Blog 13: Hanging With Post-Punks and Industrialists

 

I went to see local musician and veteran of the Wax Trax days Chris Connelly at The Museum of Post-Punk and Industrial Music on Saturday and had a very special time.  Unfortunately, though, my mood was a bit flaky after a restless night of sleep: I was not at my finest during the show, rather confused and disoriented.  I did enjoy asking Chris about, for example, how one of my favorite videos was shot of his masterful song "Stowaway".  Except, I had this tendency to speak out without more formally raising my hand when I had a question and I think that bothered Chris, probably because I was totally excited and involved with the whole event, which was amazing ... what with Chris and Martin Atkins telling these fascinating stories about their experiences cutting ground-breaking music here in Chicago and their tour memories.

But during the show, I was pleasantly taken aback by a close acquaintance I made at the Wax Trax Kooler Than Jesus re-release party at Liar's Club a month or two past, as she announced how much she enjoyed my novel Zelda Rising and recommended it to everyone, then raised a copy of the book I had signed for Chris to the assembled group of attendees, who were not only onsite but tuning in on Zoom from afar.  I was very grateful, because I wouldn't have had the nerve to do it myself, especially considering my dank mood.  As I mentioned here before, I've been slightly disappointed that few people have been telling me how they feel about the book, so, this made up for it.  Or, as this gentleman observed back in the day: 

 

But my interactions with Chris were a bit strange after the event.  I actually tried to horn in on a photo opportunity that my acquaintance wanted with both Martin and Chris and was told in no uncertain terms to butt out, and rightfully so.  Then, I somehow got the idea that Chris could autograph a DVD of Martin's travel in China back in the day, and he said "I didn't do this", well, right, again it was that flaky mood ... by the way, Martin did autograph it.  Later, I asked Chris about how I had heard that he was a part owner and he told me no, thought that was what Wikipedia had published: I later found out that the W reference had to do with Chris working as a manager in one of the stores.

I also strangely missed out on an after-event "hang out" that I had signed up for, mainly because I didn't hear anyone remind me of it and thought it had already happened.  People were wondering why I didn't show up, again, my mood was off.  And finally, I had actually thought some German lederhosen on display had belonged to the actual Eva Braun, Hitler's main squeeze, when actually it was a costume for a satirical anti-fascist piece put on by Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle fame: should have known that, as a video of Genesis silently doing his shtick was playing right above the lederhosen.  I'm sure it was very amusing, though I still think he should have dressed in a traditional Bavarian women's outfit that I describe in my short story, By the Book. 

  Eva had a different look to her: like the native dress of the mountain girls of the south country: a low-cut blouse with a frilly collar and puffed-out sleeves, a swirling full-red skirt and an apron and bodice of black cloth with strands of embroidered red roses.

  Now, don't get me wrong, none of my mood swings had anything to do with how much I love this place.  So much so, that I have become a founder member, meaning that I will be attending more events in the coming months.  Stay tuned.  I do hope both Martin and Chris enjoy my novel.  Wax Trax certainly plays a huge role in it and I will probably have more to say about my experiences immersing myself in its music in the months ahead. 

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Along with the Zelda Rising news out of this museum, I am heading to Trinidad Colorado this week, where I will do open mics there to contribute to their growing arts community.  As usual, things have suddenly picked up in Chicago over my writing and I am tempted to call the whole trip off in light of this.  But already planned it for my birthday month, sigh, this always happens to me. 

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I had cancelled a trip to Milwaukee to see the Cubs so I could attend the Chris Connelly event.  A good move, it turned out, as the Cubs have been such a shambles of late that one of the starting pitchers actually laid into the dugout, yelling at them to "Wake Up".  Didn't work the next day.  

The Hiroshima Toyo Carp are in first place in the Central Division of the professional Japanese league. 
The Trinidad Triggers are in third place of the Pecos League.  I will be going to see the Triggers lots during my stay in the town.  Yeah, my baseball bum fake "routine" again.