A Blue State of Christmas

The Hoover Dam Collective made a Christmas album!

Click below to listen 


Album Artwork: Breegan Kearney 

Around this time last year, we were all walking around in circles, trying to make sense of what the fuck had just happened in our country. That infiltrating dread collided with run-of-the-mill seasonal depression, and somehow what emerged was a show of sad Christmas songs at LIC Bar, just before the inauguration of Donald J Trump as the 45th president of the United States. Thus, A Blue State of Christmas.

Why feel sad around the holidays? Well, people feel sad all year round; it’s just part of being human. But feeling sad around the holidays somehow feels that much more potent.

Maybe it’s the expectation that we should be cheerful and gay that makes it that much harder to actually feel that way. The holidays can often serve as a reference point for holidays past, and we reflect back on the love and the loved ones we’ve lost; everything looks better through nostalgia’s rose-tinted glasses. 

Or maybe it’s the dismal comparison of our lives against these glistening images and ideas we’ve been spoon-fed since youth: bustling family dinners, Christmas trees stacked high with presents, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, ice skating hand in hand with a sweetheart at Rockefeller Center, kissing under the mistletoe.

But life isn’t always as exciting as Billy Crystal rushing in just as the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve to tell you he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. Sometimes it’s sitting at home alone, contemplating how to write a Christmas card to a former lover. Sometimes it’s walking in at dawn to find your partner passed out drunk on the floor, or getting back to your apartment after a night of binge drinking and random sex to find that your keys are gone and so is all of your money.

Regardless, feeling sad around this time of year is the saddest feeling of all. But when people feel feelings, that’s when they make art, and often the stronger the feelings, the better the art. So here’s a collection of truly great songs about feeling sad around the holidays.

A Blue State of Christmas : 

Please Come Home for Christmas

Performed by Bad Faces: Barry Komitor (guitar, vocals), Brian Stollery (bass), Ethan Kogan (drums)

Written and originally recorded by The Eagles

“For the band’s contribution to the album, we chose the classic “Please Come Home For Christmas”, because Theo told me it was her favorite.” – Barry Komitor

River

Performed by Bears of Alaska: Lauren Peters-Collaer (vocals) and Sean Ryan (vocals, guitar)

Written and originally recorded by Joni Mitchell

“There are very few things I have in common with my 17-year-old self, but my love for Joni Mitchell is one of them. This song reminds me of making bread in my pajamas on Thanksgiving morning with the cold November air seeping into the warm kitchen, listening to ‘Blue’ over and over again. No one knows sad like Joni.” – Theo Boguszewski

“Joni Mitchell + Sadness + Christmas is a truly unbeatable combination, so this song was a clear winner in our minds. We especially resonate with the line, “I’m so hard to handle, I’m selfish and I’m sad,” on account of how selfish and sad we are.” – Bears of Alaska

1913 Massacre

Performed by Christian Apuzzo

Written and originally recorded by Woody Guthrie

“1913 Massacre is a ballad written by Woody Guthrie that was penned after reading about a disaster in which seventy three people were trampled to death during a Christmas Eve holiday party. The party was for striking miners in Calumet, Michigan and among the dead were 59 children. There is an ongoing debate about the cause of the disaster. The party took place on the second floor of a hall with a single exit down a steep set of stairs and when someone falsely yelled “fire” it caused the stampede. In the song, Woody asserts this tragedy was the result of a practical joke played on hard working men, women and children. The song has been covered by many, most notably Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and even inspired the tune for Bob Dylan’s own song “Song to Woody” – Christian Apuzzo/ Cole Rotante

My Christmas Bonus

“My Christmas Bonus was written by my very good friend Simon Scott, one of my favorite people I’ve ever known. Unfortunately, Scotty, as he was known to many of his friends, lost a battle with cancer a couple of years ago. He was a year older than me, and I always thought of him as my English twin. As he lay dying in Bellevue, I got up the nerve to learn this song. I had recorded a solo version of him singing it, and remembered all of the lyrics from the first time I heard them. I showed up at the hospital and sheepishly pulled out my guitar and began to play it, and he lit up. He had lost the physical ability to play, and I got the sense it meant a lot to him to hear his music. As his health deteriorated, I returned to play it for him a few more times before he passed, and those were the only times during the end of his life that I saw him happy. I now carry the song as an homage to him and to the power of music and friendship. That power extended itself further when this song helped establish and deepen the bond between myself and Theo Boguszewski, who lost her younger brother Dante to the same disease. I am so honored and thankful to Theo for including me, my band Bad Faces, and especially this song on this album.” – Barry Komitor

“One of my first memories of my friendship with Barry was the conversations that we had when he was dealing with the reality of his friend Scotty’s battle with cancer. This song hit me really hard the first time I heard it. To me, it’s about dealing with loss, and trying to seek solace in something outside of yourself. Ultimately this always falls flat, and there’s the moment when you’re forced to deal with yourself – metaphorically, you find yourself sitting alone in your apartment trying to figure out what the hell happened last night and where all your money went. It’s absolutely devastating.” -Theo Boguszewski

Written by Simon Scott

Performed by Barry Komitor (vocals, guitar), Brian Stollery (bass) and Ethan Kogan (drums)

So Much Wine

“When I listen to music, lyrics are one of the last things I hear. But this Handsome Family song struck me right away because it’s so relatable. I’ve got a particular person in mind each time I sing this. The song isn’t exactly about Christmas, but captures the not-so-pleasant parts of caring for someone who’s struggling, especially around the holidays.” – Barbara Ely

Performed by Barbara Ely (vocals) and Sam Werbalowsky (banjo)

Originally written and performed by: The Handsome Family

All The Best

“I discovered John Prine’s Christmas album one Christmas a few years back, as I was in the process of screen-printing Christmas cards, a yearly ritual. The thing about the holidays is, they really do make us realize how much love and warmth and community surrounds us, but they also have a tendency to bring back painful reminders of the love we’ve lost.  Most of us have been in a position of having to send a courtesy holiday card (or an email, text, etc) to someone who has hurt us. Without fail, there’s a much longer and more involved note that we want to write, but usually end up signing off on some nicety, like “wishing you well,” or “all the best.”

This song embodies the brilliance of John Prine; it is heart-wrenching in its simplicity as he takes on an emotional situation with ease and humor.” – Theo Boguszewski

Performed by Jasper Lewis (vocals, guitar) and Theo Boguszewski (vocals)

Originally written and performed by John Prine

The Christmas Song

“Though I’m not religious, the holidays are a great time to check in with friends and family, enjoy delicious food, and play music together.  I learned this tune for my friend Gordon whose family hosts an annual Christmas Party; he sings this one year round despite not knowing past the opening line.  I recorded it live with a minimal setup to emulate the 10pm cozy Christmas Eve couch feeling.” – Alex Mackinnon

Performed by Alex Mackinnon (guitar, vocals)

Written by Bob Wells and Mel Torme

Originally recorded by The Nat King Cole Trio

I’ll be Home for Christmas

“I’ll be Home for Christmas captures the longing of someone who is away from their family on the holidays.  I always loved this song for the way the melody so perfectly reinforces the message in the lyrics.  Written and recorded in the early 40s, this song resonated with soldiers overseas in World War Two and their families back at home.  It is a song that has never lost its relevance, although sometimes we wish it would.” – Jasper Lewis

Performed by Jasper Lewis (vocals, guitar)

Written by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, Buck Ram

Originally recorded by Bing Crosby

Christmas in Prison

” I was stumped to pick a song when Theo suggested Christmas in Prison.  On my first listen, it instantly resonated with me.  Mr Prine writes about a Christmas spent alone in prison and while he tries to make the best of the holiday, his longing for his love never leaves him.  Definitely a blue song for Christmas.” – Justin Kirk

Performed by Justin Kirk ( (guitar, harmonica, lead vocals) and Theo Boguszewski (fiddle)

Originally written and performed by John Prine

Everyday’s a Holiday

“This song was written specifically for this compilation. A week before the recording date, Sean McVerry came over just to hang out. I asked him if he wanted to write a song while he was over, and in three hours, this is what turned up.

The narrator in the song is a guy who used to be too cool for Christmas and other societal norms, but now suddenly finds himself in a big house with a wife and kids and dogs and a new sensation bordering on contentment.”- Andy Roninson

“Andy and I wrote “Everyday’s a Holiday” from the perspective of a person coming to terms with just how fast life moves after a certain point. I think the holidays (with their usual traditions) can serve as kind of a control group in life – while every year is different, the holidays are always at least somewhat similar and uniform.

I think because of that fact, the holidays can offer a time to reflect on how pieces of your life have changed, whether it be minor things or waking up and suddenly having a wife and a family. I do think inherently the song can come across as almost bitter about that, but that wasn’t really our intention. The character in “Everyday’s a Holiday” has lived fast and perhaps lost track of where they’ve been going, but it’s possible where they’ve ended up isn’t all that bad.” – Sean McVerry

Performed by Sean McVerry (vocals, guitar) and Andy Roninson (keyboard)

Written and originally recorded by Sean McVerry and Andy Roninson

HDC Presents: ThawOut!

