Music Monday

August 30

On Wednesday I went to the Horseshoe in Chicago, my favorite bar, and saw Huntinanny. They were an interesting act with a mix of old school rock n roll, surf, rockabilly, and country-western, with the look of a jam band. I enjoyed the variety in their set that drifted between the genres yet was held together with a steady rockabilly rhythm, and a theme of cars, the beach, and women. I was also charmed by the slight drawl of the lead singer and his black and white argyle guitar. They a are a young band finishing a US tour and playing their way back home, yet they're total professionals and didn't skip out early even though it was a quiet night. If they stop in your town, why not let them entertain you.

And now for the week in Rockabilly, Psychobilly, et al:

New this week: Massachusetts!

Tomorrow, Tuesday August 31, 2010:
At the Horseshoe in Chicago, Nick Curran & The Lowlifes, Tracer Bullet, and The Dyes play at 8pm. Get the $2 Steak Tacos.

Wednesday September 1, 2010:
The Cockabilly Roadshow comes to Boston, Massachusetts. Catch Viva Le Vox, Jason and the Punknecks, Guitar Bomb, The Holy Roller Sideshow, Hickry Hawkins, along with the Squidling Bros Circus and a Burlesque Show at the Middle East, upstairs, at 8pm.

Thursday September 2, 2010:
Reggie's Music Joint in Chicago features Jimbo Delta in an after work show at 5:30pm.

The Rockshop in Fayetville, NC hosts the Psychobilly Sideshow at 8pm. See the Chop Tops, Hollowbody Hellraisers, Playing with Guns, The Several Devils Band, and Honky Tonk Hustlas for only $10! Plus, you might find some exclusive coupons for Belindabilly while you're there.

Friday September 3, 2010:
Wow, busy day -
In Chicago at Reggie's Music Joint, Johnny Murder and the 25 to life play with the Brains, The Dyes, and The Ugly at 8pm. Next door at the Rock Club at the same time are Outburst on the 66, Mission Creeps, and the Rosedales.

In Pittsboro, NC, The City Tap hosts the Straight 8s and a hotrod/kustom/classic cruise. Starts at 6:30pm, the band goes on at 8.

At 9pm at Raleigh's Dive Bar, the Villians play a free show.

Then at 10pm in Durham at the Pinhook, Dexter Romweber and the New Romans are playing. They may not be rockabilly, but Dex sure has a lot of rockabilly street cred and this is a really awesome band (and one of my favorites).

Lastly, the 2010 Coney Island Rockabilly Festival Starts at Cha Cha's on the Boardwalk in NYC. This night is all of the bands from the Cockabilly Roadshow plus King Sickabilly.

Saturday September 4, 2010:
The Coney Island Rockabilly Festival Continues with Hickry Hawkins, Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers, Elsa Cross, and Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. during the day on the outdoor stage. At night in Cha Cha's, see Tombstone Brawlers, Jason James and the Bay State House Rockers, Mean Mean Man and the Brass Knuckles, and The Hollowbody Hellraisers.

In Durham, NC, check out the Bull City Rumble at the Tavern in Durham. Along with cool cars, see the Belmont Playboys, the Tremors, Transylvania Transport Co, Hearts and Daggers, and Blood Red River.

Finally, in Chicago at Ronny's, Tracer Bullet is playing with two punk bands, On the Attack and Bass Line Bums at 8pm.

Sunday September 5, 2010
The third day of the Coney Island Rockabilly Festival features Nick Williams and The Anteaters, The Mallard Drakes, The Krank Daddies, and Tex Railer’s Doomtown on the outdoor stage during the day and Sasquatch, and the Sickabillys, The Memphis Morticians, Soul Reapin' 3, and Creepin’ Cadavers in Cha Cha's at night.

In Carrboro, NC, the Station hosts the 3rd Annual Jaws Fest at 2pm. I assume it is shark themed, but Killer Filler (a surf band), The Aqualads, and Blood Red River play. There will also be food and drink specials.

I can't see every show that comes around, so if you see one of these bands, email me at blog@belindabilly.com and let me know how they were. Or, if I forget to add a show to the weekly calendar, please leave a comment about it so no one misses out. And as always, if you want me to write about your city or state, just drop a line!

