Kings Barcade of My Heart

Last week, I performed on the stage at Kings' Barcade in Raleigh twice. It was a great week. :) I was in Raleigh's second annual community production of the Vagina Monologues, which appeared at Kings on Saturday the 10th along with the fantastic band The Ex-Members and the delicious Athens Boys Choir. Freakin' awesome. (Photo at right: Schmitty does a fabulous Jewish spinster pining for Burt Reynolds. Looking on are Amy, Robyn, me, and Nicole. Taken by AbbyLadyBug.) Then, I got to perform in the 8th annual Love Hangover on Thursday the 15th, something I've dreamed of doing since I first saw the Love Hangover with Michelle two years ago. (Thanks to Google, I just learned that Love Hangover was actually a Diana Ross song. Sweet!) To make matters even sweeter, I shared the bill that night with two of the Tres Chicas, Caitlin Cary and Lynn Blakely, along with Scott Phillps (Goner), Peter Holsapple (The dB's), not to mention my actual duet partner, Roger Gupton (Hotel Lights). He sure does play purty. So, you can see why my little self (of various informal, unsigned, and unpaid projects) was feeling quite honored and lucky to be there. (Photo below: Roger and I performing in The Love Hangover. Taken by AbbyLadyBug.)

Kings Barcade is a pretty incredible place. Recently, the owners of Kings' building agreed to sell the property to the city so that it can be bulldozed to make way for a new parking deck. Kings' has to be out by early April. It's soon! Ugh. Kings is looking for a new home, and I hope they find one, because they're a really important institution in Raleigh. They are one of those easy going places where everyone knows your name - probably once the standard for Raleigh, it's starting to feel rare. They have several annual events that are simply not to be missed - Barrister's Ball, The Great Cover Up, The Love Hangover, New Year's Eve. They are that venue where you hear the bands that change your life for the first time, because they're just the right in between size to draw bands who are dazzlingly talented, but still a bit underground, just on the cusp of going big time. I heard Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings for the first time by accident one Sunday night at Kings - great fucking surprise! I heard The Avett Brothers for the first time there, Dexter Romweber, The Corey Parker Band (with Maceo Parker!), Melvin Sparks (Melvin Sparks is THE BOMB), Des Ark....Logical Sound Discovery! Holy cow. And I haven't even lived here that long!

Thank you, Kings! May you find a fantastic new space, and soon.


Photo above of Kings' Barcade taken 2/15/07 at the Love Hangover by AbbyLadyBug.