Shindigs abound!

In these uncertain times, it's good to have things to celebrate. In the past month I've gone to a Browncoat shindig, a fun family reunion, an SCA camping event (Crossroads) and finally, finally seen Duran Duran live in concert (that was a 20+ year wait!)

You're probably wondering what Browncoats? Wasn't Firefly and Serenity like, years ago now? Turns out there's a group of dedicated souls called the MileHigh Browncoats in *Colorado that have kept the Firefly party going, having monthly shindigs and raising money for charity. And always, for the last few years, every single shindig has conflicted with other important events on my calender. Until last Friday.

Check out this video of special musical guest Bedlam Bards performing "Can't Take the Sky" at the shindig on June 6th:



You can hear the appreciative audience woo-hooing and singing along. As the night wore on, and music of the 'verse filled the night air. In infectious happiness made me feel all shiny, and long for the days (three years ago!) when I used to blog about Firefly occasionally...

Like what you've heard? Visit Bedlam Bards on Myspace, or get On the Drift - Music inspired by Firefly and Serenity

*Browncoats are not specific only to Colorado. There are Browncoat chapters all across the country - there's even a Browncoat Wiki now!

Glory War video: The Queens' Taqsims

Here's a nice four minute clip of the Darbuka hafla Saturday night at last weekends' Glory War X in the northern Outlands. The awesome musicians and drummers alone make this worth a listen, but if you've got a sharp eye, you'll see that the Queen of the Outlands can sure dance up a storm, too.

Twitch. Banjo Star Wars!

I'm packing for the upcoming event today, and a break for lunch devolved into a bit of YouTube surfing. Well this is what I found for my trouble...



It brings to mind some disturbing possibilities for a southern-fried Star Wars parody...but dang! Ain't that some good pickin'?

Darbuka Sitar Jam

As promised, a clip from the campfire of Darbuka camp, Sunday night at Crossroads. You've got to love those swingin' sitar sounds and dexterous drummers! Sorry about the occasional windy noise...I was hiding behind the snubbery and the wind kept gusting between the sheets.

Mundus A Mundicia - music from a banned 14th century poem

Roman de Fauvel was first published in Paris in 1314. It is an allegorical criticism of church and state, using the metaphor of a donkey becoming the ruler of his master's house. The poem was banned at the time for being seditious and heretical.

This is "Roman de Fauvel - Mundus A Mundicia", arranged and performed by COLLAGE Berlin 2006



That's heretical? Sounds beautiful.

Magnatune Medieval Podcast

With work, moving and other such life challenges, I've developed chronic case of non-bloggery. The causes of non-bloggery includes both a lack of free time, and a major lack of sleep, so writing anything of quality is unlikely. Believe when I say it's better this way for now.

In the meantime, please accept this humble link to the most amazing Medieval Podcast by Magnatune. I hope this long mp3 sampler of many styles, periods and cultures provides a lively soundtrack in lieu of the usual written word.

Renaissance Festival documentary trailer

What with spring approaching soon, Renaissance Festivals all over the country shall soon be opening their wooden gates to all good gentles wishing to partake in the fantasy and frivolity that is the "RenFair" lifestyle.

This preview of a video documentary from Hate City Productions shows that "Rennies" are just like normal people - they have a need for supportive community, like to do what they love for work, and wear costumes on a regular basis. Oh, wait, that costume part isn't really normal is it? Especially not if you are a centaur...yeah, that would be a difficult outfit to explain to Bob in accounting...



Maybe you'd prefer musical interpretation of the Renaissance Festival? Known only as the "Pirate Comedy Show" this talented group of performers has a different idea of what it's all about...

Technical Difficulties

It seems that YouTube is having problems serving embedded video links to Blogger right now, the effect of which is putting large gaping holes in my blog.

Hopefully this will be resovled soon, but in the meantime, I'll try out a music player for your enjoyment!

There's just a TON of cool music on Sonific. Click the play button below to start the music.

Sting's Lute Album - Songs from the Labyrinth

Within the first few years of joining the SCA, I found myself in the company of friends who had both interest in, and talent for, singing 'period' music. They convinced me that I should sing again ( after experiencing crippling stage fright a few years earlier ) and the rest is history. I would not be singing today if not for them.

Most of the music we chose to perform had some...uh....bawdy connotations. Which of course made them fun to sing and appreciated around a campfire. One of those songs was 'Come again' by John Dowland.

I haven't heard that song in around 10 years. In this video, Sting is performing it on the Today Show.




