BLEEP Magazine 210

NOVEMBER 2012 Issue • 210

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NICK BLAEMIRE TALKS ABOUT ‘THE HUSTLE’, HIS ‘GLORY DAYS’ AND GODSPELL

JOHNNY FORD THE CROONER COMES CLEAN THEO LIEBERMAN HE’S GIVING US THE GOOD LIBATIONS VINTAGE MARTINI DALLAS DUO DOES THE TIME WARP FOR SOUTHERN FASHIONISTAS

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ON THE COVER Nick Blaemire is a bit of a renaissance man for the new millennium. Both writing and performing in Broadway shows, acting on TV and film, and covering “Call Me Maybe” with his band, The Hustle? Why, yes.

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ON THE SCENE

We head to New World Stages to Tituss Burgess’ concert for the release of his new album, “Comfortable.”

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VINTAGE MARTINI

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JOHNNY FORD

Contributor Amy Stone spends some time with the British bands that are raising money to help their community at OxJam in Oxford. That’s the UK yall.

This Dallas duo has the duds you need to look your best in any season. Tucked away in a north Dallas suburb, this is the coolest vintage wear you’ve ever seen. Hey, if Babs is a fan...

This crooner is headed for greener pastures, but before he heads off into the country, we take a look at his music and inspiration.

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Letter from the Editor The audience. The audience is, perhaps, the most important component to any artistic endeavor. After all, if no one sees the play, hears the song or watches the film, what have you really contributed?

Last week, I saw a concert the featured seasoned Broadway performers, performing songs from roles they are known for. I was captivated by the collection of talent on the stage, but some of the...uh...”fans” seated around me were less enthusiastic. My favorite quote from the rather rotund, extremely loud and incredibly opinionated girl seated directly behind me was, “My audition was better.” She said this immediately following one of the pieces by a performer that was Tony-nominated for the show from which that song originated.

As I applauded the performance, I had to restrain myself from verbally accosting this “fan” sitting behind me who could not control herself.

The same can not be said for members of the audience at the showing of “Cloud Atlas” I attended a week later. The excited movie-goers cheered, clapped and held their breath as Tom Hanks and Halle Berry wound their way through the storylines.

They appreciated the film and the art behind it. (As did I, by the way) Two very different situations, two very different attitudes toward the art.

I hope to never become as jaded as the girl behind me at the concert. This magazine does a good job of ensuring that doesn’t happen too. There are so many affectingly talented people out there, doing truly inspiring things for me to ever get that jaded.

I don’t ever really ask anything of our readers, but I will ask that you not be that girl that doesn’t appreciate the art in front of her. Don’t be that girl. She’s a bitch.

Ryan Brinson Editor-in-Chief

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M.V.C.

Misty Chanel has a knack for taking vintage fashion and making it new again.

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THEO LIEBERMAN After working for the past two years at Milk and Honey, Theo Lieberman has begun running the bar program at Lantern’s Keep in midtown Manhattan.

We check in with the cocktail creator about what sets him apart.

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ANOTHER BEN HUMENIUK CARTOON!

Editor-in-Chief Ryan Brinson Editor at Large Julie Freeman Design/Decor Editor Lisa Sorenson Culture Editor Rachael Mariboho Business & Audience Development Manager Sarah Rotker Cartoonist Ben Humeniuk Cover Photography by Matt Tolbert Feature Editors: Juan Lerma Amy Stone Writers: Charly Edsitty Amy Lane Danielle Milam Laura Seitter Alex Wright Contributors: Amy Stone Holly Renner • Katherine Morgan All articles and photos are the property of the writers and artists. All rights reserved.

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ONtheSCENE

SINGER TITUSS BURGESS GETS ‘COMFORTABLE’

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On Sunday, October 14th, Tituss Burgess released his new album, “Comfortable,” at New World Stages in New York City. The star of Broadway (The Little Mermaid) and TV (“30 Rock”), who was backed by a full band and vocalists, sang songs from the album and shared some of the stories behind the songs.

To get your hands on your copy of the album, go to iTunes today. Make sure you head over to Burgess’ website (www.titussburgess.com) and check out his feature in last month’s Broadway issue of BLEEP. Clearly, we’re big fans of this songman and we think you should be too.

Tituss Burgess and Ryann Redmond

Scott Nevins, Tituss Burgess and Nick Adams DJ Patrick Kuzara

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P E E UK L B ONtheSCENE

Oxjam 2012 was a charity concert that took place in various cities across England during October. Started in 2006, almost 45,000 musicians have played to over 900,000 people. With around 3,500 events nationwide, Oxjam has raised over £1.75 million [$2,816,800], enough to buy 15,000 emergency shelters; 70,000 goats or 1050 classrooms” (Oxjam website). I was in Leicester, England, one of the hosting cities, and went to the city culture center experience as many bands as I could. Each was fantastic, and the fact that it was for charity made listening that much sweeter.

-Amy Stone

THE PREACHER AND THE BEAR This band was one of the most unique I have ever seen. The Preacher and the Bear mix talent with acrobatics. All of the musicians are exceedingly talented, and it was evident that they play because they have an amazing time doing it.

“What I like most is that we improvise and make it up on the spot,” said drummer Garry Greenway. (pictured) Simon Buck from The Preacher and the Bear playing the organ at the Oxjam 2012 venue, the Exchange in Leicester, United Kingdom.

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WWW.OXFAM.ORG/UK

THE SIMPLETONES When I was told at a bar the night before Oxjam that I needed to make sure that I heard a group called The Simpletones, I had no idea what to expect or if they were really as amazing as everyone kept saying. The Simpletones are a four-piece acapella group, and they definitely took the prize for best vocals. I am still blown away by their talent, and the rest of the crowd agreed, cheering for an encore.

