hourly rate. I have been published a fair amount and also do production work on larger shoots. I'm a "crazy bitch" because I noticed that disabled women were especially appreciative of the images on my facebook page so I began to talk more openly about how EDS affects me and my self esteem, but that I am beautiful- scars, stretch marks and sickness included. Disabled women thank me for inspiring them to get a haircut, put a little make up on or, in a surprisingly high number of messages, get frisky with their partners. I'm a "crazy-bitch" for believing beauty comes in any sizes, at any age and regardless of disability.

The modeling led to being cast in a small role in a major motion picture, "Key Revenge". I will be paid to spend 4 days on a sailboat in Key West though I will be working. I also get to have my body painted to be in scenes for the movie that will be shot at Fantasy Fest. I am so excited to start a new career in acting and believe I will be able to do it, physically, because it would only be a few days

of work at a time. I am a "crazy bitch" because I'm going to be an actress and I'm pleased to say that I've already filmed an insert for another movie while waiting for "Key Revenge" to start filming! I did a truly gross scene for Horror movie legend Todd Sheets while being eaten by a Demon for his movie "Deaming Purple Neon" and it was fantastic fun. The EDS was even helpful because it turned out they needed flexibility to achieve the effect of the scene.

I curated an Art Gallery in Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District on top of all this wonderful. For First Friday, I launched new shows with different artists each month. I managed to bring in internationally known sculptors, painters & photographer's into my little gallery on the corner of East 18th and Oak. I also gave artists their dream of a first gallery show which often lead to more shows in bigger galleries and it was rare not to sell several pieces of art. In one case, the letter I wrote combined with the experience of a show got a young artist a scholarship to a school he would otherwise been unable to attend. I helped small businesses like Belladonna's Cupboard do a performance piece with models- even though that night I had only been out of ICU for a day and had been forced to have a central line run so they could begin IV antibiotics every day for the next 14 weeks but allowed me to be home as much as my body would allow. I could barely stand but "crazy bitch" that I am I believed all my artists were important enough to go to war with my uncooperative body and still do First Friday.

Dreams of KC was my last show in my little gallery- it runs through the end of August 2016. The people who bought the business in April 2016 decided to move the office- a choice that meant I had to announce I would be closing because on a disability income I cannot lease the space especially since I was paid a small amount to do the event each month and manage the gallery happenings. I am a "crazy bitch" because in spite of the shock and sadness, the last show was done with grace & style and my artist got a commission and numerous sales. I got to say goodbye to so many people who have become regular parts of my life since June of 2014 and heard how much the work I did for the arts and community from my little space mattered to so many. In fact, Fox 4 News in Kansas City came to interview me to honor me for the good things I did despite EDS's havoc on my health. I was touched. I have so many friends from all walks of life who make my life rich and full and as a "crazy bitch" I can't help but love them all. Many of my friends came into my life through or because of the gallery and I hope to have a new space soon where I can continue to make an art gallery a place where all people feel like welcome guests and at home among friends while they take in a little cultire- "crazy bitch" that I am, I believe in the arts as an important part of a society.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome has its teeth in me and it gives me a hard shake on a regular basis. I have gone into details here because awareness about the severity of this syndrome is sorely lacking. EDS doesn't impact any two patients exactly the same way and other diseases are often related to EDS as an underlying cause. I fight a battle for my life on a regular basis but Oh, what a life I have made! It is truly what dreams are made of and it is Magic... All of it. I look at my life and know myself to be one of the most blessed people I know. I truly believe that my life is so full of wonderful that I have no complaints about what the EDS has limited, taken or the pain and sickness it causes. There may come a day in the not too distant future where complications from EDS take my life and the thought of that possibility makes me sad because I love this life and the people in it dearly. But I have earned the title "Crazy Bitch," because I once said that it is something a woman earns through winning hard battles. I have won the battle for my life because disability and chronic illness have not dulled my sparkle or ability to love and that, my friends, is enough for any soul.

CRAZY BITCH? Oh, yes, thank you- after all. I believe I have earned that honor.

Kimmie's Dolls from her childhood that she donated to the set of Devil's Carnival 2. They were destroyed and made to look creepy. She got them back when ďŹ lming was done and then donated some of them to us. Squeeee!

