25 Feb 16 - We Are Temporary

"...suppose to be a Goth-y artist ...even Goths don't like me..." ~ We Are Temporary

Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide's back!

And tonight's adventure, she had the extreme chance to hang out at Quenchers with the one and only leader of the Children of the Night (you have to be a Villains to understand that song reference) - Mr. Agitator along with the lovely lady Vexx and the dashing Fallon Flynn - unmasked tonight! Oh what villainous fun this reviewer had with them ...getting the exclusive scoop about the upcoming Villains album and more, blogspot readers.

Yet, it wasn't about V Is For Villain tonight ...well, sort of. SouthSide was there to welcome home Northwestern alum, former Digital Mindy member and now We Are Temporary member - Mark Roberts who came to town to perform an impromptu show opening for Axons. In actuality, Mark told this reviewer not to expect much out of this performance except trying his utmost to connect with his audience. Besides reuniting with old college friends, his mom driving in from Indiana attended the show. This performance in SouthSide's opinion was more than memorable ...and suggests it's best seen live to experience the realistic intensity of humanizing deep, dark emotions in which this artist puts into each song. Not only was the audience immersed into the Goth-sounding music but we were also sucked into the atmosphere surrounded by darkness ...neon staging and flash lighting perfectly sequenced to We Are Temporary's set list. It was a unique experience that SouthSide wanted more of especially when Mark tapped into the dark, crazy side at the end to which she is certain everyone has that sometimes screams to be released.

This is how Mark Roberts explained what is We Are Temporary - "...it's sincere ...nonfiction music in such a way I hope people can connect ...[it's] rooted in reality ...what I think are problems in humanity ...everyone has them..."

And if he makes a fool of himself, he simply had two words to say "...fuck them..."

Drawing his influences from a wide variety of genres and artists like Skinny Puppy to Crystal Castles to The Weekend and everything in between within a mixture of Hip Hop and electronica, this Chicago native during an interview with SouthSide described his music as "extenalist artwave" ...according to him "...it's one of those weird words [similar] to 90's music ...like cold wave[but] it's not urban inspired..." What this artist does, blogspot readers, he taps into our deepest ...darkest human emotions about life, love, hurt, and death. What SouthSide felt during We Are Temporary's performance was pain and woe. It was raw and extremely moody that there were certain points within the short set this reviewer had icy chills crawling down her back. as if  he was channeling Edgar Allen Poe. To feel such pain and lost, Mark and SouthSide highly recommends listening the hit single - "Who's Going To Love Me Now?"

Written when briefly separated from his wife, it pits you, blogspot readers, into the intense middle of how it feels to be alone wondering who is going to love you after royally fucking up. You feel so badly that the thought does stick in your mind no one is going to love you. It's the one song, according to Mark, family, friends and fans easily seemed to connect with when he sent them demo copies of the album - Crossing Over  before its recent February 19th release. From their opinions, he changed the mixing on certain songs as well as the track order. For him, it was a learning experience. Hearing this particular song live, SouthSide was able to feel more of the pain and heartache pouring out of Mark's vocals ...truly humanizing that sensation of loneliness and despair wondering who will love you after a huge break up. Yes, blogspot readers, that feeling never goes away until you make amends and sincerely apologize. It was an intense realistic moment as you watch his body expressively convey the lyrics of this song against the lighting sequence.

Oh before SouthSide continues - Chicago deep dish triumphs over New York slice any day with this artist!

So where can you find We Are Temporary, blogspot readers? According to Mark, he will be touring Germany for a month while attending Wave-Gotik-Treffen (happening 13 May thru 16 May) held in Leipzig, Germany to which he feels honoured to be part of the largest Goth festival. SouthSide saw photos from last year's event and has put that event on her long list of festivals to review. Mark also has plans in the works to tour in Brazil in the Fall of 2016 ...where Brazilian DJs who are connecting with his music. Not to worry US fans, We Are Temporary will be hitting the east coast with some dates in between. He told SouthSide would like to tour the Midwest region ...hopefully he can come back to Chicago ..perhaps opening for Digital Mindy and V Is For Villains. 

Sounds like an awesome lineup to SouthSide...

However in the meantime, check Mark of We Are Temporary at http://www.wearetemporary.com and on Facebook as well as https://wearetemporary.bandcamp.com/album/crossing-over-album.

SouthSide highly recommends catching We Are Temporary live, blogspot readers.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

05 Feb 16 - Jai Ho: Loveria

Friday night in Chicago ...and it's for another wild SouthSide adventure around town, blogspot readers! 

This extra special adventure took our local scene queen to the Uptown neighborhood for her first Bollywood experience attending Jai Ho: Loveria at Big Chicks. This one of a kind event sponsored by Trikone Chicgo, an organization supporting the South Asian LBGTQ community featured good friend Nevin Hersch of VoxBox spinning classic and modern Bollywood music and midnight performances by some of the best leading ladies of the stage - Penny Tration, Masla Sapphire and Zafina Hasheeh.

And what a night it was, blogspot readers!

This bar was packed for a long night of music, good company, fun and love ...yep, love was definitely in the air at this place tonight. Everyone looked and dressed fabulous including SouthSide in her favorite sequin top. It was a festive mood ...people crowding the dance side to Big Chicks before and after the spectacular performances by Masla and others until closing. There was even a dating game love match too, blogspot readers!

If you were looking for a party, this event was the place to be.

Here are photos from Jai Ho: Loveria...

SouthSide highly recommends joining her at the next Jai Ho...

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

Perfect Body

What is the "perfect body", blogspot readers?

Is it a size 10 ....size 4 ...or even a size 2 to 0?

Could it be found even in a size 16 or 32 and beyond, blogspot readers?

Not trying to poke fun at anyone's size or weight  ...even SouthSide has been on the non-skinny size since she was a teen. She has been told that she doesn't have the "perfect body" to get boyfriends, to be more popular and friends while in high school. She was told no one would love her due to her size.

What a way to instill confidence at a teenage SouthSide. Yet, it does actually happen to other teenage girls and young adults every day by their own family members and/or parents ...or now - on social media via "body" or "fat" shaming. It takes years to raise above the negativity and learn to love yourself as well as your body again.

Fashion magazines are no help either ...since they view the "perfect body" to be a size 00 to 2 yet it's encouraging to see more models walking the runways in plus size body and to know that Paris, le fashion capital of world requires models to be more than a 00 or 0 size.

SouthSide applauds the realization that we, plus-size women, deserve some representation on the fashion runways too. 

However, it's not enough. What about the younger generation?

Today, young girls, tweens and teens are still being bombarded with stereotypical advertisements of what a "perfect body" is, not only through teen magazines but more than ever through social media - since that's how you can basically reach and connect with them in this new technological millennial age. They need REAL positive role models ...real inspiration that they do have the "perfect body" no matter what size, skin color, hair style, gender, et al they have. 

Real beauty is found and seen everywhere, blogspot readers.

SouthSide highly recommends viewing this powerful ...yet inspirational video, "Perfect Body" by her good friend, Aryk Crowder, that was recently released. The video touches on the negative but with a beautiful message - you are indeed beautiful ....you have the "perfect body" no matter what anyone says.

https://youtu.be/NF__3o1gqtw

Not only does SouthSide encourages you to watch it but also share it with others. Spread the message around ...to your daughters, nieces, grandchildren, etc ...spread the message around that everyone know they have the 'perfect body".

There was a PBS television show in which SouthSide as a young child would watch every day called Mr. Roger's Neighborhood ...and Fred Rogers aka Mr. Rogers would close each episode by saying "You're beautiful by being just the way you are" or something to that effect. 

A powerful message for an adult to say to his television audience of children.

The same message still rings true ... you are indeed beautiful by being the person just as you are, blogspot readers.

SouthSide believes that.

So should you.

You can visit Aryk Crowder and his music on Facebook or http://www.arykcrowder.com.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide