The Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect

Halloween's been a very good season so far.  Can't even believe this--the costume was done well before the usual time--an hour or so before the party.  lol  W e I R d feeling!!  Credit has to go to that vaunted Butch Walker ameliorative effect, right?  Have always listened to music and/or watched movies while I sew, figuring out intricacies of opaque  pattern directions, while bleary-eyed and experiencing huge doubt about the costume.  But this time, got Sanne's present done and in her hands 3 days before the shower, Sarita's costume done in under a week that was so drama-and catastrophe-free, it was like someone's TV life (makes for boring TV, but quite refreshing for me), had a very good visit with her, and had a WINNER costume for work on Friday. 

The costume for Saturday was finished with time to spare and completely baked in terms of concept and execution.  The only difference I can think of is that this year, I was listening to Butch Walker while doing the work.  It was a very satisfying experience, forever etched in my memory with a Butch Walker Mixtape II soundtrack. 

One unfortunate mishap:  lost the hat!  Got dressed, including the pesky, downright annoying eyelashes--those matinee idols really  suffered for thier art--walked to the neighbor's apt to show off, walked to the car, got in, realized I'd forgotten the cool bolo tie I made, walked back to the apt.  Noticed the hat had fallen off (couldn't really feel it because of the wig) and thought, okay, pick it up on the way back to the car.  Well, never found it.  The neighbors came out with flashlights to help search; no luck.  TROP BIZARRE!!!  What happened?  In the 1.5 minutes it took to drop the hat and come back to pick it up someone walked or biked by, saw it and took it?????  Oh, well...tried to console myself that the overall effect was still okay, but really. 

The party included the usual suspects--the theme was Haunted Hollywood/deceased Hollywood stars--Carmen Miranda (great costume my aunt selected for herself), Liz Taylor as Cleopatra (two), Marilyn (four), 3 Elvis, er, Elvi? (one white, one black, one Mexican--good contrast), Audrey Hepburn, Lucy n Ricky Ricardo, Johnny Cash with HUGE hair, but very in character, so I liked him, two Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra.  Unexpected:  three Amy Winehouse!  One Amy arrived with Kurt Cobain; cool.  Selena showed up with one of the other Amys.  There was a couple who had painted their faces like Dia de los Muertos; kind of neat.  Totally outside theme:  Star Wars storm trooper, Axl Rose (his career is maybe dead, but does that count?), one who might have been the Phantom of the Opera and his girlfriend who might have been a 20's flapper; guess they would be dead....Still, good to be there,even without my hat.  The Lupe scrapbook went over well, too.  There was food, drink, a band, some dancing.  Sure, some of that dancing--including mine--was "like I been shot in the leg for sure" but that made for more spirited and varied participation.  

Gave Rolan (Jimi) the famous Butch Walker Mixtape II.  It was very sweet that some of the partyers had seen my John Oates costume on fb and showed it to others at the party.  One of the Amys mentioned to her boyfriend, Kurt, that I was a huge AC/DC fan, traveled to Europe, Mexico and the US to see them and now had turncoated from Angus to some other musician.  Felt like I had to defend Butch.  So, talked him up a bit, including that I had bought tickets to see Butch's Chicago concert on December 30.  I know I'm excited about it.  But those who don't know Butch's oeuvre--what are you gonna do?

Still, there is a prospective Butch convert in the works, along with the chance to wear a costume, so it was a good night's work, with fun along the way. 

All thanks to the Butch Walker ameliorative effect!

Butch Walker and John Oates: Unlikely Combination

OK, ran the errands, drank the coffee, watched/listened to Butch Walker singing Say It Isn't So from Episode 54 of Live From Daryl's House http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj2PUz3Jax0&feature=colike As I think of it, the butch version of Say It Isn't So.

and it's now time to get back to the costume for Saturday.  The hat and jacket are ready, except for the embellishments.  The skirt looks easy enough so might go to Southern Imports to look at the wigs one more time.  Took the scrapbook and hat to Stitch n Bitch last night and they didn't look at them with pity in their eyes, so I'm encouraged.  Was thinking that if I go to the rodeo this year, parts of this costume could work.  Can't say that about all costumes, so this is a plus.  Here's the concept: 

I'll be Lupe Velez/The Mexican Spitfire, famous B actress from the 1930's.  Most of her glamour shots showcase that side of her persona which IS impressive, but obviously, I had to select something less outré, more accessible to me as a seamstress and for the audience.  Been a good experience so far and that's really helping with the momentum.