THE MAGIC YOU DON'T SEE BEHIND THE SCENES with Kimmie Yan

People like Kimmie Yan work behind the scenes of your favorite TV shows, movies and music videos every day, but you have no idea who they are. They are producers, directors, wardrobe, makeup artists, administrative assistants, casting directors etc.

There are a lot of moving parts in the entertainment industry and many roads to work and to success, but only the biggest names become well known. Yet without all the players, nothing would ever get created.

"It's not about me, I'm not the kind of person who feeds off the spotlight. I'm the kind of person that will get things done, whatever you need and I like helping other people make their productions into reality and get their vision created and seen." -Kimmie Yan

So of course, we shook things up and put the spotlight on Kimmie to get some insight into some of the things she's done and some advice for those wanting to break into the film industry.

"Sometimes, when working on a production, you just have to do what needs done. Your title doesn't mean much. I've done wardrobe, I've done makeup, I've done set dressing, I've worked as a producer. Sometimes you go get coffee or run errands, sometimes you find money for the production, sometimes you find yourself in awkward situations driving across country on tour while 2 of the directors have stink wars against each other with various things and stink bombs back and forth as a prank. It doesn't really matter because I love being a part of these amazing things and getting to work with so many incredible and talented individuals."

That really happened?

"Yeah, Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich. It started out because one of them, really hated the smelly van. But, we're touring around the country on a tight schedule to screen The Devil's Carnival 2, things get smelly. There's only so much you can do to make it better, so they made it worse. It was all in good fun and it makes for an interesting tour story."

"What advice do I have for those trying to break into the industry?

If you want to act, get out there and do it. If you want to write, write a script. Get out there and network. If you want to produce, produce. If you want to make films, get a camera and some friends and just start doing it. It sounds crazy, but that's the truth and it's really the only way to break into the industry and once you do, you can find work from the connections you build. It works.

There's no secret, no magic formula. If you want to do something, just start doing it and the rest will follow."

This is Kimmie's newest project. Go check out the IndieGogo campaign to learn more:

THE ISSUES & TRUTH BEHIND THE JUDICIAL RAPE SYSTEM

-Rachel Boese

What is Justice? Most of us have a pretty clear idea in our minds of what that word means. Is that picture accurate? Maybe not. What is rape? Wikipedia says Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration perpetrated against a person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or against a person who is incapable of giving valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, has an intellectual disability or below the legal age of consent. What are the ethical and moral implications for individuals in a position of power that knowingly cover up or facilitate rape? What are the responsibilities of these individuals? Where is the line drawn?

These questions have come up in the media a lot lately, especially after Brock Turner was convicted of raping an unconscious woman outside behind a dumpster following a frat party. Turner was only given a 6 month sentence behind bars with the possibility of only serving 3 if he behaves better in prison. While Turner’s defense attorneys dragged the victim through painful and invasive questions on the stand, Turner was played up in the media as a star swimmer. His mug shot was released months later, the media used his school picture and portrayed him as an all American boy. His father stated that even the meager sentences his son received was too much “for just 20 minutes of action.” 20 minutes of action? 20 minutes of Rape, as it is clearly defined. The woman was unconscious and could not consent.

Brock Turner admitted to fingering this unconscious woman but insisted the act was consensual. The jury found him guilty of assault with intent to commit rape. According to The Guardian, Raul Ramirez was arrested after a similar sexual assault against his roommate. Ramirez reportedly gave her a “love letter” and later entered her room and fingered her for five to 10 minutes. The act was not consensual, and Ramirez only stopped when the roommate started crying. Unlike Turner, who attempted to flee the scene when spotted by two passersby, Ramirez remained until police arrived, and admitted to the assault, telling police “he knew what he did was wrong.” Both men raped a woman. Neither had prior criminal records of convictions for serious or violent felonies. Turner’s bail was $150,000. Ramirez’s was $200,000. Persky gave Turner six months in county jail and probation. Persky was overseeing a plea deal that would put Ramirez away for three years in state lockup. Ramirez’s defense attorneys are not contesting his sentence. They recognize that because Ramirez pled guilty to a felony, the three-year sentence was the minimum the judge could order.

What it highlights is how Persky, a former Stanford athlete himself, went above and beyond what is appropriate to make sure Turner served an incredibly light sentence. Judge Aaron Persky was later removed from a a different assault case."After ... the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. Twenty jurors refused to serve in Persky's courtroom Wednesday, citing the judge as a hardship, according to CNN affiliate KPIX-TV in San Francisco.

