By Crimson Kitten

DOLLSQUAD – Aleks (Bass Guitar)

CK: It's the bad-ass babes from Doll Squad! How are we ladies?
DS: Awesome, and really looking forward to playing the Red Bennies show!

CK: It looks like leather and long locks with the beehive is the uniform, right?
DS: Damn straight – you’ll always know when confronted with a Squad of Dolls!

CK: So can just anyone don the leather pants and rock like Doll Squad?
DS: I dunno, can they?!

CK: Where did the musical talents come from for each of you?
DS: We each have different musical backgrounds, but fundamentally it all comes down to many years of dedication and practice!

CK: What kind of genre would you call your music? It's kind of like 60's pop music that was slammed through the garage for a bit of edge.
DS: Or what would happen if the Ramones hooked up with the Shangri Las at a soul gig!

CK: Are you following a certain scene, or sound, or doing something off the beaten track, so to speak?
DS: We have many influences. The challenge and excitement lies in how best to combine these in song writing and performing.

CK: What should adoring fans get excited to see from your performance at Red Bennies?
DS: We’ll be playing two sets, with songs from our album ‘Lethal in Leather’ which we’ve just toured Europe with, and also some of our fave covers. Come and have a dance with us! There will also be go go and burlesque dancers, and a trapeze artist - as you can imagine, we’re all super excited about Friday night!

CK: As an all-girl gig, do you consider yourselves role models for young women out there?
DS: There are so many amazing musicians and performers out there – both female and male. Living in Melbourne we are incredibly lucky to have such a diverse and lively music scene. But the more chicks playing, the better!

CK: So perhaps some last words of advice for aspiring acts out there, like how best to get into a catsuit?
DS: The catsuit’s the easy bit! Love your instrument and your band, and work your arse off.

Alecks, Bass Guitarist from Doll Squad will perform at Red Bennies Friday 3rd September

By Crimson Kitten

DOLLSQUAD – Ash (Drums)

CK: It's the bad-ass babes from Doll Squad! How are we ladies?
DS: Ready to rock'n'roll!

CK: It looks like leather and long locks with the beehive is the uniform, right?
DS: Of course, I can't wait to get into my catsuit again (laughs)

CK: So can just anyone don the leather pants and rock like Doll Squad?
DS: Well.....they can try, but I believe we are the only women around at the moment who like to get around in a catsuit whilst playing Rock'n'Roll. And boy is that fun!

CK: Where did the musical talents come from for each of you?
DS: I started drum lessons when I was 12 after I saw a guy play the drums at my high school. I couldn't believe how good they sounded. I basically had lessons for 10 years, and I've been playing in bands for that whole time as well. I even studied Kit at Uni. Amazingly, I didn't have a real Rock Drummer teacher until this year! I've had a few lessons off Tanya Cavanagh and she has taught me some great technical things which have completely helped me sound louder and tougher.

CK: What kind of genre would you call your music? It's kind of like 60's pop music that was slammed through the garage for a bit of edge.
DS: That's a great description. I think everyone in the band brings their own bag of tricks and influences. For example, Joey brings her 60's soul and rock, Yolanda brings her 80's Punk, Lulu throws in some Rockabilly, Aleks has played Metal for years and I bring my love of solid ACDC grooves. This thrown in with Alice's interests, it becomes quite interesting.

CK: Are you following a certain scene, or sound, or doing something off the beaten track, so to speak?
DS: I think Joey had a particular sound that she wanted to go for, she wanted something like The Supremes, but with women that actually played instruments as well. Joey even said herself that she tried to sing like the guys she was hearing on records, so that in itself gives the band a raw sound at times. In a word, I would say that we are Rock. You can't just call us 60's, as some of our music clearly lacks a 60's influence, in fact that was more of the old line-ups genre. You can't just call us just Punk, as some songs are solid Rock n Roll, and you can't simply label us Pop as I've never heard Beyonce sing like Joey! Its definitely unique, though, we don't just wanna sound like a band straight out of the 60's, nor do we wanna sound exactly like the Donnas.

