Susan Hwang

So, can I blame it on planetary alignment when I look down after the first song in our CD release set, and I see some of my areola peeking out from my dress?  We can’t control these things, but it was the second time I’d ever flashed an audience.   This was the first time with my breasts, but once I was sitting down at a keyboard in Tompkins Square Park, and I flashed the East Village from under my American Apparel jersey knit dress.  Another time, I was on the train and noticed the buttons on my shirt dress were unbuttoned to expose just my navel.  Another time, I walked a European guest across the trading floor while my skirt was tucked into my tights the whole time.  So my unintended exhibitionism was all very fitting for the release of a CD titled “An Awkward Time with The Debutante Hour.”  We really lived up to the name of our CD last night.  There were uke and cello tuning competitions like 6 times and many lyric flubs, a call to sublimate (inspired thinking from Mia Pixley) and an amazingly awkward intro from Franz Nicolay highlighting all the the things that are neither here nor there over a yamaha keyboard rendition of “A Whole New World.”  It was just like what Nan Turner said during the beautiful Schwervon set–”Let It All Hang Out.”  So.. we had a good time (I got to groove on Eva’s transporting vocals with Choban Elektrik.  If anyone’s voice could teleport you, it’s Eva’s.  She should be harnessed as a green mobility option).  I heard there was a fight during our set and a girl stormed out after throwing a glass at some guy, but otherwise, most other folks had a good time.  Good and awkward.

I am still the Chris Gethard book fairy, in case you’re wondering.  I hear melodies and lyrics when I’m half asleep on the train… “If she won’t come to you… show her you’re Framsky…”  I know, it doesn’t make any sense to me either.  There are songs being written right now–brand new, A Bad Idea I’m About To Do songs being thought up, felt up, dreamed up right now.  How does anything happen???  I don’t know, but it does.  And things will happen at Goodbye Blue Monday on March 22nd at the Bushwick Book Club show.

Here’s a photo from last night taken by Amy Pearl who should have everything she wants:

His book is A Bad Idea I’m About To Do, and we’re about to do it for the next Bushwick Book Club.  I walk around this city with a couple paperback copies on me at all times.  If you’re looking to have one, you can just tackle me and pull them out of my blue canvas bag.  I’m leaving them at bars for songwriters, under their pillows, meeting them in back alleys or in front of office buildings to do the literary hand-off.  I’ve missed 2 train stops reading it, and I’ve had 2 dreams about it.  The show is March 22nd at Goodbye Blue Monday.  I have no idea what will happen, but it’s exciting to know something will happen.  If you’re curious, you should come out for the show.  Chris Gethard said he’d co-host with me and Sweet Soubrette.  See… anything can happen.

What else is happening is that The Debutante Hour is birthing a new CD!  The labor was intense for this one.  Each one is different, as you know.  This time around, we had Peter Hess producing, and we all had cravings for hot wings and chocolate (wait, we always have cravings for hot wings and chocolate).  The doulas were all our friends and supporters who donated so generously through our Kickstarter campaign.  The release show is THIS THURSDAY, the 15th at Littlefield in Brooklyn!

We’re going to be joined by amazing friends — Franz Nicolay (keys), Cecil Scheib (trombone), Jared (guitar), Butch and Nan (percussion), Karen Leblanc (saw), Jonathan Vincent (accordion/keys), Natalie Hung (big voice), Julie Delano and Leslie Graves (mesmerizing movements).  And the amazing Choban Elektrik (7:30pm) and big love Schwervon (8:30pm) will be opening!