Hangin' With Hendo

GirlsRising.Org

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There's injustice everywhere. Our band can't fix all of it. But we can do what we can do. So, we are. 

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Antigone Rising & The Bangles

Recently, Antigone Rising formed a nonprofit called Girls Rising. The idea to start a 501c3 was born backstage while we were on tour with The Bangles a few years back. We got to talking about how so few all female bands existed. And we wondered why. With Susannah Hoffs.

The answer is, sadly, obvious.

Girls don't see all female bands anywhere. And, actually, boys don't see them either.

As soon as we finished realizing the travesty of that thought, we got to thinking a few more things.

Girl Scouts with Girls Rising!

Girls don't see too many female CEOs of major corporations, or all that many airline pilots or NASA astronauts or chemical engineers or architects or pastors in churches or major league baseball players.  They don't see female Presidents, at least not in the United States of America, and if they do see female soccer players, they see ones who are grossly underpaid compared to their male counterparts.

So we decided as a band that it was time for us to do more than travel from town to town playing songs for free dinners, in the hopes of selling a few CDs, greedily lining our pockets with memories, counting on our lucky fans to support us through web based fundraising campaigns.

Girls Rising Outreach

maybe they will hear us say something that helps them see something, 

like a little light through a crack in the ceiling 

they didn't see before we came to visit

Girls Rising Outreach, Berlin

And we still get to ask our fans to donate money, but now the money goes toward us helping girls see things they might not usually see. Or maybe they will hear us say something that helps them see something, like a little light through a crack in the ceiling they didn't see before we came to visit.

There's injustice everywhere. Our band can't fix all of it. But we can do what we can do. So, we are.

If you want to learn more about the work we are doing with our nonprofit, Girls Rising, go to our website GirlsRising.Org.

If you have an idea on where we can do an outreach to help empower girls to harness their potential and be game changers, get in touch with us at infoATgirlsrising.org.

And if you'd like to make a tax deductible donation to Girls Rising, you absolutely can and should by going to GirlsRising.Org/Donate

#Hendo

I have a very funny story about Brian Williams.

When Antigone Rising was a baby band, we started touring full time well before we were technically ready to be touring full time. In other words, we gave our parents heart attacks. That being said, we were all in, together, arms locked, going for it.

We realized fairly quickly that the best way to be a full time touring band was to get a booking agent. Most artists might have a booking agent before they quit their day jobs. Not us. But that's incidental.

We had someone 'helping' us, acting as 'manager' sort of. She was living it and breathing it with us every step of the way. She was practically our sixth member.

And she ended up being the biggest liar on the face of planet Earth. In hindsight, we have come to realize not a single thing that came out of her mouth was true.

We laugh out loud to this day remembering little tidbits that fell from her lips. There were big lies. There were little lies. There were just tons and tons of lies.

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What is so funny about all of this is that one day she came to the band with 'GREAT NEWS!' She had secured us a BOOKING AGENT!

We were THRILLED! We were OFFICIAL!

But there was a catch.

He would only deal with her.

He did not want to talk to anyone in the band.

Ever.

He would not be coming to any shows because he "had already been to several shows of ours and already LOVED the band."

So, you get that there was never a booking agent, right? She was lying about the booking agent. It took us quite some time to figure it out, even with the lack of tour dates he was securing for us, but eventually we did figure it out.



The funniest part about the booking agent is, she told us his name was Brian Williams.

Isn't that just bananas?

#Hendo

PS-This is an actual photo of me at a show in 2001. After this show, our 'manager' told us that Brian Williams was dropping the band because he 'couldn't book us any dates'. The person in this photo believed that story. It all makes a little more sense to you now, I bet...

I would like to keep my 2015 grammy recap as positive as possible, so let's call it what it was right out of the gate.

SO, SO, SO BORING. 

How is it even possible to produce such a boring, boring, boring show? So many missed possibilities for greatness. Honestly, I enjoyed the American Music Awards much more. You didn't even know the American Music Awards were still on, right? Well, they rocked the Grammy's in the face.

That being said, L.L. Cool J is so cute. He had to have been the cutest baby. I want to bite LL's grown up cheeks, so I can only imagine how delicious he was as a baby. Who's with me?

The show opened with AC/DC.

I am going to repeat that.

The show opened with AC/DC.

What? Why is Angus Young wearing a school boy outfit on my TV screen in 2015?

Oh right. I'm staying positive. I just think they shouldn't make school boy outfits that fit 60 year old men. I get it. That's his schtick. I just find his schtick a lil' creepy is all.

The Stones, Led Zeppelin, surviving Beatles and a smattering of Beatle offspring would all serve as acceptable opening acts for The Grammys. I am a product of the 80s, and I mean no huge disrespect. I just think AC/DC is best served on the Broadway Stage in that 80s musical starring Constantine Maroulis alongside songs like "The Final Countdown," a personal fave of mine from the era.

And I've just alienated every guy I graduated high school with...

