#lee!swansea

[moonsoaked-tickles]

LISTEN PLS

M9UTHWASHING TICKLE HEADCANONS!!1

Okay, I think daisuke is LITERALLY a walking tickly spot by himself, bro is very ticklish..literally everywhere- but most of his tickly spots are ears, behing his knees and toes (NOT A FETISH IT JUST HOW I THINK-) and maybe...he will tease swansea sometimes just to get a few pokes or smt, also, His mother were used to tickle him when he was younger :3

AND ANYA..anya is also pretty senstive but, maybe she is too shy to laugh out loudly, anyway, i think she is senstive on her sides and hips, and her palms <3

Swansea has a bit of beer tummy so..he is senstive on his tummy, I love to think that he was used to tickle his kids when they were younger, And his wife were used to tixkle him with tons of tickly smooches on his neck :D

And for curly..HEAR ME OUT!! CURLY HAS A MUSCULAR + TICCKLISH CHEST AAAAND ABS/TUMMY!1! AND OFC HE HAS THE HAPPIEST LAUGH AND HIS LAUGH IS ALSO VERY JOLY :D

And jimmy. IFFF jimmy was nice, then he probobly had tickly ears, idk

*GIGGLES AND RUNS AWAY*

I AGREE WITH ALL OF THESE OMG,,,

Daisuke just being insanely ticklish is perfectly in character I think

ANYA BEING TOO SHY TO ACTUALLY LAUGH OUT LOUD,,, Curly would help her ease up a little though I think

SWANSEA AND HIS WIFE !!!!!! I love them

CURLY HAVING THE HAPPIEST LAUGH IS SO CANON TO ME :[[[[ I love him

fuck you Jimmy

[sometimesthingsgowrongokayy]

mk i know that some people wont wanna hear this but

mouthwashing tickle hcs

like 99% of this is daisuke soooo..

also very all over the place, not organized AT ALL cause i was just spewing whatever came to mind. also some swearing

DAISUKE

Lee!

-oh lordy

-yall already know what this is gonna be about

-so i may be slightly obsessed with this man.

-one of my favorite hcs for him is that he has a very slightly pudgy stomach. like he’s fit and athletic and all that, but he just has a lil bit of squishy fluff right down there at his stomach that he cant get rid of no matter how much he tries

-and yall already know where i’m going with this stomach thing. gghrgggrhr he cannot HANDLE it

-he’s so ticklish. like hilariously ticklish. even in scenarios where stuff shouldn’t tickle he’s all giggly.

-such a giggler. all over the place in pitch, from high to low to squeaky to wheezy its literally everything under the sun

-his whole laugh is just so chaotic. snorts, hiccups, squeaks, squawks, guffaws, huffs, all of it. the whole shebang

-he absolutely gets lee moods, and when he does he either ignores them out of denial or kind of just spends time Closer to people.

-he isn’t the type to provoke people into tickling him through being annoying, he already feels like a mess-up and he wouldn’t wanna bother anyone

-so punishment tickles for him just make him feel like he’s done something wrong.

-but praise tickles? when you give him nice fluttery soft tickles for doing a job well done while showering him with compliments? congratulations, you’ve murdered daisuke

-sensitive to everything, too. rough tickles, soft tickles, pokes, flutters, kisses, pinches, everything. he likes lighter stuff though, it makes him feel all fluttery and happy and butterflies in his stomach and aushdurhfh.

-im so torn on whether or not he’d be a shy lee

-cause scenario one, he’s an absolute adorable blushy mess and falling over his own feet even when the Word is mentioned. and when you tickle him his legs are kicking out of pure joy as he hides his face with anything available and just Squeals

-but then scenario two, he’s absolutely fearless, just thinks its fun and playful and is all barky and squirmy when tickled. i think this is closer to canon, where he wouldn’t be as embarrassed by it unless it was accompanied by affection-showering

-i’m so sorry, i have to bring it back around to- his STOMACH this man is so weak to tummy tickles and tummy rubs and- gghrhgr.

-i think his other spots are sides, ribs, armpits, thighs, knees, scalp, and feet but for some reason only when he has socks on

-his knees are awful for no reason. if you do that thing where you make like the spider motion on his knee he jumps across the damn room, and a single charley horse has him on the ground in tears. not actually but you get what im saying

-oh and hips

-i think he’s the type of guy to be really squeeze-sensitive on any bony areas and really feather-sensitive on any squishy areas.

-so ribs, hips, knees, thighs, you’ll get him by squeezing

-but stomach, sides, feet, neck, you’ll get him by soft stuff like fluttering

-SO not immune to pokes and tases. oh tases get this boy so bad

-if you can sneak up behind him and tase him he will jump so hard his head hits the ceiling

-versus if you grab his hips from behind and squeeze them he folds in half like a lawn chair, legs flying up and torso flying down. its kinda the only spot that gets him to do this though, anywhere else and he just crumples to the floor

-i think his ears are sensitive

-and his arms, and his ankles, and his fingers, and his hands, and the tops of his feet, and his calves, and-

-yeah im sorry theres not a single spot he’s not ticklish

-even the bridge of his nose

-his face is ticklish in general. im sorry there is truly nowhere this boy is not sensitive

-absolutely a squirmer and a thrasher if you catch him by surprise or get him really good

-but soft tickles and he’s just flinching and squirming and curling into himself cause he’s flustered by how *good* it feels

-okay i need to shut up Now

Ler!

-so playful and sweet

-absolutely wrecks you, but he’s playful and sweet about it

-another very skilled tickler that doesn’t realize his power(can you tell i have a favorite troupe?)

-definitely enjoys tickle fights

-he’s the type of guy to just randomly bring tickles into a play fight or play wrestle

-also just generally the type of guy to tickle his friends

-i think he’s very switchy

-such a playful little ler

-definitely a tease.

-100000% laughs along with his lee. you never know if he’s laughing at you or with you, though. either way it’s playful and he would never actually make fun of you

-usually more rough with his tickles unless he’s closer to you. tbh, giving someone really tender soft tickles just.. puts him in a lee mood..

-im sorry i have way fewer ler hcs than i do lee hcs

ANYA

Lee!

-i don’t think she’s really all that sensitive tbh

-she can get kinda giggly if you get her hands, back, neck, ears, wrists, etc.. but not many other places

-also not one to laugh very hard. it’s just difficult to get her going

-if you’re really close with her, like really really close, she’ll let loose a little, let herself actually giggle instead of just snicker

-i don’t think she’s necessarily shy, just.. straight up not ticklish

Ler!

-she’s a bit more of a ler than a lee because of her sensitivity

-one thing i love about the mouthwashing fandom is.. they just randomly all collectively decided that anya has long nails

-and i agree with this wholeheartedly.

-she would be a very gentle ler, afraid of making her lee uncomfortable

-even if you’re very close she’d really only go for a minute or so before hesitating

-so sweet and gentle. makes sure you have water and so so good about knowing when to stop

-she’s so worried its almost flustering

-“is this too much? are you sure?” “oh, i’m sorry, was that a bad spot?” “am i doing okay? sorry, i don’t do this often”

-etc etc etc

-overall very sweet about it and doesn’t really tickle people unless she knows they like it. be that through them telling her or her sussing it out on her own

-oh yeah just don’t let her tickle you during or after a heated board game

-all that gentle stuff? out the window. claws all over you, absolutely TEARING you apart

-thats the only time she truly wrecked daisuke- he laughed at her losing and she TACKLED him

-“oh i’ll give you something to laugh about you little piece of-“

-they had to peel her off of him

-he thought about it for the next month and has been very antsy on game nights since

-she uses this to her advantage, btw. if he’s doing too well in a game all she has to do is poke his side and whoops, she’s winning again. whether that’s from his fear of getting wrecked again and letting her win or just his pure distraction from thinking about tickles, we will never know

CURLY

-okay okay listen. muscular people are SCIENTIFICALLY more ticklish.

-its proven. (whats the opposite of debunked)bunked. absolutely known.

-very loud boisterous deep belly laughter

-ribsss.. thighsss..

