Lipstick Conspiracy's topics - tribe.net

Lipstick Conspiracy at SF Pride!

2007-06-25T23:24:22Z

Sunday, June 24th

Join Lipstick Conspiracy for their perennial return to the San Francisco Pride celebration this Sunday. The Lipstickers take to the Larkin Street stage (between Golden Gate and Turk) shortly after 2:30.

That's 2:30. And remember, punctuality is always sexy!

Vote for Lipstick Conspiracy in the SF Guardian's Best of the Bay, 2007 as 'Best Indie Band' and 'Best Band Name'! Check page 2, categories 25 and 27. The Lipstickers thank you for your support!

http://www.sfbg.com/bob/2007/

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 4 replies

Thanks for a Fun Time Last Night!

2006-11-16T18:35:31Z

That was a great show!

Lipstick Conspiracy sounded awesome and we had a really fun time sharing the stage with you! The club owners seemed to enjoy both performances, the folks who showed up were having a good time, and I think the two bands work well for a combined show - let's definitely do it again!

Also, for anyone who was there & asked about Cuir Bleu or grabbed a CD... I didn't have the mailing list sign-up with me last night, and I'd love to be able to add your names to our band list. Send me a Tribe message or an email to pixie (at) cuirbleu (dot) com with your name and email and I'll send you out the latest newsletter & stuff.

Thanks again for a great show - you girls ROCK!

~ Pixie

tribes.tribe.net/cuirbleu
www.cuirbleu.com

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

New photos

2006-11-03T16:15:39Z

Hi Tori,

I'm wondering if any new photos from recent performances are going to be posted on lipstickconspiracy.com. The most recent performance photos posted there are from way back in January. I like seeing photos of the best band I've never seen play live :-) And thanks for a great cd. My girlfriend and I love "A Perfect Alibi."

Angela

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

San Diego and the Eagle - Two very different gigs in one week...

2006-08-09T23:52:27Z

San Diego Pride is supposed to be one of the biggest Prides - they claim 150,000 but that's still a lot less than San Francisco. But it is set in gorgeous Balboa Park right by downtown - which would have been even more gorgeous if it hadn't been gray and drizzly - it felt just like home!

It was a slightly up and down day. We had to get our equipment in by 10am, which meant an early start and lots of hanging about - although Tori managed to sneak in a manicure while waiting. And then just before we were due to go on, the stage manager said that the band before us hadn't turned up, so could we go on earlier and do a longer set. Hee. But then, just awe were starting to move stuff, they turned up they had been directed to the wrong stage. So we had to calm down again and wait.

Once we finally got up and started playing, the sound was really strange. Natalie had hardly any band in her monitors and couldn't really hear the amps spread out across quite a big stage, so played the whole gig without much feedback - and still did really well! And Tori's keys (which were direct into the board) had some kind of vibrato added in both the monitors and out front. But those are the kinds of things we are pretty used to now - and we really played a strong high energy set - and got a really good reception - and sold CDs etc. So overall... pretty kewl.

Plus it was great to share a San Diego stage with fellow SFer Ethel Merman - and we heard a few Flock of Seagulls songs on the way out (although apparently it's only Mike Score from the original line up). And lots of thanks to our friends (Marty and Diane, Nigel and Margy, and Alex and Gena) who put us up and came out.

So... then back to San Francisco and the Eagle on Thursday night - invited by the Nervous Breakdowns. It seems like it has been a while since we played local gigs (after Fresno, Portland, Las Vegas etc.) and that contributed to a relaxed setting - also helped by a lot of friends coming out and by a non-frantic changeover / setup between bands. We did the same set as in San Diego, starting with Losing Sleep and segue-ing into Don't Think About Love - which is very dramatic and always makes Shawna beam like crazy (!) - and we were really on from the first few bars - both musically with Natalie really driving - and performance wise connecting with the audience. Some friends, who have seen us quite a few times said it was the best gig they had ever seen us play!

So now... we have a few weeks in practice while Natalie learns all the current material and stuff from the first CD - to the point where if we get a chance we can do an hour plus set. And then we start doing colleges... getting out there...

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

LC and Cuir Bleu - wanna?

2006-07-21T23:43:09Z

Hey there! Wasn't sure who does your booking, so I figured I'd post it here... you can always PM me if you want.

Cuir Bleu has a gig booked in Oakland for Wednesday night, August 30th. It's at a beautiful club near Jack London Square that's usually a Latin Jazz venue but opening up Wednesday nights for various local bands. The owner is very cool & is letting me pick another band to play with us that night. I'd love to share the stage with you again, so you're my first pick - interested?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Wow - Emergenza!

2006-07-21T21:08:08Z

So... We have barely calmed down after Saturday's Emergenza gig at 12 Galaxies...

This was round 2 and we had been working really hard to get our friends / fans out. And it worked... By the time we took the stage (after the usual mad change-over scramble) we were looking at a really full club, at a crowd of familiar and new faces, and a really pumped up bunch of people. The energy before we even played a note was awesome...

We had been talking about needing to do a kick-ass set, but we also didn't want to just rely on the old favorites - and had put together a set list that emphasized material from the upcoming CD (now titled "A Perfect Alibi"). Some of the numbers we have played quite a bit over the last year or so (such as Wishing Well), but others we have barely played (such as Andromeda Mita) and for one at least (You - Do Do Do) this was its first night out. So this would also be something of a road test for the new stuff.

So... we had the usual sound issues (as did all the bands!) - mainly on stage with monitors, but most people thought the vocals were mixed too low - which isn't great when the lyrics are often a strong point and we really love to do harmonies. But we really worked at communicating energy and excitement - and really performing. And we delivered a really powerful set. To the extent that people were really screaming and shouting and going wild - even people had clearly come to catch the band after us (and the Mango Kingz were kewl by the way)!

When the votes were counted / announced later on, we had got 134 - which is nearly double that from the first round - and the third highest in San Francisco so far. And that was sufficient to see us through to round #3 - which is on June 8 also at 12 Galaxies. Put it in your schedules!

This is getting interesting. We're still working on completing the CD - and we're playing tons of gigs during June, including a whole bunch of Prides - but we're starting to get very interested / ambitious about Emergenza. We're almost certainly the only TG band in the whole international competition - and probably one of the few queer (LGBT) ones too - so it would be awesome to take it all the way to Germany!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 11 replies

Back from Las Vegas...

2006-07-17T19:54:35Z

Las Vegas was great. The gals all drove down, whereas I stayed on a day longer, having just got back from London, and flew down that morning.

We were playing an end-of-conference party for a sex workers rights conference organized by the Desiree Alliance and $pread magazine (http://desireealliance.org/conference.htm) - who are partly people we know in SF - in fact Scarlot Harlot helped us get our first gig three years ago.

The party was at a gay club called Gypsy. We had to take down all our equipment including our PA, so spent a lot of the afternoon setting it all up and sound-checking etc. - which paid off later on as the sound was pretty good. It also helped having Dragan out in the audience checking and mixing.

Then we were supposed to go on at 10:30pm, but there was no-one there then (!). The conference attendees were still at a pool party back at the hotel, and people kept telling us how Las Vegas is a "late" town - meaning no one comes out before 11 or 12. So we delayed and finally went on at midnight to a suddenly respectable crowd of 200 or so.

This was the very first gig for our new drummer (Natalie) after only a week rehearsing with us (well not with me - I was in London) - and she did really great! In fact one friend told us afterwards that it was the best set she'd ever heard. The audience loved us and we sold a bunch of CDs (our current yardstick). Then we hung around and caught Juba of Deep Dickollective (thanks for the props!) and Miss Indigo Blue (who is super kewt).