Then, when The Grammys actually utilize a Beatle, it's with Rihanna and Kanye?

And Kanye gets to perform TWICE but Antigone Rising not even once? No sour grapes. I am just noting facts.


Annie Lennox made my night. Thank you Annie Lennox. Click to see, cause words won't do it just. 

http://youtu.be/WuQNdmL2PHg?t=1m56s

Sam Smith also made my night. He is no longer just fat and gay, Howard Stern (click here for more on that). He is also a several time Grammy winner and totally humble and adorable. I love his album and thought it deserved 'Album of The Year', which went to Beck. I am sure Beck made a great album too, I just haven't heard it and have no inclination to do so...until someone sneaks it on the radio during a long car trip without telling me it's what I am listening to...that will probably be the only way to get me to listen to it, is all I'm saying. Certainly doesn't mean it's not good. I can just happily go through life never knowing for certain, is all.
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I did think it was a little strange that Sam Smith won 'Song of the Year' for a song he is admittedly paying Tom Petty royalties for. In case you're not up to date on the latest 'song that sounds exactly like another song' drama, Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me' sounds an awful lot like Tom Petty's 'Won't Back Down.' The two songs sound so similar, in fact, that Sam agreed to pay Tom a writer's royalty. I guess somewhere in the fine print he did not agree to give Petty a piece of THE GRAMMY he took home last night for rewriting the song. Not even a 'Thanks, Tom" in his speech. It was a big night for him, so I can understand forgetting. Yes, that is a Hilary/Chad reference. Anytime I can reference Chad Lowe in a blog I will do so.

Let's quickly touch upon Brandy Clarke's performance of "Hold My Hand." We have an out loud and proud female singer/songwriter coming out of Nashville who does duets on The Grammy's with Dwight Yoakam? It seems we do!

It's obvious which one of them is making it feel like Hee Haw

Granted, it looked and felt a lot like Hee Haw instead of a cutting edge, culturally relevant moment. And I think we know whose 20 gallon hat to blame for that. But the Nashville needle moves slowly. The city is about twenty five years behind every other major artistic city in the country with regard to the LGBT movement, if we're to be totally honest. So props to Brandy Clarke and bigger props to the straight ally willing to strum next to her, Dwight Yoakam. He will never get served at a Chik-Fil-A ever again, but if I still bought records, I would definitely start buying his.



We will end this blog entry on Sia, because I know most of you were in utter shock at her "performance" and are expecting me to say something really ripe and possibly not positive about it. So, here's what I've got for you:

I love Sia. 

She is a brilliant song writer. She writes amazing hooks and melodies. And she has an absolutely astounding voice. What little hair I have on my arms stands up on end every time I hear Chandelier.(TMI about my arm hair?)

I don't know exactly why she never actually shows up to perform the song. I haven't googled it, I just assume she has massive stage fright. Regardless, I think it's brilliant. She never has to worry about what she's wearing, getting her hair and make up done, she just sends in her friends to do trippy and debatably performance art-like things along to the song.

It probably helped that I had a few glasses of wine in me by the time the Sia moment rolled around. But I simply loved Kristen Wiig in the Sia Wig.

 
Overall, The Grammys 2015 were an undeniable bore-fest. But we can't end the party on a negative note. So let's end it with this:

It's really cool that they honored George Harrison, Buddy Guy & The Bee Gees with lifetime achievement awards.

#Hendo

Your Rights, Your Music, Your Career Seminar hosted byAriel Hyatt and Michael Whalen (pictured L to R Ariel Hyatt, Aly Tadros, Kristen, and Benji Rodgers of Pledge Music

You don't need platforms like Kickstarter or Pledge Music or Indie GoGo, though Antigone Rising has used these sites from time to time with great success. You just need people who love what you do. And you need their email address. And that's it.

I recently read somewhere that Monica Lewinsky considers herself "patient zero" with regard to cyberbullying.

My initial reaction to the statement was to giggle. Seriously? We all make choices, Mo Lew.

As one of my least favorite Aunt's would say, "make better choices." Of course, whenever she said that to me or my cousins, it was annoying. But in this case, the case of Mo Lew in the Oval Office doing lewd things to The President and saving the dress (who does that?), she probs coulda made a better choice.

But then I thought about it for a second. I do that from time to time. I actually think about how the other person might feel.

Quick example:  Last night as I walked downtown from Penn Station with my friend Raph, a car driving across town got stuck in the box. My instinct was to let him go before I crossed the street so he would not block 7th Avenue traffic. The person next to me decided she needed to cross, though, leaving the guy stuck in the box. Once she moved, it was like an avalanche of pedestrians now filing in front of this guy's car, complete with a few knuckleheads smacking the hood to make their point that he should 'make better choices.'

The guy did not want to be in the box, people. Nobody wants to be in the box. For crissakes, let the guy out of the box. Stand on the sidewalk for two more seconds and let the guy out of the box. 

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As one of my least favorite Aunt's would say,

"MAKE BETTER CHOICES."

