Stage Dive with Velvet Deluxxx

Being on stage is my favorite place to be , nothing is more freeing. But the other place I like to be is in the crowd of an electric performance. Sweaty, screaming cheering seeing someone put on a real fucking show - whats not to love? This month I’m gonna be interviewing my dear friend Cheyenne Harvey who is no stranger to a crowd. When she’s not projecting films at all your favorite art house theatres you can find her swimming at the Y or just crushing karaoke at a local bar. So Rag Hags, let's welcome Cheyenne!

VD: When was your first performance and what was it? How did it make you feel?

CH :I was just a lil 8 y/o when I started doing synchro. When my mom took me and my brother and sister to the beach I would swim underwater and she would lose me and freak out so she put me in synchro so I could learn how to not drown. I remember so vividly my first competition; we were probably at a Y in some suburban town in mass. It was me and all these other little girls in our bathing suits being shuffled around on a pool deck - into the pool and out again, over and over. It was chaos. We were all shivering and excited and nervous, the locker rooms were bedlam: sequence suits, makeup, gelatin (for our hair) and hot water heaters to concoct it, bobby pins, wet hair on every surface; it was gross. But the swimming was SO MUCH FUN. I think we swam that day to music from Joseph and the technicolor dream coat - I didn't know nothin bout Jesus so I was like haha oookaayyy, whatever just let me swim and I'll be happy. And I was - ecstatic.

VD:When I found out you did synchronized swimming I lost my mind because I didn’t think you could get any cooler. How did you get into it?

CH:Haahahahaha, you are so sweet hahaha!! Yeah my mom found out that she could sign me up for a rec synchro team that met at the pool at the highschool in Cambridge, where I grew up. She has always loved swimming as much as she could tell I did, so I think she felt like if I learned she would get a lot of joy out of watching me, and she did! We still swim together, she doesn't do synchro but she floats better than I do - she's got her own laws of physics when it comes to water.

VD:Who gets to pick the music you all perform to?

CH:It seemed like on the other teams we competed against the coaches or parents were choosing the music - it was always like swan lake or like the nutcracker or something like that. But on my team the swimmers largely chose the music that we would swim or it seemed much more collaborative because we swam to the most fun music often. I competed on the Cambridge Synchro team from 8 y/o till 18 and each year I would do a team routine, maybe a duet or a trio routine (or both) and also a solo (lol solo synchro yeaaa hahaha). So I swam to SO MANY different cuts of music. The routines were all like 3-5 minutes long I would say and tended to have 3 different songs cut together in one routine. To name a few of the movies/themes: Drumline, Kill Bill, Baseball/music from A League of Their Own, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (I swam in a blue velour bathing suit for that one), Finding Nemo, the 2001 Spiderman movie, No Doubt, Queen, Horror movie soundtracks - Suspiria/Nightmare/and other music, some songs I still dont quite know what movie they were from -- but I loved that routine music so much :>

VD: You once told me you did a routine to the theme song from Nightmare on Elm Street , can you please tell me more about that?

CH:Absolutely! So, for a couple of years there was a girl on my team named Eleanor and she mostly hung out with another girl but her and I were both the more flexible people on our team so it seemed like maybe we would be good together for a duet, and then she told me she wanted to swim to horror movie soundtracks and I was like YESSS!!! So either she cut the music or our coach did, but either way it came together quick and is still one of my favorite sets of routine music. I thought that I was into horror as a kid, but I realized after doing that routine that there were so many movies I had not yet seen. Now I even feel like I am catching up -- I'll never forget watching the original Suspiria in like 2021 at the Brattle and the moment I heard the opening theme music I was like I KNOW THISSS OHHH MY GOD I SWAM TO THIS!! I hadn't realized that was what the music was from until that moment. And this was after I had literally worked the event at Coolidge in 2019 where Maurizio Guarini performed in movie house 2, I had no idea the connection!

VD: Do you have a favorite performance that stands out in your mind , and why is it special?

CH: I remember doing a Rolling Stone solo when I was maybe 12 or 13 and at competitions it was awesome for the dads hahaha! This was a time before iphones, but after palm pilots and stuff, so the few dads who were in the stands were losing their minds out of boredom (either falling asleep or playing snake on their phones or whatever) and then I walked out to the edge of the deep end and my music began I think with Get Off Of My Cloud and they all woke out of their trances and were like pumped for the routine. It was the closest I think I will ever get in my life to feeling like I'm a pro major league athlete cuz they were like YEEAA thiss rooocks!!

VD: What is a song you are dying to do a routine to?

