Music, Astrophysics and The Persimmon House

The “Year of the Dragon” is already shaping up to be an exciting one and it has yet to begin. To ring in the new year I’ll be bringing my alter ego Lederhosen Lucil out of the pantry on January 20th for a very special Fundraiser Event in Montreal. In order to raise funds for post-production of “Conversation With The Cosmos,” (produced by Lederhosen Lucil fan and astrophysicist Mallory Roberts), Lucil will be sporting a brand new intergalactic ensemble and playing songs from Krista’s latest release “Between Atoms.” Music, real life mad scientists, never-before seen clips from the upcoming documentary…who could resist? For more info check out the facebook event posted here.

Here’s a little clip for you that we shot in Toulouse, France at The Persimmon House last November! May the lyrics inspire you for 2012 and beyond…

Tags: astrophysicist, fundraiser event, mad scientists, mallory roberts, toulouse france, year of the dragon

Holiday Gifts & A Special January Benefit Show!

This year my sister and I decided to give my parents a seriously awesome gift…we cleaned their entire house (fridge, pantry, bathrooms, vacuuming – the WORKS!) and cooked them a few amazing meals. They loved this present! While I don’t have the cleaning products nor the time to come clean your abode, I still have some amazing gift packages on my online independent “Krista n’ Lucil Shop.” Kara Blake just ordered her holiday dedication to two of her family members…a rendition of the classic Irving Berlin song “White Christmas.” If you order by Dec. 24th at 1:00pm I can have your dedication up on youtube by Christmas day!

In other news Lederhosen Lucil will be coming out of the pantry for a special fundraiser event on January 20th in Montreal. This time she’ll be helping support the documentary film “Conversation With the Cosmos” about the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico. Come enjoy an evening of music, astrophysics, and other intergalactic delights! Suggested donation of $15 at the door but all amounts welcome.

 

 

HOLIDAY GIFT PACKAGES!

Ahhhh…the festivus season is upon us. Despite the rainy, cool temperatures in Montreal the Grizzwolds have already descended upon the city and the lights are adorning many a front lawn. Now if you are like me, a consciencious consumer who is all about supporting independent entrepreneurs, then you’ll most likely be checking out some of the local art fairs in the coming weeks. Puces Pop, Souk A Sat, and Smart Design Mart to name but a few! This year I’ll be at Puces Pop at the Yelp/Head and Hands booth promoting both local businesses and important community youth services. While my records are currently hard to find in stores, I’m offering special online holiday gift packages! This includes music packages, limited edition micromini maps (illustrated by semi-fictional mapmaker Shane Watt), or the very special online music dedication to a friend, family member or future mate!

You choose your gift, pay via paypal and it will be shipped out December 5th so that it arrives in due time at its’ destination! Click here for the HOLIDAY GIFT PACKAGE site!

POST EURO SHAKEDOWN!

As I lie here on the couch nursing a grizzly chest cold it’s hard to believe that just 11 days ago I was with Lederhosen Lucil rocking out in Toulouse at Le Petit London club.

Lederhosen Lucil rocks till her roots show in Toulouse!

And that days before that I was at the lovely Cinema Le Melies in Pau, France performing to a warm crowd after a nice petit café et biscuit.

Krista in the café performing songs from her latest record "Between Atoms"

The 2011 European tour was bitter sweet adventure in many ways. I shared the stage with wonderful and talented people including Alex of “Led To Sea” (watching her live is mesmerizing and totally corporeal) and Jos aka G.W. Sok (founder and former singer of the legendary band “The Ex”) who now fronts the sonically raw Toulouse-based “Cannibales et Vahinés.” Lederhosen Lucil even sang a few DEVO covers with garage punk duo “Les Balladurians.” And so many belle rencontres here, there, everywhere! Timson at the Live Music Café sneaking me tea (no hot beverages after 9pm! what?), Murad en route from Brussels to Paris helping me with my gear, Katy cooking the most delicious fish stew and her grandmother’s special chocolate cake in Montesquiou, and Cyril of What A Mess! Records who housed and fed me for many a night! And in Chartres I stayed at the LAB art collective run by Misun Park et Frederic Daty.

But alongside the positive experiences of reconnecting with friends and fans, exploring beautiful places and drinking in amazing architecture, I felt the sadness, anger and frustration of the local people I encountered in Greece and Spain. There was a dark, heavy cloud hanging above – almost tangible. But I do believe that in these trying times art and music can snap us out of a trance, lift us up and connect us in profound ways. And I felt honored to have been able to perform my music for such a variety of audiences in both the bustling metropolis’ and truly rural places.

I had the chance to play with a Greek band on the island of Syros and on that same island penned the words to a song that will be released on my next album.

The view from Iasonas' window in Ermoupoli

“And the arms outstretching to reach you, they are longer than you may know.

They extend beyond this illusion…

Divisions will melt with the snow.”

from the song “The Idea of Home”, written in Ermoupoli, Syros, October 2011

KRISTA’S EURO TOUR! From clubs in Athens to a sweet shop on the island of Syros!

16 days on the road thus far and I’ve already played seven shows in France, Spain, Greece, worked in a sweet shop on the island of Syros, sat in on a jam session with a Greek band and eaten many delicious things! I’m getting ready for the journey from Ermoupoli to Athens as tonight I’m playing my last gig in Greece at a chouette place in the city center called Aperitif.

We begin back in Toulouse at the Persimmon House. Here is where it gets it’s name…

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POST POP – EURO TOUR AHOY!