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The legal age of consent in the United States is eighteen years old. Monica Lewinsky was twenty two years old when she chose to have an affair with the President of our fine country. Let me repeat that. THE PRESIDENT. OF OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY!

She was just four years past the age of consent. Think about four years for a second. A lot can happen in four years, sure. From the ages of eighteen to twenty two, while attending Bucknell University, I probably matured mentally, emotionally, and physically about 0%. I'm just being honest. In fact, I was probably getting into bigger predicaments my senior year than I was my freshman year. #Justsayin'

I have two five year olds. The difference between them at one and them at five is, well, not gigantically huge with regard to making better choices.

I realize we've got to draw a line in the proverbial sand, and eighteen seems to be a reasonable enough age to choose, albeit haphazard considering you still cannot have a drink until you're twenty one.

Maybe the age of consent should correspond with the legal drinking age. And let's say that it does, hypothetically, for the case of this nail biting argument I am building. Now Mo Lew is just months past the age of consent, maybe even minutes. And any mom will tell you that days, weeks, months matter. The December babies versus the February babies of a given year are vastly different.

Twenty two is not so much older than twenty one 

is not so much older than eighteen. 

So the President of the United States hits on you. You're twenty two years old, fresh out of college, working at The White House. And. The. President. Hits. On. You.

Make a choice.



#Hendo

"One of the most important bands in American rock has been buried without a trace. And that is Fanny. They were one of the finest rock bands of their time. They were extraordinary...they're as important as anybody who's ever been. Revivify Fanny. And I will feel that my work is done." - David Bowie



Every now and then I have an idea. Rarely, but sometimes, I actually execute the ideas.

My latest idea is to bum rush interesting people via video - selfie style - and ask them questions about who they are and what they're doing to make the world a better place. Because quite frankly, the world needs to improve itself...on many levels.

I personally think the world would be a much better place with more successful all female fully sustained rock bands in it.

Why has there not been a commercially successful all female band since the 1980s? Yes, I am talking about The Gos Gos and The Bangles. Why has there not been a single all female self sufficient band to crack the Top 40 in the United States since the 1980s? Why has there not been an all female band to rise to the ranks of U2...or even Coldplay?

Dixie Chicks...sort of. Indigo Girls. Not as successful commercially and technically neither are fully sustained bands. Both Indigos and Dixies tour with guys supporting them on stage and in the studio. Don't misunderstand. I've got deep mad loving respect for both Indigos and Dixies. L'HOVE both.

Fanny, first all female band to release a major label album (1970)

So, I had a chance to bum rush June Millington, founding member of the very first all female band to ever release a major label album. Her band is called Fanny. Some of you may know who Fanny is. But I am sure some of you DO NOT know and are just learning that this epically important band in the history of rock music even exists.

It is absolutely butt ass crazy that you had to read Hangin' With Hendo to learn this. Even David Bowie is pissed off about it.

In a 1999 interview with Rolling Stone, Fanny fan David Bowie revealed his respect for the band:

Roll the video:



#Hendo
PS- Here is a list of all female bands out there doing it today. Learn about them. Support them. Help me fix this crisis! And by all means, send me more names, I am happy to post links:

Sick of Sarah
















Haim


Hunter Valentine
















Warpaint




















Girl in a Coma












The Blue Bonnets














Oh yeah and Antigone Rising

Fleetwood Mac has reunited with Christine McVie after a fifteen year absence. A few nights ago, my newsfeed began clogging up with photos from their show at Madison Square Garden. All five of them, together, on the same stage. The thought of it makes me leap with joy.

So talk at the band breakfast table turned to Fleetwood Mac this morning. Dena, our overly loaded with knowledge drummer, said the reason Christine left the band was because of an overwhelming fear of flying. Apparently The Mac showed up in England a few years back and McVie was able to join them on stage, since she didn't have to fly there, and while on stage she realized how much she missed it and decided to seek help to get over her fear.

And it worked!

A few days ago they were on The Today Show. Sarah Kate looked over at me and said, "Are you crying?"

"Yes! I am. I am crying! THIS BAND...MEANS....EVERYTHING!"

So today, let's celebrate Fleetwood Mac.



#Hendo

I cannot find a single piece of encouraging information in my newspaper. Yes. I read a newspaper. This may shock some of you, since you all know that I spend an exponential amount of time on a computer media socializing.

Sometimes you just need good old fashioned paper and ink stains on your fingers. I like it that way, and so long as someone is willing to toss a newspaper into my driveway every morning, I am in.

So, let's briefly summarize the news as I see it.

The United States Supreme Court does absolutely nothing to advance equality on a national level. I mean, our one and only chance for some good news, and The Supreme Court sits there like a bunch of twits with nothing to say.

So now my friends in places like Virginia and 4 other states CAN get married, because the Supreme Court is NOT making a decision. And all the other states, well, tough crap.

So I am not married in Louisiana. Or in 20 other states.

UN-AC-CEPTABLE!