CH:Hide and Seek by Imogene Heap is the first that comes to mind

VD: If you had to do a routine to a whole movie soundtrack what would it be?

CH:Most recent movies would either be Challengers or Anora ---> Challengers could be tennis themed and would need to be a trio, naturally, and the Anora routine would need to have quotes from the movie cut into the music -- like Diamond saying "Get the fuck out of my private BITCH!" and Ani saying "Fuck ya Boss!"

VD:. Besides synchronized swimming have you done any other types of performance?

CH: Yes! I do love performing, but it's kind of funny; I don't think about how much I love it really at all, I just jump at the opportunity when it comes up. I do karaoke all the time and I did theater in grade school and highschool and college, oh and after college in Boston! I've been thinking a lot lately about this Dada-ist play called the Gas Heart that I acted in which my friend Joe directed in college. The whole things was that it was a movement in reaction to WWI where everything was torn apart and nothing made sense so these artists were like we will make art reflective of that. I played EAR and at one point my line was just "hey" 13 times to no one in particular. It was awesome. It reminds me of experiencing being in the US right now where everything is just strange and bizzare.

VD: Do you have any words of encouragement for our Rag Magazine readers?

CH : Hell ya! Keep reading Rag Mag you goons!!!!

Hilken Mancini is a performer extraordinaire. Whether its rocking with one of her million bands, leading a punk rock aerobics class or giving a motivational speech she’s getting the crowd moving. She’s performed on stages all over the world big and small, from basements to fenway park. She’s shared the stage with the likes of Cherie Currie , J Mascis and countless other legends. She's a rock n roll big sis to many so that's why we’re chatting with her today!

Photo Credit: All photos submitted by artist, photographer unknown. Let us know who you are and we will update and credit.

1. When was your first performance and what was it? How did it make you feel?

I was probably 6 or 8 years old or something like that. I’m not sure but I used to dance around the house my mom said and make her put me in tights and a leotard and tiny pigtails. I probably did a dance recital maybe and probably liked being a show off since that's what I did around the house all the time…making up songs and dancing and cracking up my mom and her sister.

2. Do you think your dance background influenced how you perform while playing music?

Oh definitely. When I play drums I feel like I am dancing. When I write songs I feel like I am escaping reality and that's what that was all about…immersing yerself in music to feel free.

3. Do you ever get stage fright ? And if so , do you have any pre-show rituals?

Depending on the venue and the audience size….I usually get nervous for big shows. I don’t wanna fuck up. I don't have a ritual, but I do think if I drink a beer I have a better time up there and am less nervous. Lighten up a little bit. Also I just turn up really loud or hit really hard and deliver the rock - and then I feel better

4. How do you feel performing ?

I really like it. I like recording more honestly, but it's good to try and do your songs live. It's kind of like sex. Sometimes it's awesome and it's perfect and you get everything across that you wanted to and all your gear and pedals work right and you feel great, and other times you just kinda try and nothing works-, you break a string, your amp blows up - and you feel awkward but you know you did yer best and that's all that matters - ha ha ha…

5. Do you have any favorite shows or performances that stick out in your mind?

hmmmmm…Maybe when I was in Fuzzy in the 90’s in the UK when we were playing the Garage. We said we were gonna cover an Australian song and a man started running from the back of the room up to the stage all angry and screaming and freaking out and I dumped my beer on his head.

I also used to chew a lot of gum on stage in the 90’s. I felt like it gave me more attitude, which is important, especially touring in the south in the US, being girls in miniskirts and playing Marshall 50 and 100 watt amps…but it’s all kind of a blur back then - a lot of beer drinking. I remember fun things outside of playing shows, like visiting Graceland with Redd Kross and The Lemonheads when we toured with them. We got kicked out for jumping on a bed.

6. So, we’ve all been here. What do you do if you’re performing to a tiny audience?

I love that. You can chat it up - talk to people and make them buy you a beer or a whiskey. I don't really drink that much but this interview is turning into me talking about drinking a lot (and sex HA Ha HA) but I guess that's rocknroll!

7. Have you ever stage dived?

No, sadly … but Macbain has- many, many times in the Monsieurs. Honestly in that band I expended the most energy just trying to make sure he wouldn't break his neck and die. It was stressful.

8. Do you have any words of encouragement for our Rag Magazine readers?

You know that lyric in Roadrunner where Jonathan Richman sings “I'm in love with rock and roll and I'll be out all night” …It’s like that until yer about 50yrs old, and then you sing along and change the ending part from “...and I'll be out all night” to “...and it ruined my life”. It still rhymes and works just as well.