Do you hear me New York? Thaw the f*@! out!

Seriously, can this winter be over yet?

Inevitably, Spring will come. In Bushwick, celebrate the figurative arrival of everyone’s favorite flowery season with The Hoover Dam Collective on Thursday,  April 2nd. This show, the sequel to last year’s FallOut, is another amazing collaboration with Nat Osborn Band and ChristinaNoel and The Creature.

The venue is called Max Cellar, and it’s located in the lower level of Amancay’s Diner. It’s “snazzy” and new and comes complete with an eccentric owner and spin the bottle. Rest assured, you will feel hip coming to this venue.

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Show Deets:

Thursday April 2nd, 2015. Doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8 and goes really late y’all. Um, by the way, it’s FREE, so go ahead and GET that extra slice of pepper jack on your veggie burger cause you can spare the funds now. Yas.

Some of the Fabulous Artists:

DOUGMORE

Nick Horner Family

The Pocket Tonics

The Whistleblowers

Nat Osborn

ChristinaNoel & the Creature

Maya Orchin

Laurel Snyder

Chafin Seymour

 

The Adorbs Flier

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Come on, fans, there’s no reason not to come!

 

NYC > DEN

On February 28th, I’m leaving New York City for Colorado after living in Brooklyn for almost 5 years.

This “goodbye” themed blog post was shaping up to be difficult to write. How do I express my feelings about bidding adieu to the Hoover Dam and leaving this city that has been my home without sounding like a midwestern-gentrifying-art-collective-photographer-white-girl-dancer-chick-dumbass? After working for a while on writing a bunch of garbage – the phrase “As the pioneering female aviator Beryl Markham wrote” was actually used in that draft – I took a break to work on packing up my things.  As I was cleaning my bathroom cabinet I found a card from my tarot deck stuck under some old toiletries. It was the Three of Cups.

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I know what you’re thinking: “The Three of Cups? I know that place – lower east side italian tavern, right? It was so good that I was worried it may not actually be gluten free and fret a lil’ that I would begin to look 8 months pregnant and start getting nausea with a headache in about 15 minutes after my first slice. But nope! It was legit!” (Taken from an actual yelp review)

Hear me out on this – sure, people take Tarot way too seriously. Old ladies can scam you out of your hard-earned Jacksons spewing crap that they think you want to hear. But one of my little idiosyncrasies is that I believe in the power of the Tarot. They’re just a set of cards that represent archetypes of human experience that are so universal that our homeboys and girls were relating to them way back in the 16th century.

The Three of Cups (in my deck) features three maidens dancing, toasting each other joyously with some boss looking chalices, their hair blowing in the wind, going all out. They are literally wearing pointe shoes. The card represents celebration, friendship, creativity, and community. This is a victory card, readers. When it comes up in your life, it means “hold on for a sec – stop getting all freaked out, don’t worry. Go to a bar with some friends, have a banquet, talk and reminisce, you are going to have a great time.” This is the Hoover Dam Card.

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I helped found the Hoover Dam Collective 5 years ago at my alma mater, Purchase College with my roommates. Our apartment, affectionately named the Hoover Dam, always had an open door, and people came and went as they pleased. We were a late night hang out, a place for musings and music and philosophical discussions and drunken karaoke renditions of Kiss from a Rose. We have since infused that energy into all of our shows, creating a space for everyone to share and talk to each other. In this city, where everyone lives in a different neighborhood, sometimes several hours of commute in between us, we need a way to come together.

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I am so proud of all of the artists that have performed in our shows. I wish I could give all of the shout outs that exist right now. Some of my talented friends are so successful I can’t even believe it. Some used The Hoover Dam Collective as a testing ground for a new set, a new art form, a vessel for going out on a limb. Now those same people are killing it out there in the world. I heard you and you on NPR, I saw you and you on TV, in that music video, you during that live show. But I can’t give shout outs now, not just because I might accidentally leave someone out or because there are just too many of you amazing people, but also because you all don’t need me to call out your successes. You’re all doing just fine on your own. Those of you who think you haven’t hit success yet, have you played a Hoover Dam show? Boom. That’s it. You’ve made it in my eyes. To all artists that have performed with the HDC –  know that I’m always paying attention and I’m thrilled with your triumphs, even if I’m all the way in Colorado.