Kristen, or should we call you #Hendo?, your tax money pays me a great salary and I am perfectly
comfortable perched here in my black robe decisionless for you and every gay American and those that love them, says every single Supreme Court Judge right TO MY FACE with a giggle.

It makes me extremely unattracted to anyone on the Supreme Court, even though I could "technically" date one of them in a state like Louisiana, thanks to their LAZY COMPLACENCY!



And then there's ISIS/IL. I have been to the Middle East. This, by no means, makes me an expert on the affairs carried out in the region. It does, however, enable me to say unequivocally that not everyone in the Middle East wants to cut American citizens heads off.

Americans and Middle Easterners co-mingling happily in The West Bank (Palestine).

Basically, the Middle East is having a PR crisis and they need to fix it STAT. The guys in the minority over there cutting peoples heads off are casting a very long shadow over every single Middle Easterner.

And our government seems cool as cucumbers about it all. It's like Obama is just fine with us 'head counting' - "now it's 3, whoops 4!"

 I am unwilling to live like this, fearing entire regions of the world filled with more kind people than bad ones. And I know for a fact, without even asking, that you are too.

WHERE IS THE GAME PLAN, PEOPLE? NOBODY IN WASHINGTON DC HAS ONE!!!
Not the guy I voted for, and not the guy you voted for. I am not a disliker of men, I have a son and father and uncles and boy cousins and love Ryan from The Notebook...

But men in blue suits and tele prompters need to shut the f* up. And YOU ALL agree with me.

The corruption in our own government is forcing us to watch our own people getting their heads cut off in the Middle East ON YOU TUBE!

That is NOT a leap. And I am NOT some crazy left wing liberal. Believe it or not, Rachel Maddow is not my primary news source. And neither is Anderson Cooper. Even though I bet they're both really nice people.

I actually watch Fox News sometimes (I believe it's important to keep the enemy close). And Morning Joe. I do not think Sean Hannity is a nice person, but I went to college with 50 Morning Joe's and Bill O'Reilly actually makes me nervous laugh with some of the things he says. And whether I agree with him or not, I like that he says what he thinks and is outraged in his own right.

I am capable of taking it all in, mixing it in my blender and drawing my own conclusions.

I have a great idea.

(DETECT SARCASM AS YOU READ THIS)
Let's keep the amazing 2 party system in place that we have and continue to force our 'civilized' brand of democracy on everyone while we watch the world fall to pieces around us. And the one opportunity we are given to put a bright and happy story in #Hendo's New York Times, yeah, let's just remain undecided on that.

Seriously. I am taking suggestions. Right here on this blog. Sound OFF people! Leave yours in the comment boxes below. I will compile and update you all as to our best course of action.

In the meantime, I am strongly contemplating running for Prez in 2016. This blog may not have won me the support of Ms. Maddow, but there's a strong possibility I've gained that of Bill O'Reilly, and that's what it's all about. Blurring lines. Keeping it weird. Mashing it up.

The world is my potato.



#Hendo.

PS-I do not actually think I have gained the support of Mr. O'Reilly. That's just me using a little dramatic flair for the sake of the blog post.

Since posting Hendo's Top 5 Worst Duets of All Time, I've gotten quite a bit of feedback from people adding their suggestions to duets even worse than the ones mentioned in my original blog piece. If you would like to refresh your memory on my Top 5 Worst Duets of All Time, click here. We will wait for you to return.

So, now that you're back, I am adding an additional three songs that should logically fall onto the top 5 worst duets of all time, yet this guy (that's me) loves and knows every word, every nuance, every key modulation to each of them. In other words, make sure #Hendo's your karaoke duet partner on 80s night at Winnie's. 

We are calling it Hendo's Top 3 Guilty Duet Pleasures List. And once again, a shout out to the 80s for making this possible.

Dim the lights and be amazed at my self confidence when I admit to not just liking, but loving these songs:

#3) Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin - Separate Lives
You have no right to ask me why I love this song.
You have no right to act like you don't love it too.
I can't go on pretending this isn't one of my favorite duets of all time.
So for now we'll go on living.....separate lives.

The song comes from a movie that I can't remember a thing about. Oops, I just remembered one thing about it. Barishnikov and Russia.

Oops again. That's two things.

Wait a minute. I just got a flickery flash of Jeff Bridges and a short haired brunette. And after googling it, I realize it's a different movie with a Phil Collins song in it (Against All Odds).

So it's official. I only remember two things about this movie, and one of them is not the name of it.

But none of that is important. What is important is that I still quote the lyrics in moments of unabashed melodramatic-ness. Just visit my twitter feed for proof of this. The words wash over me from time to time and I am compelled to share them via social media. The song is just that good. To me.

"You have no right to ask me how I feel...You have no right to speak to me so kind..."

I just love the drama in those lines and am green with envy that I didn't write them first.

