New songs from All That Fuss and Andy's Tea Party

Most of the people who read my blog probably know that I'm in two bands: All That Fuss and Andy's Tea Party. Both bands have recently recorded songs, which I'm excited to share.

First, here is "20/20 Hindsight," All That Fuss' first single. It features Belinda Martin on lead vocals, Heather Consuegra on keys, Dani DeLuna on programming and production, and me on guitar and background vocals.

If you like it, you can download a free, high-quality mp3 here. If you are on a PC, it might ask you to update your Windows Media Player, but you can ignore that. Just click "download this file."

This song is "Satan on his Knees," which I wrote a few years ago but just recently recorded. I sang and played guitar and melodica on it, and Dani DeLuna programmed and produced. You can also download it at the ATP Myspace, which I linked to above.


Have a listen, and let me know what you think. A more substantive post is coming soon.

Also, the second monthly Kids Got the Disco dance party at Bottletree has a date! It will be Friday, March 21, and will again feature Nastique, Charles III, and the All That Fuss dance squad.

Thank God for Disinfectants!

So far I have somewhat successfully eluded the various diseases that are floating around the Birmingham metro area. It seems everyone I know is sick, and I felt pretty shitty for a few days last week, but I think that a large part of that was probably psychosomatic. My dear roommate had a stomach virus, the kind of illness to which I am most susceptible, and I was convinced I was going to also get it. I feel badly, because while she was sick, I fear that I sacrificed compassion for militant disinfection. She says I behaved appropriately, so I hope that's the case. My assistance mostly consisted of occasionally shouting "How are you feeling? Do you need anything?" as I sprayed Lysol down the hall or walked through the house, Clorox wipe in hand, while she lay in bed miserable. My clinging to cleaning supplies in times of sickness I inherited from my Mom, but it's most severe when the disease in question is stomach related. While my constitution is relatively strong, and I rarely suffer from a cold or the flu, whenever someone within 3 miles of me gets gastroenteritis, I inevitably end up pacing from the toilet to the bed for 24 hours or so. Somehow, this time, I've escaped, though just as soon as I post this, I'm sure I'll end up waking up ill in the middle of the night.

On a side note, I find it interesting how, even though I'm an atheist (and I'm quite sure I'm not the only atheist who does this), I still find myself saying "I swear to God" or "Thank the lord" or alluding to some kind of fate or superstition driven event as I did above. I guess all of those phrases are so deeply embedded into my bank of expressions, that I can't seem to escape them. I think I'm going to try tomorrow without saying anything of that sort. I'll let you know what happens. If I remember.

Finally, the inaugural Kids Got the Disco dance party last night at Bottletree was a success. Thanks to everyone who came. Nastique and Charles the III were killer as always, and the All That Fuss Dance Squad (Heather, Becca, Greg, and me) had a spectacular time dancing for and with you. I can't wait for the March installment. Hot shit.

This Saturday: Dance Party at Bottletree!!

The inaugural Kids Got the Disco, a new monthly dance party at Bottletree, presented by Rock Paper Rock and hosted by Nastique, DJ Charles III, and the All That Fuss dancers (of which I'm one)!

On Atheism, Part One:

One of the reasons I decided to be open about my atheism was further supported recently when, in a mostly pleasant conversation, I was told that I couldn’t possibly really be an atheist because I’m too nice. What seems to be a relatively common perception of what sorts of people are atheists is a distorted and false. I don’t take my atheism as carte blanche to do and say whatever I like all others be damned--neither do any of my atheistic friends. I consider myself a moral and ethical person who tries to live my life with care and concern for other people, which has nothing to do with my religious beliefs or lack thereof.

It is because of these misconceptions, that I felt I needed to ‘come out’ as an atheist just as I came out as gay. I have no grand intention or scheme to convert my Christian friends, nor do I hate all Christians. In fact, I have deep respect for a great deal of Christian friends, though it's not because of their Christianity, it's because of who they are as people. It’s just not something I can subscribe too. This has been a long process; one that started when I was ten and a Jehovah’s Witness, and I was told by an ‘elder’ that my best friend Andrea wouldn’t be in Paradise because she wasn’t a Jehovah’s Witness. The ‘elder’ went on to tell me that she would be one of the bodies we climb as we ascend up to heaven to watch as God destroys the Earth if I don't 'save'her. I realize that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are an extra-kooky branch of Christianity--this is only where the thought process began. But this is another story for another time. I intend this entry to be the first part in a series discussing atheism. I'm not happy with the current title, but I can't be fussed to come up with anything better at the moment. Any suggestions?

For now, I need to get back to doing my taxes, so I can fill out my FAFSA. I certainly won’t be going to graduate school next year if I can’t get any funding.

Oh, and the Fiery Furnaces are playing tonight at the Bottletree. I’ll be there, and I hope you will too.

This Weekend in Birmingham

Friday night, if you're into classical music, the Alabama Symphony has a "Beethoven's Fifths" program in which conductor Justin Brown will play Beethoven's Piano Concert No. 5 ("Emperor") and then conduct Symphony No. 5.

Saturday, Birmingham Art Music Alliance is putting on "Cinema Electronica" at Bottletree at 2:30 PM. I don't know much about it other than the fact that it will mix video, experimental music, poetry, and dance, but BAMA concerts are always interesting, so if you have some free time, I recommend checking it out. Plus, it's free. And Bottletree has started serving brunch, which I've yet to try, but I've heard it's delicious.

Saturday night, also at the Bottletree, is a hip-hop show featuring Sole and the Skyrider Band and Telephone Jim Jesus, neither of whom I'm familiar with, but people seem excited, and Bottletree tends to put on really good hip-hop shows.

Finally, Sunday night, Nina Nastasia is performing at Jonathan Benton Booksellers in Mountain Brook Village. Some members of the Birmingham Art Collective will have art on display. This one is highly recommended.

Sorry I haven't had an opportunity to write anything this week. I have a tendency to overbook myself, which I'm planning to work on. Last night was the only night I've had any substantial time at home, but most of it was taken up by autoharp repairs. Gluing felt back onto plastic bars takes a lot more time than one would think.