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.

No Strings Attached

Despite the anti-valentine title, we assure you there will be plenty of love flowing at our upcoming show. We’ll be at Spike Hill in Williamsburg for the first time this winter. Our shows at Spike Hill can get pretty busy and the space is narrow, so be sure to come early to get a good spot!

No Strings Attached

This time around, we’ll be featuring some serious string action.

Speed Bump

Victory Gardens

Isaiah Gage

Mary Carter

Noise and Rhythm

There will be live dance by Jordan Morley, Breegan Kearney, Madison Krekel, Mary Carter and others!

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Remember that we also have shows coming up on the 23rd and 25th! End of february is busy! Check out our upcoming event page for more information!

 

Yet ANOTHER Dam Holiday?!

As if there wasn’t already enough holiday cheer in the air, the Hoover Dam Collective has resolved to add our own debaucherous seasonal flair to the mix with Yet Another Dam Holiday. (See multi-religion-embracing poster below)

Theo Boguzsewski’s rendition of the 12 days of Christmas says it all:

12 shots of whiskey
11 damsels dancing
10 whistlers whistling
9 vikings bouncing
8 sharks a leaping
7 orchestra bitches
6 chicks eating roses
5 hookers scheming
4 dudes in their pajamas
3 hipsters drumming
2 interns strumming
1 giant lemon (property of the Hoover Dam Collective)

This show will feature:

Pat Hull

Juliette Strong and Band

Lauren Elder

Bunk Bed

Live Comedy and Dance

Come out to Spike Hill on December 18th. You have to leave to see the family soon and you might as well get one last Brooklyn huzzah in before your grandma pinches your cheeks until you get psoriasis. (or before the world ends) Am i rite?

Attend the event on Facebook, friends.

 

Moving Forward – News and Upcoming Shows.

As you guys probably heard, the Hoover Dam Collective had to cancel our October 30th show at Spike Hill . In its place, we held  an impromptu jam show at The Launchpad on Franklin ave. We invited everyone with an instrument, had some drinks and danced around to “The Saints Go Marching On,” feeling grateful.

Theo Boguszewski said it better than I ever could:
“Simply having someplace to go and be among loved ones did wonders to counteract the instability that many of us were feeling and remind us all that, despite the physical losses, we are so lucky to have such a strong and accepting community. I am continually amazed by how art can bring us together in the most beautiful ways, and I think that Tuesday night left us feeling so fortunate to have an outlet to carry us through this tough time.”

Upcoming Shows

November 16th – Maybe. The hurricane messed everything up. Yea, it’s the hurricane’s fault. If not, it’s a party at Theo’s place.

December 18th – Spike Hill, Williamsburg.

 

Photos from LIC Bar

We hoped you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did! Big ups to Mother Nature for the perfect weather. She stole the show.

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