And who could forget the woman Phil Collins sings the duet with? Marilyn Monroe...no, Manson...Martin. Of course. Marilyn Martin. Or the name of the classic movie from which it comes from....I just googled it. wait for it, wait for it: WHITE NIGHTS!



#2) Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald - On My Own
On the minus side, The sexual chemistry is pretty much non-existent. And the singing while gazing out windows on separate coasts only strengthens the speculation that Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle have likely never even met.

On the plus side, I could listen to Michael McDonald sing the Iliad...the phone book is too overused a phrase nowadays. And I certainly have a healthy respect for what Patti LaBelle can do, even if she physically attacked Aretha Franklin. Yes, I know that was a satirical article about a feud between the two singers, but once it's in print, it is fact. Isn't it? Don't know what the h*** I'm talking about? Clickety click right here.

A duet between two amazingly great singers, albeit extremely random in pairing, recorded in the 80s inevitably leads to one outcome. Me loving it.



#1) Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force - All Cried Out
In 1986, I was a camp counselor at the YMCA singing this diddy at the top of my lungs with my co-counselor Sheri. Every kid in our camp group knew the words. We would scream it from the arts and crafts tables, from atop the horses during riding lessons, from around the campfire on sleep out nights. The video, the production, every single thing about it became dated within 6 months of it's release.

And. That's. Why. We. Love. It. So.

Oh yes, I said WE. I assume you love it too.

And if you're thinking to yourself, "Sorry Hendo, I don't love it too...."

Your apology is NOT accepted add me to the broken hearts you've collected. - Lisa Lisa

Watch this video. Keep both eyes open and don't blink, not for one second. Then let's make our date for karaoke night. I know both parts by heart, so you tell me which side you want to sing.

Until next time,
#Hendo

I start this blog off with a deep and heartfelt thank you to the 80s. Had the decade not happened, much of this countdown does not exist. So thank you, 80s. Thank you.

#5: Pia Zadora & Jermaine Jackson-When the Rain Begins to Fall
Picture me in middle school watching VH-1. It's summer. I fall asleep on the couch and wake up in the middle of the night to this video playing on my television set.

I never forgot it. Not ever.

For many many reasons, this is the worst duet of all time, bar none.

The problem is, it's so bad on too many levels. I cannot in good conscience let it be number one of anything - Not even number one of Hendo's Top 5 Worst Duets of All Time.

Pia Zadora and Jermaine Jackson should pay you money for the time you are about to lose watching this video. But you must watch this, if only for a moment. Strap on your sense of humor:



#4: Sheryl Crow & Kid Rock - Picture
I want to be very clear as to why this duet is included on Hendo's Top 5 Worst Duets of All Time.

Kid Rock.

I stand firmly in the camp that believes he should never sing. Ever.

And I certainly don't think any song should force me to imagine Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow romantically linked.

The lyric explicitly implies that he is out on the road cheating and cheating and cheating on Sheryl Crow. It's just not feasible. It's unbelievable, and the core of my being rejects it.

Aretha Franklin and William Hung would sound more natural singing this song together (Too far @lizbrooks?).

I would much prefer this duet be sung between Sheryl Crow & Joan Jett. Then I am paying for my download AND hot linking it from all my socials.

Can I get an Amen?




#3 Ann Wilson & Mike Reno - Almost Paradise
I wasn't a crazy Loverboy fan, but I liked the hits enough. Did their breadth of work stand the test of time like bands from the era such as U2 or The Police?

Do I need to answer that question?

Almost Paradise, the duet in which one of the greatest female vocalists of all time sings alongside Mike Reno of Loverboy.

You know he's playing this song for his grandchildren while /splitscreen/  Ann Wilson is making Led Zeppelin cry at the Kennedy Center Honors. 

But nobody wore red leather pants like him. Nobody.



 
#2 UB40 & Chrissy Hynde - I've Got You Babe
Where do I begin?

 As if Red Red Wine hadn't done a big enough disservice to reggae music, UB40 conned one of the most bad ass female rock n' roll icons into singing a Sonny & Cher song, reggae style, basically obliterating the genre for a generation!

There's so much to say about this horrific remake, yet I think it's best to just sum it up.

A classic like "I've Got You Babe" cannot be remade, unless it's being sung by Donny & Marie.

#ChrissyHyndeForgiven #UB40Unforgiven

#1 WITH A BULLET
Huey Lewis & Gwyneth Paltrow - Cruisin'
One day, Huey Lewis' people figured out how to call Gwyneth Paltrow's people. It went something like this:

Huey Lewis' people: "Hi, this is Huey Lewis' people. Would Gwyneth like to begin the slow and painful path down career annihilation by singing a duet with Huey Lewis of "The News" fame for a crappy movie? Call us, maybe."

Guess what happened next...

She actually called them back!

Oh YES SHE DID! 

Before "Goop" the blog*, she sang "Goop" the duet. With Huey Friggin' Lewis. (*Goop is a digital media and e-commerce community founded by Gwyneth "I sing duets with Huey Lewis" Paltrow. )




I will balance out this snarky, self proclaimed brilliantly and meticulously researched countdown with my top 5 best duets of all time next week. Keep coming back...