-i don’t have too many thoughts on him tbh but i do think he’s more of a ler

-big dad energy tbh. i feel like nobody talks about this. but pre-crash he’s very dad-like

JIMMY

-ok ok i know fuck jimmy we all hate jimmy

-but im gonna give it to the man and at least hc a tiny bit for him even though he’s an ass

-ribs. thats really my only thing

-ribs and other bony areas

-lers more than he lees, but then again kinda never does either. people are too grossed out by him and hes too grossed out by people

[ohcorny]

deeply curious about your opinion on mouthwashing

it's an unnecessary part of oral hygiene. brushing your teeth and especially flossing are more important.

anyway. spoilers in this post for the game.

i'm going to co-opt lee's post about it to save myself rewriting the opinions we share but he hits the nail on the head about the gameplay. i didn't play it myself, just watched a streamer go through the whole thing, but all the game-ass-game elements felt completely tacked on. especially given there isn't one until like.... an hour in? up until the maze (or at least that's when the thought occurred to me, idr if there was anything before it) the game was just go to place, talk to character, get object, receive story progression.

and i thought that was fine up to that moment. tell me a claustrophobic story! but as soon as it added Horror Gameplay it was like the developers went 'fuck shit we need to add a challenge or it's not a real horror game'. and i never changed my opinion on that as there were more of those sections added.

because the game just keeps going. i remember when we get to the big reveal about what Really happened i looked at the timestamp on the VOD i was watching and there was somehow an hour left. and i was just ??? why??? the game just becomes a showcase of 'look at our cool scary visuals! look at our metaphors!' without anything left to actually say about them. we know what happened. there's nothing to reveal or unpack that we couldn't have done earlier in the story, when people were alive, when it mattered. we just forgot to put a game in our game until the last minute.

but the thing that really annoys me, and this i'll put under a read more because it's Actual actual spoilers

how fucking dare they make the whole crux of the issue be that jimmy sexually assaulted anya and got her pregnant, and then do nothing with that in the post-reveal nightmare sequences. we spend so much time on swansea and curly and all anya gets is a womb with a cartoon horse ultrasound. are you fucking kidding me

like the most charitable explanation i can conceive for that is jimmy only cares about what the men around him think, so we only spend time with them in his nightmare world, but like. i am simply not satisfied with that reading. i do in fact need it underlined if that is the intent. somebody, anybody, saying 'why are you apologizing to me'. anybody caring about anya at all.

if you're going to keep flashing the message of 'take responsibility' i would like at least some gesture toward what he really, actually needs to take responsibility for

[al1en-invasi0n]

Hey Aleeins,I'm a little bit stuck right now! I know I wanna make more mouth washing tickle art and content in general, but I need characters to use! The latest post I made was Lee Daisuke and Ler Curly, so I'm hoping for different characters to be used here!

First off:

I will be deciding the Lee with a wheel generator since I can't do two polls per post! Goodbye for now, Aleeins!

[pookasluagh]

“No, Lee,” he said quietly. He turned to look at Crowley, to truly see Crowley, for the first time since he’d jabbed himself with a needle in the park. The man was a wreck, his face pale and drawn, clothes hanging loose and wrinkled over his body. When Zee met his eyes, there were too many emotions there to name. “I’m being well-cared for. He hasn’t left my side since I got sick.”

Shame was clawing through him—shame for everything that had happened in St James, for the intervening days of silence, for springing this unexpected phone call on him. Zee could hardly bear to meet Crowley’s eyes as he mouthed, I’m so sorry.

Whatever he might have been feeling in that moment, Crowley swallowed it. His face changed into something approximating good cheer as he moved toward the bed and set down the tea he was carrying. “Let me help you sit up, angel.”

Zee didn’t react to the name. This was a performance for his sister, after all. “Lee? I’m going to put the phone down for a second.”

She nodded, and he deliberately set the mobile facedown to keep the two of them out of view. Though it wasn’t necessary, Crowley did help him to sit up, hands anxious and solicitous. Zee told himself that it was nothing more than worry, than concern for his health. As soon as he was up and functioning again, Crowley would—

Crowley slid into the bed next to him, cupping his face and drawing him into a kiss that spoke of far more than concern for his health. He pulled back and whispered, “Hi.”

***** Chapter 16 is live!

Fic description: Zee (Aziraphale) Marsh is a widowed hermit who secretly writes bestselling romance novels under the pseudonym Bella Swansea. His life is rigorously controlled until his new downstairs neighbor arrives. Anthony Crowley causes something to come alive in Zee that he hasn't seen in over twenty years, but Crowley brings with him some of his own very dark secrets. // Human AU, dark fic, E rating.

[clownypantz]

Names: Axel, lee, azazel (in order of preference)

Nicknames: (be creative I don’t have any)

He/they/it/xem

I am THE number one silvercandle hater.

Please don’t ask me for money or donations, I’m a minor and don’t have any money

I FUCKING LOVE ROBOTS!!11!!!!!1!!!!!

Fandoms im in: Homestuck, mouthwashing, hiveswap, hotline miami, fnaf, yo kai watch, regretevator, mlp, osc, Pokémon, acnh, smiling friends, inanimate insanity, inscrytion, Henry stickmin, and tnmt!

Shit i might post: art, oc stuff and shitposts

Characters i like: Equius, bive, infected, shep, marvus, chahut, dirk, Aleen, vinyl scratch, rainbow dash, derpy, tea kettle, ballpoint pen, silver spoon, candle, P03, daisuke, Swansea, horrus, and Bryce Hansen .

DNI: proshippers/darkship (etc.), zoophiles, THOSE homestuck fans (the proshipper ones, the ones that actually like hussie etc etc), people who support people like sssniperwolf, vivziepop, jimmy urine, ETC. THAT ONE BITCH WHO ALMOST DOXXED ME ON OMEGLE 😭, and kid diddlers 🙁

Thin ice: anyone over 18 (dont be weird and we good) and vriska fans (as long as you dont oversexualize her youre fine)

PLZPLZPLZ INTERACT: OSC fans (ESPECIALLY ONE FANS), fnaf fans, miku enthusiats, pokemon card collectors, artists, mlp fans, therians, trinket collectors, furries, robot lovers, theres more i just dont wanna type it all 😔

Alt rp blog: silverspoonrealnotclickbait (wont let me tag)

[ticklykitty216]

Mo/uth/wash/ing Tickle Headcanons

(Ok chat, because I'm so normal about this game, I decided to do some headcanons because RAAAAAAAGHH!!!!!!!) (Also I put slashes in the title so hopefully it doesn't show up in the main tag, let's hope it works, if it doesn't, hi main tag people, I'm sorry you had to see this lol)

***

First things first, from least ticklish to most ticklish: Swansea, Jimmy, Curly, Anya, Daisuke

Daisuke:

Lee leaning switch

Is an absolute gremlin about it

Would be a total tickle monster if he wasn't so ticklish himself and so easy to turn the tables on

Has really ticklish hips and sides, his belly his also really bad

Has a very light and quick laugh, very fun to listen to

He's VERY teasy

Loves to quickly spider and scribble at your spots and doesn't linger for long

He coos and baby talks a lot, also tells terrible jokes while he tickles you to try and make you laugh more

CANNOT take what he dishes out

Very squirmy, flails a bit but doesn't try to escape all that much

Starts tickle fights on the Tulpar, 9/10 times he doesn't win them (even though he is trying (or is he?))

Swansea:

Ler

He is too old for this tomfoolery, leave him alone

The least ticklish crew member on the Tulpar

Has ticklish ribs, sides, belly and feet

Only way to really get him to laugh is if you catch him by surprise

Has a deep, gruff belly laugh

He will not instigate tickles, but he will wreck you if you drag him into them

Not much for verbal teasing, mostly calls you an 'idiot' or about how 'childish this is'

It's scary, he somehow just always knows where your the most ticklish first try, and he will exploit your worst spots to 'teach you a lesson'

Not overly rough with tickles, but he's not gentle either

He has one super secret tickle spot that only his wife and kids knows about (Daisuke is still trying to find it to this day...)

