Bradley's Buzz
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Music
On Friday I got the chance to meet one of my all time idols - Miss Patti B or Pat Benatar as she is more commonly known. She was at Borders in Westwood signing her new book "Between a Heart and A Rock Place." Unfortunetly there weren't any pictures of any kind allowed so it's something I'm going to have to remember for as long as I can - until I can get backstage one day.It was actually still really cool - I went with my friend Marc and his friend Charlie who had met Benatar several times and she recognized immediately and asked if Marc and I were with him so it was like we were long lost pals. I told her how the very first record I ever owned was In The Heat Of The Night - I'm sure she was totally impressed.
When I was a kid I used to go to my Aunt Dianne's and she had this wood stove in the living room that was set up on a sort of step up and I would turn it into a stage and sing "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" to all my relatives while the 45 played. They loved it and I was going to share the story but for some reason I choked, and honestly thought she could give a shit about it, but whatever.. it was still an experience.
I finished the book on Sunday and got totally stoked to work on more music. I love how her and Neil have worked continuously together and wish I had a man who actually liked music but I guess my life and "career" will remain separate, though I have decided that I really, really, really do need a collaborater to work with like she has. Someone who works with me exclusively and can help and support what I want to do - plus come in with brilliant ideas and keep me in check while actually pushing me to work. Now I just need to figure who that is and where to find them.
In the interim, I started working on some stuff. For years I've been trying to re-record the Mexican Gods album from 2002 so my vocals sound at least presentable since I thought it was a pretty good album but had no experience working on my own. I have had a few "done" for awhile and now I'm working on some that never panned out.
It's mostly to get me to rehearse because I am working on re-recording some of the back catalog. Not sure what I'm going to do with them but a 'my pick of greatest hits' album may be coming. I've asked Devin to help me out as I really, really, really need a producer and musical director and he is one of the most talented people I happen to be lucky enough to know. Luckily he has agreed to help me a bit so I'm totally stoked. There's some great Swivek songs that have been overlooked and I'd love to be able to present them in a fresh and better sounding form..
and finally I have a full day of real studio time booked for anytime so with the re-recordings I'm hoping it puts my voice in shape and inspires a new single to record in a professional setting... and that's what is up these days with Bradley in La La Land.
Labels: My Life In La La Land, Pat Benatar, Swivek
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Little Projects
Well it was yet another whirlwind weekend with Gay Pride happening right outside my door. Friday night began with my pals Tommy & Ryan already at my house so you know Happy Hour was bound to happen. We headed down to Micky's where for some reason I got pretty sloshed. My pal Diggity showed up and of course my Leivas and then I was in bed by 9 pm. But what a way to begin the weekend.
Saturday we actually made it to the festival and it was surprisingly small and not all that exciting. Though I do love drinking beer in the sun with my boiz. Devin & Dylan & Marc all came around and then we ran into several other pals. Of course we ended up at our house for awhile drinking and swimming and having a blast.
Sunday was a little more crazy as I am pretty sure I was still on the drunk side of sober when I woke up. My Val Pals came over the hill and we once again ended up at Micky's. But this time I decided to dress in my skimpy red short shorts and a Blondie short. I was lookin' hot til I saw some hunky Latino guy wearing the same shorts and showing a bit of his black jock strap with no shirt on. Beatch.
We once again ended up at our house swimming and drinking with the neighbors and it was a lot of fun. But Monday was a bit of a bitch. Luckily we don't have any plans for this weekend so I think I can relax a bit.
But only for a bit cuz the hobby bug is picking up and I have some things to do. First I want to re-record a few songs in the Swivek catalog including "First Born Son" which is a song I wrote for my nephew who is having his 3 rd birthday this weekend. Also, there's some political songs I did that I would like to re-record. Plus I want to whip up a few new songs that I will record at a professional studio in Long Beach - Tommy bought me a full day of recording and I can't wait to take advantage.
Also, I've been looking over the "bible" I made for the second season of my soap "Carlton Heights" and there are some pretty good ideas in there. I would love to get going on it as I don't think the first season told the whole story - particularly since it ended on a cliffhanger and I know there's a few people itching to find out what happens.
So maybe this weekend I'll get started and get things a rollin'.
Labels: Carlton Heights, Gay Pride, Life In La La Land, Swivek
Friday, June 11, 2010
Time To Catch Up
Geez I get so busy that I forget I still have a blog and some of my uber fans and friends aren't on Facebook to get my minute by minute updates; so let's catch up a little shall we?First the weekend of May 22nd was my big birthday and let me tell you it was big and faboo. We had about 30 people at Hamburger Mary's for dinner and a show. The dinner was to celebrate me and the show was by the fabulous Boofont Sisters. Vicky and Ruby Boofont are super talented kids and I love every show they do. They even brought me up to do a little dance to "The Tide Is High" a song they picked out and rehearsed just for me! Vicky mentioned before bringing me up on stage that I had run the biggest and best birthday campaign Facebook had ever seen. Love those girls.
We all headed out to Micky's afterwards with everyone grabbing my presents and hailing cabs. By the time one of the last cabs was coming by my pal Jules and I decided to just walk back to Micky's - she is after all a marathon walker having walked the LA Marathon, and I wanted to prove I could walk just as good as her :0) - Also, I had to duck around the corner to pee.
The next day was one of our big brunches and one of the biggest as a ton of folks decided to come and celebrate again for my birthday.
The following week was Memorial Day Weekend and we decided to spend a lot of time at the pool. Tommy and Ryan came up on Friday and we went out to Motherlode with my gaybor Mike and my pal Robbie (who is now dating gaybor). Then Saturday Ryan and I shared some cocktails and hung out at the pool all day. I got to meet a bunch of new neighbors.