#Hendo

Mine and Sarah Kate's prison has much nicer moldings. - photo credit, Liza Bennett

Back while I was binge watching Breaking Bad, I thought every winnebago on the road was a crystal meth lab and that if I ran into my neighbors at Home Depot it was because they were purchasing hydrofluoric acid to melt dead bodies in their bathtubs.

So it should surprise none of you that while I was driving yesterday, I jumped to the conclusion that the woman crossing the street, donning a khaki colored outfit from head to toe, was an escaped convict from Litchfield Prison (#OITNB).

I am a firm believer that the only way to watch television is the same way one should eat Samoa Girl Scout cookies or drink Guiness beer. Binge it.

I live my life in six hour increments, not one minute more. Quite honestly, six hours may actually be an exaggeration. But for the sake of this blog, if it's not happening within a six hour window of whatever time it is, it means absolutely nothing to me. And I can comfortably guarantee that if it happened six hours prior to wherever I am in my day, I have buried it deep within the recesses of my mind.

I can watch the most compelling episode of Whatever that Show Kerry Washington is in, but I will not remember what the hell happened one week later, much less what the name of the show is. Plot lines and leading characters one week later - as good as dead to me. (Exception to rule: Helena from Orphan Black. Some things you cannot unsee).

I have even stopped drinking all together (exception: last night) to be sure my memory issues are not due to, let's say, too much drinking on a daily basis. And guess what. It's not.

I binge watch. I become enveloped in the world of my show to the point where I believe my reality is part of the plot. I finish my 10-13 episodes, depending on the program. And then I spend about a week mourning the loss of my friends (the characters, who are actually just acting, which hurts even more) before tarzanning directly into the next binge.

Tarzanning [Tahr-zann-ing, v.] - Swinging from one vine to another, most likely with a Netflix subscription. And the vines have 10-13 episodes of well-written and acted dramedies attached to them.

Any of you Orphan Black watchers will understand this. Cathy and I call each other 'Seees-TRAH.' I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my own 9 clones, especially the Helena version. And I guess that makes me the Cosima of my clones, at least until Orphan Black introduces the bass playing clone in an all-female indie rock band who plays better than the boys and makes sure the fans feel like part of the family.

By the way, if you're not watching Orphan Black, you need to stop reading this blog and march yourself over to the television set. BBC America. It's all there on demand. There should be 19 episodes for you to watch.They're not even paying me for that plug. Surprise, surprise.

If you binge watch it, we can meet back here same time tomorrow to talk about it.

#Hendo

PS-Download a copy of my band's latest EP- Whiskey & Wine Volume 1. It's the equivalent of a tip in my tip jar. Seriously. The music industry is a brutal mess, and yes, I could have been a vet. But here I am blogging and trying to give you compelling reasons to buy my music. Let's see if this works:

Today is Day 1.

You know. The day you start exercising again. Or eating better. Or not drinking. Or not smoking. Or cleaning your house. Or not yelling at your kids. I don't yell at my kids. But you probably do.

So. Here I am. On top of my favorite day.

DAY 1.

Again.

I'm even typing this blog in my stinky work out clothes.

I actually got short of breath climbing the stairs to the gym.

And my brain talked to me the entire time during my spin class. It said things like:

"It's way easier to drink a delicious Guiness beer than it is to climb onto this bike..."
"I'm going to ride 30 rides in 30 days."
"No. I'm going to ride 90 rides in 90 days."
"I'll be in Altanta from May 8-12. I wonder where I can find a stationary bike while I'm in Atlanta."
"God, my legs hurts. When is this class over."

Day 1. I hate you. I love you. I'm hungry.

Salad or hamburger.

Ugh. Two Day 1's in ONE  day.

#Hendo.

ps- Join Antigone Rising tomorrow night at The Training Station in Glen Cove, NY for our very first AR-Spin-A-Thon. The spin instructors from the gym have put together an amazing class for fans and friends of Antigone Rising, while we raise funds for our new EP - Whiskey & Wine Volume 1. To reserve a bike, head over to our Pledge Music page or email us and we will reserve a bike for you (pay at the door). See you tomorrrow night, on DAY TWO.

Pledge today! 5% of proceeds after goal go to GLAAD!

#5 Suzanne Westenhoefer and Judy Gold.
The last time we hung out with a comedian, it was Lisa Lampanelli. She called us a dyke band right

Suzanne & Judy

into the mic to a full house at Caroline's Comedy Club in New York City ("Let's hear it for the dyke band," were her exact words).

At the time, we didn't really "identify" as a dyke band. I mean...I do chuckle as I type that. We certainly knew we were a band with a few dykes in it. We just didn't realize dyke band was a genre of music until the soft spoken Lisa Lamapanelli pointed it out to us in front of a live studio audience.

We were young. Clearly. Maybe a little naive. And a lotta sensitive. NO DOUBT.