WWW.THESIMPLETONES.COM

KENNY WILSON (pictured above) Kenny Wilson has been playing and writing his own music for over 30 years. His talent was evident the second he stepped up to the microphone at Oxjam 2012 in Leicester, United Kingdom.

“My favorite thing is singing. It makes you feel good and community events like this give you a great feeling of achievement,” said Wilson. “Making your own music and performing is so important especially playing on the local level. Community playing makes music real.”

WWW.KENNYWILSON.CO.UK

ONE SUSPICIOUS MONKEY With some of the band wearing makeup similar to that of KISS, One Suspicious Monkey has set out to make their mark on the singing world, and so far they have done well.

“Me and Ginger started four years ago as a comedy-beat band. It started as a joke. I wore a banana suit. Then one day he called and had booked us a gig,” said head-vocalist and original band founder, Georgio Maroder.

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r inson B n a y R r e it r uest w G V by Rachael Mariboho

November is the month when we in America set aside time to express how thankful we are for our family and friends. BLEEP would like to take the opportunity to say some of the things we are thankful for this November as well. It goes without saying that we’re thankful for the incredible BLEEP family of artists that’s ever-expanding - but these are the other things we’d like to give thanks for.

5. All the new pop music being released currently

Between Mika, Ellie Goulding and even Taylor Swift, pop music is great right now. There’s something for everyone out there. There’s enough good music out there that hopefully people will forget that Chris Brown is making music still and he can go away for good. Now that would be something to be thankful for.

4. Sweeps month on television

That means all the best plot lines, the soapiest moments and the most awkwardly-placed guest stars are all over our favorite shows. The end of November also brings the traditional Thanksgiving-week specials and concerts. It also means the infiltration of the holiday commercials, which we are okay with.

3. Oscar buzz

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$

It’s been brewing since May, but now we really start to get a glimpse at what will make it to the big show in February, and with that, the heightened-awareness of art house films that would otherwise go unnoticed by mainstream audiences. Those are usually far more interesting, far more honest and far more thought-provoking than any of the 14 Tyler Perry movies that are sure to be released before January 1st.

2. The Parade

There isn’t another event in America that ushers in multiple holidays in at once. Watch a giant turkey float down Broadway in the morning and watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” at night. Plus, it has Broadway performances before, singers you’ve never heard of on the floats lip-syncing poorly during the parade and a dog show afterward. How is that not great?

1. Black Friday

It’s the same thing every year. The evening news will cover the chaos at a Walmart in the middle of Kansas where an old woman is trampled by a charging crowd. Will people ever learn? Slow and steady does not win the Black Friday race. Also, when else are all the DVDs on sale for three dollars?

Since I got to be the guest writer for the BLEEP List this month, I also get the chance to say that what I’m thankful for this year are the peo ple that wor k on the magazine every month. They inspire me, keep me grounded and make sure I know what they think about what’s going on in pop culture. -Ryan

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theCURRENT WITH CHARLY EDSITTY

It’s my forum and I’ll say what I want to We’ve all been there, eating a ham and turkey sandwich perusing the articles on (insert favorite news website here) when you reach the end. As much as your eyes try to divert, you give in and read the first article comment. And then the next one and the next one. By the time you’ve realized what you’ve done, you’re already five pages deep and lost your appetite. Congratulations, you’ve just witnessed the First Amendment at work.

It seems more and more, the sanctity of the First Amendment and what it stands for is now on shaky ground thanks to the World Wide Web. Users across the country can post and rant and write freely and safely under the good ol’ First Amendment, but when and where do the limits of free speech end on the Internet? And how far will some people go to defend it?

Recently, the online user community Reddit became the focus of this issue when the CEO, Yishan Wong, came out in defense of explicit and graphic content posted by user “ViolentAcrez”, pronounced violent acres. The identity of ViolentAcrez was outed by online gossip blog, Gawker, when 49-year-old Michael Brutsch of Texas admitted he was the person behind one of Reddit’s most popular and controversial posts titled “Jail Bait” featuring unknowing underage girls photographed from behind while wearing skirts or shorts. In addition, Brutsch also created several other posts filled with racist, pornographic and incestuous material that lit a firestorm amongst Reddit users and non-users.

In response to the controversy, Wong stated Reddit

is a website that stands for freedom of speech and would not ban offensive or illegal content from the site even if it contradicts his personal beliefs or those of his employees.

As a journalist, I get where he’s coming from. The First Amendment is a huge piece of the journalistic puzzle and allows me to write about whatever I want.

I can criticize the government and write this column.

What I don’t understand is why the First Amendment would apply to hateful speech or obscene pictures?

The term “speech” covers a broad spectrum, but at the end of the day, is what is being said or done adding anything to a descent conversation? Or is it harmful to other people? Based on descriptions of what was being posted to Reddit by Brustch, I’m almost certain none of the content was working to solve a problem, but instead creating one. Not to mention all of this is coming from a person who, until a few weeks ago, was posting under a fake name sitting behind a computer screen. To throw the “freedom of speech” card at the situation, in my opinion, is weak.

Millions of brave men and women defend the rights we all enjoy in this wonderful country every day so to include pornographic material or hateful content under protected speech completely degrades what our troops are fighting for and what our country stands for. For Reddit to refuse to ban the content basically sends the message that this type of behavior is not illegal or wrong when the law and most morally conscious human beings believe otherwise. Reddit got it wrong and their definition of “free speech” is not the same as mine.

