The BLAS: Making the world a better place one withheld sarcastic comment at a time.

STAPLE! was great. People seemed to dig our stuff, and we got lots of ideas for Blue Genie and the Web site and some new songs and some sewing projects and next year at STAPLE! and YouTube videos.... and how we should see one of those ideas through to fruition. (Awesome!) We also scored some great merch, like a copy of Bear Quest, from Zach Taylor (which is friggin' sweet), and two of Sam Hurt's mini prints (which are friggin' adorable.) Towards the end of everything, Litsa and I developed a pretty righteous girl-crush on this talented lady, and her uncanny ability to actually do all the things we claim to. (I know: that bitch!)

Yup, we BLAS had some good times. But looking back now, I think the most importat thing is that we learned something. You know, about ourselves, and what it really means to be a BLA. After the convention, we and our fellow ASG-ers went to Barfly's (our natural habitat) and had an honest talk. Litsa and I decided that it's time for the BLAS to start giving back to the community that has given us so much. We're gonna try a few little things at first, but I'm hoping they'll snowball into much more. For example, Litsa has vowed to no longer give thankless dirt-rockers at Thuderdird Coffee carrot cake they don't even appreciate. And I've decided to stop mocking those inspirational billboards. Some of which, are totally asking for it. Exhibit A:

[shudders]

Cause I take two things from this:

1. It's okay to pun on the terminally ill, as long as you "swear it's for a good cause."
2. You won't win, but be optimistic, you jerk!
   

STAPLE!

The BLAS are busily preparing for STAPLE!, and it’s going great! I got a little over zealous and attempted a screen-printing design far beyond my skill, which wasn’t hard as I’m a total screeprinting noob. I’m not too worried though. I plan on coping with any criticism about my registration the same way I cope with all my life’s misadventures: deflect and deny. In this case, I see it going down like this...

STAPLE-goer: Hey these look great. How long have you been screen-printing?
Ashley: Why? You think I suck?!
STAPLE-goer: No, no. Not at all. The design is cool. And I like the colors, but the registration looks a little off. You know what could help—
Ashley: No I meant to do that.
STAPLE-goer: Oh... cool. Yeah, of course. I mean—
Ashley: Maybe my design is just too innovative and edgy for you.
STAPLE-goer: ...Pardon?
Ashley: Think about it.
STAPLE-goer: ...
Ashley [nodding]: ...
[scene.]

I’m sure it will go over well.

Litsa, our beloved keyboardist, has been pulling her weight by binding books, writing comics, printing shirts, and researching the extent of our brand’s market penetration. Turns out we not only have our own all-boy cover band, we also have our own annual Gaelic festival (with three exciting new venues), and a vacation local in Florida. Man, the sky really IS the limit.

All right BLASnians: keep the dream alive, and we’ll see you this Saturday!

Blas fans post tribute sites

This week Ashley did a search for BLAS and was surprised to discover an awesome fan site, BLAS FAQ.

In Ashley's words

This page is COVERED in mistakes. (And I can't find the edit functionality or where I add my references.)

...What are the BLAS? Answer: Awesome.
Where are the BLAS? Answer: Masquerading as muffins—busily crocheting, weaving, and sewing.

I did my own google search, and found a site in which really well photographed, beautiful young folk jump around on BMXs. I guess they knew that the Blas loves bikes! Thanks, Beautiful Bike and Blas Fans!

The Blas takes a turn, and then another turn

BLAS the band rocked solidly for a little over a month. In that time, we rocked the socks off of our imaginary fans. It didn't take a computer in the basement named Synergy to do it; we created a rock and roll empire by the power of our minds alone.

But then we got busy. And then we took a turn for the muffin.

Muffin Club was assembled for the Biblical Proportions art show. With a couple birch boards, enough spray paint to feed all the hungry children on earth, exacto knives, and file folders, we came up with this:

...I have a photo of the final thing somewhere. Hold on...

Ah ha!

That was fun.

Anyway, we went down that detour and now Blas is... gettin' all grannyfied. At least 75% of us took up crocheting. In other words, we abandoned our instruments in favor of playing the yarn and needles. And we're looking into coffee shop venues for our next gig.

And yet, playing the yarn and needs is not as satisfying (to me, anyway) as playing the piano. *Sigh*.

Litsa's Party of Dreamz II

In Litsian tradition, I am celebrating my birthday Dreamz style.

Last year involved making hula hoops out of plastic pipe and electrical tape. We showcased our creations by running around a commercial street and flash-hula-hooping for the folks inside the buildings.

It was pretty awesome.

This year all I want for my birthday is telephone wire. Used telephone wire. Lots of it.

This is in preparation for Litsa's Party of Dreams III, which I'm planning for the end of March. I recently acquired a large inheritance - about 200 pink, GE-issued phones that were probably new when I was born.

Okay, so the next plan of action is clear: I a to erect a telemountain. This mountain will be momentous, and as such, I feel it appropriate to throw in a splash of ritualistic tribalism. Hence the wire. At Litsa's Party of Dreams III, my guests will ornament their bodies with telephone wire, paint and decorate the phones, and carry them in a grand procession: the telephone parade!



If you know me, you're invited. =D

Blythe Land

By Litsa

Blythe left a small painting at my house. I've been staring at it, and I'm beginning to understand its meaning, so I think.

A beautiful white cat-like creature stands peacefully in a kelly-green meadow. Tiny flowers, four cup shaped and two saucer, grow around the gentle beast. A sparkling blue stream trickles across the canvas, pooling in the lower right corner. A small orange fish jumps above the water's surface.

Perhaps the white creature represents Blythe herself, a quiet, graceful being that associates with hoodlums, loudly colored wild flowers. Perhaps the flowers, pink, yellow, and orange represent the other BLAS.

The stream separates the yellow ones from the cat and other flowers. Are the yellow flowers creepy? Is it possible that once again I am the creepy mustard?

The orange flowers grow on the shore of the pond near the fish of the same color. These flowers are undoubtedly Ashley since she is a pieces.

Finally, the pink flowers, more like a dark magenta, are radiant with their glittery nail polish top coat. Clearly they are Sarah, lovely and charming.

Oh, I just noticed another orange figure at the bottom of the painting, in the pond. Is this a fish or a flower? Oh frustration. I just don't know. Sigh.

BLAS Blankets

By Litsa

Christmas is almost here. The band, with the exception of Sarah who's touring Canada, gathered to craft Christmas gifts for our most die-hard fans. In a recent DL style debate between friend of the BLAS, Luke and Ashley, it was decided that ashtrays were an appropriate gift for our younger audience members. The rest of our fan club would receive hand-sewn teddy bears.

Not surprisingly, the BLAS are too rock and roll to follow sewing patterns. Instead, a prototype was made from the rump cut of extra large womens underwear. The stuffed object resembled a penguin more than a teddy bear, so we rolled with it. Unfortunately, our tacky glue had gone bad and had a pretty righteous odor to it. Chanel No. 5 was sprayed on the pantie penguin to mask the smell, but the resulting fragrance was old lady.

Unsure if the awesomeness of the prototype could be reproduced, the band decided that our fans could not possibly appreciate it for its worth anyway. The glue was thrown away, and the bears will be made of glacier fleece.

In related news, I just made and consumed stir-fry with tofu gone sour. I'm nervous.