On Sunday, we decided to have a big bbq but we don't actually own a grill and the ones in our pool area are owned by other people so we didn't really want to use them. Tommy made a ton of food including southern BBQ Ribs. I realized as I was sitting in the pool drinking mimosas and watching the Leivas walk by me doing laundry while Tommy cooked up a storm in the house that I am terribly spoiled.
The BBQ was fun beyond belief and so many people ended up showing up. Tommy and I were worried as so many of our friends were actually out of town, we thought we wouldn't have anyone there but as it turns out there's always pals to count on to celebrate.
Then Kristin and Alley took me to the Hollywood Bowl to see Flight Of The Conchords which was a hilarious show. However, you used to be able to bring booze and food into the Bowl and now you can only bring it into a show sponsored by the LA Philharmonic who owns the Bowl, all other shows are off limits so there were a ton of people drinking and eating outside the actual venue. We ended up buying one bottle of cheap champagne, French Bread, and a six pack of Heineken at the store inside the Bowl and it was $85.00! But the actual Hollywood Bowl is beautiful. I hadn't been there before and now I might be going back to see the sing along Grease!
Memorial Day Monday was spent the same way my Birthday Monday was spent - me and Ryan saying we were going to make mimosas and head to the pool. Well I did go to the pool before anyone else woke up but after that I was done. I didn't feel well after all the drinking I had done so I just laid in bed while Alf, Tommy & Ryan watched movies in the living room.
Finally, last weekend was spent the way the Leivas really likes it - just he and I and no one else. On Saturday he went grocery shopping and I stayed home to clean and do laundry. My plan was to go to the pool while I did laundry and just as I started doing laundry one of my neighbors, Wade came in to tell me he was going to the pool. So I ended up doing laundry, and sitting at the pool talking with neighbors.
When Leivas finally got home I was in the hot tub with about four of our neighbors and we were drinking and having a good time. He ended up bringing me out a few more drinks before we all called it quits.
On Sunday, I finished up the rest of the laundry (we hadn't done any in 2 weeks) and was going to go to the pool again but ended up staying in the house watching endless episodes of the British TV Series "Afterlife" with my husband. It was wonderful.
Now this weekend is Gay Pride so stay tuned for some more adventures in this Life In La La Land.
Labels: Afterlife, Flight Of The Conchords, Life In La La Land, The Leivas
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Golden Girls Live On
I posted some Golden Girls quotes a few years ago and in light of the horrific news that Miss Rue McClanahan has passed on, I thought it was the perfect eulogy to revist some of these great lines:
Blanche: Mel and I were meant to be together.
Sophia: But your thighs weren't.
Blanche: I won't stand for this (she gets up and starts to walk out)
Sophia: Take it, Dorothy!
Dorothy: But I'll bet you'll lie down for it!
Blanche: I tried giving up sex.
Dorothy: I guess you fell off the wagon.
Sophia: And on to a naval base!
Dorothy to Blanche: "Oh back off, Blanche. Not everyone has been designated by the coast guard as a friendly port"
Sophia to Blanche: "Beat it, you fifty year old mattress!"
Blanche: "Now if you excuse me, I'm going to sink into a hot tub with just enough water to, barely cover my perky bussoms"
Sophia: "You're only going to sit in an inch of water?"
Blanche to Sophia: "Well what do you know? Sophia has a past!"
Sophia: "That's right, but unlike yours I didn't need pennicilin to get through it"
Blanche: I never had to pay a penny in backtaxes. I have a way with auditors. The last time I was audited I even got money back from the government.
Sophia: Blanche, it's not a refund when the auditor leaves two twenties on your nightstand.
Rose [about her boyfriend Miles]: He makes me feel foolish. I don't even feel comfortable telling him St. Olaf stories.
Dorothy: I want to know exactly what he said to make you feel that way.
Blanche: Mel makes me feel young and beautiful and special. When we're together we laugh a lot.
Sophia: Why wouldn't you, you're both naked.
Blanche: Oh Dorothy, I just talked to somebody back home, and they are doing the most horrible thing! They are tearing down the most important building in Blanche Devereaux's family history.
Dorothy: Oh my God, they're tearing down Mattress World.
Rose: Why are you both wearing black? Did you just get back from a funeral?
Dorothy: No Rose, we were singing back-up for Johnny Cash.
Blanche: I've never been so humiliated in my life.
Dorothy: What about the time you lost the key to your handcuffs and had to go with that guy on his mail route.
Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?
Dorothy: Like no one else.
BLANCHE: What was your first impression of me?
ROSE: I thought you wore too much makeup and were a slut. [beat] But I was wrong... you don't wear that much makeup.
BLANCHE: Southern girls develop faster than Northern girls. It must be the heat.
DOROTHY: No, I think it's the gin.
Blanche: Well, you know, I have been told I bear a striking resemblence to Miss Cheryl Ladd. Although my bosoms are perkier.
Dorothy: Not even if you were hanging upside-down from a trapeze!
Rude restaurant customer: "Aren't you going to tell me to have a nice day?"
Dorothy: "I don't care if you have a pulse, much less a nice day."
Blanche: If I wasn't such a lady I would deck you.
Dorothy: Try it and you'll be on your back so fast you'll think you're on a date.
Blanche: But I've been disrobing in front of Dr. Kagan for three years. Why would he ask you for a date when he's seen the Promised Land?
Dorothy: I don't know--too many squatters?
Labels: Golden Girls, Rue McClanahan