OK Byyyyyyyeeeeeee! Thanxxx for asking me!

Whats up stage divers! Hope everyone is surviving and thriving as best they can out there. This week I’m interviewing a dear friend of mine - Ken Baby. Is he a wizard ? A grinch ? A wearer of tiny and tinier shirts ? Yes , to all of those questions! Having had both the pleasure of working with Ken Baby and sharing a stage with him I can say their energy and silliness is contagious. The world is a dark place so its always good when you can watch someone perform and be wrapped up in silliness and joy - we all need that! Anywho , you can see Ken Baby boppin around stages and bars throughout New England , so get those dollar bills ready and go support your local drag performers!! - Velvet Deluxx

When was the first time you ever performed, and what did you do?
The first time I performed in drag was back in 2020 on a Zoom drag show. I danced to Kim Petras’ “I Don’t Want It At All”—stripped off some layers, danced around, and just tried to truly serve. Not sure how well I did. I think, in terms of ever ever, I’ve always sort of been performing. As a trans person, I played a mildly convincing woman my whole life, so truly, in some essence, my whole life has been a mildly entertaining performance.

What made you move toward drag as a form of expression?
When I came out as trans, I wanted to work through some of the dysphoria I was feeling in a positive, healthier way. Being around other LGBTQ+ folks was something I needed as well. I’ve always been interested in drag ever since I saw RuPaul’s Drag Race, but I actually didn’t know what a drag king was until I was in Montreal in late 2019. My 2020 New Year’s resolution was actually to become a drag king.

When you’re creating an act, what influences or inspires you? Or is it more like a lightning-strikes type of thing?
I’m very random in my creative process. Usually, I just sort of perform songs that I like or do something I think is going to be very funny. I’m very inspired by the absurdity of drag, and I really try to bring an element of that to every performance I do as Ken Baby. The world can be so lame, so I try to just bring fun, energetic nonsense with me every time I’m up there. When it comes to picking a keytar song, the stars have to align—it has to be a song I really like and one that has just enough space for me to rip it.

Have you ever had a wardrobe malfunction on stage? And if so, how did you handle it?
I’ve had tearaways tear too early and things like that, and for the most part, I just kind of go with it—rip off the band-aid and keep on going. The audience doesn’t know when exactly I’m gonna tear away my pants, and they don’t need to. Gaslight the audience.

You have a film background—do you prefer performing live or in front of the camera?
I really enjoy both. I think because of the film background, I slightly prefer that more, just because I have more control over the angles, the takes, and such. I like the element of control, as well as the wider range of possibilities you have when filming something compared to doing it live.

What’s your favorite thing about performing?
My favorite thing about performing is getting to have fun and share that joy with a crowd. I love going all out and knowing the audience is enjoying watching me be a fool just as much as I enjoy being one.

Have you ever stage-dived?
I have not, because I don’t want to hurt any member of the audience with my muscular BODy, specifically my epic biceps.

Is there anything you want to tell our readers?

Go support your local shows and support your local entertainers. They are some of the hardest-working folks, and they deserve your attention and your dollar bills. Cheers

If you go to shows in Boston , I’d be SHOCKED if you never ended up at a KLYAM show. You probably have and didn’t even know it! For the past 15 years Chris and Glenn have been breathing new life and enthusiasm into the underground. From booking countless shows , releasing a series of tapes ( whats up KLYAM records ) DJ nights , outdoor shows , music symposiums you name it they’ve been doing it or thinking about it. And when they’re not putting on a party they’re showing up and supporting local music acts like nobodys business. AND when they’re not doing that they’re wreaking total havoc in Johnny and the Foodmasters who will now be celebrating ten years of being a band for better or for worse ha. So , enough of this intro lets get chatting with Chris and G.Gordon Gritty! - Velvet Deluxxx

1)When was the first time you remember performing and how did it make you feel?

Chris - Yes yes, thanks so much Velvet! Tis honor. The first time I performed was with Johnnie and the Foodmasters at Club Bohemia (basement of Cantab Lounge) on Saturday, October 3rd 2015. It was fun! I wore my usual sunglasses and couldn't see the audience too well. Perhaps that helped with the transition from spectator to performer? Who knows?! I felt good about it and I think the rest of the band did too, but I'm not sure if the audience was on the same page!

G.Gordon Gritty - First- thanks so much for the Q's, Velvet ! This is awesome! Curious to read all of Chris answers as I imagine there may be some similarities: we've been doing KLYAM for 15 years and Foodmasters almost 10. I performed casually years before anything on stage - in various settings of life. Shoutout to neurodiversity! Then I used to perform covers and karaokes on YouTube and sometimes in real life. This was all super weird (though it didn't seem that way to me... hmm) and probably what most might call a joke or really bad but that set me up for the actual stage which was solo at PA's Lounge in April 2012.

2) Was there any performer / band you saw that made you be like I WANNA BE ON STAGE!

Chris - I wanted to be on stage for most of my life. Much like Gritty though, I didn't think it was meant for me, so I never pursued it until much later. Black Lips, The Barbaras (wild band from Memphis in the 2000s. You Tube them!), and my best friend/co-conspirator himself, G. Gordon Gritty were inspirations for me to get up on stage! They all looked like they were having fun amidst a world of chaos in a way that I don't see often. Even with bands I like, it usually feels like there's fine china around them that can't be destroyed. I'll also single out Andy Macbain (The Monsieurs/Tunnel of Love/Andy California) as being the biggest influence for me as a performer. I saw Andy and was blown away. Like this guy gets it! A lot of the aesthetics that I already enjoyed I saw in Andy and I studied his performances to see what he did and what I could learn. I don't know if I learned anything or not, but I've never been a big fan of studying haha. Conversely, I get inspired more by what not to do. Before I started performing, when I saw shows I didn't like it infuriated me. Nothing personal against anyone. I just love music like fine wine. So seeing something I didn't like felt like I found a turd in my wine. I've subsequently matured a little bit. What's one person's shit could be another person's rare 45 or something like that. I kind of forgot what point I was trying to make, but part of me gets inspired more by things I don't like.

G.Gordon Gritty -Hmm it's hard to say just one. For so long as a teen and young adult it felt like performing or being a band was a distant concept, reserved only for people who really *knew* what they were doing. Learning about and seeing underground music, particular local punk and experimental or noisy artists changed that - albeit gradually 'cause it still seemed like a lot of were on another level. I had a lot of haters online because I was so public with my amateur hour. But some of my fave musicians were pretty encouraging which was cool. The self imposed or imposter barriers came down at some point.

3) Do you guys ever get stage fright?

Chris -No! I don't say that to sound cool or like a hot shot. I've had boat loads of anxiety in my life, but I feel at ease with a microphone (or a tambourine for that matter) and roaming around a room or whatever. I honestly forget that's a thing. Stage fright. I think for Gritty and me (though I don't want to speak for Gritty) we spent our lives afraid of the stage - whether that be an actual stage or other aspects of life - to be poetic for a sec! - once we've arrived, it's like we're here! This is our stage, this is our personal playground.You can join us and have fun or get out of the way. And sometimes they do. Sometimes they leave in droves! More recently some people have been into our wacky band though! But, I think with stage fright, people are afraid of rejection. We were rejected from day one. So, we set the bar low haha. To be honest, our beginnings were rough. Especially for Gritty as a solo artist and posting lots of content online. We've been assaulted on stage, threatened with violence at and before shows, gotten hate messages, booed, heckled, had sets cut off, you name it! First Foodmasters show (I believe the first song in!) at the Lower Allston Speed Trials (July 4th, 2015) was shut down by the cops! Most of the time people like us or dislike us, but are civil and it's gotten better overtime though. The weird thing is that all of that seems crazy or "rough" as I said before, to me in retrospect. At the time, it was just business as usual. That's all we knew! We did have some support and definitely being around the scene and doing KLYAM helped and that's great. But the negative feedback has added to our character for sure. I got off on unintentionally inspiring animosity in people. Just for being ourselves! We have the attitude that they're more afraid of us than we are of them.

G.Gordon Gritty -No - I don't think ever. I know generally the outcomes from being up there (some could be quite impactful soundwise) and another thing is truly believing in and loving improvising. I've never imposed any pressure on myself to hit the right note or be picky with sounding a certain way - for unsuspecting audiences that could be a little backwards or alarming or shitty but trust me I'm fully aware and mostly just happy to have a brief amount of time to do whatever!

4)Do you have any pre-show rituals?

No, I've never been a pre-show ritual person! Usually have a few drinks and I talk with whomever is around me that feels like talking to me. Then I hop on stage/floor/wherever and get into character! I play tambourine and sing on a few songs, so I don't have any gear to figure out. Sometimes, my vocals are sound checked, but that's it. At Ralph's Rock Diner recently, I was talking to Neil from PV (we played with them that night and they rule!) about the new Butthole Surfers documentary right up until it was time to get on stage. The rest of the band motioned to me to get up there and I put my shades on and joined the circus!