Fashion Friday

Today's fashion friday is...

A Surprise Sale!

Today only, get 20% off your total purchase (before shipping) at Belindabilly.com. This includes all jewelry that is already 20% off, and you get free shipping on any order over $100. Plus, our jewelry sale has been extended through the weekend, but get your favorites now before their gone!

Use coupon code 8BLOG10

Music Monday

August 23

This will be a short update, because I didn't get to see any shows last week, but there are plenty to see this week! My only note today is that I love how you can usually guess the genre of a band just from the title. Of course it's not always true, but if a band is named Somebody and the Somethings it is probably rockabilly or psychobilly, and you can tell by the somethings which one it is. Like if it was Old Joe and the Snake Eyes, I'd guess Rockabilly, but Old Joe and the Zombies (or Dead Joe and the Zombies) would be psychobilly. Or, if a band is one or two words that create some sense of foreboding like Black Clouds or Bloodthirst (look how quickly I can come up with these) then it's metal. Just saying.

Ok, now for the week in Rockabilly, Psychobilly, et al:


Tomorrow, Tuesday Aug. 24
Husky Burnette, kind of on the blues side of rockabilly, is playing with Pearls Mahone and the One-eyed Jacks (see what I'm saying) at The Horseshoe in Chicago at 9pm. GO SEE THEM! The horseshoe is not only a great place to see music but a great bar with a kitchen, nice bartenders, and usually no cover.

Wednesday Aug. 25
Huntinanny (guitar heavy rockabilly) is also playing at the Horseshoe at 9pm in Chicago with Summer Slide. Also at nine, DJ Machetti will be spinning psychobilly tracks at Delilah's til 2am.

Thursday Aug. 26
The Horseshoe is having a good week - Delilah DeWilde and the Lost Boys play there at 9pm. Plus, same as every Thursday, DJ Mickey Massacre is at Exit Chicago at 9pm.

Friday Aug. 27
Possum Jenkins, a pretty classic Appalachian country band, is playing at Sadlack's Heroes in Raleigh at 7pm. In Chicago at the California Clipper (try the Purple Martin), see some "working-man's classic country" with Cropduster at 10pm

Saturday Aug. 28
If you can wake up early enough, listen to wknc.org or 88.1 in Raleigh from 10am to Noon EST for Americana Blues & Co., one of my favorite radio shows on every Saturday. Later at 2pm, The Straight 8s are playing Cary, NC's Lazy Daze festival; go on, it'll be fun! Back in Chicago at the California Clipper, Josh Kalmus (on the bluesy side) plays at 6pm. Finally at 8pm at the Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, NC, the Flat Tires are playing; I suggest going late because the first band is kind of stoner metal and the second is punk (which could be good or bad).

Sunday Aug 29
Al & The Black Cats (this one tripped me up, I expected psychobilly but they're really punkabilly) are playing at 8pm at the Rockshop in Fayetteville.


The Independents are on tour! They'll be playing in NC next week and in Chicago late September.

That does it for this week - if you don't see your band listed and think it should be, or if you want me to cover your state or city, just leave me a comment. See you on Friday or at a show!

<3 Belinda of Belindabilly

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Fashion Friday

Accessories!

What’s the best way to make an outfit unique? Accessories - which is the topic of today's Fashion Friday. Let’s start at the top with hats!

Sarah Azzouzi, the proprietor behind Zzouzi Hats has been concocting creative headwear since she started studying in the fashion department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She focuses her energy on high end hat-making, but also creates dozens of dazzling hair clips, headbands, and fascinators for the more faint at heart. I sat down with the milliner on Thursday to learn more about her business and her designs. Here are some highlights from our conversation:

BPC: So, what made you first decide to get into headwear?
SA: While attending The School of the Art Institute of Chicago I took a variety of different Fashion classes, and I realized I liked sculptural hands on fashion, so it was suggested to me that I try a Millinery course. When I first took it, I was a bit unsure, but I fell in love with the process, and I've been doing it ever since. When I told my mom what I wanted to focus on a while later, she laughed because she always used to put me in hats and I hated them; I guess that's just irony for you.

BPC: Tell me about your favorite piece that you’ve made.
SA: My favorites have got to be the ones I go crazy making. It seems the more the hat drives me crazy, the more I end up liking the hat. A few of my favorites are the ones that include the screen printing process, and the hats that use an alternative process to create them.