I had an amazing time at Pop Montreal last weekend. Got to check out some great bands – Dominique Young Unique, Moonface, Les Canailles – as well as attend the Pop Symposium. The Music Supervisor panel created by Jon Bartlett featured three very different but equally inspiring music supervisors who were on hand to talk about their work placing music for film/tv. I had the pleasure of talking to Michael Hill after the panel and he told me of his work with Musicians On Call. Basically music therapists are teamed up with musicians who go from room to room performing for patients in the hospitals – the healing power of music is indeed great and I’m hoping to pursue this work in the future!

Thanks to all of you who came out to see us perform at the Ukrainian Federation Hall. Here we are hanging backstage avant le spectacle…

Now I’m busy prepping as I fly to Toulouse via London tonight! Trying to see how I can possibly fit costumes, instruments, clothes and presents into one suitcase under 25kilo…The art of extreme tetris begins…You can check out the updated tour schedule on the shows page. I’ll be performing in Toulouse – Barcelona – Athens – Paris – Brussels – Pau – Bayonne – Engomer – Bordeaux. Hope to see some of you there! And for the time being you can enjoy this amazing remix of “Between Atoms” by Pierre Crube de Numero.

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY POP MONTREAL!

You know what is crazy? I just got off a micro tour and I don’t have a single photo to share. This is what happens when you are completely wrapped up in the shows and have no pizzarazzi to speak of. I promise the upcoming PopMontreal showcase this Saturday will be photographed, videographed – even cellographed! (?) And I will post the images and video right here on this blog. Saturday’s show will be stellar as I’ll be performing with Lederhosen Lucil veterans Shane Watt (bass, vox) and Spencer Warren (drums) + special surprise guests. There will be costumes, lights, cameras, and definitely ACTION! Oh, and music of course…

It’s strange to think that a decade ago my alter ego Lederhosen Lucil performed at the first ever PopMontreal festival at the now defunct “Le Swimming” club. I still sometimes wonder where the entire roll of brand new black & silver Lederhosen Lucil stickers went (someone stole em’ from the curb as we were loading into a cab after the show!). It has since grown to epic proportions inspired, no doubt, by Austin’s SXSW as Pop now boasts Artpop, Filmpop, Symposiumpop, free BBQs and so much more. You can read about some of the highlights here: Hour Community & visit the official website here: POP MONTREAL.

Saturday, September 24th – Ukrainian Federation Hall – Doors 19h30 / Krista Muir at 20h (sharp! if you come late you will miss our part of the show…) / 21h Les Canailles / 22h Marie-Jo Therio -  Tickets $20/24 or with Pop wristband

After the show many of us will be heading over to Cinema L’Amour to see and hear special guest Gary Lucas speak about his life and times with the legendary artist Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) -  00h00 $12/15 or with Pop wristband

Southern Souls & The Troubadour

Fall is upon us and there are so many good things in the works…First of all two new live videos are now up on the Southern Souls website! Click here to see both: Krista Muir on SS. We are also still awaiting news on whether or not Kara Blake will be directing a video for “Moderato” this fall. Fingers crossed! And speaking of the song “Moderato,” it was actually inspired by a map Shane Watt inked and that I embroidered on muslin. This map is featured in the book “Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery” by Leanne Prain. Check out her site and see if the traveling book launch is coming to your town…sadly it’s not hitting Montreal but oh, I wish it was!

KRISTA MUIR – Dante Park from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

In other news, Shane Watt and I are polishing our boots and shaking out some of our vintage ensembles for upcoming performances in Kingston, Brampton and Toronto with a grand finale at the Pop Montreal Festival before I pack up my magic bag and head off to Europe for a month of touring and artistic residency’ing. Check out the “TOUR” link for all the details! I hope our paths cross here or on the flipside…

Hurricanes & Southern Souls

IRENE! Even though we were greatly disappointed not to have been able to road trip down to Brooklyn to play The West Café last weekend for the Conversation With The Cosmos benefit concert, we were lucky enough to soak up the sunshine in Montreal Friday and ended up doing an impromptu Tour de l’Isle – something I’ve been meaning to do ever since I got a proper bike fit for hills, dales, bridges and everything in between. 6 hours of cycling – criss-crossing from Montreal to Laval and back…from Pointe Claire village to Lachine to Greenspot for the poutine finale. It was WUNDERBAR! Biking is one of my favorite things in the world! If you’re in Montreal this weekend (Sep 1-3rd) check out the Bicycle Film Festival.

The Conversation With the Cosmos show will be rescheduled for this fall and will either take place in NYC or Montreal – details to come!

Last week Mitch Fillion from Southern Souls came through town and we met up with him to shoot a few songs at the sweet little vegetarian café “Lumiere de Mile End.” The videos will be up on September 8th…

Southern Souls Shoot August 2011

Brooklyn Show August 27th!

Krista will be performing in Brooklyn on Saturday, August 27th at West Café. You’ll have the unique opportunity to see Krista & Shane perform songs from her latest release “Between Atoms” as well as see clips from upcoming documentary “Conversation With The Cosmos” by Films Kookaburra. Visit the facebook event HERE.

Krista has also recently participated in the “Les Enfants de La Bolduc” project (August-Sep 2011). She learned some of the famous Gaspesienne singer Mary Travers’ (aka “La Bolduc”) songs including “Les Filles de Campagne” which she recorded with Montreal excentrics “Les Abdigradationnistes” and which will appear on a compilation in September 2011. Check out the preview for the web-documentary part of the project here: