The Hare Hat

Christmas, Snuggies for super tall people, and books about THE DANCE

2010-01-03T23:08:00.000-08:00

Alright, so I got that crappy flu thing over Christmas, which really sucked, since one of my favorite songwriter friends, Stephen Michael Schwartz, led a Christmas sing-a-long after dinner at my house, and I couldn't really join in.....aargh... However, my lovely sister Bev, who, even while preggers somehow looks disturbingly like Heidi Klum, gave me the Patrick Swayze book, "Time of my Life", for Christmas, which made me feel much better. I read that thing in two days wrapped in my White Elephant gift (a snuggie - which was clearly made for people over 6 feet tall... I have to hold that thing like a ball gown up off the floor as to not completely wipe out....) from Christmas Eve. May I mention now that this years white elephant game was so viciously terrific? It almost got violent over the Obama Chia Pet.

Ok, back to Patrick and his book. We love him, "Dirty Dancing" even happened to be on TV while I was reading it, so I got swirled into a multi-media Swayze blitz. Fine with me. Brave guy. Seriously. That is not a disease you wish on your worst enemy. And, kudos to Lisa Niemi for upholding her husbands image and dignity. She is one classy lady. The book is polite and lovely and strong and inspiring, and, well, Patrick was a ballet dancer. He had me at plie.....

So, after I gobbled up that book, I carefully (as not to wipe out in my snuggie for Amazons)

walked to the bookshelf, and fetched "Dancing on my Grave" by Gelsey Kirkland, which my Mom gave me when I was a non-hip moving, tight bun wearing, 5 nights a week cecchetti ballet student. I clearly didn't read it then, and, thank god! Let's see, drugs, sex and Baryshnikov... juicy reading now, but, when your 12.... 13? I do believe someone forgot to peruse the pages before gifting it to a pre-teen. Kirkland all but gives operating instructions on the multitude of ways to get coke into your blood stream....anyway, I've trucked that book from Detroit to New York to multiple apartments and houses in Los Angeles, so, I figured I should read it. And, I'm so glad I did!!! It truly is great, intelligent, poetic, brutally honest reading (I NEVER give true spoilers, so, forget it). She is so open about everything and everyone around her, it's startling. I hope she's got some friends left...

"Dancing" was published in 1986, and the main theme still holds true: Women are "difficult" or "bitches" or "problematic" while daring to use their voice. Hopefully, sometime in the near future, those words will be replaced with "strong", "smart", "forward thinking", and "Love her! She challenges us to expand and not settle!". A girl sure can wish........

SIN COMING IN on MELROSE PLACE tonight!

2009-11-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

I love these MELROSE PLACE people. Once again, a song of mine will be on an upcoming episode and I must admit, it's incredibly satisfying..... since these ditties came out this head o' mine.....

Tonight's episode features the song "Sin Coming In", which was released on darkblueworld's THE HARRATT SESSIONS. SESSIONS was written on Harratt St., in W. Hollywood, with my bandmate, Paul Andrews, a few years back. We were on quite a roll, receiving airplay in Los Angeles, and appearing on a Joe Jackson tribute album, DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS, and recording the song "Elenore" for that same labels Turtles tribute album, which, unfortunately didn't get released. (It's a cool recording, and one of these days I'll post it as a free download.) Yes, all was well, until Paul, being British and all, had to head back to the U.K., and, as they say, the rest is history. So, our short, creative time together lives on at itunes and amazon, and apparently, now, on MELROSE PLACE! Thank you Melrose music dept., and ALL of the fantastic team that supports my music. You are incredible people.

INTO YOUR HEART on MELROSE PLACE tonight!

2009-09-29T16:57:00.001-07:00

Well, what do ya know? A song that I wrote and recorded with Chris Johnson (Evanescence) awhile back will be featured on tonight's episode of MELROSE PLACE. It's a very personal song about not letting someone you love know how much you care before it's too late, and I'm glad that it will be out in the world! Big Fish Music is distributing it everywhere, so it's available at all the usual suspects of online retailers. The cover art was photographed and designed by the wonderful Brian Perkins out of New Orleans, beautiful Shan Williams did hair/makeup, while styling was executed by the nonstop fun duo of Casey Bundick and Jodi James. The three of these talents were my "glam squad" for a few films I shot in Louisiana, and we had a great time shooting! I hope you enjoy the episode and, of course, the song!

xx HMM

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF AWESOME!

2009-09-13T19:04:00.000-07:00

CLOUDY LOOKS PRETTY DARN SUNNY TO ME!