Have been practicing for tomorrow's costume--John Oates from Hall and Oates.  I think I've got the music down--Rich Girl and Private Eyes--have to work on the patter and presentation overall.  Nervous about the moustache and spirit glue.  Might go for a trial run on that part while I'm working on the costume. 

Let's say this all works out in terms of execution, MAYBE there will be pictures later.

Butch Walker Converts and Halloween Costumes

Talked to a prospective Butch Walker convert today and amazing how it energized me. He asked me to name my favorite song. Had to go with She Likes Hair Bands on the spur of the moment. But, then emailed him the link to LFDH, episode 54, along with the mp3s of Here Comes the… , and Synthesizers. Really didn’t like being limited like that. How to introduce someone to Butch's range with one or three songs?  It’s like being asked to name your favorite AC/DC song. Impossible. Plus, made me realize that I hadn’t had an infusion of Butch Walker music in a few days. Recently have been immersing myself in Hall & Oates in preparation for the office costume extravaganza on October 26. Actually, already a bit disappointed in this upcoming extravaganza. The name has been changed from the ever-hip and au courant Fall Festivus to the boring although more predictable Fall Festival. What that hell is that?

Anyway, to sustain my belief in the transcendence of my costume, thought that listening solely to Hall and Oates would guide me to a more meaningful John Oates characterization. Along with the costume, not smiling so much, looking a bit annoyed and put upon, and singing only back up sections of the song.


This is hard because one of the key tenets of singers-along, we sing the lead, right? My thought on this is that chances of triumphing over the other lame costumes are vastly enhanced if I’m in character as much as possible, so I plan to sing only the background stuff while I'm strumming the PaperJamz guitar. Selection of the appropriate song has shifted, as well. Wanted a song that didn’t have a long lead-in (to better capture the attention-span-impaired audience) and had some substance in terms of the back-up part of the song. First, it was going to be Rich Girl: it has a short intro AND Butch likes it well enough to have included it in some performances, but am kinda sorta leaning toward Kiss on My List—possibly more recognizable to the general public—and it might make the point about John Hall being in the background of the partnership more emphatically. He doesn’t get to sing until late in the song. Or maybe, Private Eyes or I Can’t Go For That. Since every time I hear Say It Isn’t So, I tend to sing the Butch version (ha, ha, the butch version of Say It Isn’t So), don’t intend to go for that, as some might say.

While I was selecting the two songs I sent to D today (still protecting the names of the innocent and/or unaware), found some YouTube videos I hadn’t seen—Butch singing Sweethearts in Napa and at some other live performances last October—and it occurred to me again: Butch is chameleon-like in his fashion choices and personal looks. Huge fan worry:  I might not recognize him in the off-chance (in a billion light years) that I'll ever be in the same geographical location with him. Currently, he’s going through a plaid shirt, slicked back hair phase. The tight jeans and work boots thing are a constant. Brougt to mind the Seinfeld episode about the woman who looked scarily different, depending on the lighting, situations.  Of course, Butch always looks good, so whatever; just the inane concern about being able to recognize him.

Blogs--another way to encourage people to blather on and on about…nothing…but the smidgens of thoughts in their little squirrel brains.
So, for at least awhile today, listened to The Butch Walker Mixtape II.2, which  includes Freak of the Week—what a cool song! Did I ever hear that song, back in the day?  What radio station would it have been on?  Hmmm....late 90's release...the 90's were a tough time for me.....nothing comes to mind on this, so guess I never heard it.  The intro grabs you right away—reminds me 8 Miles High and some other song from the past--the repeated riff throughout, a lot of reassurance and identification for the listener hearing it. With Butch, there’s that AND the memorable, repeatable lyrics: He thinks it’s all about culture and art/…Can you make me a promise?/…Tell me I sold out…tell me I sold out…(a mantra to hold on to)…tell me I sold out, go ahead.

Freak of the Week video
Butch doesn't really like this video, but what a great face--the camera loves him!

ain't no geeks that look cooler than him, then or now