CK: What should adoring fans get excited to see from your performance at Red Bennies?
DS: Catsuits!! The Peanut Duck, and Big Hair!! (laughs)

CK: As an all-girl gig, do you consider yourselves role models for young women out there?
DS: Yeah, I mean it is a male-dominated industry, as far as being an instrumentalist. But I didn't learn drums because I was seeing girls play drums, I didn't see that til later. I just liked the sound. I was listening to Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine and going to underage gigs, where all the musos were guys.

CK: So perhaps some last words of advice for aspiring acts out there, like how best to get into a catsuit?
DS: Take a long hot bath, melt Dark Chocolate in your mouth, watch Beyonce's video for Kitty Kat and then you'll slip right in.

Ash, Drummer from Doll Squad will perform at Red Bennies Friday 3rd September

By Crimson Kitten

CK:  Miss Kelly Ann Doll!  A pleasure.  I bet you're busy as usual?
KD: Pleasure is mine schhweetheart :)
yes yes! I love it, Busy is definitely the right word,but a great time for burlesque, so it's all really exciting at the moment

CK:  You're a full time swing, rock n' roll, burlesque and cabaret (phew!) dancer.  Any more to add to the list of your talents?

KD :hahaha. well I'm lucky enough to combine all 4 into a daily job, so it taken me 10 years to realise that (and my husband will vouch for this). I pretty much suck at everything else.. cooking, cleaning, sewing, arguing.. so I'm kinda lucky I've got some skills :-).

CK:  Do you have a favourite style of dance to perform?
KD: ooo no! I love them all.. the best thing about my job is that I can perform what ever I like, whatever mood I'm in, if I am in the mood for some cheek, I'll do a nice samba mix, or if I am feeling silly I'll do a comic set.. I love that I can choose my routine to match my mood :).

CK:  The Red Bennies venue is beautiful, though I'm sure you've seen your share of amazing places.  You did a few shows at Zirca Mega Club in Singapore, wow!  What was that like?'

KD: oh man, zirca.. seriously.. like nothing you had ever seen, I was lucky enough to share that experience with Sarah Lea Cheesecake, and this venue was every clubbers dream.  Massive open spaces, 3 different genre rooms, deluxe settings and seating, it was definitely a fun place to work, the best part was performing on the big nights (xmas and new years). I got to strut my stuff to 4500 people going crazy for burlesque, it was a fantastic feeling, because up until that point, Singapore had a ban on adult entertainment, so implied nudity was prohibited, we had to be very careful not to show our panties.. or else we could be arrested and fined.. it was hilarious, to come from Melbourne being so free and de-sensitised by the nude female form, Singaporians got the shock of their lives, and cleary wanted more. But like all fun things, you always miss home, 3 months of Performing Burlesque to house music can really do your head in.

CK:  Where else around the world could you recommend a traveller to?
KD: mmm.. i guess the sad thing is about travelling and performing is that you dont get to stay somewhere for too long to get to know more about it.  I loved Berlin and of course London... all were done in the middle of winter so it was a love hate relationship with Europe but very inspiring part of the world.  I'll be headed back sometime in March next year to perform in the festivals.

CK:  I've checked out your Facebook and MySpace, and seen some videos of you perform.  Each show is so unique!  I liked the “Here Kitty Kitty” act.  Do you enjoy mixing it up?
KD: Thanks! I guess that's the best part of what I do! They are all unique because there is no choreography, just feeling the song choice is the most important part.  I'm not too fussed on costumes (mainly becuase no one has seemed to come up with Kelly Doll proof costumes) so I make sure I put 250 precent into the act to make up less bling..  it's up to me to execute the story to the crowd because they are as much apart of my act as I am.  I feed off their energy like a sponge it's a good feeling to entertain people.

CK:  As part of Burlesque Rhythm and Reality at Red Bennies, what should we get excited to see from you?
KD: Wow! so many great things coming up! Keep an eye out for the next Ruby Revue in Melbourne and the very cool Gangsters Ball tour, Chaz Royale's Big Top Follies Show, Sydney Fringe. Probably the most exciting additiion will be a once in a lifetime event touring with Burlesque Legend, Immodesty Blaze.

But with all of that, I'm excited to come back to my favourite stage at Red Bennies this week! Catch ya on the dance floor!
   