Anya:

Lee

Someone help her, this isn't fair

Very ticklish, might be the most ticklish person on the ship

Her hips, thighs, knees, ribs and armpits kill her

Has a very high-pitched squeaky laugh, almost sounds frantic

She snorts if her knees are tickled, she's super embarrassed by it and gets extremely flustered if you tease her about it

She doesn't usually get a chance to be a ler because of how stupidly ticklish she is

But she would totally tickle you during a physical and then act all confused as to why you're laughing (even though she's fighting back a grin herself)

Has slim fingers, easy to get into you most ticklish places

Also has a good grasp on anatomy so she knows exactly where to target

Her neck is also pretty ticklish, but she doesn't let anyone touch her there unless she really trusts you

Curly:

Switch, Ler leaning

Secretly also a menace, but unlike Daisuke he doesn't start tickle fights either

Views tickling a friendly thing and will do it to cheer up crewmates or bond with them (if they're alright with it)

Canonically weightlifts so you know he's using his strength to pin you down

Pretty gentle with tickles, he's playing the long game here

Compliments and teases you about your laugh and little things that you do (or try to do) as he wrecks you

Has a very loud, rich laugh, that comes from his chest, wheezes too

Very ticklish around his thighs, ribs, feet and armpits

His first reaction is to drop when tickled, so be warned

He'll often use his position as Captain to tease you, but if you do the same to him? He's dead. Deceased.

He snorts if he's caught off guard when you tickle him, it doesn't fluster him as much as Anya but it also gets him laughing harder because he's a little embarrassed by it

Jimmy:

Ler

Second least ticklish crewmate

Says he hates tickling and being tickled, but he actually has a thing for it

Likes it in a sadistic way, also like the power and control he gets from it

Mean, mean, MEAN about it

Will ruthlessly hunt down your worst spots and then exploit them until you're too tired to fight back (and then he keeps going for a little bit longer)

Like Swansea, doesn't initiate tickle fights and will try to avoid them, but if he gets sucked into one he is finishing it, and you're screwed for it

He might show you mercy if you acknowledge his status and say how much better he is then you (and that he's better then Curly)

Also has a gruff laugh, though it's more wheezy and raspy

His armpits and ribs are pretty bad, but his worst spot is his feet

Curly is the only one brave enough to tickle him and get away with it simply because of how long they've known each other

[awildkelkinnie]

!!Welcome!!

I'm a WildKelkinnie, but you can just refer to me as KelKin

I may not post here much, but most likely I will reblog a lot! I'm gonna do my best to keep it simple!!! :3 (Navigation tags will be tagged)

Im planning to make a google doc or something, but for now this is my intro!

Basic Info!!:

Im a Minor!!

I speak both Eng and Filipino!

Im a self shipper!! I dont mind doubles tooo much!

im bisexual and (i think) polyamarous!

List of F/Os!!:

Romantic:

Kaito Momota from DV3

Lucas Lee from Scott Pilgrim

Giacomo from ScarVio

Ganondorf from TLOZ

Capsaicin Cookie from CRK

Ray Manchester/Captain Man from Henry Danger

Trent from TDI

Royal Margarine Cookie from CRK

Okuyasu Nijimura from JJBA

Jean Pierre Polnareff from JJBA

Swansea from Mouthwashing

Muhammad Avdol from JJBA

Platonic:

(I count them as friends or familial figures)

Miguel O'Hara from Beyond the Spiderverse <3

Tea Knight Cookie from CRK <3

Peppermint Cookie from CRK <3

Captain Caviar Cookie from CRK <3

My Fandoms!!:

Transformers!!!

TMNT!!!

Total Drama Island!!

Danganronpa!!

Omori!!

The Gifted (Thai)!!

The ancient Magus Bride!!

Cookie run!!

The legend of Zelda!!

Scott Pilgram!!

Pokemon!!

MHA!!

Henry danger

Godzilla!!

Haikyuu!!

JJBA!!

Steven Universe!!

!! DNI !!:

Mouthwashing!!

Helltaker!!

Transphobic + Homophobic

Racist

Anti self ship

Proshippers, Dark shippers, and yea.

[jrpneblog]

Ready for a break

The defeat at Oxford last Saturday was a little unexpected if I am being honest such are the raised expectations of the North End faithful following the appointment of Paul Heckingbottom just under three weeks ago. North End started the game really well and scored in the third minute with an Emil Riis tap in. We continued to dominate until the home side equalised just before the half hour mark via some poor defending all round. To be fair Oxford pressed well in the second half and I thought North End slipped back into Ryan Lowe mode for a little while and just could not recover from the concession of a second goal and the sending off of Liam Lindsay. It was North End`s first visit to the Kassam Stadium since it was built some twenty five years ago but I have to say that as an awayday experience it does not rate very highly.

This first international break comes after an absolute whirlwind four weeks at Deepdale off the field. The departure of Ryan Lowe has been very well documented and, incidently, I thought Lowe spoke very well recently on Sky Sports regarding his departure from Deepdale. Lowe was followed for two games by Mike Marsh in a caretaker role which ended very unsatisfactorily after a shocker of a defeat at Swansea. The record books will show that North End won three out of six games before this break, losing the other three, but only one league victory in four outings leaves Norh End just one place above the relegation zone. The two wins in the Carabao Cup aganisnt Sunderland and Harrogate see North End face Fulham at Deepdale in a ten days time and that will provide some relief and an extra chance for Paul Heckingbottom to assess the squad he has inherited.

For North End it is all about the future now and not about the past and the fact that the new manager has had the players in for a normal weeks work this week shows his determination to implement his football philosophy into the squad and clear out any remnants of the previous regime in the thinking and the behaviours of the players. It is a very tough return after the International break and one which we will look at in more detail next week. A League game at Middlesbrough next Saturday 14th is followed by a Carabao Cup 3rd round game at home to Fulham on Tuesday 17th and on the 22nd of September we have the first derby of the season when Blackburn visit Deepdale for a 12.00pm kick on a Sunday lunchtime. I`m sure it is the sort of week that the manager and players will relish and PH will no doubt be looking to push on as he attempts to turn North Ends fortunes round.

And finally this week:- England kick off their Nations League campaign during this break and visit Dublin on Staurday teatime to play the Republic of Ireland. This is followed by a home game against Finland at Wembley next Tuesday evening. It isn`t really a competition that sets the heart racing but after being relegated from the top section last time Lee Carsley will be keen to ensure England win this group, which also features Greece, and progress to the knock out stage and promotion back to the top flight of this European Nations League

.

MATCH PREDICTION -

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (A) Nations League - Away win

FINLAND (H) Nations League - Home win

.

JR`s HIGH FIVES

Charlton Athletic to beat Rotherham United 5/4

A £5 Stake returns £11.25 on bet365

SEASONS STATS

Returns £00.00 Stake £20.00

Percentage profit+/-loss - 100.00%

Predictions 4 won 0 lost 4

[wankerwatch]

Lords Vote

On: Holocaust Memorial Bill

Baroness Deech moved, as an amendment to the motion that the bill be now read a second time, at end to insert “but this House regrets that the Bill fails to allow for a full appraisal and consultation on any preferred site for a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre; and that in preparing the bill the Government have failed to establish the true cost of the project or deal with issues of security around the Memorial”. The House divided:

Ayes: 49 (49.0% Con, 24.5% XB, 12.2% LD, 6.1% , 4.1% Bshp, 2.0% Lab, 2.0% Green) Noes: 99 (79.8% Lab, 10.1% Con, 5.1% DUP, 3.0% , 2.0% XB) Absent: ~683

Likely Referenced Bill: Holocaust Memorial Bill

Description: A Bill to make provision for expenditure by the Secretary of State and the removal of restrictions in respect of certain land for or in connection with the construction of a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

Originating house: Commons Current house: Lords Bill Stage: 2nd reading

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Conservative (24 votes)

Attlee, E. Balfe, L. Bellamy, L. Black of Brentwood, L. Blencathra, L. Bottomley of Nettlestone, B. Eccles, V. Fookes, B. Forsyth of Drumlean, L. Herbert of South Downs, L. Howard of Rising, L. Howell of Guildford, L. Mancroft, L. Meyer, B. Minto, E. Noakes, B. Robathan, L. Sandhurst, L. Sassoon, L. Strathcarron, L. Strathclyde, L. Taylor of Holbeach, L. Trenchard, V. Tugendhat, L.