This could be a big moment for us... For most of the last year or so, we've been scuffling about trying to compensate for not having a drummer - doing acoustic gigs sometimes, using a drum machine a few times (yuk!), playing with various stand-in drummers (such as Steve who played on the new CD and is great - make no mistake). But that meant we were reluctant to accept too many gigs / really get out there. Now we've got a few weeks practice before San Diego Pride (July 29th) where Natalie can learn more material - and then we can really start booking - for example doing colleges in the fall...?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 4 replies

Lipstick Conspiracy at Edinburgh Castle - June 30

2006-06-28T03:53:43Z

We're playing the Edinburgh Castle this Friday June 30 in "Rock Out w/o yr Cock Out". Last time (in May?) we did an acoustic set, but this time it's the full rawkin band! And this is our last gig in San Francisco until the Fall - as we're heading off around the country - To Las Vegas, Chicago, San Diego, ... Catch us now!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edinburgh Castle Pub
950 Geary Street @ Polk
San Francisco, CA 94109
open 5pm-2am
(415) 885-4074

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Catching up..

2006-06-26T14:52:16Z

We’ve been so busy I haven't had much time to blog - so this one has a lot of catching up in it...

The Emergenza / CD Release party on June 8 was great! We got a huge and loud crowd out - and played with awesome energy. Maybe part of it was the occasion, or maybe it was the crowd (it is a whole lot easier playing like a rawk star when the crowd are going mad for you!), but I think this was probably our best performance ever - as in it was solid and strong technically, but we really projected and made contact with the audience. We closed with "Girl of My Dreams", which we haven't been playing much lately - and Shawna worked the pauses to the limit - on the very last one I swear she waited a minute or two with the crowd screaming and yelling, before finally starting the last section! Awesome!

But somehow, despite the large crowd and the great response, due to the vagaries of Emergenza voting, we didn't make it through to the regional final. Who knows...? But it had been a great ride, and we'd met some good contacts along the way - and now it's on to touring the CD.

This last weekend we played Portland Pride... So that was a long ride up and back in just two days, but it was really worth it. There were maybe 20-30,000 people in the stage/booths area after the Parade finished and a really kewl atmosphere - and there was a really professional stage setup (the sound crew were excellent). We went on reasonably early (around 2pm) but there were already thousands of people at the stage - and we played really well -working our way through a 30 minute set almost entirely from the new CD - although we closed with "Girl of My Dreams" again. It went down really well and we got a whole bunch of really positive feedback from fellow performers (like Jill Sobule!) and the people coming up from crowd afterwards. Probably most people there had never heard of us, but I think we left behind quite a few new fans.

And now the gigs are piling up... This weekend, we have three SF gigs in three days- including the Trans March stage in Dolores Park on Friday (at 4:15pm) and the Trans Stage at Pride itself on Sunday (at 3:30pm). Then next Friday (June 30th) we're doing the LadyFest gig for Femina Potens at the Edinburgh Castle. Then it's off to Las Vegas, Chicago, San Diego and all over...

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

[Reminder] "A Perfect Alibi" CD Release Party + Emergenza #3 - June 8

2006-06-06T04:06:48Z

To celebrate the release of Lipstick Conspiracy's new CD ("A Perfect Alibi") which came out on June 1, we've having a CD release party at 12 Galaxies (www.12galaxies.com/home.html) on June 8.

This is also the third round of the Emergenza "battle of the bands", so come along at 7pm to mingle with the band - and catch us when we go on at 7:30pm for one of our few SF gigs in June. We need the bodies or more precisely your hands in the air when the MC asks for the crowd vote! You can get advance tickets for $15 (at the door is $18) which includes a copy of "A Perfect Alibi"! Or if you already have a pre-sales CD, advance tickets are $12. Be there! Let me know and we'll sort out getting you tickets in advance.

If you can't make June 8, you can still get the CD for a mere $12 (plus shipping) at www.lipstickconspiracy.com/apa_main.htm. It’s awesome!

Tori

Date & Time: Thursday, June 8, 2006 - Friday, June 9, 2006
7:00 PM
Location: 12 Galaxies
2565 Mission Street @ 22nd
San Francisco, CA . 94110
Tel: 415-970-9777
www.12galaxies.com

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Things are moving fast…

2006-06-06T04:00:27Z

The “A Perfect Alibi” CD came out on June 1. After so long worrying / working away at all the little details, it feels great to step back and actually listen - and it sounds awesome.

And now we’re (as they say in the music biz) “touring behind” the CD” – and really getting out there… It seems like we’re playing most of the Prides up and down the West Coast in June and July… and who knew there were so many of them!

This weekend just gone we did Fresno Pride on Saturday and then North Bay / Santa Rosa Pride. Fresno Pride was really great, with a nice setup under a huge tent (which was really necessary as it gets really hot up there) and a really stoked crowd. Santa Rosa was more laid back, but we had a really nice time hanging with the other artists – including Tamaras and Trusting Lucy. And we sold boat loads of CDs and posters and Tshirts in both places.

And then this week (on Thursday) we have our CD release party at 12 Galaxies – which is in conjunction with round #3 of the Emergenza “international battle of the bands” – so we’re working / hoping that all our friends and fans come out to get us through to the (West Coast) regional final in July – where we’re the only GLBT band (never mind TG) left in the competition – so we kinda feel we’re flying the flag for our community and San Francisco.

And then we are doing Portland Pride, and three gigs in San Francisco over Pride weekend, followed by a whole bunch of gigs in July…

Phew!

The “A Perfect Alibi” CD came out on June 1. After so long worrying / working away at all the little details, it feels great to step back and actually listen - and it sounds awesome.

And now we’re (as they say in the music biz) “touring behind” the CD” – and really getting out there… It seems like we’re playing most of the Prides up and down the West Coast in June and July… and who knew there were so many of them!

This weekend just gone we did Fresno Pride on Saturday and then North Bay / Santa Rosa Pride. Fresno Pride was really great, with a nice setup under a huge tent (which was really necessary as it gets really hot up there) and a really stoked crowd. Santa Rosa was more laid back, but we had a really nice time hanging with the other artists – including Tamaras and Trusting Lucy. And we sold boat loads of CDs and posters and Tshirts in both places.

And then this week (on Thursday) we have our CD release party at 12 Galaxies – which is in conjunction with round #3 of the Emergenza “international battle of the bands” – so we’re working / hoping that all our friends and fans come out to get us through to the (West Coast) regional final in July – where we’re the only GLBT band (never mind TG) left in the competition – so we kinda feel we’re flying the flag for our community and San Francisco.

And then we are doing Portland Pride, and three gigs in San Francisco over Pride weekend, followed by a whole bunch of gigs in July…

Phew!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

K... two key events happenings over the next few weeks...

2006-05-22T06:23:03Z

Our new CD ("A Perfect Alibi") is released on June 1. This is a full-length (12 songs and 50 minutes) CD, which covers a broad range of Lipstick Conspiracy sounds - from power-pop to classic rock to rock gospel... . It sounds awesome! We're doing a special pre-sales offer from now to June 1 where you can get it for a mere $10 (including shipping) at http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/apa_main.htm. After that it goes up to $12 plus shipping, so get it now while the going's good!

And on June 8 we've having a CD release party at 12 Galaxies (http://www.12galaxies.com/home.html). This is the third round of the Emergenza "battle of the bands", so come along at 7pm to mingle with the band - and catch us when we go on at 8pm. We need the bodies! You can get pre-sales tickets for $15 (at the door is $18) which includes a copy of "A Perfect Alibi"! So you can see the band in one of their few SF gigs in June and get a CD for practically nothing. Be there! {Talk to me about getting tickets in advance}

Tori

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Almost there...

