the Mad Maggies Live at Ashkenaz, Berkeley, CA January 7, 2009
Special thanks to Tim Gennert for these great room mixes!
Here’s 2 YouTubes from our Comcast On Demand “Battle of the Bands” session recorded on January 21, 2009. The clips are of us playing “Il y a un Bal” & “Mad Mod Vlad“.
I can almost see Maggie getting nervous with this blog heading displayed as it implies all kinds of mysteries. “The headline implies; the reader infers”- thanks JB.
The CD release party was so much fun, I had a great time, and Skyler and Melodie and everyone was so hospitable.
Musically it was a night of maritime excess and we love that! There was music from all ages and refreshing swigs of grog to ease tired throats! I was amazed at how many whistle players there were. I was in heaven and just hoped my playing would be good enough. Alex was incredible and I hope we can work together at some point. He let me play his Burke Low D which was a treat! I had my first case of whistle envy! He made me want to play more traditional pieces and spend months living in Ireland learning how to make my Feadog sing! Better ask my husband and daughters about that though.
The evening was about costume and fantasy.
The Mad Maggies chose to dress as pirates with Maggie leading our rag-taggle band in her gorgesous dress – I want one so will have to speak nicely to the powers that be.
G-Dub was most regal in his fabulous black kilt with Skull pins – “hard to describe – easy to love” and “boy can he play guitar.”
Brian wore his kilt for the first time, looked great and felt liberated! Go Brian – next step Braveheart!
Johny Blood chanelled his inner Captain Hook. He made purple and gold look amazing and the feathered hat was the perfect extra touch. His frock jacket swung magnificently and his three-quarter trousers were great. The cowboy boots touched cultures old and new!
Adrian and David went stripy reminiscent of Mr. Smee. Adrian had some inspired solos that I forgot to come in as I was enjoying them so much!
Bill kept us honest as the ‘punk pirate’- including ripped shirt!
I needed a winch to cinch as I had a corset. Miss Amber Lee showed her superior corset tightening ability and I am much indebted and grateful. The corset was designed by men to make women suffer. Yes, it makes us look wonderful but the constant pressure and rearranging of the internal organs constricts the airways, making it difficult to breathe and as a wind player there were a couple of interesting moments! It is no wonder women were forever passing out. I did have other clothes on but the corset was the thing to describe. Tobias provided a Sharpie Skull and Crossbones on the cleavage! Hoorah!
Thanks to Mags for inspiring, organising, writing, playing and aarmonising!
Thanks to everyone who made the “Skull & Magpies” party at the Accordion Apocalypse a success. It was a fine and rich musical feast. The night was clear and mild with a nearly full moon — perfect for a pirate’s party.
Shannon O’Hare of “Never Was Haul” fame created a wonder filled, nautical atmosphere with block and tackle, ship lights, skeleton, cannons and more. The revelers were fantastically garbed in periwigs, frock coats, bodices, tricornes, bandanas and stripes and skulls everywhere you looked.
Stew Murrie digitally photographed. Erin Cameron videotaped 24p with her Panasonic DVX 100. Dan Brandon ran sound and multi-track recorded to Digital Performer.
We’re eagerly awaiting the media captured so we can share it with everyone. We’ll post it for all to enjoy as soon as possible.
Skyler and Melody were gracious hosts and their tail-wagging accomplices, Ukelele and Garlic were very accommodating of the human sea dogs.
Luz sparkled as our mistress of ceremonies. Her art and humour moved the night along perfectly.
Nada Lewis and Alex opened the show with a skillfully played set of toe-tapping, traditional deck dancing tunes.
Entr’actes included Amber Lee, who sang and played beautifully, Secret Circus, whose antics razzled and dazzled and Vaughn, who performed a delightful, magical, balloon trick.
Joan Wilson Rueter as The Gunner’s Daughter dished up some fine, seafaring fare including a lively, “Drunken Sailor”. Next up was the inimitable, sea-dwelling troglodyte jugband The Hobo Gobbelins. Surprise guests Human Wine followed.
We took the stage at around 11 PM and roused the rabble with tunes from “Skull & Magpies” and other hits from our repertoire. Pirates danced, wenches sang, ghosts shimmied on the rigging, bumboo flowed.
Erstwhile Mad Maggie, JX Lovejones graced us with his clarinet playing on a couple of tunes.
Ah yes, my hearts, it was a grand evening. Happy and content we sailed away in the wee hours swearing to carouse again when next we meet such a lively band of rovers.
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My rococco dress was made by clothing designer, Connie Walkershaw who is also the fabulous saxaphonist with Go Van Gogh.
The vintage pirate movies projected were “The Black Pirate” (1926) starring Douglas Fairbanks, filmed in two strip technicolor and “Captain Kidd” (1945) starring Charles Laughton and Captain Kidd’s Kids (1919) with Harold Lloyd.
Bumboo is a favorite pirate drink made of rum, water, sugar and nutmeg. Of course the recipe may vary.
See you all at the show, tonight!
The Accordion Apocalypse in San Francisco presents the Mad Maggies’ CD RELEASE PARTY — a rousing night of musick, pyrates and high seas rabble celebrating our newest musical offering, “Skull & Magpies”.
Special musical guests include Nada Lewis and Alex Bernstein – 4 centuries of ship deck dancing tunes, The Gunner’s Daughter – sea chanties and pirate ballads, and Hobo Gobellins – circus cabaret with a salty twist
Lady Luz is Mistress of Ceremonies and Amber Lee and Secret Circus will be adding intermezzi
Shannon O’ Hare: set designer
Dan Brandon: sound engineer and recording
Erin Cameron: videographer
Stew Murrie: photographer
Dale Horstman: CD illustrations and artwork
Look your pyrate or wench best!
Doors open 8pm
$10 donation ($15 if you look like a bloody, 21st century landlubber)
This just happens to be another Accordion Babes event. And the Mad Maggies 5 year anniversary!
The Accordion Apocalypse Repair Shop
2626 Jennings St., Bayview
San Francisco • (415) 596-5952
Already 2009 has been busy. Our first gig of the year was at Ashkenaz in Berkeley. This was our triumphant return to this venue and boy did we make sure that people got a taste of what they had been missing.
Tara Linda organized “Wild Accordion Women” (co-produced with Down Home Music). This Accordion Babes event showcased more talented female accordion players from the Bay Area. As we know, accordionist Mad Mags is very talented as she writes and arranges the majority of our tunes, plays with great style and looks wonderful as she does it!
The other acts really warmed up the audience for us, It has to be said that we got the place jumping; seats were for coats and nothing else! Everyone was taken by the music and just let us do what we do best- play well, play out and play often!
Marin Music Live also saw a protracted performance with other local world musicians. Once again we showed how it is done. Our friends Djiin also played – there is talk of us playing together in the future. It is hoped that video taken at the event will be shown on a local access Comcast station – dates unknown as yet but stay tuned! The event was free to all and we hope that the publicity will help secure more gigs.
We made out and as such a large group of mad musicians this is no mean feat! Go Van Gogh threw us a musical gauntlet and we accepted. The Make Out Room in San Francisco hosted this Klezmer battle of the bands. There was dancing, merriment and a fun time was had by all. JB and I took the boxing theme rather seriously and came armed with boxing gloves. I even dropeed my skirt to reveal leggings and boxing shorts- sorry you missed this gig now? There was no knock out but we are hoping for a rematch as we would like to flex our musical muscles with this fine band once again!
THE event of February is our upcoming release party which is on February 7th and promises to be a night of pirates, folk music, shanties, costumes and recreations of days of yore. More details will be posted nearer the time. The event ties in with the piratical theme of our newest CD, Skull and Magpies. Costumes are not optional and the visual extravaganza that is to be our evening of musical mayhem should not be missed.
Here is a review of the new CD from our fan, Alex:
“A big big thank you for my CD. It looks absolutely amazing! I love the artwork, the new logo and the new songs.
Studio simply cannot imitate the dynamics of a live band playing in front of a crowd of cheering audience. I would say your new album is a perfect teaser for people who can’t wait to see you playing live. I am definitely one of them. Favourite song – it must be: Morning Star!”
Come and see what he is raving about! Choose your own favourite from Skull and Magpies.
And we’ve been podcast. BilgeMunky.com played “Rough Music” (listen to show 65 ) and Wild Wilson has spun us several times on his show in Minnesota.