BPC: Who is your favorite fashion designer, hat or otherwise?
SA: When thinking about fashion designers, I do not have a favorite. I find it too difficult to pick one. I really enjoy the obscure hat designs of Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones. I also like the collaborative designs of Elsa Schiaparelli and surrealist artists.

BPC: Other than hats, what do you think is the most important accessory?
SA: I have a personal attachment to scarves and earrings, but it really depends on the season and outfit. Importance is determined by what outfit you're wearing that day.

BPC: What advice can you give for someone who would like to add millinery to their wardrobe?
SA: Keep it simple if you do. If the hat is a loud piece then like with any other [loud] accessory your outfit should be neutral. If you want to glam up an outfit, a hat is definitely the way to go! Straw hats are a great casual look for the summer, while felt hats in different shapes will look fabulous with a classy winter coat!

Zzouzi hats are available at Local Lookbook in Chicago, plus you can follow Sarah’s blog or become a fan on facebook, plus she has a new website coming soon.

For the casual belt shopper looking for something fashionable and functional, I would recommend Hollywood Mirror in Chicago, where one can find a matching belt, necktie, earrings and doormat (no joke). However, for something really unique, check out these fused glass belt buckles by artist Laurie Freivogel. Taking inspiration from pop culture, nature, and patterns, and utilizing her love of drawing and screen printing, she creates simple, elegant, and stylish glass pieces that work well to accent any outfit or dress. These are some of my favorites:





Plus she does custom messages on this adorable tattoo heart design!


Find her belt buckles and other glass art at her website or become a fan on her facebook

Let's not forget about shoes – the most important part! I just got my pair of Zombie Stompers from Iron Fist which I am so excited about, but for a noteworthy handmade shoe, check out the cute “infinite sandal” by Mohop in Chicago. Annie Mohaupt, the designer behind Mohop, designs and creates wooden soles and separate ribbons that can be changed out depending on your mood, outfit, or occasion. See her limited editions on etsy or see all of your options on her website.

Last but not at all least is jewelry; spice up any outfit and make a statement with bold pieces that show off your personality like these from Belindabilly:





Plus, this week only, all jewelry on Belindabilly.com is 20% off!

Music Monday

August 16, 2010

Hello and welcome to Belindabilly’s new Music Mondays blog. Every Monday I will update on upcoming shows and tours for the, post reviews of shows from last week, and pretty much anything else that catches my fancy. Currently I am tracking US tours and focusing on my home base of Chicago, IL and my on again off again residence of North Carolina, but if you want me to add your city or state, just let me know in a comment! And now for the good stuff…

First thing's first – in case you haven’t heard, the Nekromantix are on tour in the U.S.! If seeing the famous coffin bass isn’t exciting enough for you, how about seeing Miss World Fastest Drummer 2007, Lux Drummerette who plays a double bass pedal in stilettos. Touring with the Nekromantix is the Mutilators, who have to be the world’s most entertaining psychobilly band. The Mutilators, first and foremost, are talented, hard-working, and hard-playing, but they also have a great sense of humor (about themselves). If you love serious bands that play their set as if you were listening to their album, without more than a few words between songs, this is not the band for you. However, if you are not an uptight wiener, this band will rock your socks off. I saw them at Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago last weekend. As the music started, the lead singer Johnny Anal came on stage, guitar in hand and wig on head, in drag as a naughty nurse! He talked in falsetto, but sang in a wonderfully deep and steady voice. Other highlights included his red thong, a cover of the “Peanut Butter Jelly Song” during which a man in a banana suit jumped off stage into the wrecking pit, an awesome cover of “Thriller”, and a catchy little ditty about Hannah Montana (and a pink banana). So, to summarize, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel a little dirty, and if there is only one psychobilly show you see this year, make it the Nekromantix and the Mutilators!

