So I have a bunch of things to tell you. First I'll say that I feel like myspace is changing. It seems like less people are using it, and that it's swamped with weird applications, and spam. I spend most of my time of facebook now, which is user friendly, and not overwhelming smothered in ads, and pointless notifications. Instead of writing blogs, I'm posting statuses, videos, links, pictures, and other random things. It's seems to gain a better response, because I honestly think more people are into facebook. How do you feel, and what do you think could change about myspace? I've been on myspace for years, and I don't want to see it crumble.
Anyway,
I've been a crazy person here in Brighton, and I'm really ready for a much busier, and beautiful spring time.
January was filled with traveling and excitement. I started the month making a short stop motion animation with my little sister Mary Lee Desmond. It was a school project about Orpheus and Eurydice, and it turned out just wonderful:
After wrapping up three full months of sewing, and planning for the "Any Wonder", and "Heavy Heavy Heart" videos, I headed out to Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City.
I traveled with Taylor, and Kathy. We stayed in a nice condo in Park City, that was surrounded by snowy mountains on one side, and then a mega-shopping center on the other. I insisted on sleeping in the living room on the couch, because the artificial fireplace was the most relaxing aspect of this space. How about that!? Just flip a switch, and there's a burning log! The condo had a kitchen so we didn't eat out much, which is wonderful because I love to cook.
Taylor & I in front of the Egyptian Theatre in Sundance.
We played a total of four shows in three days. Every performance was a completely different experience. One night we played without any amplification at all, in a theatre! How bizarre?! The trip was wonderful, and Paris Hilton looked really cute in her ski park apparel. Unfortunately, I didn't bump into Robert Redford like my previous visit. While I was in SLC, I received two emails with remixes from DJ Cat, and Anthony Resta. The DJ Cat remix is a phenomenal dance remix, and will be available when my song "Fortunes Fly" is released. http://www.myspace.com/djcatnyc <-- Check her out.
Anthony's "Heavy Heavy Heart" remix is very trip hop influenced, and spooky. It's not completed, but it's really beautiful. Everything he creates is. I swear, I'll share it all soon!!!
After returning from Sundance, I had some personal problems. It set me back emotionally, and mentally for a month. I still proceeded onward to Los Angeles with Taylor, Cassandra, and Kathy by my side. What an excellent trip, and show. It was beautiful there, and sunny as always. When I got there I was really sick. I couldn't do much else but sleep for a couple days. My lovely friends made me tea, and took me out to the most amazing japanese restaurant in the world. I feasted upon avocado maki, teriyaki shittake, eggplant with garlic, and seaweed salad. Japanese food is the way to my heart. It's my favorite. When we played, everything went very smoothly. Cassandra sang beautifully, and Taylor created lush soundscapes with his tele. I'm proud of my band, they are very talented professionals. The night after the show, Cassandra dragged my sickly self out for a night of clubbing on a monday. Lets not forget that this is LA, so no night is too Monday for it's party zealots.
Crazy Girls
First we stopped at the Viper room and watch a few lame rock bands, then we made it into a beautiful club called A Sunset, and ordered drinks. They were not delicious in the least, were severely over priced, and made us both feel yucky yuck. It's a good thing they have a sweet talking door man, because we were headed out due to the empty, over priced venue. He convinced us to stay for 20 more minutes, insisting it will get busier very soon. He even dropped a few celebrity names in order to persuade us. Within a half an hour, the club was completely off the hook. Drunken, crazy, beautiful women dancing everywhere, and tables of "important people" started ordering 400 dollar bottles of Grey Goose. We decided, maybe this place is cool enough for the craziest cancer duo in the USA. Before we knew it, a few gentlemen were giving us martini's and asking us to join their table. Without much thought, we joined them and danced with them for about and hour. This is all without realizing that we were dancing with Cuba Gooding Jr, and his friends. As awesome as that sounds, we got rather bored, and realized they were only looking for dat thing... so we danced our little selves elsewhere. A few moments later we were approached by another individual who looked a lot like Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite. He offered us some of his Grey Goose, and danced with us, and some other woman. We spent the rest of the night like that, then decided bed was calling. I exchanged numbers with Pedro, who turned out to be Effren Ramirez's twin brother C.R., and we are now friends.
Cassandra, CR, Me
The day after we got home from LA, we played a show at the Paradise. It was a benefit for cervical cancer awareness called "Save The Hootch". I'm very happy to have been invited to that show, because awareness is key to a healthy hootch. It was also the first time my entire band had gotten together since vacation. I was so happy to have them all to myself again. So....
Hootch Party
My babes backstage at the Hootch
After returning from the city of Angels, I decided I wanted a keyboard player. So Willy was found. Willy enlarged our band of 6 to 7 (that's including the sound man Tyler). He is a monster, and I'm very happy to have him in the family. With that taken care of, its time to start playing the newest material. We have a brand new set, with all different songs, so check out a show soon to hear them.
February went by like a flash. I spent the majority of the time trying to sort through my love and social life, and practicing hard with my new and improved band. We also started building the set for H.H.Heart. The location is in a dark cambridge warehouse, and the set design in huge. The video is being directed and shot by Monday Sunnlinn, who is extremely talented with video, and animated visuals. We also have James Edwards on the set/prop design team. James is an amazing artist, he has very imaginative goals, and is skilled in set making. I'm very happy to work with these scorpios on this dream like movie. Bob Logan will be building the frame (which is 8 panels across). We are quite literally making a room in a room. More about HHH later.
A couple weeks ago I performed at a Mardi Gras party with the Shawn Wolf Wortis band. I sang "Mr. Big Stuff", and "Make Me Yours", and danced my tail feather off. This was also a benefit for health care given to musicians in New Orleans. Thanks for inviting me to play guys!
What fun!!!!
The costumes are almost finished for Any Wonder. I have completed the designs for 7 aristocrat gentlemen, and gowns for 4 women. I have 3 gowns on my own, and a completely different outfit for the band scenes. To those few who have helped me this far, thank you sooo much.
Chilly Allston is finally getting the release it deserved. I'm having an EP release on April 10th here at the Magic Room. It is invitation only, so if you'd like to be put on the list, please send me your full name. This is going to be an amazing party.
As for my full album, I'm still working on it. At this point I have too many songs, and I'm trying to figure out which ones will fit best. I'm also running album names through my head. I want to make this my greatest piece of work yet. I've spent over a year recording in my home studio, and working with Anthony Resta, and Taylor Barefoot on the rest. Last month, Anthony produced my new song For A While, and it's been my favorite since. I really hope you love it like I do. It'll get your bonbon's moving.
Last but not least, yesterday I got news that "Chilly Allston" was chosen for a movie trailer. The film is called "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh", and it's a Sundance featured film. Listen to the second half of the Trailer and you'll hear that it's all Chilly.
Well, my puppy is evil eyeing me for lunch, and I need some munchies myself. Please stay tuned, and add me on facebook. Lots of love everyone,
Casey Desmond
<3
More Photos of the MADNESS:
Getting ready to party
LA BABEH
Sundancing
Taylors Botch Boob Job For Casey
Rape
Flying
And Finally, I pray to the Leg Goddess to give me longer, skinnier legs.