Sonic Shocks
Issue 13/2013
by Sophia Disgrace Burlesque! Welcome to your one stop drop for all the news on the best burlesque nights, in the capital and beyond! My name is Sophia Disgrace and I’ve performed at numerous events in the U.K and abroad, from festivals to the most exclusive clubs. I tend perform in a neo burlesque style and o en incorparate other elements, such as fire play, into my routines. Burlesque - or ‘the art of tease’ as it’s also known, first rose to prominence in the 1950’s; in recent years it’s enjoyed something of a revival, with stars such as Dita Von Teese helping to popularise the scene once again.
THE HAIRSPRAY CORNER
This months velvet curtain reveals...
Burlesque Spotlight!
BETHNAL GREEN WORKING MEN’S CLUB Like seedy? Adore retro? Well whatdyaknow me too! So, with that in mind, if you’re London bound and looking for a unique venue to spend your hard earned wonga etc etc, you could do a lot worse than BGWMC!
London as ever is at the fore front of this movement, which is both alluring and inspiring for men and women alike.
Da’Club has been up and running since 1953 and hosts a wide selection of nights to suit even the most varied of tastes. From The Double R Club, which homages David Lynchian surrealism avec some suitably dark and twisted burlesque, to the B-movie Sunday Film Club, there’s more than enough goin’ down to justify putting in an appearance or two sometime very soon!
Here are my pick of all things burlesque this month...
Oh, and they’ve just been voted Top Cabaret Venue of 2013… So there.
DUCKIE
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern - London Weekly, every Saturday 9pm - 1.00am The Royal Vauxhall Tavern knows how to put on a good ol’ queer friendly knees up and Duckie eptomises this ethos to perfection. Everyone and your granny is welcome to come on down and enjoy a wealth of fine entertainment. From drag queens to cabaret, burlesque and the odd DJ spinning the good stuff, I defy you to leave without a smile on your face and a spring in your step! Tickets £6.00 on the door
THE IVY PAIGE BURLESQUE SHOW
MUMU Experience - Maidstone, Kent Saturday 30th March A night of decadent splendour is guaranteed! Expect The Folly Mixtures, Grock the Magician, Madame MUMU and more… MUMU defines itself as 'A unique London style venue based in Kent'. Part supper club fine dining experience, part cabaret - with more than a sprinkle of burlesque, come on down and see what all the fuss is about - you won’t be disappointed! Hell there’s even a cocktail lounge and specialist wine bar, with all that AND an array of handpicked performers; what more could you possibly want? For bookings/further information please call 01622 669800
BURLESQUE WITH GYPSY CHARMS! FTH - Falkirk Thursday 4th April From 7pm
Get that booty a-grinding! Twizzle yer tassles! Back by popular demand, learn a 'lil burlesque with Miss Gypsy Charms! Remember guys and gals, it’s never too late to learn the art of the tease! For booking information please call 01324 506850
Page 13
The well known lead singer of White Lion, Mike Tramp has relentlessly been releasing fine hard rock records over the past 30 years; in between White Lion I and II, Mike kept busy with Freak of Nature and his solo work, and more recently released two albums as ‘Mike Tramp & The Rock’n’Roll Circuz’. Claudio managed to have a chat with the man himself about the good old days and his more recent ventures, here it is…
by Claudio Pucci
Hi Mike, great talking to you! So what have you been up to lately? I’ve been writing and playing the music I love and want. White Lion, with their songs and videos, have been part of the history of the genre. How do you remember those days? A real dream come true for a kid who was born Copenhagen-Denmark, I got to live a rock'n'roll life and still is to the day I die. Music is my life! Are you still in touch with Vito Bratta? No I am not in touch with Vito. Over the past 25 years we have spoken very little. Vito Bratta was a great and amazing guitar player and it's very sad he has chosen to stay at home and not let his fans hear new music from him. After White Lion you went on to form Freak of Nature; can you tell us more about that period? What was the hardest part of being a rockstar in the 80s? The world of music was changing and so was I. There was There was nothing hard, I came from a life of nothing and no way that I could write another Broken Heart in 1992. got to work with music, live from music and get paid from With Freak of nature I fell back in love with rock'n'roll music, it was fantastic! and the great feeling of being in a band. It was a short time with Freak of nature, but the best in my life. How do you remember Los Angeles and New York in that period? About your solo career, do you have anything new on Vito and I wrote the songs inside our own world, we did not the way? get affected by the outside. The years we lived in New York I have made 7 solo albums, two live albums, one White - 83-87 - we were just like any other guy on the street, we Lion MKII album and now about to release my latest solo never lived like rock stars, it just wasn't who we were. And album "Cobblestone Street" April 8th. It’s an a acoustic when I moved to Los Angeles in '87 that didn't really change, album, it's what I call ‘back to my roots’ and it is what I I was never a big part of the LA scene. will continue doing. Live I play a lot of old White Lion and Freak of Nature, but it's all my own style of playing I’m a big fan of your live shows, where do you find so these classic songs for the fans and new fans. much energy? I was always under the impression that when you are on With the many reunions going on, do you see any stage, you entertain in as many ways as you can. That was chance for White Lion? also how rock'n'roll looked in the 80s. Now I stand with an It will never happen. acoustic guitar on stage and sing the songs from my heart and soul. What do you think about 80s movies like Rockstar, The Wrestler and more recently Rock of Ages? How do you like to spend your time when you’re not on I don't think the Wrestler has anything to do with the two the road? other movies. I love The Wrestler, but I don't like movies I try to spend as much time out in nature as possible and about rock'n'roll unless it is a real documentary. away from music. Can we expect a UK/European tour after the release? Any new band that caught your attention recently? April and forward check out www.miketramp.com I am sorry to say that I don't listen to any new music or buy it. I am totally stuck in the 60's and 70's classic rock. What’s your favorite song you’ve ever written? When the children cry What do you think about internet and social networking, are they a blessing or a curse for the music industry? Do you have a final message for your fans? It's like heaven or Hell, it's good and it's bad. I like the old I am grateful to all those who have grown with me and world better, but there is nothing I can do about the change still stand by me after all those years, I am not Mike so I use it where I can, but my art comes from my soul not Tramp from the Wait video anymore… technology. Where can you be contacted and where can we What music do you listen to when you’re on your own? find your stuff? Any great album from the past, it all depends of what time of www.miketramp.com the day or what kind of mood I am. I can go from Pavarotti http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Trampto AC/DC. Official You played with many great musicians, which musician or Famous last words! band impressed you the most? Keep on rocking in the free world! AC/DC