Ok, Ok... I realize I could be slightly partial about how brilliant this film is, since it was produced by my sister, Pam Marsden, and features the talented voice work of my bro-in-law, Pete Siragusa, however, I couldn't possibly be that partial, since I alone could not make it #1 at the box office ALL WEEKEND!!

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS

is simply awesome! Great, smart, underdog heros, cool 3-D effects, hilarious performances (what a come-back for Mr. T!), and Benjamin Bratt (who, embarrassingly for me, was literally standing (unbeknownst to moi) 1/4 of an inch from my shoulder while my sister and I were loudly ooh-ing and ahh-ing over him) in a role where you'd least expect him. How simply wonderful is that? (Not the open mouth, insert foot Benjamin Bratt moment, the movie part). I must admit, however, that while watching the movie I did find myself wanting to eat everything that fell from the sky.... That definately wouldn't have a pretty result...

Pictured to the left is 4 out of the 5 Marsden girls, Pete in the middle, and lots of smart and talented nephews. Nothing like a family reunion at a film premiere! CONGRATS PAM!!!!

SO, THIS IS LOVE drops August 11, 2009!

2009-08-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

I'm really thrilled. My little tiptoe into jazz will be released and available everywhere August 11, 2009. It's a hard left turn than what I usually put out. There are no rock guitars, but a gorgeous piano courtesy of Chris Rhyne, on what feels like a late night stroll through some different colors of love. I hope you guys enjoy this romantic fare, and I make your "romantic evening" playlist!!

ONCE AGAIN TO ZELDA

2009-07-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

So last week I was strolling through the bookstore and found this enticing book..... remember reading books instead of the internet? Oh, how I love paper and ink and carefully constructed sentences... unlike the ones I compose.... Anywho! I came across this interesting little ditty called "Once Again to Zelda: The stories behind literature's most intriguing dedications." And I must say, it's not only intriguing, but delish! Marlene Wagman-Gellar is a genius for thinking of researching dedications. We're talking some seriously juicy stuff here, people! From Ayn Rand dedicating "Atlas Shrugged" to her husband and to her lover, to Lewis Carroll's disturbing dedication to the 12 year old real life Alice, to Boris Pasternak's romantic real life story behind "Dr. Zhivago", this book is one of my new faves. Quick, easy, interesting and stellar. So, if your birthday is coming up, well, you know what you're getting!

Location, Location, Location (2 films in 3 months)

2009-05-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am in Louisiana. (working on film #1, the psychological thriller, "Terror Trap" with David James Elliott, Jeff Fahey, and myself). To be exact, I just left a quaint and tiny town, Donaldsonville. I'm talking one horse town, except I didn't see any horses. I did have an uninvited cockroach (southern style as opposed to the NY kind) in my bed, and etouffe on just about every plate ordered. (The pix to the right was my gorgeous b+ b.. I had half the whole top floor - that's my porch on top- to myself). There was also the kindest of people at the River Road African American History museum (http://www.africanamericanmuseum.org/index.html), and the Donaldsonville museum itself, whose storefront is dressed with female mannequins in 1950's gear sporting every kind of homemaker cleaning utensil possible. I would not have fared well in 1950's Donaldsonville.

I have now been transported to Baton Rouge (Film #2 - the army one with Kevin Sorbo, Bokeem Woodbine myself, my gun, Ruby, and a fun cast of talented testosterone). Hey! My job is glamorous! My hotel teeters on

the edge of a 4 lane highway with no cross walk and too many turn lanes. There is a mall and yummy restaurants taunting me from the OTHER side! Which means, what? Well, remember Frogger? Unfortunately, my frog went "splat" way too many times for me to be tempting fate with my own live-action frame. But, I digress. I must make it across. Jimmy Swaggert has his compound over there. Complete with more cameras in his church than on my film set. But, ha! Jimmy! You don't have the Red camera!

I tease, but, I do love Louisiana. I've filmed 3 movies here, now, and I love the sweet people, the beauty of the landscape, and the talent and creativity that comes out of some true artists that I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with. There's nothing more inspiring than going to a wrap party and seeing the prop guy (Dane Carmouche) and wardrobe stylist (Jodi!!) singing their asses off

onstage and not only well, but AMAZINGLY well!

So, here's a sweet tea to all the fun times and talented friends and

wonderful crews that I've had the pleasure of working with during my time filming in Louisiana. Can't wait to do it again!