Our bass player at the time dove under the front row of tables, and Dena fell backward in her drum throne.

And so, conicidentally or not, we never double billed with comedians after that.

Boy, am I glad we lifted the ban on spending time with comedians!

Antigone Rising & Suzanne Westenhoefer

We had SO MUCH FUN hanging out with Suzanne Westenhoefer and Judy Gold. Our band basically stalked them around the ship. They each did two shows on their respective nights. We went to both shows, both nights. We would watch their group in the main dining room every single night and wonder what it was like to sit at their table. And on a few nights, we actually hung out with them in the sports bar and had drinks, so we felt complete. And while they were both hilariously funny, neither one of them ever referred to us as a dyke band. At least not into a microphone. Amazing what happens when you're out and actually comfortable in your own skin...and not hanging around Lisa Lampanelli.

Antigone Rising, Judy Gold & Dena's nose

For the record, Dena + Judy Gold = Things flying out of Dena's nose 100% guaranteed.







#4 Elyse Keaton.
So. Elyse Keaton was on the boat. And everyone struggled not to stare at her. It's impossible to quantitatively measure the amount of time I spent gazing at Meredith Baxter on my television screen. So it's super weird to have her floating around the lido deck, especially when you're drinking frozen rum cocktails with umbrellas in them.

I loved Family (I really believed I was Buddy). And I loved Family Ties (obv, who didn't).

There is one thing more weird than having Meredith Baxter walk past you on the Lido Deck while you sip frozen rum cocktails.  It's when Meredith Baxter sits next to you in the Vista Lounge to watch the afternoon viewing of 'Edie & Thea,' the documentary that basically led to the death of DOMA.

And the weirdest thing of all is when you cry with Meredith Baxter while watching the movie, and she offers you a tissue.

That happened. To me. A coupla weeks ago. On the cruise. Whoa. That was weird.

Hangin' in the Vista Lounge with the incomparable Meredith Baxter. Most Amazing Photo Bomb Ever Award goes to Judy Gold...

This entry was longer than intended. Which means we will need a PART 3 for me to finish up The Top Ten Moments of the Olivia Caribbean Equality and Leadership Cruise! So, until next week....

#Hendo

5% proceeds after goal go to GLAAD!

Help Antigone Rising Tour and Record in 2014!

Antigone Rising spent the last week aboard Olivia Travel's Caribbean Equality and Leadership Cruise. I suspected when we climbed aboard it was going to be a career highlight for us. We have been blessed as a band to be handed some seriously major perks: opening for The Stones and The Allmans, traveling to Israel and the West Bank via the US Gov't., and now this past week on board a ship with some of the most influential women of the 21st century, including Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, Maya Angelou, Indigo Girls, and the list goes on.

So I have compiled a Top 10 list from the event. Fortunately, much of the week was captured by photo or video! So without further ado, I bring you the highlights:

It's been a great year for equality and a great year for Antigone Rising. Those two things mean it's been an epic year for the entire staff here at Hangin' With Hendo. Here's a rundown of our top 5 moments. Coincidentally they are all in the first person and all center around me. Nobody else spoke up (or showed up, for that matter) at the staff meeting...

Meet our side project, Prison Love.

The scenic drive into town...!

#5 - Torrey, Utah - Redrock Women's Music Festival
A perfect and heavenly location was the backdrop for a weekend in August that brought us together with one of our oldest best friend's, Michelle Malone, and now one of our newest, Toby, to create a magical 48 hours of pure musical bliss.

Sometimes you wish time would stand still. We are hoping to be back for 2014...

The crowd at Red Rock Women's Music Festival.

Sneaking a kiss side stage

Pre show hang with mom.

#4 - Pride Festivals!
We had the honor of headlining Northampton, MA and North Jersey Pride Fests this year. We love being invited to these events and look forward to playing on several more pride bills in the new year. Northampton Pride was especially amazing for me because I was accompanied by my sweet four year old son, Thomas. He helped Tony tech guitars and drums, he helped Julie sell merch, and he got to play sports with Roy (Julie's husband). Plus he went out to sushi dinner with the band.

Thomas sells merch

#3 - The "Whiskey" video shoot!
In June we invited former members of Antigone Rising to get back in the saddle with us as we filmed a video for our song, "That Was The Whiskey." Directed by Mikki Delmonico, we spent an outstandingly fun day filming in our friends bar, 'Still Partners', in Sea Cliff, NY. There's not much to say other than roll the video below:




#2 - DOWN with DOMA.

Pride March w/ Thomas & Kate

Cathy and friends send a subtle message via Instagram...

Edie.

On the morning of June 26th, I was sitting at my kitchen table incessantly hitting refresh on my computer awaiting the news on DOMA.
When it finally appeared on my screen I burst into tears. The kids were eating pancakes trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I told them it was a great day for our family and I was happy crying. That led to a barrage of questions on what 'happy crying' meant. I told them sometimes something so great happens, you cry from happiness. This led to a thousand more questions, completely taking me out of the moment that the Supreme Court struck DOMA down, forcing me to watch the recap on the news an hour later. Four is a great age.