TITUSS BURGESS COMFORTABLE NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW ON REVERB NATION

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My Take

by Laura Seitter

Documentary Film and the Pursuit of Truth At the end of every movie, as the credits slowly scroll across the screen, I instinctively grab the remote control and turn to the Special Features of the DVD menu. I love watching the ‘making-of’ featurette almost as much as the movie. It is a peek into the real world behind the fantasy. The actors shed their characters, and the production designers reveal the intricacies of their artistic creations. It isn’t that I want to dispel the impact of the film; sometimes the real world is just as fascinating, and it is intriguing to see how people draw inspiration from the other side of the camera.

Documentary films are, in some ways, the ‘makingof’ featurettes for the lives we lead every day. There is no script or costume department. They focus on the realities of all kinds of people, allowing the viewer to infiltrate other cultures and cross social barriers.

Documentaries can be a means to teach the masses about another way to think or live, often impacting our political and social ideologies.

Many associate documentary films with pretentious library events or ostentatious film festivals. I know I’ve written articles championing Netflix before, but the fact is the streaming service makes modern documentaries more readily accessible than ever before. They offer everything from historical biopic to scientific exploration to religious examination. Like any genre of film, some documentaries are better than others; but for every “Decoding the DaVinci Code,” there is a work that makes you reconsider the world you live in today.

A documentarian exploring social issues has to be willing to ask difficult questions. If they are able to illicit true and meaningful responses from their subjects, the result can be powerful and may ultimately affect the outlook of the viewer. In 2011, renowned filmmaker Werner Herzog released Into the “Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life.” This poignant film centers on the players involved in a triple-homicide

and the subsequent wait on death row in Huntsville, Texas. The film is so well edited, and the blatant truths captured by Herzog trigger profound introspection.

I, for one, completely changed my stance on capital punishment after viewing this film. 2007’s “For the Bible Tells Me So” chronicles the stories of several families and how they resolve (or, in some cases, don’t resolve) their conflicting views of homosexuality and religion. In many ways, this film is more relevant today than it was five years ago.

Documentary films also have a reputation for being fairly political in nature. This month, Americans will cast their ballots for the 2012 Presidential election – an event certainly not untouched by the filmmaker’s lens. “2016: Obama’s America” examines the life and influences of our 44th President, and questions how the nation may be affected should he be re-elected.

The film’s creator, Dinesh D’Souza, credits notorious documentarian Michael Moore with the inspiration for how to frame the film. Moore is the creator of several politically charged documentaries, including 2004’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” and 2002’s “Bowling for Columbine.” These men walk a fine line in their work, as political documentaries frequently run the risk of devolving into “docu-ganda” films, exploiting the content for the purposes of propaganda, instead of remaining impartial observers.

At the Academy Awards each year, the documentary film segment inevitably becomes the evening’s halftime, where viewers stop to refill their popcorn bowl.

Documentary filmmakers deserve more respect than that. Their art requires a form of bravery not always found in other film genres. It drives them into precarious situations, and they have to obtain trust and honesty from their subjects. When that passion is captured, we don’t see just the filmmaker’s imagination. We see the world we live in, and realize that, sometimes, reality is more powerful.

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REEL LIFE

by Alex Wright

The Scarlet Letter I have been single and living in Los Angeles now for about two months, and I feel like I have learned the secret to dating in Los Angeles. Lean in close, here it goes: if you want a quality guy, don’t tell him you’re an actress. I know it sounds horrible, and I completely resent the fact that this is the secret, but it’s something I’ve learned, after many mistakes otherwise, to be true. Apparently being an actress in Los Angeles is synonymous with being a prostitute. Once you have branded yourself as an actress, you might as well have stitched a scarlet A across your chest; this ensures that anyone who sees you will automatically know that not only are you an actress, you are a slut as well. No fear boys, you will know it when you see it. I’m able to gauge the quality of the guy by how he reacts when I tell him I’m an actress; if the guy runs for the hills, I’m automatically interested. Similarly, if a guy seems automatically interested, I run for the hills.

This comes after two months of intense research and statistic graphing, as well as interviewing my fellow actress friends. Unfortunately, we have all had similar experiences. Seven times, count it people, seven times now I have gone out or met a guy who, when I tell them I’m an actress, immediately tries to get in my pants: here’s the kicker though, they all have girlfriends or wives, and they don’t even try to hide it! It’s as if they think, “oh cool, she’s an actress, so she will be fine being the ‘other’ woman.” Excuse me, no. The guys who run, AKA the guys I’m interested in, usually have the standpoint that actress in Los Angeles=another dim-witted chick who wants to be famous. They just aren’t interested in that, and God bless them for not wanting to date someone like that.

These are the quality guys! Hence, one must lie, or at least put off the “what do you do?” question for as long as possible.

Interestingly, in some languages actress and prostitute are the same word. Perhaps it’s because that in the good old golden days of yore, the only openly creative and artistic women who were well versed in the performing arts were geishas. Or maybe it’s because that as actresses, and as artists, we are 16 BLEEP

selling parts of our soul and our bodies and minds. We become naked and vulnerable and fill an emotional and physical need for the viewer or consumer, only to be left and labeled as a strumpet. And maybe a good artistic experience should feel like a good sexual experience—you leave the artistic experience spent, yet invigorated. Purged yet fulfilled.

And I must admit, I have sadly found that I am just as much a perpetrator of this as I am a victim. I don’t want to date an actor, even though my most fulfilling relationship to date was a beautiful love affair with a fellow actor in my program. My actress friends agree with me, and even my manager has given me the love advice to never date an actor. They’re too dangerous, too easy to fall prey to. You will be left heartbroken.