Crossbench (12 votes)

Berkeley of Knighton, L. Carlile of Berriew, L. Chartres, L. Craigavon, V. Deech, B. Greenway, L. Hunt of Bethnal Green, B. Kerr of Kinlochard, L. Lisvane, L. Meacher, B. O'Loan, B. Turnbull, L.

Liberal Democrat (6 votes)

Addington, L. Beith, L. Fox, L. Hamwee, B. Lee of Trafford, L. Thomas of Winchester, B.

Non-affiliated (3 votes)

Fox of Buckley, B. Inglewood, L. Taylor of Warwick, L.

Bishops (2 votes)

Southwark, Bp. St Albans, Bp.

Labour (1 vote)

Campbell-Savours, L.

Green Party (1 vote)

Jones of Moulsecoomb, B.

Noes

Labour (79 votes)

Adams of Craigielea, B. Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent, B. Anderson of Swansea, L. Armstrong of Hill Top, B. Bach, L. Bassam of Brighton, L. Beckett, B. Blake of Leeds, B. Blower, B. Bradley, L. Browne of Ladyton, L. Chakrabarti, B. Chandos, V. Chapman of Darlington, B. Clark of Windermere, L. Crawley, B. Davies of Brixton, L. Drake, B. Gale, B. Golding, B. Goudie, B. Grantchester, L. Griffiths of Burry Port, L. Hacking, L. Hain, L. Hannett of Everton, L. Hanson of Flint, L. Harris of Haringey, L. Hayman of Ullock, B. Hazarika, B. Healy of Primrose Hill, B. Hendy of Richmond Hill, L. Hendy, L. Hunt of Kings Heath, L. Jones of Whitchurch, B. Kennedy of Cradley, B. Kennedy of Southwark, L. Khan of Burnley, L. Knight of Weymouth, L. Lawrence of Clarendon, B. Layard, L. Liddle, L. Livermore, L. Mann, L. McIntosh of Hudnall, B. McNicol of West Kilbride, L. Merron, B. Monks, L. Morgan of Drefelin, B. Morgan, L. O'Grady of Upper Holloway, B. Pitkeathley, B. Ponsonby of Shulbrede, L. Ramsay of Cartvale, B. Ramsey of Wall Heath, B. Ritchie of Downpatrick, B. Robertson of Port Ellen, L. Sherlock, B. Sikka, L. Smith of Basildon, B. Smith of Malvern, B. Spellar, L. Stansgate, V. Taylor of Bolton, B. Taylor of Stevenage, B. Thornton, B. Timpson, L. Tunnicliffe, L. Turnberg, L. Twycross, B. Vallance of Balham, L. Warwick of Undercliffe, B. Watson of Invergowrie, L. Watson of Wyre Forest, L. Whitaker, B. Wilcox of Newport, B. Winterton of Doncaster, B. Young of Norwood Green, L. Young of Old Scone, B.

Conservative (10 votes)

Bridgeman, V. Cameron of Chipping Norton, L. Courtown, E. Effingham, E. Gold, L. Harding of Winscombe, B. Leigh of Hurley, L. Polak, L. Scott of Bybrook, B. Shinkwin, L.

Democratic Unionist Party (5 votes)

Browne of Belmont, L. Dodds of Duncairn, L. Hay of Ballyore, L. McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown, L. Morrow, L.

Non-affiliated (3 votes)

Altmann, B. Austin of Dudley, L. Patel of Bradford, L.

Crossbench (2 votes)

St John of Bletso, L. Wolf of Dulwich, B.

[moonsoaked-tickles]

Daisuke pokes Swansea in the sides while he works to annoy him. I can't be persuaded.

THIS IS VERY TRUE YES

He'll do shit and then act like he isn't doing anything when Swansea turns around to reprimand him and Daisuke thinks it's the funniest shit ever

[pardontheglueman]

Rewatching It's A Wonderful Life

Not a year goes by without a nationwide re-release of Frank Capra’s festive classic It’s A Wonderful Life (1946). Over recent years, the film has regularly been screened by mainstream cinema chains in Wales as well as independent venues like Chapter and Tramshed in the capital. This year’s most imaginative showing will take place at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea. With a musical adaptation by Paul McCartney and Lee Hall (Billy Elliott & Rocketman) seemingly set to bring this magical tale to a whole new generation of fans, Kevin McGrath takes a look at the unique story of how a movie that flopped at the Oscars and which barely made a dent at the box office somehow became an enduring part of Christmas for so many.

Frank Capra’s post-war masterpiece It’s A Wonderful Life has rightly gone down in film history as one of the greatest feel-good movies of all time. From its humble beginnings as The Greatest Gift, an unpublished short story that author Philip Van Doren Stern turned into a 24-page pamphlet-come-Christmas card, it has become the most cherished of all movies, regularly figuring in best picture polls either side of the Atlantic. For many in America, Christmas simply isn’t Christmas without the family gathering around the TV to watch this incredibly affecting festive tale. And it was TV, of course, that had rescued the film from relative obscurity when its copyright was allowed to lapse in 1974. By 1984, The Wall Street Journal discovered, 152 public stations and 175 commercial stations had taken up the rights to broadcast the movie).

The reason that It’s A Wonderful Life continues to stand the test of time today must surely be attributed to the flawless filmmaking of its visionary director Frank Capra. Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War (during which he made the exemplary documentary series, Why We Fight), Capra had established himself as one of Hollywood’s premiere directors, with a string of box office smashes to his name. The most notable of which, 1934’s romantic comedy It Happened One Night, became the first film to win all five major Academy Awards picking up Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay and, of course, Best Director. Capra had become a master craftsman and a master storyteller, specialising in crowd-pleasing ���moral fables’ about the honest Joe, the American everyman, who stands up for ‘liberal’ ideals and values against corrupt businessmen and politicians.

Screen giants like James Stewart and Gary Cooper had turned in widely acclaimed performances in Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes To Washington and Meet John Doe respectively, and it was to Stewart, his most trusted actor, that Capra turned when casting the part of quintessential nice-guy George Bailey. Stewart, one of the few major stars to enlist in the war against fascism, had been away from Hollywood for the best part of five years, and was in anguish about resuming his acting career when Capra called to offer him the role, that ultimately, film critics would regard as the finest of his distinguished career. Luckily, the director was able to talk Stewart around, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Stewart’s nuanced portrayal of the decent, unselfish, yet ultimately tormented Bailey, offers us a masterclass in screen acting. It’s as if Stewart had never been away as he plays through a succession of comic, romantic and dramatic scenes with absolute confidence. Stewart is able to convince us of George’s good heart and of his deeply felt moral opposition to scurrilous Banker Henry Potter, whilst also capturing the frustration eating away at his character’s soul as he sees life passing him by and his friends making their own mark on the world. George Bailey is a man desperately divided against himself, as Stewart’s reflective performance gradually makes clear.

Thankfully, his fellow actors are equally as good, with Lionel Barrymore proving to be an inspired piece of casting in the role of Potter, the Dickensian villain who tries to drive the Bailey family business into ruin in his quest to monopolise the wealth of Bedford Falls. (Capra had surely noted Barrymore’s legendary portrayal of Scrooge for the Campbell Playhouse dramatisation of A Christmas Carol, broadcast each Christmas Eve since 1934). And, as the years have gone by, it’s become impossible to imagine anyone other than the whimsical Henry Travers as the very special emissary Clarence Oddbody, whose celestial mission it is to save George Bailey from the tragic fate that awaits him on Christmas Eve.

The movie begins with George’s family and friends frantically seeking divine intervention to help him through a spiritual crisis at Christmas and uses the device of extended flashbacks to tell the tale of a young boy/college student determined to travel the world, all the while threatening to “shake the dust of this crummy little town off my feet”. He subscribes to National Geographic magazine and spends his days dreaming of “going out exploring someday’.  A family tragedy and financial difficulties combine, though, to ensure George’s ambitions are thwarted at every turn, as he finds himself trapped into running the family Building and Loan Company, the only institution in town not owned by slum landlord Potter. George is loved by the whole of Bedford Falls for standing alone against Potter time and again, and, in a crucial scene which illustrates Capra’s humanitarian message, Bailey challenges Potter over his scandalous business practices –

‘Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, this rabble you keep talking about…they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn’t think so. People were human beings to him’.

Stewart is acting out of his straight-laced skin here, violently trembling with anger. For me, it’s one of the most genuinely moving scenes in film history.

Though George has quietly transformed the lives of all those who reside in Bailey Park, he is unable to find consolation in his own achievements. He simply cannot free himself from the resentment he feels, as first his younger brother Harry takes up his place at College, and then as his old friend Sam Wainwright cuts a dash through the business world. Drunk and despairing on Christmas Eve, he wishes he’d never been born.

Throughout the film, Capra remains in complete control of the story. Each scene plays perfectly, the transition between episodes is seamless and the script cohesive from start to finish. This is all the more remarkable given the number of writers involved in developing a screenplay that proved almost impossible to knock into shape. Whilst the final screen credit went to husband and wife screenwriting team Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich, as well as Capra himself, there were already three fully developed scripts in existence when Capra bought the property from RKO in 1945.

Three of the biggest names in the business had failed spectacularly in adapting Van Doren Stern’s quirky fantasy. Neither Marc Connelly, the Pulitzer winning playwright and fully paid-up member of the Alongquin roundtable, Dalton Trumbo (an Oscar winner for The Brave One) or Clifford Odets, the left-wing firebrand whose work with the Group Theatre had revolutionised Broadway in the thirties, found a way to incorporate the various fantasy/reality elements of the plot into a coherent whole.

While Connolly and Trumbo’s contributions were dismissed out of hand by Capra, some key scenes from the Odets script were retained. According to Jeanine Basinger, curator of the Capra archives, his scripts “bring into focus the elements found in the final movie: the accident on the ice in which Harry nearly drowns; the Gower drug store sequence and George’s marriage to Mary.” It’s worth noting that at this stage the Potter character simply did not exist. The dramatic conflict in each of these scripts was between a good George and an evil George.

None of this turmoil is reflected in the finished movie itself. Capra was able to unfold his story with clarity, balancing the requirements of the plot with his need to convey an uncompromising message to the audience. In the same way that Dickens, who was on a lifelong crusade to improve the conditions of the poor, wrote A Christmas Carol to try and progress social change in Victorian England, so Capra, who was just back from the Second World War, his film cans stuffed with footage of the horrors of the concentration camps, passionately wanted to tell a story that would make a serious statement about the times in which he lived.

Dickens’ plea to his readers was for them to follow the example of a reformed Scrooge when, at the novella’s end, he pledges to “honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year round”. Capra’s motivation was equally straightforward. He had in mind a reaffirmation of John Donne’s view of the human condition

“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main”

Still haunted by a war, in which Historians currently estimate, up to 70 million people died, Capra was at pains to point out how one man’s life touches another. His Christmas message was for us all to extend a helping hand to the next fellow.

When I went to see It’s A Wonderful Life at my local cinema, last Christmas, the usherette, on taking my ticket said: “I hope you’ve brought a supply of hankies”. Indeed, I had. I can never get past that early scene in Gower’s drugstore, where the distraught and drunk chemist brutally slaps a young George Bailey around, without breaking down. And, of course, the famous finale with George, having escaped from his nightmare existence in Pottersville, charging joyously through the snowy streets of Bedford Falls on Christmas Eve, wishing everyone and everything a Merry Christmas, has me in floods of tears every time I have the privilege of viewing it.

Watching It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas, making it a part of the ritual and tradition of the festive period means it can be hard to be wholly objective about the film as a work of art. For good or bad the film comes imbued, perhaps even burdened, with our own memories and associations. In the darkness, as the credits begin to roll, we suddenly sense The Ghost of Christmas past sitting next to us in the cheap seats.

For others, Capra is too sentimental and the derogatory term “Capra-corn” applied by some cynics to his films has stuck over the years. Look beyond the joyous, feel-good message at the centre of It’s A Wonderful Life though, and there is a real darkness rooted within the heart of small-town America. Capra, having witnessed at first hand the atrocities of a World War, knew all about the evil ordinary people were capable of but remained an optimist and a believer in the brotherhood of man, nonetheless.

[daggerzine]

Window Shopping with The Garment District: An Interview with Jennifer Baron (interview by Eric Eggleson)

If you’re a Ladybug Transistor fan like I am, then the name Jennifer Baron should sound familiar. She has been a part of it since the beginning. But what I didn’t know was that she has another musical outlet with her amazing band The Garment District. Thankfully, Gary Olson(see previous Dagger interview) told me about her new album. I had a chance to catch up with her and find out more.

Here’s the opening track from The Garment District’s new album:

What do you think of the current music scene? Any new bands we should know about? Some newer and newish contemporary music that is frequently on my turntable and in my ears: Surface to Air Missive, Carl Didur, Zacht Automaat, The Frowning Clouds, Traffik Island, ORB, Locate S,1, Gloria, Etran de L’Air, Paint, Large Plants, Euros Childs, Emma Anderson, Heather Trost, flypaper, Colored Lights, Cindy Lee, Brigid Dawson & The Mothers Network, The Murlocs, Cindy, Jacco Gardner, Tim Presley, The Cromagnon Band, Licorice Root Orchestra, Bong Wish, The Orange Alabaster Mushroom, Cut Worms, Hot Apple Band, Liam Hayes, Belbury Poly, Samantha Glass, Jackie McDowell, Chris Cohen, Golden Apples, Cory Hanson, The David Tattersall Group, Mike Donovan …

What is your musical background? Do you have any musical training? I create music as The Garment District and am also a founding member of Brooklyn’s The Ladybug Transistor (Merge Records). As The Garment District, I write and arrange the music, play multiple instruments, and write the lyrics. When I was in elementary school, I took piano lessons from a woman who lived on our street, and I still have some of my Leila Fletcher Piano Course Books. I dabbled in guitar lessons in Amherst, Massachusetts, while attending Mount Holyoke College and was also a DJ at WHMC 91.5 FM South Hadley, one of the oldest broadcasting facilities in the U.S. run by women. Really, I learned to play music in a self-taught experiential way, like the musicians I admire most, by starting a band. For me that was in Brooklyn, playing guitar in Saturnine. Soon after, I helped form The Ladybug Transistor, quickly learning to play bass for our tour with Sportsguitar in Switzerland, which flipped a musical switch to permanently be on in my psyche and life. As The Garment District, I have previously released albums on Night-People Records and Kendra Steiner Editions, as well as a single for La Station Radar (France) that features a remix of my song “Nature-Nurture” by Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3, Spectrum, E.A.R.). I have also contributed songs to compilations on Moon Glyph, Crash Symbols, Crafted Sounds and Kill Collector Culture. I’m ecstatic to have my brand-new full-length album, Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World, released on Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records after knowing Mike Turner through Athens, Georgia, and Elephant 6 bands, for many years. It has been such a meaningful way to reconnect, and a deep honor to be label mates with The Primitives, The Wedding Present, Great Lakes, Fred Schneider, Outer World, Swansea Sound, Katie Lass, and many others. It was a dream come true to have the expertise of Warren Defever (His Name Is Alive) oversee the vinyl production and cut the lacquers for the new LP at Third Man Pressing in Detroit. I also love having opportunities to merge music with other art forms I am passionate about, especially film and video, which I have been invited to do through the Pittsburgh-based SYNC'D series. For both in-person and online events, I composed original soundtracks (ranging from 1-5 minutes) for the series, which pairs filmmakers and video artists with musicians for live shows and online broadcasts. My music has also been featured on the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Pitt Med Podcast, and I contributed music and photography to Brooklyn-based ESOPUS magazine. In the art realm, I have also contributed an audio installation, a cassette tape and photography for group exhibitions curated by designer Brett Yasko at SPACE Gallery in Pittsburgh. In Spring 2023, I was invited to create a special DJ set for the opening celebration of “The Velvet Underground & Nico: Scepter Studio Sessions” exhibition at The Andy Warhol Museum and play my grandparents’ collection of tamburitza 78s at the Maxo Vanka Murals Community Block Party in Millvale, PA. 

Lucy and Jennifer (photo by Nicole Czapinski)

List all of the instruments you play. With The Garment District, I play keyboards live (Wurlitzer electric piano, synthesizer, melodica). On the new album, Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World, I play a variety of organs and synthesizers, electric piano, guitar on several songs, bass on some songs, melodica, glockenspiel and percussion, and sing backing vocals throughout. With The Ladybug Transistor, I play bass, guitar, keyboards, and melodica live. 

What instrument do you begin writing songs with? (guitar, piano, etc.). I write music and make demos at home typically using my Roland JX-3P synthesizer, Hohner organ, Rickenbacker 360, and Hammond M3 organ. I love the raw somewhat warbled vibe of demos and the sensation that the construct of a song is amorphous or precariously trying to hold itself together as it emerges, and the way demos can reflect the creative process. Whether I make demos using my Boss digital 8-track recorder or iPhone, I try my best to save them (I’ve even been revisiting and digitizing old Ladybug Transistor and Frock 4-track sessions!). Most of the songs on the new Garment District album emerged as demos I recorded at home, playing the core keyboard parts, and mapping out song structures, vocal melodies, lyrics and ideas for instrumentation and arrangements. I love having analog instruments around the house to encourage a spontaneous writing process, inspired by where an instrument takes you as much as by lighting, ambient sounds, time of day, seasons, and shifting vantage points. Many are incorporated into the new album: Vox Super Continental organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond M3, vintage Casios, Fender Vibrolux Reverb amp, Rickenbacker 360, and melodica. Adding to these, I was fortunate to be able to incorporate a range of analog synthesizers on loan that I consider to be the holy grail in terms of the golden age of the analog synthesizer universe, like a 1970s Roland 505 Paraphonic, Roland System 100, Farfisa Syntorchestra, and a Sequential Pro One, plus 1960s and 1970s guitar pedals I borrowed from Gregg Kostelich of the garage rock band, The Cynics.

I love both experiences of creating intimate, experimental and spontaneous demos at home, and then seeing how they evolve into a permanent piece of recorded sound within the studio setting. I am especially motivated by layered melodies that come to me when experimenting with instruments, making demos, and working in the recording studio. To me, there is a kind of alchemy inherent in the art form of music, that can emerge when a song takes an unexpected direction, but remains true to its core, such as being anchored by a melody, an instrument, a rhythm or an arrangement. I am drawn to the duality of producing and arranging music, but also being open to letting the creative process itself, and the limitations or potential of instruments, guide your vision -- not always being totally in control of the final result because it’s being created in a very particular context, time, and place. A central, guiding inspiration for me comes from nature, swimming, and observing the world around me through photography.

Lucy and Jennifer (photo by Nicole Czapinski)

Here’s another video from the new album:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXCRv4XxgSA 

Were you in any other bands? In the 1990s, I cofounded the Brooklyn band Saturnine (Dirt Records).

Saturnine at the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern (RIP) in Pittsburgh, 1990's

Here’s a Saturnine video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW03_LtH5fo  

In Pittsburgh, I also played organ and percussion with The New Alcindors, with whom I recorded an album at the legendary Castle Recording Studios in Nashville. My current bands are The Garment District and The Ladybug Transistor. 

Do you have a day job? Yes. I work as a writer and an editor, and I also am a writing tutor for teens. My professional experience includes working in art museums and co-running arts and community events. 

The Garment District live in Pittsburgh at the Andy Warhol Museum

(photo by Sean Carroll)

When did you realize how important music was in your life? Music surrounded us from our earliest days. My mom would sing Peter, Paul and Mary's "Stewball" (she went on to name her first dog after the song and he was the most loving majestic creature) to us as one of our lullabies. Growing up, our house was filled with LPs, CDs and radios, and our car had a tape deck for our many road trips to see our relatives in Philadelphia and at the beach in New Jersey (where my brother Jeff and I were born). Our parents’ record collection supplied some of our very first and favorite toys, so we were fortunate to have a private listening library to explore. So many memories of gazing at fantastical album covers: The Beach Boys, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Donovan, Leonard Cohen, The Byrds. My mom taught a high school English course called “Poetry & Rock Lyrics” and I loved writing song lyrics out on index cards used to decorate her classroom.

Our home contained mind-blowing concert posters by legendary Fillmore West artist Bonnie MacLean, including a hypnotic Pink Floyd poster. Our mom grew up in Philadelphia with Bonnie’s sister Valerie and told us stories about Fillmore posters and postcards arriving at their Penn State dorm room. We also had the lyrics to Dylan’s “Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands” written out in calligraphy and framed hanging in our house, so that gives you an idea of the backdrop that led to having music of the 1960s and 1970s in our DNA. Watching shows like “H.R. Pufnstuf” (RIP Marty Krofft) and “The Electric Company” and singing along to “Free To Be … You And Me” and “Puff, the Magic Dragon” cemented the power and value of music in our lives and definitely planted the seeds for the kind of music I make along with a particular creative aesthetic and cultural mindset. As kids, my brother and I would make up our own radio shows, playing the parts of DJs and performing commercial spots, recording them onto Maxell tapes. Our first records bought for us by my mom were songs like “The Muffin Man,” which fueled my interest in offbeat folk music and melodies. As a family, we have attended many concerts together over the years: Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Richard Thompson, Bert Jansch, Bruce Springsteen, The Replacements -- and it is a special bond to share with your parents. I think that empowered and inspired us to see many seminal concerts as teenagers at storied Pittsburgh venues like the Syria Mosque, Electric Banana (all-ages nights), Graffiti, Sonic Temple, Civic Arena, the Beehive and more.

Riding the T Downtown to shop at the iconic record store Eide’s for albums by New Order, The Smiths, the Go-Betweens and on and on, was a rite of passage and a teenage pilgrimage in a pre-digital era where gathering in public spaces to share the thrill of discovering new music was transformative. My deep love of music in a vast array of style and genres is something I do not separate from any aspect of my life or my identity. I have always been fascinated and moved by music because it is an art form that you cannot see or touch, yet it can transport you so powerfully through places and times and thoughts and feelings. It is both time-based but also beyond time, both fleeting and permanent, if that makes sense. 

The Ladybug Transistor live at the Andy Warhol Museum in 2023.

What artists have influenced you? On any day, I am listening to a vast range of music: 1950s-1970s psychedelia, pop, garage, freakbeat, and folk-rock; 1950s-1960s rocksteady and ska; early electronic; free jazz; 1980s hip hop; 1970s-80s pop and new wave from the U.K., Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia; soundtracks … I am deeply inspired by creative mediums beyond music: film, design, photography, material culture, especially from the 1960s-1970s. Film is extremely inspiring to me, especially 1970s filmmaking, British folk and Italian giallo. I am also very drawn to instrumental and interstitial music because it allows listeners to access visceral worlds through non-verbal communication. From Library Music to free jazz to Jamaican Rocksteady to early electronic music to albums by Yellow Magic Orchestra, Les Rallizes Dénudés, Manuel Göttsching, Delia Derbyshire, Jack Nitzsche, Hailu Mergia, Alice Coltrane, Harmonia, Broadcast and the Focus Group, and so much more. 

If you could work with any other artist (dead or alive), who would it be? Lee Hazlewood, Yoko Ono, Peter Weir, Alice Coltrane, Remy Charlip. 

What was the first CD/record you ever bought? Among the first albums we bought (literally the very first were the brightly colored plastic records for our Fisher Price Record Player my mom bought for us) were compilations of hits and novelty songs from the 1950s-1970s. I have such vivid memories of singing along to songs like The Coasters’ “Yakety Yak” (1958), Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs “Li’l Red Riding Hood” (1966) and Napoleon XIV’s “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” The combination of catchy melodies, interesting arrangements and evocative narrative imagery certainly sparked our childhood curiosity and imagination. 

What was the first concert you ever went to? Peter, Paul and Mary with my mom at The Stanley Theatre in downtown Pittsburgh. 

Who plays on your latest album?  Where did you find them? Family and friends (new and old) and members of The Garment District live band are featured on the new album. One extremely rewarding aspect of recording the new album was working with my cousin Lucy Blehar, who is a vocalist. I have always been drawn to the concept of family bands (I play in The Ladybug Transistor with my brother Jeff) and what can arise between relatives who collaborate on creative endeavors. For the two of us, we are able to sing backups and harmonies and double certain melody lines together. We share a very close bond personally, so the recording process was a very organic and fulfilling way of enjoying the studio environment together. This continues my family’s music-making heritage, as our grandfather, great-aunt and great-uncles on my dad’s side performed in Croatian tamburitza orchestra family bands in the Monongahela Valley towns Braddock and Rankin, and in Benwood, West Virginia, often for boarders who worked in area steel mills. To have Shivika Asthana (Papas Fritas) play drums on several songs on the new album is deeply special to me and to the identity of the drum sound. Our bands played shows together in the past, including at The Knitting Factory in NYC. It has been a tremendous joy to reconnect through music and the indie craft scene now that we both live in Pittsburgh. Another meaningful thread on the new album that also connects several dots, is one of the drum kits we used – a beautiful sounding 1966 Slingerland belonging to Laura Rogers (our bands, Saturnine and Ruby Falls, also played shows together in NYC and I am close with Laura’s sister and former bandmate Jennifer, who also lives right near me in Pittsburgh!). Though its provenance has not been confirmed, Laura was told that the kit, which she bought from a collector in Detroit, was used on the Nirvana “Unplugged” recordings. I love that our lives have intersected in these ways. It is also incredibly special to me that the new album features horns by my Ladybug bandmate and close friend Gary Olson on trumpet as well as Ladybugger Kyle Forester (whose solo band we just played with in Brooklyn in November) on saxophone. So, Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World brings together people I adore deeply, whose gifts and energy helped the music come to life, including Dan Koshute (guitar, vocals), Corry Drake (bass), Sean Finn (drums), Shivika Asthana (drums), Alex Korshin (vocals), Nathan Musser (violin, cello) and David Klug (drums). And my constant close listener: my husband Greg Langel. 

Who is in your backup band when you tour? The current Garment District live band features Corry Drake (bass), Mike Kelly (guitar), Sean Finn (drums), Alex Korshin (vocals), and Erik Cirelli (guitar). We just performed in December for the new SYNC’D Presents series at one of my favorite Pittsburgh venues, Spirit. The event included an incredible liquid light show accompanying the music in real-time created by Billy Gruber, who runs SOS Lightshow in Dayton, Ohio. On January 28, we are thrilled to be opening for William Tyler & The Impossible Truth at Bottlerocket Social Hall. Past live show highlights for The Garment District include performing at the VIA Music & New Media Festival, The Andy Warhol Museum Sound Series and Silver Studio Sessions; Ladyfest, Deutschtown Music Festival; and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Music SPACE series; opening for Parquet Courts, Julia Holter, Soft Moon, A. Savage, Jack Cooper, The Essex Green, Jenny Hval and Mr. Airplane Man; performing at the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark for the THRIVAL Festival; playing in an abandoned 1900s-era Czech Church on the Allegheny River for the SYNC’D series; and filming a live video segment at the Mattress Factory museum (where I used to work) for Doug Aitken’s Station to Station project. 

Where can people find your music? The vinyl and digital LP is available from Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records. The LP is also available in shops, with U.S. distribution through Midheaven Mailorder / Revolver.  https://www.hhbtm.com/product/flowers-telegraphed-to-all-parts-of-the-world/

Distribution for the new LP overseas is through: UK: Plastichead     Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Cargo     Border Music: Scandinavia     Goodfellas: Italy     Australia/New Zealand: Planet MGM/Groove Merchants     Benelux: Suburban   All of my current and past releases are available digitally through Bandcamp. My music is also available for listening on all streaming platforms (please support independent musicians when you can!) 

Video still of Jennifer by Sandy Loaf.

Are CD releases a thing of the past? Not in my particular world. Based on the number of people who purchased (or requested) CDs on our Ladybug Transistor tour in November, I would say no. I still have most of my CDs from the 1990s and we often listen to them on car trips. A few years ago, I actually released a CD of all-instrumental solo music, “Luminous Toxin,” via Kendra Steiner Editions, the Texas-based experimental label run by acclaimed writer Bill Shute.

How was the concert in Norway? (Egersund Visefestival) Absolutely dreamy! After having the magical experience of performing at the Egersund Visefestival in 2019 (where we joined Elf Power, Robyn Hitchcock, Emma Swift, The Essex Green, I Was a King and others), we were invited to return to the sublime southwestern coast of Norway for this past summer’s festival. It was especially fulfilling after the frightening pandemic years. In July, we performed at the festival along with Teenage Fanclub, Elf Power, The Minus 5, The No Ones, Colored Lights, The High Water Marks, Euros Childs, Honey Radar, The Rishis, and more. It was also the international premiere of the new Elephant 6 documentary, so there was a screening and panel discussion (that my brother Jeff participated in with Hilarie Sidney and Andrew Rieger). A blissful experience and also a total whirlwind of activity, including marathon rehearsals in a historic Norwegian house, sneaking in crisp lake swims, and not sleeping much during the midnight sun! One of many highlights was getting to play melodica (me) and flute (Sasha) with Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey during The No Ones' closing set.  Since we had our November 9 show at The Andy Warhol Museum scheduled well in advance, we decided to book a Fall mini-tour for November 2023. It was truly a dream to be back on stage and in the van  (aka a massive sprinter!) with Gary, Sasha, Julia, my brother Jeff, plus Derek Almstead on drums and Ake Strömer (of the incredible Strömer Mutroniks) helping us with driving and merchandise sales. The shows at Public Records in Brooklyn and The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh were particularly moving and thrilling, with sooo many old and new friends (we missed you, Tim!) and family members in attendance. It was fantastic to be back at Schuba’s again in Chicago and see Eric and his daughter. One unexpected highlight was discovering how incredible the Bell’s Brewery venue and facility are in Kalamazoo! We hope to be back on tour again in 2024. 

Sasha Bell and Jennifer on stage with No Ones at Egersund.

Tell us about your involvement with the Elephant 6 film? I contributed some archival footage that is used in the documentary, from our extensive late 1990s U.S. tours with Of Montreal. The digitizing continues! I also participated in post-screening Q&As with Derek Almstead when the film premiered in Pittsburgh at The Harris Theater in September 2023. 

Will you be touring your new album? I absolutely hope to soon, and would love to see Dagger readers out there along the way. The Garment District has only played locally so I look forward to more shows and some touring. Stay tuned please and stay in touch! 

What are your future plans? It has been a true joy to rebuild the live band after overwhelming pandemic interruptions. I look forward to performing more regularly and celebrating the new LP. I plan to continue my cross-country collaborations with artist Nicole Czapinksi, who created the music video for “Left on Coast” (filmed at an abandoned Nike Missile Site in Western Pennsylvania). Nicole would love to project live visuals, responding to our music in real-time using techniques we experimented with in the video. Likewise, I expect to continue collaborating with Asheville, North Carolina-based artist Peter Speer, who I have known since our shared NYC days, who created the music video for “Following Me,” our cover of the 1967 song by The Human Expression. I have started conversations with Pittsburgh artists Johnny Arlett, Michi Tapes and Sandy Loaf about working on new music videos for The Garment District. This winter, I will be contributing a track to a compilation planned for 6612 Tapes, the label run by Elephant 6 co-founder Hilarie Sidney (The High Water Marks, The Apples in Stereo), with all proceeds going to a blue candidate in a vulnerable state during the 2024 U.S. election. I have some new Garment District demos emerging and hope to be back in the studio soon! 