Celebrating with friends

Sarah and I headed into New York City later that day to be front and center for the historic event. We magically found an empty bar on the corner of Christopher & Gay St. with a window looking out on the square where Edie Windsor addressed the crowd. We soon realized it was empty because the air conditioning was broken. But that didn't break our spirits. Literally and figuratively.

And for the first time ever, we marched with the kids in New York City's gay pride parade that Sunday.

Thomas & Kate hand out stickers at the parade.

 #1 - The Kiss on the Cover
"You might be the first person in our family to be on the cover of Time Magazine." - Things my Dad says...

Back in March, Sarah and I got a phone call asking if we'd be willing to come in to be photographed for Time Magazine's DOMA issue. We said yes, not realizing it would turn into an actual smooch on the cover of the magazine. It really made our week, and it will likely top my list next year and the year after as well. Read my blog post from the day the issue came out right here: The Kiss on the Cover.

April 8, 2013 issue Time Magazine.

Our friend, Kat DiResta took this mock photo of the cover, featuring the funniest person on Earth - Sibby.

Thanks for a great year on the blog. Here's to 2014!
Cheers,
#Hendo

#1Whitney House - Do You Hear What I Hear
I believe in my heart that Whitney Houston was kissed by God, and her version of Do You Hear What I Hear is proof of it. My very favorite all time Christmas song due to Whitney's version. Any time. Anywhere. Volume on 11.

#2 - Andy Williams - Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season
This just reminds me of being a kid at my Grandparents for the holiday. If this song doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit, you need to get yourself some meds.

#3 - Bette Midler - From a Distance (Christmas version!)
My very good friend, Julie Gold, won a song of the year grammy for writing this. The world is a better place because this song exists. And I just think the heavens beamed a light right through Julie as she came up with the lyric 'God is watching us, From a Distance.' I can't even type it without getting teary eyed.

The rest fall in no particular order, though this order is pretty accurate if you really wanted me to list an order:

Stevie Nicks - Silent Night
The only version. Listen and go to Stevie church with me.



Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas 
Every. single. time. Openly. Weeping.
Bono's 'tonight thank god it's them instead of you.'
Can't get through it dry eyed. Can. Not.


Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You
Say what you will about Mariah. The lady can SING. And she sings the dickens outta this. If this doesn't make you shake your toosh, I suggest you crank Andy Williams 'Happy Holidays' on your way to get your scripts filled...

Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne
I have never met anyone who doesn't love this song. If you are the first, you know what I am going to say. Medicate yourself.

Frosty the Snowman - Ella Fitgerald & Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Etta James.
Vitamins. Minerals. Ella. Etta. Take yourself to school.

Mary J. Blige & Jesse J. - Do You Hear What I Hear 
Whitney made this my very favorite Christmas song and I never thought I'd hear another version remotely worthy, until Mary J. & Jesse J. This sh** is HOT! Amazing duo.



Amy Grant - Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)
I love this entire Christmas album. Amy is like the Jennifer Aniston of music. I think something might be wrong with you if you don't like her. And this song gets me every time I hear it...it beat out her version of 'Grown Up Christmas List' by a smidge.

Johnny Cash - The Little Drummer Boy
I don't need to explain this, do I? If I do, you're on the wrong blog.

Faith Hill - Where Are You Christmas 
This isn't an excuse, but...in 2005, I was sharing a house with Sibby. Sibby is a BIG Christmas decorator. I was sitting in our living room lit by blinking Christmas lights and whatever CVS offered by way of decorations when Faith Hill's 'Where are you Christmas' came on 106.7, Lite FM (the light at the end of your dial). For some reason, I was flooded with memories of my grandmothers. So. That's why.

Train - Joy to the World.
I try hard to not like Train. But, without fail, they always run me down like a freight....Train. They have the best pop sensibility. So I give in. I love Train. And their version of Joy to the World makes me so so happy. Yay Train.

#Hendo

Disclaimer: Not all of my bakers dozen appear on spotify, so I used other versions of the same song...specifically, Stevie Nicks' Silent Night (you know, the one I said there is only one version of?), I substitute Kelly Clarkson and Reba's version. It's palatable enough. And I replaced Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas with Glee's version (eegads). Seriously. There was not a better option. Sorry for that one.

Kristen's Xmas Bakers Dozen Playlist!

I am so excited that Buzzfeed picked up a quote from my very own 'The Kiss on the Cover blog (March, 2013) and included it in their year end round up of The Most Powerful Quotes from LGBT Icons and Allies in 2013. I am adding it to my bucket list and scratching it off simultaneously. This totally made my day!

The list also includes quotes from Madonna, Obama, The Pope, Hillary, Edie Windsor and Elton, just to name a few. I am sure Obama and The Pope both tweeted about how they made this list alongside me as well.

Check out the whole list by clicking right here.