Charismatic and attractive, they are the poison you desire to ingest, the drug you want to shoot in to your veins. Maybe it’s because as actors we are shapeshifters, constantly mimicking and mocking and molding ourselves to be what someone else wants.

We are a mischievous bunch, and we are often not trusted because of this. I will be the first to say that I cruelly and selfishly did not trust my actor boyfriend, probably because he was an actor; he was never disloyal to me (that I know of ), while my non-actor ex-boyfriend, who I trusted with my life, was cheating on me with his current girlfriend for five months. He’s in marketing—guess they don’t pass out adulterer badges for people in business.

I resent the fact that I have to be ashamed of what I do. I find being an actress to be invigorating, difficult, soul expanding, gratifying and frustrating work; however, the “actress” stereotype is so branded in the minds of the modern man that it is difficult to argue with someone at a bar over what it means to be an artist. Forget that I’m producing and writing a series right now, or that I write for a growing online arts magazine (this lovely publication, of course), or that I even went to Harvard and got my masters in acting.

Nope, I’m an actress. Give me my scarlet letter. I’m dang proud of that letter.

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The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling Danielle Milam

1 OUT OF 5 J.K.s

JK JK JK JK JK

A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author. – G. K. Chesterton J. K. Rowling will, undoubtedly, go down in history as one of fiction’s great writers. Unfortunately, her newest novel, The Casual Vacancy, is like when Britney Spears shaved her head: we all watched mortified and then forgave her for it later. It is, in essence, a complete mess.

The story centers on a little town: its families, its politics, its secrets weave together confusingly. There are too many characters. Too many plot lines to keep track of. I was constantly slowed down by having to return to previous parts of the book to figure out which story line started up again. The many characters, while distinct in their voices, had little development to keep me interested.

I simply didn’t feel like I needed to care about them or their lives.

I know this book is meant to separate Rowling from Harry Potter. It is the literary equivalent of Daniel Radcliffe’s Equus. However,

the novel is crass for the sake of being crass. The vulgar language paired with the vivid scenes of sex, drugs and abuse make it obvious that Rowling is trying too hard. The novel comes across like a petulant teenager defiantly pushing all the boundaries. I feel as though she wrote a book to test how far her publisher would let her go.

While the novel would technically be considered realistic fiction, it is one of the most unrealistic stories on shelves today. Rowling makes the mistakes of a novice. She ends up with a book that is just over done.

There is too much drama and too much tragedy.

Realistic fiction is often marked by tragedy, but it has to still be believable. That’s what Rowling has thrown away: the believability.

What’s frustrating is, believability is exactly why Harry Potter was such a success. It was a fantasy that we could all believe was really happening under our muggle noses.

Do I dislike the novel so much because it is genuinely awful or because I had higher expectations? I’m not sure. I do know that Rowling fans will be disappointed.

Gone is the creative magic of her storytelling. We are left instead with pages of insecurity.

MUST READ FOR: NO ONE. SERIOUSLY, WHY

DIDN’T ANYONE STOP HER!?

J.K. IF YOU ARE READING THIS, PLEASE GO WRITE THE HARRY POTTER ENCYCLOPEDIA. THIS OTHER STUFF IS JUST NOT YOUR THING. Want more book reviews?

Check out www.daniellesviews.blogspot.com

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thenatural

ARTIST

by AMY LANE

I tread lightly in my hiking boots when it comes to the subject of art in natural areas.

Admittedly, my rural upbringing has made me more likely to find beauty in a pasture filled with grazing cows than in a structure like the Eiffel Tower. And while I’ve admired art in the halls of the Louvre, I’m inclined to think that nature’s healing forces need no artistic touches from man-made objects. My hero, John Muir, believed that a forest is the holiest and most beautiful cathedral ever created.

I’ve watched the pink streaks of a sunset rip across the sky in a fashion an artist’s brush could never approach.

The formations of a mountain like Denali or the bluffs of Nova Scotia cannot be equaled by a sculptor’s hands.

I am biased toward the Creator rather than the creative when it comes to natural landscapes. And yet, in certain parameters, I’ve come to believe that art can enrich and even define a landscape.

To be clear: I am not advocating any attempts to further beautify National Parks with the addition of art or change natural areas that were set aside to be just that—natural. Instead, I’m referring to art that is added for a specific purpose in specific places.

According to the latest U.S. Census results, more than 80 percent of Americans live in an urban setting. The truth is most of us are far more likely to take a walk in a city park on an average day than hike the steeps of Yellowstone.

The blending between urban and open space that occurs in city parks offers the right stage for public displays of art and sculptures. As we protect trees, native grasses and trails in our suburban areas, we can also tastefully and appropriately introduce distinct 20 BLEEP

messages of our local region’s history and personality to park patrons through artwork.

Sculptor Tom Otterness created a work that blends beautifully with natural landscapes. His enormous “Makin’ Hay” structures have toured the Western United States from California, Washington, Idaho, and Montana to Texas. The display consists of three sculptures made from steel and hay bales, each weighing about 1000 pounds. “Makin’ Hay” is currently on display in a San Antonio park on a piece of property that was once a working dairy farm in operation for over 100 years.

“Makin’ Hay” livens the open field in which it stands and the park is a fitting backdrop to the enormous figures.

Otterness’ sculptures relay the message of agricultural heritage to the average person, and the park space has become more meaningful because of this clear connection.