Also, everyone should become super famous so that I can be a cool old lady that is like “Oh yes, I remember when I lived in New York, back when it wasn’t halfway underwater, and so and so performed a private concert for me and my friend at some crappy irish bar in the Village. Those were the days…”

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On Tuesday night I am bringing the abundance of joyous energy that this Three of Cups card portrays to the Hoover Dam Collective show at Muchmore’s. I want to say goodbye to all of you, but not by getting sappy and quoting stuffy female aviators. I’m going to be saying goodbye while smiling and dancing and holding up some boss looking chalice and toasting “To The Hoover Dam!”

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Ask yourself the important question – I may never see the lovely and incredible Breegan again. Is that worth 10 dollars to me? If so, see you there friend.

Facebook Event.

Impressions of ChristinaNoel and the Creature presents: “‘Murica'”

By Theo Boguszewski

The world premiere of ChristinaNoel and the Creature’s “‘murica” showcases choreographer ChristinaNoel Reaves’ signature brand of dance theater. Her unique assortment of flavors challenges, entertains, and ultimately points to a new road for the future of dance.

The piece opens to reveal Jeremy “Jae” Neal slowly circling the stage; the simplicity of his presence immediately captures our attention. From offstage and in the balcony, the sound of humming envelopes us; the cast’s vocalizations comprise the score for the first section of the piece. The regal Joanna Futral, using simple, angular movements that display incredible control, joins Neal. Aristocratic looking in long skirts and high necked leotards, their sensuous opening duet wavers between conflict and tenderness.

Reaves proves that she is more than a choreographer; she is a composer too. Her company consists of incredible dancers who can act and make music. Periodically, these performers accompany themselves by speaking and sustaining long notes. In a raucous canon performed by the full cast, the dancers stomp their feet along with flamenco-inspired hand motions, chanting in canon “you like me, you love me, you want me.”

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It is impossible not to notice the camaraderie amongst the group; they enjoy moments of improv comedy just as much as the audience. Neal issues a starling scream, and the entire cast scatters. In a gestural assertion of his manliness, Neal grabs Futral and dramatically dips her. “These are the rules of the game,” Neal announces. Some take him seriously. Others don’t. The proclamation leads to an entertaining series of mini skits evoking a modern version of the founding fathers, struggling to piece together rules for the governing of their new land.

Themes of individuality versus group allegiance (harkening back to the title “‘murica”) proliferate. Liz Beres performs a wild and indulgent solo, accompanying herself with vocalizations; one by one the others take notice and begin to chastise her for defying the group: “Liz, what are you doing?” “Liz, this is just crazy.”

The work constantly wavers between calm and chaos. Peaceful, holy music soon dissipates into heavy rock. Following a pedestrian moment, the cast mutates from humans into sensuous creatures, crawling, lunging, swiping, and gliding. “murica” juxtaposes formality and eccentricity. Reaves, deadpan and serious, appears to recite lyrics in a foreign language. Tara Nicholas performs a flamboyant voguing solo, circling her hips and chanting a catchy song.

 The dancers extend their arms behind their heads in a recurring gesture, which bears resemblance to angel wings. As the lights dim, an angelic hum is the only lingering shadow of the performance that occurred. Throughout the piece we see the cast make the transition back and forth between ethereal saints, flawed mortals, and raw creatures. It’s between these extremes that Reaves has found something that feels true to the human condition.


Impressions of: ChristinaNoel and the Creature Present: “‘Murica”

Choreographed by: ChristinaNoel Reaves and Dancers

Presented by: The Irondale

Performed by: ChristinaNoel Reaves, Liz Beres, Joanna Futral, Yeman Brown, Sean Hatch, Jeremy “Jae” Neal, Tara Nicholas, Gautam Nima, Rami Shafi

Lighting design: Adam Greene Costumes: Anastasia Meredith-Goujon and Vita Tzykun

Music: Primus, Fleet Foxes, This Will Destroy You, and original vocal compositions by ChristinaNoel Reaves

Once More at Muchmore’s

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The Hoover Dam Collective is back at one of our favorite Williamsburg hangs. We’re trying to catch everyone pre Holiday madness, although the show is kicking off on the first day of Chanukah. If you can get away from the shopping, trip-planning, and general chaos, join us for a little merriment.

We will be featuring music by

Dustin Carlson
Noelle Tannen and the Filthy No-Nos
Bad Faces

Dance by:

Maya Orchin
Holly Heidt
Megan Bascom & Dancers

Poetry by:

Carlos Guillermo Gomez Marquez
Daniel Grjonko

Comedy by:

Nate Waggoner
Alicia Camden
Garrett Barnes

The show will take place on Tuesday, December 16th from 9pm to midnight. Cover is $5 at the door.

Much love from the HDC!

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Thanks to everyone who attended our show at LIC bar in Queens!
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