2006-05-07T03:09:59Z

The new CD is almost done! We've done all the instrumentation, leads and backing vocals, and several levels of mixing - and are now doing the last few mixing refinements. Which is just as well, because we do mastering on the 12th!

So... It's called "A Perfect Alibi" and will be out on June 1. We're still only listening to interim mixes, and it is hard to hear it being so close for so long, but... it is sounding really awesome. The songs are really strong across the board, and there's a great groove, and depth and dynamics across the range. A real step up.

It makes me reflect on the really positive things about being in a band (or at least this band). Working with a bunch of incredibly talented people, who bring a whole new set of ideas / approaches, and create something much bigger and better than you could ever do on your own. Individual songs and the whole project have changed and grown and shifted and just got better and better. I'm in awe...

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

Emergenza Round 2 – 12 Galaxies – April 15

2006-03-31T22:28:26Z

After what seems like a long break in the studio recording our second CD (which is still ongoing and should be out on June 1), we finally get to play!

After our success in Emergenza Round 1 at the Red Devil back in January, we have to do it all again in Round 2 at 12 Galaxies (http://www.12galaxies.com/home.html). We’re on at 10pm sharp on Saturday April 15 (which is Easter Saturday).

You’ll remember that progression to the next round is by a show of hands, which relies on all our friends and fans turning up and sticking their hands up at the right time! We got 72 votes on a Monday night in January in Round 1 – which was amazing and thanks to everybody who was there. But we’re guessing we’ll need more this time!

This will be one of the few gigs we do before the CD is out – and then we’re venturing off on tour / playing Prides all up and down the West Coast. And we’ll be featuring a couple of awesome new tunes from the new CD. So make sure you catch us – and bring your friends!

We can do advance tickets at $10 (just let me know how many you need). At the door is $15.

See you there! Tori

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Potential Booking

2006-03-23T22:05:33Z

Hey, gals. Would the person in your band who looks after bookings & contacts please make contact with this particular triber:

http://people.tribe.net/drs2?_click_path=Application%5Btribe%5D.Person%5Beaa1def8-89b9-494f-b256-2f130a34ccdf%5D

Her band has a gig coming up and they are looking for a 2nd band on the bill. When I suggested Lipstick Conspiracy, she wrote, "oh! I love Lipstick Conspiracy!"

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Commemoration Kick-Off

2006-03-18T06:34:57Z

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

For Immediate Release Media Contact:
Dawnne Woodie
415-748-2396, sf_dawnne@yahoo.com

Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Commemoration Kick-Off

A Commemoration of the 40th Year Anniversary of the Compton Cafeteria Riots will be celebrated throughout the Bay Area in 2006. Three years before the famous rioting at New York’s Stonewall Inn, a group of transgender women and gay street-hustlers fought back for the first time in history against everyday police harassment. This was known as the Riot at Gene Compton’s Cafeteria in the Tenderloin in San Francisco.

A chronicle of this historic time in 1966 marks one beginning of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) movement resistance. It has been captured in a documentary made by Susan Stryker and Victor Silverman, entitled ‘Screaming Queens’.

Please come support this kick-off event of Compton’s Cafeteria 40th Anniversary activities. It will include a showing of ‘Screaming Queens’. Come learn about this important time in LGBT history, and meet community leaders who are working to showcase this series of events and activities.

Date: March 23, 2006

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Metropolitan Community Church Sanctuary

Address: 150 Eureka
San Francisco, CA 94114

This event is free, but seating is limited to the first 250 attendees.

Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Anniversary Activities are sponsored in part by Good Vibrations. For more information, please visit www.comptonscafeteriariot.org.

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

More on being quiet…

2006-03-11T08:45:20Z

After weeks and weeks of pre-production, we’ve finally started recording!

Last weekend we spent three days in Different Fur studios in the Misson (not four blocks from Tori’s place), laying down basic tracks. The studio’s quite interesting as they still have an old high-end analog mixing desk and can record to tape. So the idea was to record the whole band performing “live”, and get (at a minimum) rich and energetic bass and drums – although if we picked up good takes / pieces of other stuff we’ll use them too.

It was pretty intense… in three days (more like two and a half allowing for setup and hitches – do not mention 15ips to Buddy!) we got 2-3 good takes of 15 songs – all new except for one highly reworked cover (which is still top secret!). And by the end, we were all pretty happy but drained..

Now we’ve bounced the results across to hard disk and will going into a all-digital for a month or two to work on instrumental tracks and vocals / harmonies. But listening to the rough (straight-through) mixes today, it sounds like we’ve got some good stuff to act as the foundation…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 4 replies

We’re looking for a drummer

2006-03-04T17:12:49Z

Just in case you are not subscribed to The Informant (and why not?! http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/contact.htm) and didn’t see this…

We are looking for a drummer. So if you are interested, please do apply. Or if you know of someone who would be interested, please pass it on.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lipstick Conspiracy, America's "premiere trans band" is looking for a drummer and percussionist as they charge forward with the new album, and the national tour. This provides the chance of a lifetime for anyone that has ever dreamed of becoming one of the "Fabulous 5."

Auditions will take place in 2006, and all interested applicants must be prepared to meet the rigorous criteria. A security clearance will be issued for the ideal candidate. See the link below for more information.

Emme Yarwood has chosen to pursue her career locally, as Lipstick Conspiracy prepares for their rigorous plans for global domination. The girls wish her "good luck" and say "it's been a great ride, sweetie."

Have you got what it takes? » http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/criteria.htm

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

All quiet...

2006-02-10T18:46:12Z

...on the Lipstick Conspiracy front?

Actually, we're really busy in pre-production for our second CD - spending 3-4 days/evenings a week in a window-less box down in BayView (our rehearsal space!), working on new material. Some of this has featured in shows over the last six months or so, but some of it is entirely new. In fact, we have an embarrasment of riches - and are going to have real trouble squeezing stuff down to fit on a CD. Perhaps we should do a double (only kidding?!).

So... the CD is consuming most (all?) of our efforts right now. With the result that our next gig isn't until April 15 - which is the second round of the Emergenza contest at 12 Galaxies. Watch this space!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Emergenza

2006-01-30T13:58:08Z

So… we’ve signed to play in the Emergenza “battle of the bands”. This is an international (it started in Italy?) multi-round contest with grand finals in germany next year – which will be an opportunity to get more exposure outside the San Francisco scene. Although, as it happens, the first few rounds are actually in San Francisco! See
http://www.emergenza.net/document/book/iscri.asp

We’re booked for a first round appearance at the Red Devil Lounge on January 9. And the way it works is that bands progress to the next round based on audience show of hands – so we’ll be needing to really get people out in advace. So watch out for some shameless spamming here on Tribe, plus band members relentlessly selling advance tickets!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 5 replies

Solo at Bijou

2005-12-26T20:47:33Z

Well… I did it… as the Bay Area Reporter had it, last night was “the maiden solo voyage for Miss Tori Tait of the pop band Lipstick Conspiracy” at Trauma Flintstone’s “Bijou” at Martuni’s (see http://www.ebar.com/arts/arts.php?sec=outabout).

The gig was great - there were a really good bunch of performers – and all really singing (no lip syncing). Almost all were really fantasic - eg Trauma, Leanne Borghesi (aka Anita Cocktail, Miss Faux Queen 2001), Mama Tracy St. Cyr (one of the original Finocchio's performers), Kielbasia, Katya...

So… Martuni’s is obviously familiar territory. I was pretty nervous - but once I got started it went well - and my two songs (I stuck to "Wanna Look Like That" and my Xmas song) were really well received. I think people really liked the fact that they were hearing original material – and sneak previews of stuff that might be on the upcoming second CD.

Plus I got to rawk out on the “Twelve Days of Xmas” as one voice amongst the whole ensemble at the end… "Five Golden Rings!!!"

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 9 replies

solo moment anyone?

2005-11-18T00:02:46Z

Hey, gals -- I know you are all working your manicured nails to the bone, but I'm curious if anyone would be interested in doing a solo/star turn @ Martuni's at one of my little showcases.

Perfect op for one of you who sings and plays guitar or sings and plays piano (hinthinthint Tori) and would want to accompany yourself. It's a little room (as you remember well from your CD release party).

My show is the 2nd Sunday of the month, 7pm. So far, it's been very well attended. And a lot of fun.

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 10 replies

The Informant, Vol. XV is now available!

2005-11-01T01:52:41Z

The latest issue of Lipstick Conspiracy's electronic newsletter, The Informant, is now available. For the many friends and fans of the band here on Tribe that are unfamiliar with this publication, the Archives of past issues can be found here:

http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/archives.htm

For those interested in the current issue, all you have to do is send Tori a message and give her the email address that you want it emailed to! A subscription is free, and unsubscribing is easy (though never recommended!).

It's that simple!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Fame... I think?!

2005-10-22T04:38:48Z

Check out http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ and http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2005-10-12/news/feature.html

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 8 replies

TORId names

2005-10-21T04:13:25Z

Tori seems to change her name on a regular basis here on Tribe.net. To help make sense of this, I have generated a table of names and suggested use contexts.

Tori can modify her name to be:

InflamaTORI at Burning Man
ExposiTORI when her porno flick comes out.
ContradicTORI for her trip to Central America.
ConspiraTORIal in her musical career.
CelebraTORI working at her job with Victoria's Secret.
Alpha CenTORI in the International Star Registry.
TransiTORI when on the bus.
ExploraTORI when on the prowl.
PurgaTORI when she throws away her femme clothes and vows never to dress again.

... and when she gets sick of TORI puns, she can always RegurgiTAIT.

Please feel free to suggest additions!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 13 replies

TatTori

2005-10-19T17:45:56Z

...cos I got a new tat on my chick spot... or as a friend says it's a "tramp stamp".

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 9 replies

Folsom!

2005-10-17T04:39:16Z

So... we've been booked to play Folsom Street Fair...

Now we have to start thinking about what to wear.... Leather? - almost certainly. But with lots of skin showing so we don't get too hot?

Maybe we need some roadies?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 19 replies

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

2005-09-15T02:44:36Z

Hey everybody,

CDBaby just cut a generous check to the Red Cross in our name, since we announced that we are donating the proceeds of all our record sales from CDBaby to hurricane relief until further notice (at least through the end of the month).

This is also a wonderful opportunity for those that wish to pick up a copy of "Don't Tell a Soul;" you can now do so knowing that your purchase will donate precious funds to the Red Cross.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lipstickc

And, for those fortunate souls that already have a copy, now is your chance to click on the link above, and write a review! It's easy, free, and it will ensure you a place in all of our hearts (gads, did I actually SAY that?). We're still giving away free 11"x14" posters to whomever takes the plunge.

True story.

Okay, I'll just patiently stand by while all of you present either purchase a disc or write your reviews......

Sarafina M~
Conscience, Coercion, Guitarist - Lipstick Conspiracy

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

New Photos Up!

2005-09-14T22:53:31Z

Hey everybody!

Somebody once mentioned that I should make a post in here once I add new pics to the band website. So, that's exactly what I'm doing. Here they are:

http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/photos.htm

Note that the Oakland Art & Soul pics where already announced by Jamie Faye (thanks, love!), but the Edinburgh Castle and the TW Clinic shots should be new to most of you, as should the dozen or so collected from the FreshMeat show back in June. Okay, some of you.

And, for the nostalgia buff, I invite you to take a trip back into time. Way, way, WAY back to the blustery winter of 2004. Visit the archives for a few new pics from the live KZSU Stanford show, and the long lost SF State gig:

http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/photos_archives_late_2004.htm

Making history has never been so easy.

Sarafina M~
Administrator, Historian, Guitarist - Lipstick Conspiracy

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Oakland Art & Soul Festival

2005-09-10T04:02:19Z

Okay, for those of you here that aren't at Burning Man...

Lipstick Conspiracy returns to the East Bay this Labor Day weekend to headline the GLBT stage at 5th Annual Art & Soul festival. Three big days of live rock, blues, jazz, alternative rock, gospel and more on four concert stages. Lipstick Conspiracy takes their place among such stellar talent as Blues Traveler, George Duke, Aimee Mann, The Lovemakers, Roy Ayers, Lyrics Born, Sistas in the Pit, and more!

Sunday, September 4th. The girls hit the Plaza Stage (right in front of City Hall) at 2:15 PM sharp. Admission is $5, while children under 12 are admitted free.

This event blends exciting national and local acts with extraordinary cultural diversity in art, poetry, music and food. For full details, press clippings, directions or a sample of last year's festival, be sure to visit the website.

http://www.artandsoulaokland.com

See you there!

Sarafina M~

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 3 replies

All quiet...

2005-09-06T06:43:08Z

... Tori is at Burning Man.

Come round and say hi at Illumination village (8:30 and Esplanade).

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 3 replies

Interesting Tuesdays

2005-08-04T18:37:50Z

Tuesday was an interesting gig – for quite a few reasons.

It was our first (semi-)private party - and it was for the Tom Waddell center’s 10th anniversary celebration at the Center for Sex and Culture (CSC).

For those who don’t know, Tom Waddell is part of the SF city DPH – but was the world’s first heath clinic to run a service specifically aimed at the TG community (Transgendered Tuesdays). And it is (probably?) named after the founder of the Gay Olympics, who was also a SF doctor… Anyway, they provide health care and hormones to a huge number of people and friends in the community – so we were only too happy to help them celebrate.

As it turns out, the CSC only had mains, so we volunteered to provide the rest of the sound setup (monitors etc.). Which is why we found ourselves scrambling against time, and while the first acts were performing, to figure out how to hook our mixing board into their power amp for the mains, while still driving our power amps for the monitors. Pretty stressful, but it turned out fine in the end – once we realized that one incredibly small button (Aux in vol) needed to be non-zero!

Being a party, there was catered food – which was rather nice. But the CSC doesn’t have a booze license, so it was sparkling fruit juice all round. Which kinda surprised Tori, who enthusiastically poured what she thought was champagne! And there were thanks and speeches too – including apologies from The Mayor and a congratulatory certificate from Mark Leno.

Also on the bill (amongst others) were Veronica Klaus (who is really good – check her out at http://veronicaklaus.com) and our buddy Anderson Toone (all the way from New York in his new incarnation of Buck Shot and Bebe Gunn).

So, with a little shuffling of times and order, we got onto the incredibly small stage around 8:30 – and did pretty much the same set we’d done on Friday at the Edinburgh castle – and it went very well. We’re really hitting a groove. It was slightly strange peering into the crowd, and not being able to see very far as they had a really strong spotlight, and only seeing a few people seated sedately at tables at the front – whereas apparently there were a whole bunch of people dancing further back. But we got a really enthusiastic response (woops and hollers) and sold quite a few CDs afterwards. So we were happy…

And afterwards… we had been planning to head to Trannyshack, but we’d heard Charo night was crazy busy, so instead we headed to Martuni’s to wind down and catch up with Anderson and Shana – and Jamie and Jen and…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

ROWYCO

2005-08-01T20:29:16Z

Friday was really fun…

The room upstairs at the Edinburgh Castle is small and intimate – assuming you can find it (we heard rumors of friends wandering around downstairs and never finding the gig). And the crowd built nicely throughout the evening – to the point that when we made it on stage around midnight it was sweltering. Luckily, Sarafina had found a fan backstage, but she had made sure to set it up right behind her!