On February 22nd, 2016, The Rolling Stone reported, “In 2014, Kesha sued producer Dr. Luke, seeking to void all their contracts because of how, the suit claimed, Dr. Luke "sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally abused [Kesha] to the point where [she] nearly lost her life." Dr. Luke countersued shortly after.

The first big decision in these cases came on February 19, when a New York judge denied Kesha a court injunction that would have allowed her to record new music — apart from her record label, Sony Music, as well as Dr. Luke — while the suits proceeded through the courts. Since then, stars such as Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga have shown support for Kesha, and fans have taken to the streets, holding rallies outside courtrooms and boardrooms.” Kesha’s attorney Mark Geragos, who's representing the singer, claims that the first incident of alleged rape goes back to when Kesha was 18 and that, while no so-called "rape kit" exists, therapy records and "witnesses that she complained to repeatedly" will corroborate the claims. The civil suit, he adds, "allows us to do all the discovery." Whether that might amount to future criminal action, "All options are on the table," Geragos tells Billboard, adding that he anticipates others will come forward in the wake of Kesha's filing. "She's still scared to death of him.” Many women (and men also) in abusive relationships stay for years. They make excuses for their abusers. Many justify and don’t believe they are abused. Many rape victims blame themselves and wait years to come forward if they ever do. This is common psychology. The law is not set up in a way that is effective to protect victims from themselves or from their aggressors in a way that makes them feel safe to come forward and fight.

Many do not fight, even in court. They are too ashamed to endure the suffering, the prodding, the attacks on their personal character that go with prosecuting someone for rape. The population as a whole is woefully uneducated on the failures of our justice system and at many points has turned on those most in need of justice because of common interpretations about how the courts operate.

I know first hand that the timeline that many people feel that courts must operate on based on the expediency that television shows imply it does can sway public opinion against victims despite the evidence proving otherwise. I was raped in Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital when I was 13. I was supposed to be on suicide watch, which meant they were supposed to check on me every 15 minutes. They did not. They knowingly placed me with a 16 year old (considerably larger in height and strength than me) openly bisexual, previously convicted sex offender for a roommate. I’m not the first nor last girl to be raped in this institution. A year before me, a girl was raped by a boy who snuck into her room at night. Her trial went quickly, she received a large sum of money. I guess they wanted to avoid publicity, I also wanted to avoid publicity being 13. It probably didn’t help that it was girl on girl rape and the year 2000. I was afraid. I was ashamed. I developed severe panic attacks and had to stop going to school for a long time. The girl who raped me plead guilty on September 11, 2001. We were the last case heard for the day after the twin tower attacks. Their attorneys managed to hold up my case in court against the hospital itself for 7 years. When I was 20 and finally starting college, I was offered a very low settlement amount. My attorney urged me to take it. He said it was highly unlikely that a jury would be on my side because of the amount of time that had passed. He explained to me that the majority of the population only had TV shows to learn from about how courts work and that swift justice, while often not reality, is what they expect. I took the settlement because I needed the money for school and also wasn’t happy about the idea of going back on the stand and recounting all the details again. You might think that since they had a clear responsibility for my care and wellbeing and that the girl admitted to it in court, that it would be cut and dried for them to take responsibility.

That’s not the way the judicial rape system works. It just isn’t. It’s a complicated problem and public perceptions about rape are a large part of the issue.

Emilie Autumn told KERRANG "An asylum is not a sanctuary for people with mental health problems. It's a sanctuary for sexual predators and it's always been that way right back to the Victorian days. I was a victim of the ultimate violation; I was sexually abused, raped and fucked with. The only thing that made it survivable, trite as it sounds, is that I can use it for good and have my revenge turning this nightmare into creativity. I hope that by talking about it, I can help other people feel like they aren't the only ones." Emilie Autumn is a musical artist who frequently uses themes involving asylums, insanity and rape in her music. She is now working on a musical called THE ASYLUM. Shia LaBeouf came forward and said that he was raped by a woman during an art installation he participated in.