Throughout our existence, humans have always left their mark on natural landscapes. The need to leave a legacy is instinctual. The constructions of Stonehenge and the Great Sphinx have far outlasted their creators and remain two of the world’s modern mysteries.

Unfortunately, our planet is much more crowded than the open expanse those ancient architects knew. As our population grows, it only becomes more imperative that we keep our National Parks protected and as untouched as possible. Hikes among great sequoias and fantastically colored canyons are meant to help you forget the human footprint. But it is in our city parks, where nature and urban life intersect, that man-made art and the outdoors can have a mutually-edifying coexistence.

PAGEStoPICTURE

by Danielle Milam

The Perks of Being a WallfLower I first read Stephen Chbosky’s cult classic in late high school. I thought, “This guy gets it – he gets teenagers.”

Having just come through my own rocky adolescence, I instantly recognized the universal struggles of growing up. How do I live life without letting life just happen to me? Does everyone see the secrets inside me? Do the things that have happened to me make me who I am, or do I choose who I get to be?

Written by Charlie in letters to an unidentified friend, we see his life entirely through his own perspective.

His naiveté haunts the words on the pages and we, the readers, have to wonder how much our main character really understands what’s happening around him.

It’s the story of Charlie, Sam, and Patrick. It’s the story of changing from a child to a young adult. It’s the story of beginnings. It’s the story of endings. It’s the story with it all: love, homosexuality, sex, drugs, teenage angst, and understanding of self.

When I first heard that “Perks” would be turned into a movie, I was wary. Would they do the book justice?

How could they portray Charlie’s unique perspective?

Wouldn’t the anxiety of high school look forced?

Written and directed by Chbosky himself, I had no reason to worry. This movie is one of the most authentic pieces of art created from a novel. Nothing is lost in the transition from paper to picture.

Casted beautifully, each of the main characters fully portrays their “perks” identity as a multidimensional being. The confidence, quirks, and insecurity found in all teenagers is as effortless for the actors as if their own adolescence was actually captured on film.

I was most impressed with how Chbosky kept Charlie’s viewpoint as the focus of the movie. Even though we ‘watch’ his life as an outsider, we never

quite loose the awareness that this is Charlie’s story.

While his own personal transition is beautifully subtle, it is, nevertheless, evocative and moving.

This is a story so powerful that the effect for the listener is the same regardless of medium. We are all led to remember the Charlie within us and evaluate our own choice: are we still participating, or have we slipped back into passivity?

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Good

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-Anais Nin

USTLE

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NICK

is more than a triplethreat. He’s working on appearing BLAEMIRE Broadway, on TV and acting in films...and that’s when he’s not traveling around the coutry with his band, Nick Blaemire and the Hustle.

Where are you from?

From right outside D.C., Bethesda.

Fast forward to Godspell. What was it like being in such an a-typical Broadway show?

It was great. I gotta say, I think that show is really When did you come to New York? tricky and hard to do commercially, but they stuck to I moved here in 2006, right after I graduated from some major tenants that differentiated it from other the University of Michigan and I’ve been here on-and- shows. They did it in a way that gave us as a cast a off since. whole lot of responsibility over what happened every night. That actually stands behind my feeling of what When did you first get bit by the Broadway bug? great theatre is today. Shows that mess with form, I have two incredibly supportive parents that both try to push an envelope whether in content and saw early on that I was messing around with play- presentation or the marketing and producing angle acting. The theatre scene in D.C. is wonderful, but like what Ken Davenport came up with. especially the Shakespeare scene, so they started taking me to the Shakespeare Theatre. I remember When did you start writing music? seeing Henry IV when I was four-years-old and Derek When I was 14 or 15 and it was all about pining after Smith who’s now playing Scar in The Lion King on girls, which I guess hasn’t changed that much.

Broadway was Hal and he was just out of Julliard.

I remember being completely enamored with the What did it sound like? lights and the sound part of it.

It was definitely “guy-with-guitar.” When I started, I felt like, “I’m an actor, why am I trying to pick up a What got you your Equity card? guitar?” But it’s become a place where I’m almost I got right out of school and I was doing a ton of more comfortable than I am on a theatrical stage. auditions. I got a show called Calvin Berger, but they weren’t able to pay for me to get my card. So I took How did it become so much more comfortable? a job for Theatreworks doing If You Give A Mouse A I feel like one of the things you do as an actor is Cookie, at the Lucille Lortell Theatre, I played the hold onto your sense of self as you dive into these titular mouse and in fact, there are still pictures of my other people. I’ve found a lot of solace in expressing on the internet, clicking my heels, which I urge you who I am through my songs and if anything, try to not to find. notice the world around me and how I fit into it. That has made for the act of writing songs to be a really What was your first Broadway show? fulfilling, cleansing experience. I think acting can be Crybaby. It was en eye-opening experience to the about facing a lot of dark shit but writing music is a circus of what Broadway is like. chance to articulate in your own words how you feel 24 BLEEP

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about something.

money and hours story-boarding this larger concept.

We worked with an incredible choreographer, Nick How did you assemble ‘The Hustle’?

Kenkel who danced for Beyoncé and works on I wrote a show called Glory Days that was on Broadway. We were able to amass a 30-person dance Broadway, and during that process I met a guy chorus which was incredible. It was about nine hours named Jesse Vargas who is an unbelievably talented of shooting. arranger. We immediately saw eye-to-eye on what we It’s one of those amazing things about making art, thought was missing from Broadway compositions of you throw all of your neurosis’, every dream and every late in terms of shows that had heart and were about fear you have about a project into this cauldron and something new. That quickly translated into the world it catches fire in all the wrong places, but when you of pop music. Where my musicianship stops, Jesse come out of it, it’s entirely worth it. I’d do it again takes off and is light-years ahead of anything I could tomorrow. do. We thought, whatever happened to the music of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathoway that pioneered What’s next? the live-band soul sound? How can we make pop The band is in a really exciting place. We played music with the computerized abilities we now have at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, got a ton of great but marry it with the live stuff we grew up with? responses from industry people. We just remastered We found these four insane horn players that had our EP, we want to do another video and we’re playing all played at different times for “Saturday Night Live.“ a lot of shows this fall.