There was a really strong lineup – featuring (amongst others) Storm Flores, Scarletto and Shawn Virago – with MCing from Charlie Anders and Melissa Banales. So much talent in our community! Shawna was particularly impressive, despite issues with “muscle relaxants”, especially when she got into tranny dominatrix mode between songs and starting heckling the crowd.

And Charlie and Melissa ran what felt like the world’s longest raffle while we were setting up (and long after we were ready) during which they whipped up support (and ticket purchases) by some strategic mooning – of which we got a superb view while connecting pedals etc.

Earlier on in the evening, we’d done a shoot for the E Bay Express, which is working on a major feature on the band, which may also be on the front cover – watch this space! So, we had a fun (and occasionally physically uncomfortable) time, with all five of us draped (or jammed?) over a sofa on the balcony, striking “interesting” poses, smiling manically under the lights. The results looked good as a 1”x1” digital camera image – we just hope they look good at front cover size?!

And we got to play… our first gig for a month! We did a mix of newish stuff (like “I Won’t Go” – which is becoming a great opener) and tried and true favorites (like “Girl Of Dreams”), interspersed with a few older / slower numbers (like “Kelly’s Song” and “Ten Thousand Days”) to give some light and shade. And we were really slick – hardly any fluffs –and lotsa energy and power. We’re getting to be a really good live band… ;-)

We’ve got a small (semi-private) gig at the Tom Waddell center on Tuesday (tomorrow), then we’re working on more new material through August – working up to the Oakland Art and Soul festival on September 4, and Folsom on September 25. Should be fun…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Phew...

2005-07-31T21:58:19Z

....a gig at last ;-)

We've been busy with new stuff and just chilling - but it'll be good to get out and play again!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 5 replies

WHY?

2005-07-18T03:51:38Z

Why do they call tha event Rock Out With Yr Cock Out?
Curious minds want to know...

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 2 replies

Pride Photos Wanted!

2005-07-09T18:17:55Z

Hey everybody! Since our regular photographer was missing in action, and our auxilary photographer was running behind schedule, we have no evidence of our Pride performance. So, we need your help. If you (or anyone you know) snapped any pics of Lipstick Conspiracy at Pride this year, let me know!

Your attention is appreciated!

Sarafina M~

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Gossip...

2005-07-05T23:05:02Z

Which long-time Lipstick Conspiracy fan spent too much time in a nearby bar on Sunday and missed the Pride set - only emerging feeling "tired and emotional" an hour or two later...?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 5 replies

Pride!

2005-06-29T20:25:03Z

SF Pride was great – but with two gigs in two days there wasn’t much space for pure fun and cruising around.

On Friday, Lipstick Conspiracy “lite” (Marilyn , Sarafina and Tori) played the Trans March stage in Dolores Park. Amazingly enough, they were running ahead of schedule, which nearly caught Tori out, as she’d taken advantage of living not so far away to nip back and freshen up (!). We only did three numbers (Ten Thousand Days, Something About the Rain and Gender Frontier), and the sound was slightly strange on stage – no voice in the monitors and the backline cranked way up high drowning everything. But the set was well received, and we might do more of these mini/combination gigs, as a way of gigging a lot (especially for “community” events), while still getting time to work on new material and accommodating people’s schedules.

On Sunday the full band were playing the inaugural Transgender stage just off the Civic Plaza. Pride logistics meant we had to be at the rehearsal space at 7:30am (yikes!), so that we could load in equipment before vehicles had to be out of the area. Then a quick sound check at 10am, and we got to hang round / check out the other acts / walk around the area until our slot at 3:30. We also got to see a whole bunch of really good Trans performers, including (and apologies for missing some people) The Viragos, Katastrophe, Wood, Deep Dick Collective, and Fruitie Flavors, who all drew good appreciative crowds.

We went on early again (what happened to Tranny Time?!) and did a twenty minute set which was a mixture of favorites and new stuff (I Won’t Go, Wishing well, Stand Off, Just a Girl and Girl of My Dreams) and which really rocked. We had one or two initial mishaps at the start (Shawna plugging her guitar into the bass amp and vice versa, Marilyn getting a super loud guitar patch cos she couldn’t see her MIDI display in the sun), but the sound was good, and we were really cooking. There was great energy on the stage – and the crowd were bopping and shouting – just a really fun gig.

And then we had to hang around until 7pm until we could get vehicles in again, load the equipment and head back to the practice space. Which meant a 12 hour plus day – all for 20 great minutes. It’s only rock’n’roll…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

We are awesome!

2005-06-28T21:23:09Z

We as in the TG community....!

On Saturday we did a double header, albeit only a ten minute set each time, for Fresh Meat at the ODC Theater in the Mission (only a few blocks from Tori’s place), and it was so overwhelming to see an incredibly talented lineup of TG performers, across a very broad range of arts – from rawk (us) to rap (Katastrophe!) to stand-up (Scott Turner) to modern dance (Sean Dorsey and Mair Culbreth) to burlesque (Harlem Shake) and more… and no lip-symch!

The show was really well put together – from sound to stage management to facilities etc. And it played to four pretty much sold out shows over three nights – who went totally wild.

It made it a real pleasure to be on the bill… And what a great opening to Pride week. It made us feel proud…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 4 replies

Pictures from the TG Pride March 6/24/2005

2005-06-27T20:52:49Z

http://members.tgforum.com/jamie/TGMarch2005/

-- Jamie Faye

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

And let's do Shawna...!

2005-06-24T01:48:22Z

PerSHAWNApification - when she's just being Shawna
HoSHAWNAh in the Highest - when she's feeling religous
RoshaSHAWNA - when she's feeling religous (and Jewish)
SHAWNA na na SHAWNA na na - when she's doing doo-wop
ho SHAWNA - when she's getting down and dirty!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

L Word?

2005-06-23T22:51:05Z

There's a rumor that Lipstick Conspiracy is going to be in the next series of the L Word?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 3 replies

Deliverance

2005-06-21T16:51:47Z

Looking back a few weeks, it’s interesting how some of our assumptions about the mini-tour were dis-proved by the reality…

Living in the City can be so wonderful. People hardly ever question your gender orientation/presentation – whether by interaction or look – or where they do so it is usually so low-key that I’ve got practiced at not feeling it. But… we all know SF is not the US – and that we live in a bubble…

So a sub-text before the mini-tour was wondering (worrying?) about the vast swathes of country between SF and Seattle or Portland. We were assuming (hoping?) the towns would be OK, but even there we weren’t sure. And stopping for gas on I-5? We even had friends on IM advising us which towns along the way were safe / should be avoided.

This pre-tour speculation got as far as our discussing security measures – for example, cell phones on at all times, always staying in groups of at least two, always making it clear where we were going (even if only to the rest room) –and even wondering whether we needed to take along some big butch security types?

By the time we left, Tori was running Deliverance II in her head…

But in the event, it was a non-event. Sarafina thought she detected a few extra looks (stares?), but there were no direct negative interactions – and a whole slew of people went out of their to engage and be nice. For example, shopping in a Safeway in Tacoma , where the people we were staying with had counseled caution (“this is Tacoma you know”), an employee spotted our long shopping list (Sarafina and Marilyn were cooking) and just attached herself to our little group – directing us to the horseradish sauce, advising on wine, walking us through the checkout – just being so sweet. And when Marilyn and Tori were doing some clothes shopping (also in Tacoma), the store staff were really curious, wanting to know why we were in town (they assumed we weren’t local?!), taking band cards, even talking about coming to the Seattle gig.

So.. what does that say? Maybe we were just lucky? Maybe the transition from the bubble is not quite as extreme as we’d imagined – more a gradual transition than an on/off switch? Or maybe just that the bulk of people are generally civil and/or dis-interested, and, while there are extreme people around, there’s not that many of them, and you can probably bump into them in SF just as easily as Grants Pass, OR?

Discuss.

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

Fresh Meat - San Francisco

2005-06-21T04:43:22Z

I just want to say how great the show was. I really enjoyed myself and everyone around me, each and every row, the community was really into you.

Billie-Jean

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Santa Cruz, June 4, 2005: Pride starts early…

2005-06-15T21:58:59Z

… in Santa Cruz – a whole three weeks before San Francisco. Which maybe is a device to allow Santa Cruzians to go to both? Anyway, it also means we’re down in Santa Cruz playing the Pink Party – a Pride after-party at the Attic.

The Attic is a really nice space – with the music in a huge loft like room upstairs – with lots of wood and an open airy feel. But that does mean that we have to take the equipment up the world’s smallest/slowest elevator, and that the sound is inherently bright and echoing.

We’re on first, and by the time we’ve set up and helped set up the sound system and sound-checked, everything is running late. But Catie (the promoter) had built in a fair amount of contingency un the running order and juggles the schedule around so that we go on a tad later, and that all the bands get pretty much the same set time.

So… we get to go on around 8;30pm, which has the advantage that it is getting dark outside (it just feels so funny going on while it is still light),and that the Santa Cruz Pride marchers (today is the Dyke March) have made it back and are starting to fill the place. We have about fifty minutes, which means we’re doing all but a few songs, covering all the new stuff and most of the old. And the set goes down really well, with an audience who are clearly there to party – dancing and bopping from the first bars of “I won’t go”. The only negatives is that they stop dancing if we bring the tempo down just a bit (eg for 10000 Days and Kelly) and that the echo/brightness makes lyrics hard to hear. This is particularly noticeable later when the Fruitie Flavors are on, and their stuff is very humorous/witty, but gets a bit lost because the words are largely lost.

Anyway… a good night… but it feels hard to stay awake on the way back up 280 to SF at two in the morning…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

hey all......

2005-06-14T02:58:25Z

I am new to this tribe and thought I would drop in to say hello......

~purr~ to all

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 13 replies

Informant #13

2005-06-13T22:16:17Z

Issue #13 (lucky for some) is hot off the presses - so if you didn't get your latest slab of hot Lipstick Conspiracy news and gossip in your inbox today, you really should sign up - at http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/contact.htm

You can see past issues (and what you've been misisng) at http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/archives.htm.

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Best of the Bay!

2005-06-13T02:33:06Z

It’s that time of the year again…

Last year we were the Bay Area Guardian’s Best of the Bay “Best Girl Band”. This year they don’t have that category, but the closest (which certainly fits) is “Best Indie Pop Band”.

So just go to http://www.bestofthebay.com/vote/, register to vote and then vote for us - and help us retain our "crown"! Voting ends June 14th – which is Tuesday – so you’ll need to get moving.

Thanks. Tori

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 3 replies

Emme & Emme names

2005-06-07T19:24:01Z

How about
Emme-brace-when you want to hug her!
Emme-phasize- when you notice her slenderness.

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 5 replies

Let's do Sara...

2005-06-04T18:37:19Z

Sara-bellum-when she is looking smart
Sara ndipity-accidental discovery of how mod she is even
though you already know it

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

Sleepy?

2005-06-02T23:45:09Z

Not me... but is everyone else dozing off?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 3 replies

Lipstick Conspiracy Photos from SF Sex Worker Festival

2005-06-01T17:27:39Z

http://members.tgforum.com/jamie/Lipstick050508/

love,

Jamie Faye

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 7 replies

San Francisco, May 25, 2005: Home

2005-05-29T15:46:49Z

After a whole day back in the City, we’re back at the El Rio for the Fresh Meat benefit. In an amazingly symmetric coincidence, this is two years to the day (or was it the 26th?) after our very first gig ever which was … at the El Rio. Wow.

And this gig presents an interesting set of challenges… We all seem to be tired and a few of us (no names!) are decidedly cranky. The stage is really small – it hasn’t shrunk but the last two mini-tour gigs were on stages you could really stretch out on. The sound system is fine but definitely less awesome – it is easy to get used to individual monitor mixes. And while we’re due to go on at 10:30, things run late (as almost always happens at benefits) and we don’t get on until 11:30, by which time (on a midweek night) people are heading home.

But…we still turn in a strong tight set, concentrating on the newer material (I Won’t Go, Losing Sleep, Gender Frontier), with slick turnarounds between songs and witty chat to the audience – and we even do an encore (Just a Girl ). So overall… a nice welcome back to our city and community.

O… and Shawna leaves some stuff behind at the gig. Good to see normal service is resumed…!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 3 replies

Travelogue

2005-05-28T20:19:40Z

Thanks for the travel diary y'all! It was one of the more fun and entertaining things I've read on Tribe... ah, makes me wish I had been there... except to deal with the people at the Seattle venue... oh, and for the missing keys part.... ah heck, I could do without the hours and hours of driving too! ^_^

Glad you're all back safe and I'm anxious to see you all again. I almost made the El Rio show last Wed., but I had some last minute work scheduled that week.

Ciao

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

San Francisco May 23, 2005: More WOW!

2005-05-24T07:31:25Z

The Doug Fir in Portland turns out to be a really good venue…

A nice bar/restaurant, with a hotel attached, and a really nice club underneath. And (if anything) they have an even more awesome sound system , and a guy (Justin) who knows how to run it, so for two nights in a row, the sound is really good. We could get used to this!

Despite an initial small and quiet audience, it’s built by the time we get on stage – and we do an almost flawless, super-energetic set, with witty chit-chat. And by "Gilr of my Dreams" and Shawna's wigged out solo, people are grabbing at her / going wild. And then we move equipment, catch Show Me The Pink, and hang out in the green room , swapping CDs and T-shirts – kewl!

So… a slow start today. Tori is agitating about how long it will take to drive back, but the rest of the girls are laid back, and Tori gives in to a late breakfast. But once on the road, it’s sunny and traffic is light, and by 9pm we’re back in the bay Area, unloading, heading off to our respective sweeties, catching up on email. What an incredible few days – and we’re playing El Rio Wednesday!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Portland May 22, 2005: WOW!

2005-05-24T07:19:23Z

After a crap gig in Seattle… a wonderful gig in Eugene!

The W.O.W hall turns out to be a lovely venue (which a whole bunch of kewl bands/people have played in the past – including modest Mouse and Built to Spill and Taj Mahal and Arlo Guthrie). And Stacey and Laura and helpers are really working to get things set up and working – and the catered Thai food is awesome. And Jordan and Kylan really know how to run a very good sound system – where we can really hear everything on stage. And the Eugene queer audience is warm and appreciative. And we really hit it and have a simply great gig – and suddenly Seattle is like “Seattle? Did we play there?”

Afterwards… we move equipment, hang out in the bar, catch JenRO’s set – and then head off for a 80’s costume after-par – but by the time we get there (accompanied by our new Eugene buddies – Caleigh and Mary) it’s over…

The next morning, we have a slow start – with especial difficulty extracting Shawna from the hippy café round the corner – their non-wheat pancakes being a real problem. And then we split up, with Marilyn and Shawna taking the van ahead to Portland, and Tori and Emme doing a Eugene wine tasting trail (with Sara and Ho along for the ride- but quickly getting into the spirit – or vinery?). Bt the time we get to Portland, we’ve bought a few mixed cases of wine between us – and Marilyn and Shawna have become close friends with the Doug Fir bar staff…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Tacoma May 21, 2005: Somewhere over the…

2005-05-21T20:20:22Z

The drive down from Tacoma to Eugene was easy – and slightly wacky.

Firstly it turned out that Tori had left a whole bunch of stuff (books, air bed pump, drum machines) in Tacoma – although fortunately none of it was crucial. This continues Tori’s streak of losing things – whereas so far Shawna has not lost a single thing. What is going on – some kind of tour transference? Our hosts in Tacoma tried to suggest it was because she was so creative – but the band weren’t buying it.

And then as we were passing through Portland, with Shawna and Marilyn in the van, and Tori and the rest in the car, Shawna almost missed I-5 and had to dive across traffic to make the exit, closely followed by Tori. So Tori then thought it would be funny to play a prank, and got on the cell to Shawna moaning about how she’d missed the turn and was heading East on some other freeway – and spent a happy minute or so listening to Shawna and Marilyn making desperate recovery plans – only for Shawna to suddenly whiz up an exit to start tracking back! At that point Tori was screaming “we’re behind you” but it was too late. And then at the top of the ramp they found a Starbucks, so decided they might as well get some coffee! So we ended up at the top of sequential freeway ramps in Portland coordinating coffee orders by cell…

While waiting, Tori and Sara and Emme noticed they were sitting in the parking lot of what appeared to be a Dungeons and Dragons superstore - strange! And then a car limped into the parking lot with its bumper hanging off – closely followed by the truck driver whose truck had bashed it (leaving his truck in the middle of the road blocking traffic), followed by witnesses offering contact details and then the police. Quite a little drama! Amusingly, Sara noticed that the truck driver was wearing a T-shirt saying “Champion Driver” – although she suggested that might be for demolition derby? And the truck had a sticker saying “I am a professional. Safety is my goal. Please call 1-800…” – hands reached for cell phones…

Thereafter, back on the freeway, things calmed down – although it continued with downpours and sunshine in alternating twenty minute periods. Which did mean that as we approached Eugene later on, we saw the most perfect triple rainbow, with a incredibly well defined central span (you could even see the delineation between blue, indigo and violet), and at one point a complete arc. A sign…?!

Once we reached the hotel in Eugene, we turned right round and headed out again (cue much muttering at not having time to do makeup properly etc.) for a meal with some new Eugene friends at a student bar – which was very nice. And then on to Neighbors, Eugene’s (only?) queer bar – which was in a converted McDonalds (although there was no sign of Ronald?). Just another night of dancing (Shawna), networking and flyering (Marilyn), and boozing (pretty much everybody).

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Tacoma May 20, 2005: Soundless in Seattle

2005-05-21T20:18:07Z

Seattle?! Don’t mention Seattle!! Last night was by general agreement (at least within the band) the worst gig any of us have ever had. We should have realized things weren’t entirely wonderful when the promoter hadn’t shown up by show time (or at all!), and when the sound guy clearly thought a sound check was a totally strange idea – and didn’t have any stage monitors. And then there were four bands, all doing 30 minutes or so, with only 15 minutes between for teardown and setup. And we got into a standoff with another band about who was headlining and would get the prime spot at 11pm – we won but in retrospect it wasn’t worth the effort.

Nevertheless, we’re professional musicians, or like to think we are, so by 11pm we’ve scrambled to set up (to the extent that Shawna and Marilyn forget to change into their high stage shoes) and we’re ready to roll. We launch into “I won’t go” – and there’s no vocals – not just on stage (which you’d expect with no stage monitors) but also out in the audience – people in the audience are doing the “no vocals” signal! So the first song goes pretty well – with us all singing - but effectively comes out as an instrumental. Then the vocals seem to come back after the song – and we decide to try “I won’t go” again – with exactly the same result! And so it goes for three or four songs – the sound guy can get us some vocals in between songs – but not while we’re actually playing. And I discover that, at least in some places, we rely on the vocals far more than we’d thought. And then, magically, the sound guy spends 2-3 minutes tweaking stuff, and Emme unplugs a drum channel (probably irrelevant?) and we get vocals for the last four songs. Which actually go quite well considering… Sheesh…

So afterwards… the other bands (especially Anubian Lights – who we really liked) were being really nice about how we played and supportive about the sound issues – but we’re just frazzled and upset… and just want to go home. But we have to hang around until 2am before we load the van and then once that’s done, Tori discovers she’s lost her car keys (!). So… we have to do a sweep of the whole club, with no luck, and then (as a last resort) unload most of the van before finding them on the floor. Phew…

So… a truly awful night… and a truly horrible start to the mini-tour. About the only saving grace is that the whole experience was so dreadful, it passed beyond bad into surreal black comedy. And, whatever happens on the rest of the tour just has to be tons better…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Tacoma May 19, 2005: Priscilla – NOT

2005-05-21T20:16:29Z

Despite a predictable late start leaving San Francisco, a solid twelve hour’s driving sees us in Tacoma – with it raining pretty much all the way – just varying from light drizzle to downpours. Which did mean we saw a perfect rainbow just as we crossed from Portland into Washington state – the first GLBT colors since the Bay Area. A nice change from “Support our Troops” and “God Bless America”.

We’d been speculating before the trip about what it would be like coming up I-5 – about encounters with rednecks etc. We were expecting “Priscilla – Queen of the NorthWest”? But in the event, it was a non-event – about the only encounter of note was Marilyn chatting to a girl in a gas station and handing out a band card. Hardly the stuff of road movies…

We’re staying with Tara’s folks overnight. It’s a lovely house – with welcoming people, and huge picture windows with a panoramic view over the Puget Sound. Hardly low rent rock’n’roll…

So…. today was shopping for a present for Emme (her birthday is the 21st when we’re in Eugene) – and we got her such a cute top, Tori bought one too! Plus a mammoth supermarket run – to stock up for dinner (which didn’t happen) and breakfast tomorrow morning. And then just chilling out, messing around with acoustics, taking it easy before our first gig tonight in Seattle…

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Your fave LC girl and why? POLL

2005-05-19T20:29:33Z

So, let's get serious here:

Who's your favorite lipstick conspiracy girl, and why?

I'll go first....

1) Tori

2) Because I'd spanked if I didn't say that. No, really, who could resist that British accent? And, she plays soccer, and looks fabulous in a corset (though not at the same time--not yet, at least.)

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 17 replies

Well...they're off!

2005-05-19T16:02:15Z

Four of the fabulous five left this morning for Washington State. If you're tracking the girls they'll be in Tacoma by sundown and will be joined by Emme tomorrow. Rumor has it Tori and Sarafina plan to post tour notes and happenings along the way. Wish I was with ya ladies! (This staying behind stuff is tougher than I thought!)

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

Gearing up for the Pacific NorthWest mini-tour

2005-05-18T19:55:16Z

May 19 - Catwalk Club, Seattle, WA
May 20 - TBD
May 32 - OUT/Loud Fetsival, W.O.W, Eugene OR
22 May - TBD

Tell (or shoull we say warn?) your friends...

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 16 replies

Hi, Tori!