I think he may have changed it a bit, but the thought that he has just released an album of 16th century lute music makes me pretty happy indeed.

Check out the very informative reviews and listen to song samples at Amazon:

Video Gamer Love

Haven't we all said these words before??



Tripod Website

Browncoat Radio

I love internet radio. It has saved me on many a night, whilst typing furiously away, attempting to reach a deadline or finish a project before dawn.

Imagine my delight to find BrownCoat Radio! It's about gorram time.

I've been listening for about three hours now, and there have been no repeats, and I have just sung along with "The Hero of Canton!" (words on this post). There's asian, western and world music, and songs from the series and movie.

The broadcaster, who calls himself Mr. Universe, has written a bit about his station on Live365.com:

My lifestyle is very much like that of Serenity's captain and crew. My family and I travel fulltime across the USA in a self contained bus. Tough we are not thieves, we often find ourselves having that "us and them" feeling when dealing with people who just don't get the gypsy lifestyle. This radio station truly is "a signal" as we are broadcasting off the grid via wireless and satellite technology. No landline involved. Enjoy!

Mr. Universe, if you are listening, please come to Colorado!! We should have a foot-stompin' Blue Sun drinkin' DVD watchin' shindig!! I'm sure the MileHigh Browncoats would love to have another reason to get together!

Hell, I'd even brew up some moonshine...

RenFair Performer Awards 2005

It's about time the talented performers at Renaissance Faires have their own award. RenaissanceFestivalMusic.com (which also Podcasts RenFair Music if you happen to be into that sort of new technology) has gotten a bunch of different acts to submit their music and you can vote for your favorite.

Looks like this year they've only got Irish and Celtic, but I expect this will grow a bit beyond that in the years to come. I look forward to the day when this is televised, and we get to see celebrities mingling with people like Ded Bob.

I wonder what they will call the award? Like "Grammy" or "Emmy"? Maybe it should be called a "Fairy". Oh, that would be waaaay too easy now, wouldn't it?

Latif Bolat in Boulder this Saturday

Isn't this just the way of things? You make plans for Saturday night, and then some other completely cool thing shows up in your inbox. I really need to work on my cloning machine.

Anyway, if you love middle eastern music (or even if you just like it) go see this show. He is fabulous. Take my word for it. Near to a religious experience to hear him play.

GOLDEN SUN FOUNDATION FOR WORLD CULTURE ANNOUNCES
LATIF BOLAT ENSEMBLE:

A NIGHT OF TURKISH SUFI MYSTIC MUSIC, POETRY, DANCE AND IMAGES

Where: Nomad Theatre, 1410 Quince St., Boulder Colorado
When: Saturday October 22nd 7:30pm
Admission: $12.00 at the door

Turkish Mystic Sufi musician Latif Bolat will present music, poetry, dance, Sufi mystic stories and images from the ancient land of Turkey. Latif Bolat plays Turkish Folk Music and devotional Sufi songs which are called Ilahi and Nefes, from the Anatolian peninsula. The lyrics of Ilahisor Nefeses are taken largely from the great 13th century mystical poets Rumiand Yunus Emre. The program also includes Traditional Turkish folk songs as well as ballads composed by Latif Bolat.

Got Filk?

Filk is a genre that I only discovered by accident, while at a RenFaire long ago. I heard a wandering minstrel singing some Beatles song, only it definitely wasn't their lyrics. Someone had re-written the song to be about buxom wenches or something.

WOW! Now this is music I can really appreciate. I love parody. No, really, I love it. There needs to be more humor in music. The SCA is a breeding ground for Filk, most of which can only be heard around a fire. Most of us learn them by memory, (which is easy because they are based on popular songs) but a few inspired musicians have recorded their filks for your listening pleasure.

**RTM, are you listening? Dude, you really need a website with your CD and lyrics. Like NOW. You funny man.

Anyway, here's a few links for your filking pleasure. Man, it's even funny to say it.

If I had a Million Ducats

Crazy Knights

Fairytale of Middle Earth

We are the Knights of NI!

Living in a Fantasy World (Lord of the Rings Medley)

My Name is Arwen

Rogue

(Vikings Are) Unwanted Dead or Alive

In Camelot!

This Book Is Way Too Long (Lord Of The Rings Trilogy)

You can pretty much take ANY song and give it a medieval/SCA/LOTR makeover.

I would have included some Star trek ones, but I think that Blogger has limits on the amount of data I'm allowed to post.