Once we got those guys, then we started messing I’m balancing that with my acting and writing career. around with different rhythm sections and I think we We got commissioned by a commercial producer to have the most talented guys in New York. They’re all write a new show. We just had a reading of it and it about to break in a million different projects but they looks like that might be in a regional theatre this fall. still come back week-after-week to hang out with us. I’m also working on developing another show now.

It seems like we’re all getting the same thing out of it. I shot two films this year, shot a stint on “The Good Wife” and I’m just trying to figure out how to balance What was it like to release your new music video all of it at the moment. for “Complete?”

It’s our second video. The first was just my manager, Where are you at in your career? our director and a couple friends, walking around It’s the life I’ve always wanted. When I was a kid, I New York trying to piece together this loose story. It wanted to do all of these things. I wanted to make was really fun and about six hours of work. money and spend my whole day doing what I love For this one, we ended up spending a bunch of with people I love. That’s what I’m getting to do.

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CHECK OUT “COMPLETE” BY NICK BLAEMIRE AND THE HUSTLE ON YOUTUBE BELOW.

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VINTAGE MARTINI

When shopping for vintage clothing, New York, L.A., or even Austin, TX come to mind, not Dallas. However, since its conception in 1994, Ken Weber and Greg Kelly are changing Dallas’ vintage shopping scene with their hidden gem of a boutique, aptly named, Vintage Martini. “The best in fashion from yesterday and today,” Vintage Martini is stocked full of designer and vintage items dating back as far as the Victorian Era, authentic 1920’s flapper dresses, and Dior’s “New Look” of the 1950’s, to 70’s era Pucci prints and even 80s-tastic Gaultier and Lacroix runway pieces. It’s enough to send this fashion stylist into a whirlwind of Rachel “Zoe-isms”... Oh my god! I die! sickening!... you get the picture. Here, we get to know Ken and Greg, as well as get a sneak peek into the amazing garments available at Vintage Martini.

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Photographer- Wade Livingston Artistic Direction- Juan Lerma and Jerrad Trahan Stylist and Writer- Juan Lerma for Amrel Styling Company Makeup Artist- Jerrad Trahan Hair Stylist- Jenny Myers for L’Oreal Professional Models-(In order of appearance) Lailani Meekel (The Dragonfly Agency) Karl Drexel (The Dragonfly Agency) Cheryl Jones (Campbell Agency) Fashion Assistant- Elissa Stern

On Lailani: 1920s silk georgette dress, $345.00.

Vintage 80’s pearl and rhinestone earrings, $85.00.

Pearl necklaces, stylists own.

Shoes, models own.

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On Karl: Canterbury of New Zealand shirt, $28.00.

Pringle Sport sweater vest, $45.00.

1930’s wool knickers, $85.00.

Centures alligator belt, $85.00.

Dobb’s 1930’s straw bowler hat, $145.00.

Pier Gentrei blue leather shoes, $95.00.

Vintage bow tie, $12.50.

Socks, models own.

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On Cheryl : Estevez red linen sleeveless dress, $185.00.

Craig Miller black fox fur scarf, $345.00.

Vintage pearl and crystal bangle bracelet, $85.00.

Rhinestone flower earrings, $21.00.

Shoes, models own.

On Karl: Ui- Maikai 1960’s bahama shirt, $45.00.

Kanvas by Katin 1960’s swimsuit, $45.00

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On Cheryl: Neiman Marcus purple dress, $95.00.

Andrew Marc brown fox fur vest, $285.00.

Carved wood, stone, and leather vintage necklace, $145.00.

80’s shades of fashion sunglasses, $28.00.

Vintage rings, $28.00 each.

Shoes, models own.

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On Lailani: Victor Costa black velvet and fuschia gown, price upon request.

Crescendoe leather opera gloves, $35.00.

1980’s black vinyl and multi color rhinestone earrings, $48.00.

Vintage rhinestone bracelets, stylists own.

Shoes, models own.

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Tell us where we can find Vintage Martini, can we shop online?

You are more than welcome to visit the store in Historic Downtown Carrollton, Texas which is located just outside of Dallas. Or, you can shop from our store online at www.vintagemartini.com

How do you find such beautiful vintage garments?

We are very fortunate, most of them find us. We’ve gotten great press, so the word has really spread. Since we specialize in both vintage and newer designer, the closets we’re invited to can be amazing. We’re invited over and they say, pull what you think you can sell. One house we visited had two dry cleaner conveyer belts in When did Vintage Martini go from a thought to a the closet. It was amazing! store, what’s the story there?

Vintage Martini grew over the years from selling at flea It is obvious that quality is a very important factor markets, to specialized vintage clothing shows. We then when selecting garments to sell in your store, what started selling online through a tiny auction website are some of the standards you adhere to for the called Etsy. At that time there were approximately 35 selection process? pages of vintage clothing. Today there are at least 5,000 We want our customer to be able to wear what they pages of vintage clothing. Next came Vintage Martini buy that day. So everything is cleaned, repaired and the online store and finally the last step was opening ready to be worn. I never want anyone to have to worry a store front. Unfortunately the timing wasn’t great. about if there is damage on what they are interested in We opened December, 2007, which is the exact month purchasing. Many stores don’t care about quality, just they say the recession started. But, we made it and we quantity. are moving forward.