"One woman who came with her boyfriend, who was outside the door when this happened, whipped my legs for ten minutes and then stripped my clothing and proceeded to rape me… There were hundreds of people in line when she walked out with dishevelled hair and smudged lipstick. It was no good, not just for me but her man as well…On top of that my girl was in line to see me, because it was Valentine’s Day and I was living in the gallery for the duration of the event – we were separated for five days, no communication. So it really hurt her as well, as I guess the news of it travelled through the line. When she came in she asked for an explanation, and I couldn’t speak, so we both sat with this unexplained trauma silently. It was painful.” The art installation took place at 7354 Beverly Boulevard Los Angeles, CA in 2014. #IAMSORRY involved LaBeouf sitting silently behind a desk in a room in LA’s Cohen gallery with a paper bag bearing the legend “I am not famous anymore” over his head. For five days, members of the public queued to be able to sit alone with him in the room with a prop of their choice.

The internet and media reacted with doubt and shame towards the actor. Many said that he could not be raped because he is male. Anyone who does not consent can be raped. A man can have physiological responses to touch, while still saying no and not wanting to have sex.

Originally reported by Gothamist, Secret Feminist Society Fights Brock Turner & Rape Culture

BY KRISTIN HUNT IN NEWS ON JUN 16, 2016 12:50 PM “My first encounter with rape was when I was eight years old. We had a home invasion, and I could hear my mother being raped in the other room. Rather than call the police, my mother called my father, who was her ex at the time, and his first response to her was, ‘Do you think it’s something you did or wore, that caused this to happen to you?’” That's Jessicka Addams, the frontwoman of Scarling and Jack Off Jill, speaking via Google Hangouts to a packed house in East Williamsburg's Holyrad Studio on Wednesday night. Addams chose to share her experience at a party/rally in New York City to oust Aaron Persky. The following week she spoke at a gathering for the same purpose in Los Angeles. She went on to tell another story, one she hadn’t told before. This story is from when Addams was still an up-and-coming musician. Her friend walked in on Addams’ ex-boyfriend raping her. It’s incredibly rare for a sexual assault to have a witness who can offer testimony but that friend didn’t encourage Addams to go to the police—he encouraged her to keep it to herself, so she didn’t compromise a record deal. Addams says her friend has since apologized and told her that, as the father of a 15-year-old daughter, he has nightmares about the incident every night. “You’ve let an eight-year-old unlock the door and tell her story for the first time,” says Addams. Then, after thanking the crowd for listening, Addams raises two middle fingers and yells, “Fuck rape culture.”

(CNN) Reported By Sandra Gonzalez, Tue August 2, 2016 Kesha dropped one of her lawsuits against her label and music producer Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald in an effort to revive her stalled music career.

Kesha's attorney told Rolling Stone the singer dropped her civil lawsuit in California, but will continue to pursue appeals in New York where a judge dismissed her sexual abuse claims against Gottwald in April. (The sole claim pending is a request to terminate Kesha's contract with Gottwald's company.)

Kesha will now focus her efforts toward fulfilling her contract with Gottwald's Kemosabe Records and parent company Sony Music Entertainment. She recently provided the label 28 new songs in hopes of releasing an album and single soon, her lawyer said. "My fight continues," Kesha wrote in a Facebook post. "I need to get my music out. I have so much to say. This lawsuit is so heavy on my once free spirit, and I can only pray to one day feel that happiness again."

Awareness and open communication about rape, even within institutions and involving individuals that once thought themselves above the law is the only way to make it so that victims have a voice and the ability to come forward safely and effectively defend themselves against this violence.

-EDITORS

Sideshows are secondary acts or performances that accompany a circus, carnival, fair, or other attraction. Freak shows focus on biological rarities, unusual or extreme individuals and feats. Both forms of entertainment waned in popularity after the mid 20th century.

Both have also made a comeback in a big way. As Television arose, becoming the new god of entertainment, interest in sideshows declined. Moreover, after the World War 2, as men returned home from war, and women returned to the home, our nation regressed to more conservative ideals. Many cities outlawed the exhibition of “Freaks” even as the performers protested that they didn’t object to the sideshows.

That these performances were often their only viable source of income as discrimination against them was of still very legal.

In the 1990’s, The Jim Rose Circus played a large part in reinventing the Sideshow and featured some traditional acts while carrying others to extremes. Acts featured body modification and the bizarre, such as eating insects and suspension. The show drew audiences at venues unknown to old-time sideshows, like rock clubs and the 1992 Lollapalooza festival. The Jim Rose Circus held its last known performance in 2013 at The London Burlesque Festival. It's impact on pop culture, however, cannot be overstated as it inspired a new wave of performers.

There are now more sideshow performers than at any other time in the genre's history. In 2013, The Venice Beach Freakshow got its own reality TV show. In an interview with LA Weekly in 2014, Todd Ray, owner of the Venice Beach Freakshow said, "We have a freak philosophy, we don't want to be the next Real Housewives of New Jersey, or whatever," he continues. "We don't want to be anybody but ourselves. For us, 'normal' is the bad word. It puts people in a box. It causes people to struggle with their identity. Because none of us are the same.” That is the difference between today’s world and the world that shunned and disposed of this art-form. In 2016, we admire individuality and we seek tolerance of differences while appreciation for other cultures and experiences outside of our own. The show ran for 2 seasons, but Venice Beach Freakshow is very much alive. You can catch a show there for a $5 entrance fee at the Venice Beach Boardwalk on weekends from Noon until sundown. They are one of, if not, the most definitive example of the revival and continued growth of this entertainment art-form.

-Rachel Boese

Adrenaline. Roller Coasters. Extreme Sports. Shock Rock. Side Shows. How we do obsess over the extreme.

We are Exhilarated by these things. Why? Participating in extreme activities seems to go against our basic instincts in some cases, doing dangerous things. Things that could make us bleed. Watching them may be a different story, but there must be a reason that some people shy away from these entertainments while others are drawn to them. Sports are War and the entertainments of the coliseum.

Is there something inside us, inside All of us that’s dangerous? Like comedy can be used to make difficult subjects more palatable. Sometimes, more extreme forms of entertainment can do the opposite. Can they shock us into acceptance? Not in a negative way. More in a philosophical way. Musicians like Marilyn Manson who mocked the pope and church, spat out heretical lyrics and anti-government sentiments that people can agree with. Freedom from oppression by religion and freedom from oppression by government. When Eminem rapped about killing his ex-wife, there was a lot of controversy in the media. Most of his listeners though, recognized his words for what they were: catharsis.

Many could relate. Is that the same as condoning the actions he rapped about? No! It condones the expression through art as a medium for healing and communication. Life is not always sunshine and daisies.

Why should art, in any of its forms, be any different?

The grotesque and the uncomfortable to witness can inspire, teach, shock and even comfort in ways that more ordinary entertainments never can. That which potentially makes us question our beliefs is what can make them, and us, stronger.

Jimmy Urine, lead singer of Mindless Self Indulgence pulled his penis out while on stage, peed in a cup and then drank it while the audience cheered.

Jimmy Urine, Chantal, myself and Kimmie Yan

"I want people to walk away with the feeling of, ‘What the fuck just happened?’ when they go back to their cubicles,” Urine told the Gay People’s Chronicle.

MSI even included the followiing warning in the booklet for their Frankenstein Girl's are Strangely Sexy album (the first album by them that I ever listened to back in 2003), Warning! You must listen to this album with your tongue planted firmly in your cheek. If you don't have a sense of irony, or you are a piece of shit bigot, or a fundamentalist anything, return this album immediately, don't come to our shows, don't wear our T-shirts. Fuck off. If you're a parent who neglects, beats, or doesn't show your child love, know that we don't condone violence so don't waste our time in court while you try to explain to a jury how our music made your ‘happy & normal’ child into a deranged lunatic. Thank You.

Matt Zane of Society One took the world of metal by storm by doing live suspensions while singing on stage during shows in which his band was performing.

FROM: www.dansperry.com

THE MAGIC YOU DON'T SEE Dan Sperry has captivated the world of magic with his grotesque and bloody magic tricks that must be seen to be believed.

BEHIND THE SCENES

With Kimmie Yan

The very nature of these acts, in and of themselves, are subversive. They are so far outside the realm of "day to day" life. These performers create a reprieve from the mundane that draws us in, and once we are ensnared, we are never the same. We look for more and more, and they deliver. This Fantastic Excess. This Obsession with the Extreme.

Horror writer by day, late night rocker girl by night. Nicole Sixx grew up on the ugly side of the Colorado foster care system and was provided a window into the darker side of the human soul that she draws on for her writing to provide realism and depth. Her loved ones keep her human, her writing keeps her sane. Nicole currently resides in West Hollywood with her two cats, Buddy and Trouble.

A woman walks into a strange shop in a strange town and comes out a literary sensation, a drifter walks into a bathroom and ends up spending a wrong turn in a gender bending carnival of terrors. Friends and lovers find disturbing new pastimes and lost souls just refuse to stay lost in these six twisted tales of sex, violence and the supernatural lubricants in between. Follow Nicole Sixx down the dark alley of human observation as she pushes boundaries and translates modern social issues into metaphorical nightmares. For anyone who finds normal drastically unnerving and takes solace in the strange and captivating.

We're Little Class Records.

What does that mean?

We are a full service record label with an incredible roster and back catalog filled with local, regional and national artists.

We're exclusive, in house talent buyers for The Westport Saloon, Kansas City's premiere roots music venue.

We are co-founders of Westport Roots Festival.

KC's only annual roots music festival.

We are leading the way in music business technology with BandHack.com, helping independent artists survive in this ever changing music industry. We are currently in beta mode. Help us test our product! www.LittleClassRecords.com

Can you tell me about your background and how you got started with the Westports Roots Festival and Now Bandhack.com?

My background is rather varied.. I’ll try give you the Readers Digest version on my background leading up to Little Class Records/ WRF and such..

I guess you can say it all started very early for me. I was born into a musical family. A couple of my uncles were utility players in the late 50’s Country music scene. They used to run around with Johnny Cash and Luther Perkins in the late 50’s and the family band was always a staple in my childhood. When the other kids were off playing hide and seek, I was sitting around the jam space with the adults, trying to fit in. By 8th grade in the early 90’s, I was trying my damndest to put bands together before we even really knew how to play. By 9th grade I had attempted my first festival and I sort of never really stopped. Even through my military service, I found bands to play with and always took the reigns on setting up shows. Once I returned home from the service in 2003, I jumped head on into the tiny little “roots” scene here in KC. By 2007 I was touring pretty consistently with Cowpunk calamity, Them Damned Young Livers. All of the lessons learned and friends made laid the foundation what what is now Little Class Records. We accidentally became a record label while providing basic recording services to friends after purchasing our own gear to avoid the high costs of commercial studios.

In 2013, I became the full time talent buy for The Westport Saloon 6 months after opening. It wasn’t long before the saloon became the fuel to the fire for the record label, to include our own Festival. Westport Roots Fest is now working towards it’s 4th in 2017. Bandhack.com was formed when we stumbled upon a tech company that had goals in the music industry, but zero data. They had the nerd tech power and we had years of mistakes to build off of. We acquired 33% of the company last year and have been slowly working towards several tech solutions for independent touring artists.

The Music Industry has had to change a lot in the last 10 and 20 years to keep up with the changes that the internet has brought.

What do you see (in your opinion) for the future of the music industry as far as music videos, online streaming and the release of music?

The future of Music.. Hmmm..

Ok So the internet simultaneously did the worst thing and the best thing ever for independent music. We all know the bad part. People don’t buy records really anymore. They stream them for free. The unregulated system basically screws a band out of any chance of selling records on a large scale. But what did the internet do that was positive? It bridged the gap between artist and fan, and it allowed niche genres to gain traction, creating small communities with targeted interests.

What does this look like for the indy circuit? Well, while the major labels are cranking out cookie cutter crap and barely selling records (I think there has been only 2 or 3 records to go platinum in the last three years?), the indy’s are over here operating without limitations, both artistic reach and virtual reach. The only real problem is possessing a proper platform for selling records. Fortunately, there are still fans that purchase records, but do it directly from the artist. 90% of the time, this is from a merch table of a touring band.

The only way for an independent band to achieve “success” in the music industry is to redefine their quality of life and commit to the road. Bandhack.com is currently working on several solutions that will make that job easier and more fruitful.

Do you think it's getting more difficult or easy for musicians to make a living doing what they love?

It really depends on what quality of life you seek. If you want a picket fence and 2.5 kids, then don’t rely on music for money. If you are willing and able to give up the normalcies in life and go run a functioning business from the road, you can make a living.

What do you think are the unique challenges and advantages to the different routes bands can take between pursuing a major or independent label or producing themselves?

The days of waltzing into a major label deal or over. The ones that do it, eventually become manufactured sounding and seem to have short shelf life. In my opinion, the days of the prolific singer songwriter and the legendary rock n’ roll band in the pop spotlight are over. Who as the last “great” band? Whatever your answer, they probably got their first taste of tame in the 90’s or early 00’s.

