Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex

"Piece Of My Heart" ~the late, great Janis Joplin

As promised, another blog emerges from the depths. *celebrate!*

Since I am dedicated to blogging about the (201) in general, and not just food--although, let's be honest, everyone loves food, especially in this area where we have a plethora of fabulous choices, plus, it's sooo my niche--I will dedicate this blog to music and my pursuit of it.

I recently decided that it has been far too long since I had been able to sing in public, and so I did what any other person who wanted to be in a band would do...nothing. I waited around for someone to say something about something. Consequently, it did me no good.

After learning that nothing got you, well, nothing, a good friend and fellow music junkie suggested I post an ad on Craigslist (North Jersey edition--woop!). I did so, reluctantly, knowing no one would answer it. I was horribly wrong, however, and got tons of responses from people looking for female vocalists. *SHOCK!* I had no idea there were so many people out there who respected female frontpeople.

(*This is my moment to proclaim my serious, deep, obsessive love for Linda Perry, an amazing songwriter, producer, and former kick-ass frontwoman for the ever-fantastic 4 Non Blondes. Ok, 90s nostalgic brain, you're done for now.)

Through all of these responses I weeded...and weeded some more. There are, by the way, some serious creeps out there on Craigslist...good thing it's anonymous. Geez. Be careful, ladies and gents. (I smell a new blog topic!) So, I found quite a few legit, serious bands who respected and desired female vocals--eureka, I say! And since then, I have been setting up auditions and jam sessions all over New Jersey. (I know, I know, Belleville and Parsippany do not count as part of the (201); however, Dirty Jerz is Dirty Jerz, and well all deserve out nods.)

This, so far, has been an insane, fun, liberating experience for me. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone, doing something I haven't done in years (sing in front of real people and not just my kitchen appliances and shower products), and is a seriously huge step in my quest for being happy by myself, for myself. A quest to find and do whatever it is that makes me happy and free (without living on a commune and eating barley and picking oranges...or whatever.) And most bands have been cover bands, which is what I'm looking for, so I get to do my own versions of songs that have inspired me to write, to smile, to cry, and to be. (Wait...I'm having another daydream about working with Linda Perry...)

Anyhoo, the goal here is to find a cool band, sing some cool songs, play in some cool bars, and have fun. I have zero desire to be a rock star, never have. I just want to do what I like and do it in a bar full or strangers, because, really, isn't that what life is all about?

So, hopefully, I will be coming to a bar near you very soon! *fingers crossed*

"Together With The Sundown" ~Stephen Jerzak (big "woo hoo!" to my brother for introducing me to this guy...excellent.)