Hi everyone!
Wow! I have tried several times to write down my thoughts about Pride and this weekend, and I'm finally sitting down long enough and had enough sleep to try again for good.

So...first of all, I want to thank everyone for making my birthday so great.  I have never been sung Happy Birthday by so many people at one time.  It was a humbling experience to stand there and take all that love.  It made me squirm in a good way!  The print taken from Candace's collection and signed by everyone was a unforgettable piece.  Thank you!

Pride was a beautiful day from beginning to end.  I was so impressed at all of the people from all over that came out to celebrate being themselves.  It was an expression of love and family and friendship and I was so glad to be a part of it.  Thank you for giving me a chance to give back to a community that has given so much to me over the years.  It was a honor.

Many people don't know what all goes into making an event like Pride come to life, and there is a lot of behind the scenes work for months before, usually.  So the fact that Megan Norris headed a small, hardworking group of people into lights, camera, action in just under 3 months (correct me if I'm wrong) is amazing!  Most people take longer to plan weddings!  Hats off to you, Megan, and everyone on the committee for giving us such a gift. You all shined that day.  To all the performers, Polly's Lament (great pipes), Chad Evans, Nicholas Cruz, Josh Duffy, to my wife, Missie, and Dean for working sound production (sounded great!), to Sheryl for my incredibly cool outfit that you handmade, all the great vendors who sold great food, art, and info, and to all of the volunteers, who fearlessly did whatever was required to keep it running smooth, and to Chad's parents, Anjanette and Keith for the trailer with A/C(muchos gracias)!!

It takes an village, and we have one right here in Lake Charles, Louisiana!  Here's to the foundation of a genorous, honorable, and 'fabulous' community.  You did it!

Laurel

Harbar Records, LLC

Laurel and the Electric Circus Releasing The Recession Sessions
July 25, 2009
10pm

Lake Charles rock band, Laurel and the Electric Circus, will be releasing a new EP, The Recession Sessions and performing the collection live at Crystal’s Nightclub in Lake Charles, LA at 112 Broad St. on Saturday, July 25. The show will also be benefiting the first annual Lake Charles Pride Fest and starts at 10pm.

Recently performing internationally, the Lake Charles based entertainer Laurel, known for her energetic performances, is joined by The Electric Circus, Dean Holliday on bass, Jake Fontenot on guitar, and Mike Alexander on drums. Laurel, Holliday and Fontenot shared in songwriting on The Recession Sessions and performed on the recording, including Holliday’s rearrangement of remix track, ‘Could You Love Me’, found on Laurel’s debut album, Sweet Insanity. A fan favorite, ‘Could’ garnered attention with radio airplay and placement on two national compilations.

This will be Laurel’s second release under her independent label, Harbar Records. Selections of her first work has been aired on radio programs such as Beaumont’s Big Dog 106.1, IndiShowcase, Hot Spot Radio, and Women’s Radio, and can be found at several digital stores linked to the website below. With a track slated to appear on New York based label, A&R Unlimited’s, 2009 song collection, The Recession Sessions is proving to be the best buy of the year. This original 5 song rock EP will be sold for only $5 at the live show and a portion of cd sales will be donated to the 2009 Lake Charles PrideFest c/o Forum for Equality.

Please join Laurel and the Electric Circus for a night of dance and community at Crystal’s, 112 Broad St., Lake Charles, LA on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 10pm. For more information, please visit www.myspace.com/laurelsmusic, 337-515-2965 or bluzinger@hotmail.com.