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With such an impressively curated collection of vintage and designer items, Vintage Martini could very well have a New York of Los Angeles outpost.

Why Dallas?

Vintage & resale stores are tripping over themselves in those cities. Dallas is just as fabulous and I don’t have the competition.

You are not completely removed from the New York and L.A. fashion scene, can you tell us about your celebrity clientele?

I don’t want to name drop and I’m sure many of my clients don’t want their secret out. But, between the vintage clothing shows and our website, the fashionistas have found us. People are searching for fabulous vintage and rare designer items to wear to their parties and functions. It’s no longer about wearing the newest off the runway, but what “fabulousness” you can find that will surprise everyone and get them asking “Who are you wearing?” The fashion designers

also flock to vintage for inspiration. We’ve sold to just about every major designer and fashion house in the U.S. and Europe. I will say, two of my most exciting sales were to Christian LaCroix and Barbara Streisand.

What inspires you?

History. I know that doesn’t sound exciting, but the history of fashion is amazing. Everything today can be traced to an older period of history. To find couture from the masters like Dior, Balenciaga, Vionnet, etc. is the most exciting thing. To see these pieces in person.. it’s incredibly inspirational and keeps us in this business.

What is your dream for Vintage Martini’s future?

Our dream is to first, open a larger boutique in Dallas and then branch out to some other fabulous cities that need us.

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M.V

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by

V.C. Misty Chanel

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What’s old is again

chic

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Terrell, TX

the time. I remember my mom would make her own dresses with matching accessories. She would design for us the latest trends and my sister and I would model them for her. Later on when I went to high school, I met a representative from The Art Institute of Dallas who encouraged me to enroll in their fashion design program.

When did you start taking note of what people were wearing?

Fashion has always been a part of my life. As a child I loved to look at what people wore and how they styled their clothing. It inspired me to create sketches and design my own interpretation of fashion.

What is it about vintage fashion you’re drawn to?

I can remember as a child watching “I Love Lucy” What was the first garment you ever created? and being so intrigued for her style and fashion. I If you really want to go back, the first garment I ever would always try to guess the color of her outfits created was when I was about 6 for my doll, Molly. behind the black and white. Vintage clothing has It was a matching blue and yellow striped vest and such sophistication about it. The women were classy skirt with pearl trim. I remember I had to hand-sew and carried themselves in that manner. They paid it because my mom would never let me go near her attention to detail. It was a subtle sexiness. sewing machine. My first wearable garment was in my freshman sewing class. I made a baseball jersey.

What is your process?

I typically start by researching the latest trends. I like How did you pursue the craft of creating fashion? to find trends that are vintage-inspired or trends I grew up around women who loved to sew, some as a that have an edgy flare. I usually shop at thrift stores, hobby and some as a profession. It was around me all estate sales, or for vintage garments sold online. I 44 BLEEP

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look for garments between the era’s of the 40’s - 80’s, and once I have all the looks that I need, my creative process begins. After looking over all the trends I have selected, I begin to match them with my pieces.

Each piece is put through a different process to be transformed. For example, a 1940’s dress can be redesigned into a pelpum jacket fit for the runway.

Or a 1980’s track jacket can be transformed into a sleeveless tuxedo jacket ready for a night on the town.

To achieve these transformations I sew, stud, add buttons, add trim, add fabric, change silhouettes, add detail, and color block, all to achieve the final look. I like to add a little sexiness to each garment, while still keeping it sophisticated and classy for every woman.

Where are you based now? How can people get their hands on your work?

I am based in the Dallas, TX area. If you’re local, you can find M.V.C. out participating local festivals and art show. I also offer private showings, house parties and custom work. If you are near or far, you can follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ mvc by m i s t yc h a n e l.

You can see what’s new, purchase items, stay updated on sales and events.

What’s your aesthetic?

M.V.C is recreated vintage clothing. It’s a merge of the old and the new. Putting a modern twist on vintage clothing.

What’s your dream?

My dream is to have a boutique and see M.V.C grow. The sky’s the limit.

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GOOD LIBATIONS THEO LIEBERMAN -WITH-

PHOTOS BY 50 BLEEP RYAN BRINSON

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T

MORE THAN A BARTENDER A TRUE ARTIST AT LANTERNS KEEP 52 BLEEP

T

Where are you from? as fresh can get. It’s about having a really simple bar All through middle school, lived in the city [New York] program but having everything done to the absolute and through high school, lived in Westchester, NY. best quality.

What began your interest in crafting cocktails?

I walked into a bar called Raines Law Room [in New York], when they first opened and sort of fell in love with everything they were doing. I spent a lot of time there, taking notes and talking to people.

I come from a family that had a big respect for culinary arts and spirits so when I walked into Raines Law Room, it seemed like something I’d very much enjoy being a part of. I fell in love with all of it. I love using ingredients and making new flavors and it’s an industry where you can talk to people. I like standing at the bar and talking to people about their day and what’s going on in their lives. I’m a people person.

What did you go to school for?

I went to school for cinematography at the School of Visual Arts and studied Cinema Studies at Columbia.

These two things don’t seem to go together?

Creating cocktails and working in film?

It correlates. I’ve always sort of had a math brain. It was one of those sorts of things that clicked for me. But cinematography is all numbers. You’re talking about pulling focus, assessing how far you are from things at all times, ASA, ISO, lighting ratios - it’s all numbers.