The Wonderful, Wild Whites of West Virginia

2009-04-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce that my uber (uberly?) talented friend, Julien Nitzberg has a film premiering tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival!! The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia is described, well, wonderfully in the program notes for the festival, thanks to Genna Terranova:

"Tucked deeply in the hills of the Appalachian Mountains, the White family lives an existence more like something out of the Wild West than modern-day rural America. The legendary family is known as much for their disturbing and excessive ways as they are for their famous mountain tap dancing legacy, which includes living legend Jesco White (star of the PBS documentary Dancing Outlaw). From MTV Studios and executive producers Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine (Jackass), this edgy and often hilarious look into a dying breed of American outcasts exposes the powerful forces of corruption, poverty, and West Virginia's environmentally and culturally devastating coal mining culture. " - Genna Terranova

If you are in NY, get tix and see this thing! If not, I've posted a link at the end of this blog to the trailer, and I'm sure youtube is going to have clips posted faster than you can say "tap dancing outlaw" three times fast. It's an unbelievable doc, non-judgemental, and somehow heart warming.

Yours truly has the rockabilly inspired song "Double Dealin' Man" on the soundtrack produced by Phil Gough, in which the session was so much fun, I was crying I was laughing so hard. Magnificent players are on this track, including Alex Allessandro, pianist extraordinaire. Hopefully MTV will release a soundtrack for the film, so you can get the whole track as well as the other amazing songs penned by Mr. Rockabilly himself, Deke Dickerson. ENJOY!

http://www.jackassworld.com/blog/2009/04/21/the-wild-and-wonderful-whites-of-west-virginia-the-trailer/

SO, THIS IS LOVE...

2009-04-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

So, This is Love. What a statement. I didn't make it, originally, but, besides being the working title of my new music project, I'm actually experiencing love while working! Go figure! So, at the risk of needing to offer some ham with that cheese, here's some love going out to the people behind So, this is Love: Amazing jazz pianist and producer, Chris Rhyne (Jean-Luc Ponty, Randy Jackson, Santana), my musical partner in crime in the studio. The ever-trusting, uber talent of Steve Corn at Not Us Music, the label (Wow! So, you can be happy on a label! Go figure again!) this release will be under. The ever-believing Stephen Michael Schwartz who constantly watches out for me, and made sure Maestro Corn knew who I was in the first place. The support of Danny who's been bugging me to record jazz for awhile now after he made me sing at a jazz piano bar in Rome, at the piano at the renowned Emeril's Delmonico in New Orleans, and on stage with Bob French and his boys at d.b.a. in New Orleans (btw, their cd, Marsalis Music Presents Bob French, produced by Branford Marsalis, is delicious!). And, finally, The Nitzberg, loading up my arms with cds of other amazing jazz artists (and country!?) to feed my soul. (Sun Ra concert sometime soon?) So, This is Love. Ain't it cool? I think so.

SANTA ANITA DERBY DAY!!

2009-04-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Sat., April 4, I will be singing the National Anthem at Santa Anita Racetrack. It's Derby Day, which means there are pre-lim races for the Kentucky Derby, as well as 10 other Thoroughbred races, as well as a barbeque and live music in the inner circle. It should be a super fun day and I'm excited! Gates open at 10, first race is noon. See you at the winners circle!

ROAD TRIP!!

2009-03-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

Viggo hiking towards the Bell Rock vortex. He liked this one a lot.

Viggo runing from the Dinosaur. Yes, the 10 freeway also hosts a Dinosaur Museum...???

Ah, from the prehistoric to the future. Nothing like an alien parking a space ship in a Sedona parking lot to make me happy. And, of course, my favorite model, Viggo.

I love road trips. I repeat. I love road trips. Before video players were installed, there was important stuff to do in a car, like having day dreams about what I wanted to be when I grew up while whizzing past grazing cows on a drive through Michigan. I remember being a dorky, face-brace wearing 8th grader pining for that cute 9th grade saxophone player while smelling soy outside of Decatur, and memorizing lyrics to the song that knew exactly how I felt after stopping for cherries outside of Traverse City. Well, last week, I packed up my dog, Viggo, and headed Northeast for a destination wedding in Sedona. Did you know that you can get discount vitamins, a psychic reading, arts and craft supplies, a hand buzzer and the best beef jerky in the west all in one pepto-bismal pink painted shack? Well, you can! Along the 10 in Arizona. GPS it. I didn't get a pic of it, silly me, but I did photograph Viggo on his visit to "Ye Olde UFO Store!" Jealous, ain't ya?