G.Gordon Gritty - That sounds cool but no! Each show is its own experience and I take 'em as they come. Now having gone on a few little tours or jaunts, there is more ritual or routine because you're often pressed for time and everyone is typically together. But I don't eat a certain meal or anything like that (that's all I could think of, lol)

5)You guys as bookers / performers have been on both sides of the stage. Do you prefer playing a show or going to one ?

Chris -It's a blessing to do both for sure. We appreciate that anyone pays attention to anything we do. We don't take it for granted. We'd do everything we do anyway even if no one cared (and sometimes that's the case!), but it's a bonus that people are interested. Humbling! Okay to the actual question though haha. Booking/running a show is fun, but can be frustrating at times as you know with all the logistics. Performing is probably more enjoyable, but not as meaningful to me on a personal level. Performing is a calming experience for me. It puts me in control of a situation and I find that's not true of most of life. I think of myself as a fan first and foremost, so seeing new exciting bands and old favorites is awesome. I'm going to say it depends on the show. For some people, performing is the end all be all. I'm definitely not that way. As much as I love playing a show, I'd rather see a killer band. If it's not something next level then I'll play a show. I guess it depends on what the show is we're playing! For example, if someone said Option A) Play a show at X venue you've played before with bands you've either played with a bunch of bands you're not into or familiar with vs Option B) Killer band like say Gone Bad reunion show!!! I'd rather take Option B!. That's my long winded response lol.

G.Gordan Gritty -Blessed to be doing both! It's an added treat to book a show AND play it. We've done that a lot and I recommend it for anyone starting out or feels outside to a scene. We started out as fans going to all kinds of shows, cool to just be there having fun seeing bands. Playing a show or running one requires a bit more attention to detail and you're usually always keeping track of time in some form. But whether you're playing, running or simply attending you get to meet new people, or maybe catch up with old friends. It's usually a neat social experience. There's something to playing a show or booking it - delivering an experience that could make a difference or impact for somebody. I hope to be inspiring in some way. I've gotten super inspired from attending shows.

6) Have you ever stage dived?

Chris -Only a few times! Once was at an acoustic show actually lol. Ty Segall played an acoustic set in Brooklyn. People were moshing and I stage dove. I lost my shoe. A young woman helped me find it. We started talking and eventually made out. For all the lovers out there, losing a shoe is a good ice breaker.

G.Gordan Gritty - Haha rarely but I'll never forget my first time resulted in me getting "kicked out" of the middle east downstairs in March 2010. I was feeling a little wild and free but if I remember correctly Dave from the Box Elders stepped in and vouched for me as being with the band, which wasn't at all true (we had a solid conversation and camaraderie) but nevertheless seemed to have worked as I wasn't totally ejected. But I've seen others' stagediving go really really south so I'm pretty scared of it most times.

7) If Johnny and the Foodmasters could open for any band dead or alive who would it be?

G.Gordon Gritty - I'll let Chris come up with some good ones. I'd be happy to open for some obscure '60s or '70s band any day, but it would be interesting to play a huge venue or festival with a pop star or band who really loves what Foodmasters are about. I can't imagine it going over well but it wouldn't be boring at the very least.

Chris -Oohh this is a tough question! A number of scenarios crossed my mind! I'm going to take a liberty here and say two bands lol. Us opening for The Ramones and The Germs at the Middle East Downstairs. Lots of disorienting, dissonant Punk in The Germs and The Foodmasters, but you also have the Oldies/Rock and Roll/Bubblegum in The Ramones and The Foodmasters. I feel like The Ramones and their fans would hate us. Or maybe not?! I think Johnny would think both us and The Germs suck and would actually like that as openers. But, who cares what he thinks? He's dead anyway lol.

8)Is there anything you wanna say to our Rag Mag reader?

G.Gordan Gritty -"Find someone who has a life you want and figure out how they got it. Read books, pick your role models wisely. Find out what they did and do it." - LDR

Chris - Keep on ragging in the free world! What's left of it anyway. Keep a dry lip and a clean pecker. A kid who tells on another kid is a dead kid. Don't let anyone convince you you're worthless. Be who you want to be, not who others want you to be. You don't have to impress or please people. Rock and Roll isn't about feeling better. It's about making others feel worse. No wait, that's the Blues. I don't know what Rock and Roll is supposed to be, BUT if you're feeling freaky, you can catch Johnnie and the Foodmasters at the following locations:

Deep Cuts (Medford on Thurs 8/14)

P'Tit Ours (Montreal on Fri 8/15)

Lowbar (Toronto on Sat 8/16)

Hart Bar (Brooklyn on Mon 8/18)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!