the result of The Big Red House Basement Show ...

The Big Red House Basement show was incredibly successful! It left me feeling filled up with all great and lovely things.

I got the opportunity to meet and greet new faces along with familiar ones. Everyone there was incredibly helpful and supportive--and created an atmosphere that was giving and fun. I had an absolute blast. What a positive experience!

Since I felt so comfortable there, I could really use my voice as an instrument. The environment helped me to "go with the flow" and use my voice as i saw fit in the moment. It really was a fun experience. Speaking to the audience in between songs was something else. I had so much fun trying to make everyone laugh.

Leah Anton and The Rusty Borealis were inspiring.

Leah is strong but humble. I really enjoyed watching her become lost in her own songs with pride and strength. She is something else on that guitar. I intently watched her fingers move from fret to fret. I would imagine how she wrote those songs. Her voice reminded me a lot of a musician from California named Misty O'Dell. There were parts of Leah's songs that had a bit of the blues hidden in there....man, I wish I could see her perform again! What a bad ass. That's something I look up to in her--she is real tough--but incredibly kind, accepting and comforting at the same time.

Rusty Borealis rocked my socks off. I asked them if they had any recordings--and they are in the process. I am insanely excited to have their cd in my hands in the future. I would suggest you check them out, but it seems they do not have a myspace music page or anything similar. If you're in Marquette and hear of them playing, do yourself a favor and attend their next show.

Mark VandenBosch and I danced our feet off in the low ceiling basement--and didn't give a care how contorted our bodies had to be to do it. You just had to dance to it, no matter what you had to do to make it happen. I laughed often and when I wasn't, a smile substituted. What a great time.

I'm really enjoying performing these days. I am becoming more comfortable and confident. My favorite part of it all is meeting people before, during and afterwards. I am grateful for these opportunities and am looking forward to what the future has in store, no matter what it is!

I contracted an alien virus in my nasal cavities. it's taking over my brains.

love,
mary mugford