Last night was the first Salon des Refuses at chez Ilsa. I created this blog so that we could all share our experience, post pictures, and in some way preserve the absolute magic that occurred. Please feel free to post your thoughts, ramblings, and revelations.
Program
Ilsa
Prelude (Op. 28, No. 4), Chopin
John (in absentia)
Clerihew for a Chosen Few, John Johnson
Lydia (vocals) and Peter (guitar)
Don't Look Back in Anger, Oasis
Time, Tom Waits
Bridget (with Dave accompanying on guitar)
Brahm's Lullaby (Wiegenlide)
Dave (vocals and guitar)
All My Lovin', The Beatles
Lydia and Peter
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want, The Smiths
Dave, guitar. Vocals, All.
California Stars, Jeff Tweedy and Billy Bragg (lyrics by Woody Guthrie)
Dave and Peter, guitar. Dave, Peter, Lydia and Bridget, Vocals.
Anyone Else But You, Moldy Peaches
I'm a little nervous about trying to recapture the evening in prose since it was so magical and perfect in the moment. I just feel so honored to have such creative and brave friends. Certainly the individual performances were all beautiful (who knew Dave could sing and play guitar? Or that Bridget could stand, leaning against my kitchen counter, and belt out opera like she was on stage at the Met, or that Lydia and Peter were our generation's James Taylor and Carole King?). However, I must admit to feeling the most joyful and transcendent during the spontaneous group performance of California Stars. I woke up with that song in my head and a smile on my face.
Looking forward to the next salon, late June. Start creating!
Here is the clerihew:
A CLERIHEW FOR A CHOSEN FEW
A clerihew is biographical and usually whimsical, showing the subject from an unusual point of view;
It has four lines of irregular length (for comic effect); the third and fourth lines are usually longer than the first two
The rhyme structure is AABB; the subject matter and wording are often humorously contrived in order to achieve a rhyme
The first line consists solely (or almost solely) of the subject's name.
The unbalanced and unpolished poetic meter and line length parody the limerick, and the clerihew form also parodies the eulogy.
============================
The hostess, Ilsa Flanagan
Just refilled your glass again;
But it’s not a gluten-filled corporate brew,
Only organic, indie, and wheat-free for you!
Young David Lawson
Always sez, “Bosox are awesom’”
But, to St. Yaz he’s stopped giving thanks,
For BoSox fans are now the same as those of the Yanks’.
Professor George Wu
Will prevail in negotiations with you;
Unless the topic is milk-fed veal and their kin,
Then he’ll just let you win.
Doctor Penelope S. Visser
Thinks boy co-eds want to kiss her;
Actually, they are flirt-full and at play
In hopes of getting a rare-from-her ‘A’.
Active(ist) Bridget Gavaghan
Gives all that she ever can
And sings her song of profound hope:
Elect Barack! Or I’ll hit you upside the head with my giant goalie stick, you dope!