I always took to that. I’m biased, but I think it’s one of the most creative aspect of the film industry. Here, it’s all numbers too. Our specs sheet is a 600-drink spreadsheet of numbers.

What does Lantern’s Keep have to offer?

We do classic cocktails as our base and try to do something different with them. Here, it’s pretty much as classic as classic gets. We have no infusions and we want everyone to be able to make every single drink at home with just being able to buy the ingredients.

For example: we have a drink on the menu called the McKittrick Old Fashioned, it’s two ounces of bourbon, a half ounce of Pedro Ximénez Sherry and a little bit of Molé Bitters. That’s it and it’s been our best selling drink for three months. We’re not looking to re-invent the wheel. Just put some cool hubcaps on it.

We’re also in a unique neighborhood that doesn’t have a lot of this. It can be a hard sell to get people to go all the way downtown for cocktails. Here, we’re just a step from the office. I think everyone’s pretty happy with it. We’re pretty much at capacity with reservations from 5:30 to 8:00 every night.

What do you do when you’re not at the bar?

When I’m not here, I spend a lot of time in nice restaurants. I would eat at Perla in the West Village every day if I could. The staff here is very close so we spend time together. It sounds like we’re kinda boring but we enjoy it.

What’s your dream?

People ask me a lot when I’m going to open my own bar but I’m not looking to do that any time soon. I’m very lucky and I feel like I’ve had an amazing career What separates what you from what other thus far. At some point, my dream is to open my own bartenders do? bar. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. But I’m I take it very seriously and if a drink isn’t perfect, I happy with what I’m doing right now. will get rid of it and start over so it’s right. Everything in house is made to order. Everything in here is fresh

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MUSIC, MICHAEL JACKSON AND MOVING ON PHOTOS BY TRAVIS RIVERA BLEEP 57

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What was your first performance you can remember?

First off let me say that I’m about to retire from the music industry and move to the woods...for real. But to answer your question, I was always playing shows for my parents when I was a kid, you know, making a stage out of a coffee table and curtains from sheets - that kinda thing. Then I fronted bands before I went solo, but the first show as a solo artist was here in New York City at the famed Bitter End. At the time I thought that was a big deal because Bob Dylan used to play there.

When did music become your primary focus?

I’d say around eight years old. I formed my first band with a couple of my friends from elementary school, this was before I could play an instrument and the other guys couldn’t play either, but we had some drums and a couple of yard-sale guitars. My grandfather said it sounded like a thousand un-tuned kazoos.

What is your inspiration?

Life is my inspiration. I’ve always been over-sensitive to everything around me, I think most artists are. I mean, things that most people ignore or seem to be able to let go of easily just stick with me. The good things and the bad things, they move me and I feel compelled to write it out in a song, scream about it, ya know?

What other artists do you listen to?

I’ve always listened to all sorts of music and I’ve always said that a good song is a good song. I mean, one minute I could be gettin’ down to something by Black Flag and the next, seriously groovin’ to Michael Jackson. But the thing that really counts for me are passionate vocal performances so if the song is good, I’ll give it that but if the singing sucks I just can’t get into it.

What’s your dream?

Well for a long time my dream was this very clichéd thing of getting a record deal, making lots of money, you know, the whole fame and fortune trip. Now my dream is different man...now I want to move to the woods and build me and my girl a house.

How do you remain creatively fueled?

That kinda goes back to what I said earlier about needing to get something out of my system of having to write a song about feeling in love, or heartbroken or angry. But that being said, there’s this spiritual feeling that comes over me when I sing, something like a prayer. It definitely feels like I’m singing directly to God. I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing that.

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MY HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? For me, everyday is a different character. Everyday is an invitation to express myself through clothing. One day, I will do metal style and the next, I’ll be really girly. I’m more of a structure and shape person. I like to look put together, but I don’t want to look like I tried really hard to get it right. To me, clothing enhances my personality, because that’s how I show it.

WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR STYLE THE MOST? I follow a lot of runway trends, but mainly, music inspires me. Lana del Ray is my queen, but Passion Pit is my religion. Lana is the reason why I have embraced wearing the American flag on my clothing. Alexa Chung, Twiggy and Kate Moss are also huge inspirations of mine.

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VIEW

by Katherine Morgan

BELLA, Student, 18 from Seattle, WA

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE THAT YOU’RE WEARING? I would have to say my blazer. It’s a 60s inspired piece. I actually bought it at a flea market for only $1. I like to joke and call this blazer “the One” because I saw it, fell in love immediately and knew that I had to have it.

SARAHJANE, Student, 18 from Seattle, WA

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I would describe it as simple.

It’s really neutral, with a lot of earthy tones. There’s nothing too flamboyant in my wardrobe. To me, being comfortable is the most important thing. As long as I’m comfortable, I’m good to go. When I was younger, I was a lot more of a tomboy, but since being graduating from high school, I have started paying a lot more to my clothing.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE THAT YOU’RE WEARING? My favorite piece would have to be the hoops that I’m wearing. I bought them with my very own money. I really only accessories with earrings, so they have to be the right kind for me to enjoy them. I really love copper earrings, because it’s an interesting color and it goes with most things in my wardrobe.

WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR STYLE THE MOST? I would have to say both simplicity and the weather. I like wearing my clothes, not letting my clothing wear me. That’s why I wear lots of simple items. I want my personality to stand out, not my clothing. The weather also influences me because I’m originally from Chicago, so moving to Seattle made me realize that dressing right actually matters since you can actually show your clothing instead of being bundled up, like in Chicago.

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