Pleasantly Surprised at Atlanta Pagan Pride

 music  12 Responses »
Oct 022011
 

Or, how I discovered the music of Celia.

Let me set the stage for you.  This was the first time that I was ever able to attend Atlanta Pagan Pride without being there as a representative for any sort of group.  I wasn’t camped out at a table, I wasn’t tied to just one position.  I was free in what I wanted to do with my day.  I arrived around 2pm just in time to see Emerald Rose play, and while I enjoy them very much the truth is I see them play all the time. When you consider the limited amount of original Pagan music available, when you have a local band like Emerald Rose, you do tend to see them play a lot.  It is great, but occasionally I think I would love to hear something else.

There is also the stereotype that there is a lack of quality in a lot of original Pagan music. So, when a musician I had never heard of was scheduled to take the stage at 4pm I wasn’t sure what to expect. Well, I submit that this artist absolutely smashes that stereotype and if you are looking for quality Pagan music you should check her out. Her name is Celia.

We had already taken seats while she was setting up her equipment.  My partner, who is also a musician, was admiring her set up. She had a Roland GR-55, or something very much like it. I noticed it because he has something similar called a Pod but he explained the difference between the two machines. She had it set up in a really cool way where she had access to all the pedals at knobs while she played. She also had a little PA system that he was admiring. All of this was set up with a little mixing board on a stand. When she began to play she explained that she uses a technique called looping. She isn’t the first artist I’ve seen who uses this technology in concert, but I was impressed with the creative way she used it. She recorded parts in real time allowing the sound to build as the song progressed and then, when the song was done she just erased it off the board and moved on. She described it like a sand mandala that would just be swept away.

I really enjoyed her show. I also enjoyed the song where she brought Arthur Hinds from Emerald Rose on stage to sing and drum with her. Since this was the first time I had heard any of her music before, I was really moved by what she presented at Atlanta Pagan Pride. I even became a little misty eyed during her performance of her song Symbol.

I am really glad I had the chance to attend Atlanta Pagan Pride this year without any predetermined commitments.  It gave me an opportunity to see Celia for the first time.

 

Pop Pentacle: Top 5 Songs for Beltane

 music  1 Response »
May 012011
 

Please forgive the hastiness of this post.  My intention all along for this day was to post one music video to celebrate Beltane and the 1st anniversary of The Juggler.  However, as I rose from bed myself this morning I was met with a panoply of song from all around me.  Friends were posting music on their Facebook pages.  Star Foster posted her 13 songs for the season over at Patheos.  So, I decided to pop in here and share not just one but five songs to celebrate Beltane.  Here I’ll share the videos with little commentary.  I’ll let the music do most of the talking.

  • Air:

    • June Hymn by The Decemberists

I wrote about the newest Decemberists album recently. This song is a lovely hymn to the season. I know it is called “June Hymn” but it has a clear Spring into Summer vibe, which for me is what Beltane is all about.

  • Fire:
    The Mummer’s Dance by Loreena McKennitt

I had all but forgotten about this song when Star posted about it on Pantheon. I used to listen to Loreena McKennitt all the time and a couple of years ago she fell off my radar. This song is essential for Beltane.

  • Water:
    Merry May Folk by Emerald Rose

Lets dance!

  • Earth:
    Songs from The Wood by Jethro Tull

A friend of mine posted this one today. “Life’s long celebration’s here.”

  • Spirit:
    First of May by Jonathan Coulton

This was the song I was going to post originally.  It is my favorite Beltane song.  IT IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK OR CHILDREN. If you are sensitive to harsh language, this is not for you.  I warned you.

 

Pop Pentacle: Songs for Pagans at Christmas

 music  3 Responses »
Dec 092010
 

And yes, I said Christmas songs.  I admit, I love Christmas. I’m a bit of a holiday-lush; I’ll celebrate all of them. Though, as you might expect, Christmas is more of a secular holiday for me.  I enjoy getting together with family and sharing gifts and food and games.  It is a joyful extension of the Yuletide season and I embrace it gleefully.  I also love Christmas music, even the most spiritual of carols like “O Holy Night” and “Do You Hear What I Hear.”  Sometimes, though, it is good to have a couple of Pagan-friendly tunes to add to your playlist.  Here are my favorites.

  • Air

“The Solstice Song” by Finvarra’s Wren

This family band is made up of folk musicians Jim Perkins, his wife Cheryl, their children and of other other musicians.  I first saw Jim Perkins at the Michigan Renaissance festival when I was 13 and his music has been a favorite since then.  Finvarra’s Wren is a big part of the Detroit area Celtic music scene.  They play traditional folk music, but also several original songs including my favorite solstice tune known simply as “The Solstice Song”.  You can read the words here.

Check out this live performance video from Youtube:

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Dragon*Con 2010: Pagan Playground

 music, tv  4 Responses »
Sep 082010
 

Full Disclosure:  I am a geeky fan girl.  So when I say I had an absolute amazing time at Dragon*Con, know that I was attending as a fan.  That didn’t stop me, however, from being on the lookout for Juggler-Friendly material.

Emerald Rose, popular Pagan band from right here in Georgia, played several shows throughout the con.  These guys are friends of mine, so I have a hard time being objective.  They did premier their new song “Clockwork Love”.  I also saw them at the “Mighty Fine Shindig” where they played an all dancing set including Red Haired Mary and Four Jacks. I did, of course, dance like a maniac.  Seeing them live is infectious.

I also had the opportunity to attend the “True & A” panel with stars from the HBO series True Blood.  It featured Nelsan Ellis, Kristin Bauer, Sam Trammell and Michelle Forbes.  I wish there had been writers on the panel as well since the actors don’t always have the insight behind the material.  I was able to ask a question as well about the mythology in Season Two and if they were aware of any of the controversy that sprung up in the Pagan community due to the portayal of Dionysos and the Maenad. As you might expect, they were actually surprised that there was a “Pagan Community.” They were actually grateful for controversy as it meant more people were talking about their show.  Later on in the panel, there was a great discussion of the show in terms of the political and social overtones and how that will play out.  I am hopeful that the newest character of Holly Cleary might be able to present a semi-realistic view of the Wiccan community to a larger audience.

As always, there were costumes and parties and never-ending fun.  I did, in fact, run into Dionysos himself at the Pulse Bar at the Marriott Hotel.

Dragon*Con is a great event for everyone, but the Pagan and Pagan-Friendly programming makes it a must-see for the Pagan Geek.  Dragon*Con 2011 will be held over Labor Day weekend.