You’ve had the chance to work with a ton of amazing talented artists that are both well known and less well known. Are there any particularly memorable experiences or bands you would like to mention that you might not otherwise get the chance to talk about much? That’s a tough question to answer.. For me the most memorable experiences come from the booking side of things and are often one on ones with my heros.

Our little green room at Little Class Records (above the saloon) has provided some incredibly humbling and memorable moments…

Wayne Hancock talking about his motorcycle wreck on his first tour after recovery.. Joe Buck explaining the philosophy behind his sound and persona.. Dale Watson giving advice and encouragement.. Jim Dandy talking about his penis size while soaking his dentures in whiskey.

Do you have any advice for bands that are starting out and have big dreams?

Reduce your dream size. If you don’t you will fail and end up going to work for the man.

If you want to play music for a living, follow these not so easy steps: 1.Make good music 2. Treat people right 3. Expect nothing from anyone 4. Tour 200 to 300 dates a year on your own accord, booking yourself 5. Bootstrap the recording of your albums: Don’t fall into the money pit. Either DIY or find someone you trust who is not only good, but also DIY. Don’t pay someone else’s rent on a brick and mortar recording space.

6. Become a social media and SEO guru 7.Run a solid merchandising operation 8.Obtain legitimate distribution beyond CD Baby and Tunecore 9.Play the publishing game. Learn all of the loopholes and use them. There is thousands of dollars out there to claim if you play your cards right.

Doing all of this correctly will still only provide enough cash flow to meet your basic needs, because most likely you will never achieve commercial success. The definition of happiness is at the core of this concept. Some of the happiest people I know, live on couches and grace a stage every night. They have friends around the globe and a sense of accomplishment knowing that they have left their thumbprint on the world.

A couple was arguing in Westport and a ter her fiancé asked her to sit down and enjoy a free massage, she looked at him while we sat there chatting and said, "I love you again." Favorite Westport moment to date.

Another was an undercover cop who came running up with his partner from Riot Room, used my car and massage station as a shield and yelled at his partner to "Get down!" Meanwhile, I'm like, "Get outta here!"

Dude turns to me, crouched down next to my massage chair that was in use at the time, pulled out his shiny badge, and said, "Calm down, ma'am! Calm down!!!"

Scariest Westport moment ever! Also, most hilarious.

ROFL -Beverly (Kansas City, MO)

I conspired with my ex's (at the time bf, and I was pregnant) other baby momma to catch him cheating. Popped out the closet and he had his pants at his ankles and his dick in his hand! I also told his side chick (she was my best friend) that he gave me herpes. They didn't know that I was aware of their sexual relationship. Oh you should have seen her face, even though she had to pretend that nothing was going on and wipe my (fake) tears away. 5 minutes a ter she le t his phone blew up!! I'm the type of crazy bitch that can fuck your life up without you having any clue it was me. By the way, I don't have herpes.

Hahahaha -Kourtney (Topeka, KS)

Strange questions at a job interview..."Have you ever been scared on the job?" Is a question you only hear when you're trying to get a job as a prison guard. The story I told was: "While working as a gate guard in a dangerous part of town, (controlled by gangs,) a young gangbanger ran up to me screaming that if I didn't let him in he was going to get shot. He said he had a gun in his pocket and waved said pocket at me. I told him no he wasn't getting in and he could just shoot me, that way I didn't have to write up the report about unauthorized weapons on the property. He kept screaming that he would shoot me if I didn't let him in.

Eventually he ran away... and I still had to write the report about unauthorized weapons on property. I had assumed that he had a real gun in his pocket but would not fire, later I found out from the police that it was not a gun, it was just a screwdriver." I got the job. -Anonymous (Atchison, KS)

RIP to our friend Ruben!

Ruben Velasco was one of the kindest, most hardworking people you would every have the opportunity to meet. He recently lost a battle with cancer, but his memory lives on in the hearts of all who love him. Ruben was an avid KISS fan and guitar tech for many big name artists such as Marilyn Manson, John 5 for Rob Zombie, Jason Miller & Rick Springfield. He is greatly missed by many. His dear friend and employer, Rick Springfield, set up this page as a legacy. Donate in his memory for a good cause.

Model: Sophie Sassafras Photographer: Rachel Evil Photography MUA: Belladonna's Cupboard