Upcoming shows and things this week:
In Chicago – Every Thursday at Exit is DJ Mickey Massacre playing psychobilly and rockabilly, plus upstairs is Bondage a go-go, a burlesque show.
Also playing in Chicago at Reggie’s Rock Club on Sunday are the Krank Daddies and a few other rockabilly/surf/punkabilly bands. Doors open at 7 and it’s only $10!
Exciting news for NC – it’s the 2010 Cockabilly Roadshow at the Soapbox in Wilmington on Wednesday, the Pour House in Raleigh on Thursday, and the Milestone in Charlotte on Friday. Catch a sideshow, a burlesque show and a rock show all in one! (Sorry Chicago, they’re just going up and down the east coast)

If there’s anything I missed, please leave a comment – no one wants to miss a show!

How2 Second Friday

How to Make a Corset from a Band Tee
In Ten Easy Steps!

What you will need:
• A band t-shirt that fits well or is slightly too big
• Needle or sewing machine
• Thread that matches your t-shirt
• Scissors
• Pins
• A ruler
• An iron
• Chalk
• ¼” wide Boning (about 3 ft)
• A length of hook and eye tape*




*instead of hook and eye tape, you can use a zipper or eyelets and ribbon.

Step 1:
Cut in a straight line through both layers of fabric just below the decoration on the t-shirt. Cut a second line starting just under the sleeves up and over the decoration. Don’t worry if the decoration looks too big, you can make adjustments later.

Step 2:
Flatten the two pieces and cut up the sides, making sure they are even; if there are existing side seams, cut at the seam. Take the lower section that does not have the decoration on it, fold it in half and cut straight up the middle, once again being sure all the pieces are the same size.

Step 3:
Pin the small pieces, right sides together, to the large pieces with the decoration at (what used to be) the side seams. If either the piece with the decoration or the small piece is longer at the side seam, match at the top and trim the bottom after sewing. Sew the four seams.

Step 4:
Now you should have two pieces, one with the decoration in the middle, and one that used to be the back of the shirt (most likely with nothing on it). The part with the decoration will be the outside and the blank side is now the lining. Pin the lining and the outside, with the right sides of the fabric facing each other, around the side and bottom edges. As you are pinning, if one piece is bigger or longer, trim so that both pieces are the same size. This is also a good time to test the fit. Wrap it around your waist and make sure that the side edges just meet or have a slight gap between them. If they overlap at any point, trim. Sew.

Step 5:
Now you have one piece. Turn it right side out and iron the edges so the seams don’t roll inside. Test the fit again and check if you need to cut the top down in size. The decoration on my shirt was very large so I decided to cut off a few inches at the top in the front. Make sure you keep a nice curve and that it stays symmetrical.

Step 6:
Fold the whole garment in half so the side edges meet. Mark the top and bottom of the fold with the chalk and unfold. This is where it might get confusing. Take the side seams (not the edges) and fold into the center you just marked. Mark the top and bottom of these folds and unfold. Next take the side edges and bring them over to the side seams. Mark these folds. Including the first center marking, you should now have 5 folds marked. Draw a line connecting your top and bottom marks for each fold but the center. You can also draw a line on the side seams to make them easier to see while sewing.

Step 7:
Take your boning and cut pieces the length of each line you just drew, including the side seams (should be 6 pieces total). Take the cover off the boning if it has one.

Step 8:
Starting about 3/8” down from the top, sew straight lines 1/8” on either side of your chalk lines; you will be creating a 1/4” sleeve for the boning. Slide the boning in so that the curve makes the corset curve in (like a corset!).

Step 9:
Iron the unsewn edge of the front and the lining down inside the garment, about ¼”. Pin and topstitch about 1/8” from the edge.

Step 10:
Take your hook and eye tape and cut it to a length slightly shorter than the length of the side edges. Pin it underneath so the hook and eyes are at the edge of the fabric and sew in place (hint: if you want it tighter, sew the hook and eye tap on top of the garment so that the hook/eye edge of the tape lines up with the edge of the garment).

Now wear it!

Happy Friday the 13th, everyone!
<3 Belinda
P.S. Looks like too much work? Custom order it from Belindabilly.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting the new Belindabilly blog. Starting tomorrow with 2nd Fridays How2 Friday, this is where you will find fashion tips and tricks, how-tos, and discounts every Friday with Belindabilly's Fashion Fridays, and music reviews, upcoming concerts and more on Belindabilly's new Music Mondays. Follow us on Twitter or add us on Facebook to be the first to know about these and other updates!