2005-05-04T20:56:32Z

Hey, it was wonderful to see you at Tshack last night. I had been drinking pretty steadily since 7:30 p.m. by the time the show started and I decided that I had better drive back to the wilds of the East Bay while I could still stay in one lane on the Bridge. I ended up leaving about 12:30 a.m.

Of course, by the time I got over to the mysterious East, I got my second wind, so I ended up visiting a girlfriend at Egbert Souse's and stayed until the place closed...LOL

Liz

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

new stuff....

2005-04-26T06:20:25Z

The gals are working ... spacy Andromeda and funky Hot Bot Love....

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

50 members...

2005-04-24T21:40:18Z

...and rising...!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

New Photos

2005-04-24T21:39:31Z

Okay, for those of you unfortunates that missed the $pread Magazine release party, I finally got around to posting the pics. Have a look:

http://www.lipstickconspiracy.com/photos_spread.htm

Dig it!

Sarafina M~

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 4 replies

Two whole years...

2005-04-23T16:26:37Z

Lipstick Conspiracy return to the scene of their very first gig for the SF Sex Workers' Film Festival. It's hard to believe that those four songs two years ago could lead to this...!

Also on the bill are Harlem Shake, Tina Butcher, David Sterry, Shawna Virago (yippee!), Tallulah Bankhesit and Beat-Ho. MC is Kitty Kastro.

Check out http://www.bayswan.org/swfest/calendar2005fest.gif fot the full festival schedule.

[Actually, strictly speaking, the very first gig was for the SF Sex Workers' Film Festival, but it was at El Rio - but whatever - you get the drift.]

May, 8 2005 at SF Sex Workers' Film Festival
SoMA Arts, 934 Brannan St (Near 8th), San Francisco, 94101

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 3 replies

STOP PRESS: Marilyn leaves band...!!!

2005-04-19T19:15:19Z

This just in from Marilyn....

"gals, i purged all my girl clothes last night, just tired of all the ups and downs that Marilyn has brought upon life. i will be going tonight with P.... to see Kenny Neal, and plan for her to move back with me soon. obviously i will have to quit the band, but plan to start a new one as a boy. i hope some or all of you will join me.

see you around.

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 2 replies

California Dreamin...

2005-04-19T18:20:11Z

Cue Mama's and Papa's...

But what does one wear when playing at a grand banquet. Time to get out the prom frock?

http://www.california-dreamin.org/

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 12 replies

Competition...

2005-04-06T20:27:29Z

english.chosun.com/w21data/.../news/200503/200503270008.htm?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 7 replies

Some photos I dug up!

2005-03-27T01:26:32Z

Hey all~

I went through a drawer of stuff and found some rolls of film that had been sitting for a couple of years. On one of them had photos I took of LC at Decompression a few years ago!

I'd be happy to scan them and post to this tribe, unless the gals in the band would prefer me sending them directly to them.

Lemme know!

SMSapphire

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 10 replies

$pread magazine gig

2005-03-27T01:25:13Z

Well.. I had fun...!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 1 reply

Butterfly Ball, San Jose - 26 February, 2005

2005-03-25T20:11:16Z

Lipstick Conspiracy returns to the South Bay for a show in San Jose!

Put it in your diaries. Details available shortly.

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 12 replies

Trivia?

2005-03-24T05:08:56Z

What 2nd anniversary was celebrated on Feb 15?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 6 replies

Pac Tour?

2005-03-23T16:57:51Z

It looks like we're doing a mini tour of the Pacific North West in May. Eugene and Seattle are pencilled in and we're looking to add two more in Portland, Vancouver, ... More details to follow.

Who's based there / knows people there?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 7 replies

Meaning of Tribe?

2005-02-20T03:57:26Z

So what do people think the purpose of this band tribe is?

To avoid having to check the web site for shows? To pick up juicy titbits about the band?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 4 replies

LCT

2005-01-07T13:07:41Z

So what happens here in the Lipstick Conspiracy Tribe?
Is it like Clan of the Cavebear with makeup?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 9 replies

Lipstick Conspiracy, Parkside, Tuesday Dec 21

2004-12-14T18:04:33Z

Lipstick Conspiracy plays POPTOPIA at Thee Parkside on Tuesday Dec 21.

Joining the girls on the bill at San Francisco's "coolest, cheapest, most hospitable spot" are The Stacks.

Tuesday, December 21 2004 - Wednesday, December 22 2004
9:00 PM
Thee Parkside
1600 17th Street, at Wisconsin
San Francisco
415.503.0393
http://www.theeparkside.com/

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

Quadrasexual

2004-06-11T04:59:44Z

I know I told Tori on Tuesday night, but I just want to say that LC kicked ass at the Quadrasexual show last Saturday. Did anyone else get a chance to see that show?

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

LC at SF Pride

2004-06-08T01:45:16Z

Speaking of upcoming gigs...

27 June, 2004
San Francisco Pride, San Francisco.
Lipstick Conspiracy will be on the MAIN STAGE! we go on round 5:30pm!

Plus we'll be debuting our new drummer - the wonderful Emme.

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

May 5 - Lipstick Conspiracy at El Rio for Femina Potens

2004-05-03T19:48:33Z

Join Lipstick Conspiracy on May 5th for Genderf**k, More Than Meets The Eye, a benefit show for Femina Potens at the El Rio. The bill includes performances by yours truly, Julia Serano, Charlie Anders, and Arty Fishal. Your hostess is Carol Queen.
The El Rio, 3158 Mission St (@ Cesar Chavez). San Francisco. Doors open at 7:00 and the show starts at 8:00. Sliding scale: $5-20. Get out on a Wednesday night, it's good for you.

Femina Potens is a non-profit arts organization founded in December of 2000, and is dedicated to bringing together women and transgender artists in the Bay Area to perform, create, collaborate, and show their work in San Francisco.

http://www.feminapotens.com/

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies

sfweekly poll - vote now

2004-05-03T02:16:47Z

are you interested in being nominated?

Best Drag Show

www.sfweekly.com/bosf2004/bosf2004/poll

(a dive bar group i was in got the best organized drinking group from the guardian)

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 2 replies

Helping the Sisters ruin it for everyone!

2004-04-06T19:53:28Z

Bring your friends! Catch the Hunky Jesus contest! Rawk out to Lipstick Conspiracy!

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. are "Ruining It for Everyone! "

Easter Sunday, April 11th, 2004
11am –5pm, Dolores Park, San Francisco
FREE To The Entire Community!

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 25th Anniversary Celebration & Kick-off of 25 Weeks of Indulgence

Come out of your shell, pack a lunch and bring your family, tribe, lovers & spirit for a non-stop afternoon of indulgence that proves once and for all, it takes a village to ‘Ruin it for Everyone ’!

Yes, we thought of the children!!

11am - Egg hunt, cup cake walks, face painting, and more

Doggy Costume Contest

11:30am (prizes to be announced)

Easter Bonnet Contest
2pm - 1st Prize - $250

Hunky Jesus Contest
4pm - 1st Prize - $100

Sounds by DJ Licious & DJ Jamez Smith
Performances by:

Lipstick Conspiracy
Oblong, featuring Birdie-Bob Watt & davidmahr
Manley Lennox
St. Ethel Merman & Lucianno Paparazzi
Mr. Leather SF Gary Virginia & Empress Donna Sachet
Polkacide
Emperor TJ and Empress Sheba
Acid Housewife
Empress Cockatielia & Suppositori Spelling
and more...

Community Grants Awards
Saints Roll Call and Beatifications
Worldwide Domination (meet Sisters from near and far)

…And many more pleasant surprises, SO STICK AROUND!

posted in Lipstick Conspiracy - 0 replies