I hope you enjoyed learning more about Jennifer as much as I did. We can only hope she will bring her band out on the road in the future. It was such a fun time seeing The Ladybug Transistor in Chicago. Here’s hoping a new year will bring a new tour.

www.thegarmentdistrict.bandcamp.com

www.hhbtm.bandcamp.com

www.mergerecords.bandcamp.com

[debracmcguire]

Areas We Serve

Colorado

We provide medical weight loss services for these Lone Tree, Colorado areas:

Acres Green

Belvedere

Bluffmont Estates

Carriage Club

Centennial Ridge

Club Terrace

Country Club Estates

Cypress Green

Douglas County

Fairways At Lone Tree

Heritage Estates

Heritage Hills

Lincoln Square Lofts

Masters Park

Montecito

Prominence Point

Ridgegate

Taos of Lone Tree

Terra Ridge

The Fairways

Wildcat Ridge

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We also provide weight loss services for these Denver, CO. areas:

Baker

Capitol Hill

Central Business District

Cheesman Park

Cherry Creek

City Park

City Park West

Civic Center

Congress Park

Country Club

Lincoln Park

North Capitol Hill

Speer

Union Station

Belcaro

Cory-Merrill

East Colfax

Hale

Hilltop

Indian Creek

Lowry

Montclair

Park Hill

Virginia Village

Washington Virginia Vale

Windsor

Clayton

Cole

Elyria-Swansea

Five Points

Globeville

North Park Hill

Skyland

South Park Hill

Whittier

Central Park

Denver International Airport

Gateway/Green Valley Ranch

Montbello

Northeast Park Hill

Auraria

Berkeley

Chaffee Park

Highland

Jefferson Park

Regis

Sloan Lake

Sunnyside

West Highland

College View/South Platte

Overland

Platt Park

Rosedale

University

University Hills

University Park

Washington Park

Washington Park West

Wellshire

Goldsmith

Hampden

Hampden South

Kennedy

Southmoor Park

Southwest

Bear Valley

Fort Logan

Harvey Park

Harvey Park South

Marston

West

Public housing in Sun Valley.

Athmar Park

Barnum

Barnum West

Mar Lee

Ruby Hill

Sun Valley

Valverde

Villa Park

West Colfax

Westwood

About Lone Tree, Colorado: A Hidden Gem in the Denver Metro Area

Lone Tree, Colorado is a delightful city located south of Denver within the vibrant Denver Metro Area. Offering stunning parks, award-winning restaurants and fun-packed activities for everyone in their community – including this hidden gem! In this article we’ll take a deeper dive into some of Lone Tree’s top things to see, do and eat – get ready to experience this charming city for yourselves!

The Best Restaurants in Lone Tree

Lone Tree offers an incredible variety of dining experiences. From steakhouses to cozy cafes, here are some of the top restaurants here:

1. Sierra Restaurant

Sierra Restaurant is an iconic spot for delicious American fare with a twist, offering dishes such as wood-fired pizzas, juicy burgers and fresh salads – not to mention their legendary house-made churros for dessert!

2. Via Baci Italian Bistro

Via Baci Italian Bistro offers delicious authentic Italian fare in its cozy environment, from pasta dishes to wood-fired pizza. Their tantalizing flavors will transport you straight back to Italy while their relaxing setting offers a cozy dining experience.

What To See in Lone Tree

Lone Tree offers numerous scenic parks and attractions perfect for an adventuresome exploration day, including:

1. Bluffs Regional Park

Bluffs Regional Park offers breathtaking views of both the Front Range and Denver skyline, covering more than 200 acres of open space – ideal for hiking, bicycling or simply enjoying a picnic with family or friends.

2. Lone Tree Arts Center

For lovers of art, music and culture alike, Lone Tree Arts Center should be on your itinerary. This state-of-the-art facility hosts concerts, plays and art exhibits – providing endless entertainment for both individuals and families.

Fun Activities in Lone Tree

Are you searching for exciting activities to fill up your day in Lone Tree? Take a look at these exciting possibilities:

1. iFLY Indoor Skydiving

Have you been dreaming of skydiving but feel intimidated by jumping from an airplane? iFLY Indoor Skydiving offers the thrill of free-fall in a safe and controlled environment at this exciting attraction. Experience free-fall with confidence here.

2. Bowlero Lone Tree

Bring along your friends and family for an entertaining day filled with bowling, arcade games, delicious food options and other enjoyable entertainment at Bowlero Lone Tree! This entertainment center promises fun-filled entertainment for people of all ages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How far is Lone Tree from Denver? It is located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Denver.

What is the population of Lone Tree? As of 2020, Lone Tree had an estimated population of 15,000.

What are some popular attractions nearby Lone Tree? Park Meadows Mall, Sky Ridge Medical Center and Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre.

Visiting Lone Tree, Colorado

Lone Tree, Colorado is an inviting city with much to offer visitors. From top-of-the-line restaurants and parks, to exciting activities and plenty of exciting adventures awaiting you here – Lone Tree promises an enjoyable visit. So plan your visit soon and experience its vibrant city life for yourself!

Find Us On Map:

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Recent Posts:

Areas We Serve

6 June, 2023

Feedback

23 February, 2023

Payment Plans

18 February, 2023

Medical Health Solutions Opens Innovative Weight Loss Clinic

2 February, 2023

Business Hours:

By Appointment Only

Monday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Tuesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Wednesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Thursday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Saturday – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Sunday – – – – – – – – – – – – –

What Our Clients Are Saying:

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Areas We Serve:

Lone Tree

Highlands Ranch

Centennial

Littleton

Englewood

Parker

Castle Rock

Greenwood Village

Castle Pines

Louviers

Franktown

Sedalia

Denver

Aurora

Morrison

Golden

Arvada

Wheat Ridge

Happy Canyon

Monument

Castlewood

Southglenn

Columbine

Ken Caryl

The post Areas We Serve appeared first on Medical Health Solutions - Medical Weight Loss Lone Tree, CO - Call (303) 951-8617.

Original post here: Areas We Serve Originally published here: https://medicalhealthsolutionsllc.blogspot.com/2023/06/areas-we-serve.html

[socceradvice]

Famous Footballers You May Recognise in Korea’s K League 2020

[pookasluagh]

Ch 15 is published – fair warning that this is a very dark chapter, so please make sure you’re in a good mental space before reading it! Beginning notes contain chapter-specific content warnings.

Fic description: Zee (Aziraphale) Marsh is a widowed hermit who secretly writes bestselling romance novels under the pseudonym Bella Swansea. His life is rigorously controlled until his new downstairs neighbor arrives. Anthony Crowley causes something to come alive in Zee that he hasn't seen in over twenty years, but Crowley brings with him some of his own very dark secrets. // Human AU, dark fic, E rating.

Chapter excerpt under the cut:

“I need to show you a photo before I start.” [Zee] drew out his mobile and thumbed through it. “Holly wasn’t one of the lucky ones, either. Her parents didn’t kick her out, but only because she kept everything inside until she left for uni. Needless to say, they hated me. And after she died, they claimed her body. I wasn’t allowed to attend the funeral, had no legal rights back then. Lee took this photo for me. It’s the only one I have. I’ve never stepped foot in that cemetery.”

Crowley was completely baffled by his words, but the second he took the mobile, he understood. The gravestone read Leonard Bailey. “Oh,” he said.

Zee took the phone back and slipped it into his pocket. “Before she came out, her family wouldn’t even call her by her preferred nickname. They never would have buried her properly.”

A surge of rage came over Crowley for this woman he had never even met. He took Zee’s hands. “I’m going to guess that she wasn’t out when you got married.”

Zee shook his head. “We were together for six years, married for four, before she told me.”