Orbits of a deluded mind

Drew Blood – the Nipple King!
Last month, Sleep When You’re Dead Productions and the Magic City Sirens put on another dark, fun, chaotic show at Matthews Bar and Grill in Birmingham. These are some lovely examples of that mayhemic happenstance then and yet to come - this weekend!



( Welcome to the Freakshow! Not for the squeamish [18 images behind the cut] )

Back in December, I had the opportunity to attend and shoot a wonderful regional goth / fetish / burlesque / belly dance performance in Birmingham. In fact, I believe I’ve established a good working relationship with the producer Venus and Bacchus Productions. The show is called “Sleep When You’re Dead” and that month’s installment was charity themed, “Tits for Tots”, where donated toys and funds went to the local juvenile burn center in Birmingham. I met some great folks there and saw some tremendous dancing both on stage and the dance floor. With luck, I’ll be shooting this show as their official (paid) photographer in February.

Tribal dancers of the “Ultra Hip Review” performed twice during the evening. Passionate, silky and fiery would describe them well.

This video was sent to me by burlesque producer 'Bobbi Burlesque' in Los Angeles. Sophia Sirena is one of his troupe's new performers and a contestant for Miss Viva Las Vegas. It displays the uptempo but sulty style of Los Angeles and Las Vegas performers.

( mildly NSFW )

The Schlong Show

Seriously, it was a talent show to benefit Lowe Mill and the Flying Monkey Arts Collective. The lovely ladies of the Posies were the judges and wielded the golden schlongs.

The Posie's Introducing the acts


( On with the show )

One of the nicest boosts I could have gotten in early March was being invited to go to the first SLOPED! Show at the M Bar in Hollywood. After leaving my previous employer and being very depressed over the situation, singer Amanda Rowse contacted me with the invite. This was their first installment in what promises to be a series of variety shows with musicians, comedy, videos and dancers. It did wonders to help me get motivated and relieve the stress.

The following act had me very excited. It was a duet with Mr. Sean Howard on piano and Miss Amanda Rowse singing. Wow. Amanda has a powerful voice and great presence on stage.

Vaudeville, is the precursor to modern TV variety programming and dates all the way back to the side shows of the traveling carnivals. Veronique CheVALier was the hostess and organizer of the “Red Velvet Variety Show” at The Bordello Bar in Los Angeles last February.

Thank for your patience in my breaking this set up in two parts. This set mainly covers the second half of the show and features the members of The FreakShow Deluxe! Rev. Tommy Gunn closed out their set in style with a classic act.

Rev Tommy Gunn – The Bed of Nails


( Get the point (part 2)? (1 behind the cut) )

Vaudeville, is the precursor to modern TV variety programming and dates all the way back to the side shows of the traveling carnivals. Veronique CheVALier was the hostess and organizer of the “Red Velvet Variety Show” at The Bordello Bar in Los Angeles last February.

Thank for your patience in my breaking this set up in two parts. This set mainly covers the second half of the show and features the members of The FreakShow Deluxe!

Amy Amnesia - Escapist


( Kinky.. er.. impressive. (1 behind the cut) )

One of the last shows I caught in February was Devil's Playground. This is a more modern and very sexy take on burlesque and many of the beautiful ladies in this show work as models. Burlesque is a form of expression and creativity for them.

As with the previous Devil's Playground show, before the ladies entertain, they presented another really good local band. Little Mo and the Unholy Four" play a very hot version of Rock-a-billy music that dates back to the 1950's. If you get the chance to hear them perform, it's well worth it.




( One more for good measure )

What’s a variety show without the burlesque performers? Vaudeville, is the precursor to modern TV variety programming and dates all the way back to the side shows of the traveling carnivals. Veronique CheVALier was the hostess and organizer of the “Red Velvet Variety Show” at The Bordello Bar in Los Angeles last month.

As Miss Amy Amnesia cleaned up the broken glass, Rev. Tommy Gunn performed some nail biting entertainment for the audience.. or was that nose picking..? He was followed by Rev. Vincent Wolfe who enjoyed a “light” snack.



( Nails and glass (2 behind the cut) )