Kelly Ann Doll will perform as part of Burlesque Rhythm and Reality at Red Bennies Friday 20th August

DOWNPOUR A4 Circus Ensemble from Montréal Complètement Cirque on Vimeo.

By Crimson Kitten

CK:  You're a Melbourne dance-music duo, creating music that's “unencumbered by genre or scene”, explain this a little more.
RR: It basically means we don’t want to pigeon-hole ourselves in terms of our sound (sh*t, off to a nice and original start… sorry!)  You could probably put us loosely in with what quite a few indie-dance acts are doing at the moment, although definitely with our own spin.  Plus, Hadley has stated emphatically that he won’t wear skinny leg jeans.  
More seriously though, I think our music is something that appeals to a broad cross-section of the wider music community - from club kids to country kids, young and old, people who do the 9-5 and work on their garden of a weekend, and the kids who cut the rug (i.e. shred/ dance) Thursday through Sunday – I think that’s what we’re about in a strange kind of way - Reality. Whatever that means to you…

CK:  Isn't it difficult to create something for popular culture that isn't part of an existing scene?
RR: I guess that’s what’s exciting about music and even popular culture more generally.  It’s an evolving and at times fickle creature.  There’s always the potential for it to embrace a fresh take.

CK:  You two played clarinet together when you were kids?  Cute!
RR: Yeah – there are still some heated late night “discussions” as to who had the lead soloist parts in the school band.  The school chess team on the other hand was never quite as blurry.
It’s kind of a nice story because we then went on to form a funk-rock band in high school before going our separate ways for a while.  We’re lucky to have had a sort of on-again-off-again musical relationship where we’ve developed a real understanding of each other musically.
 
CK:  Alasdair, you've been DJ-ing all over the place in the past, what made you come back to create what Running On Reality does?
RR:  While it was an amazing opportunity and experience at the time, it’s easy to get caught up in that world and get slightly distracted by it all in terms of the bigger picture.  Running On Reality for me became exactly that, taking a step back from the surreal nightclub/ festival world, getting a real job in Melbourne and sucking it all up, really.  It was difficult at first but it made me realise what I really wanted to do with my life.  So it was back to Uni (audio engineering), working 2 jobs part time but doing what I love at the same time – which is back to writing and playing music.  But a lot more of my own music than Djing, which is really exciting.
 
 CK:  And Hadley, same for you.  From live band acts to now part of Running On Reality, whats your side of the story?
RR:  I’ve wanted to be a part of something like Running on Reality for years, since bands like the Avalanches and the Resin Dogs got me excited about the potential for crossover between live bands and dance music.  Years have past and I’ve been lucky enough to play and tour with some great bands.  The opportunity to approach dance music finally surfaced when Al moved to Melbourne.  I think an emphasis on live performance is something that we both believe is at the core of Running on Reality.

CK:  The show is definitely dynamic, and every performance is unique.  Was this part of the original vision for your act?
RR:  We were talking about this the other day actually – I think a lot of what we’re about has become clearer in the last few months.  While always having faith in what we’ve been doing, the live shows are starting to take proper shape along with both song writing and sound, which is refreshing.  We hope to both expand and evolve as time goes by. We can say it here first that the planets are aligned for a special guest appearance at Red Bennies which should be fun.

CK:  Will we catch you buying drinks at the Red Bennies bar?  What's a favourite?
RR: Have heard some pretty special things about the cocktail menu they have going on in there and looking at the website The Campari Cosmopolitan looks quite delicious  - and it is Chapel St – would be rude not to.
I would like to see Hadley drink Baileys from a shoe at some point – but that may only happen if he truly finds the funk that night… We’ll see what happens.  
Thanks for your time CK, we hope to see you at the show, peace.
RoR Xx

Running On Reality will perform as part of Burlesque Rhythm and Reality at Red Bennies Friday 20th August

By Crimson Kitten

CK:  You're a classically trained ballet dancer.  How does that lend itself to your burlesque performances?
S: Classical ballet dancers can never escape their ingrained knack for fluid and regal movement – so I would say this has been the greatest influence on my burlesque performing. For me the beauty of burlesque lies at its base as a seductive and tantalising dance form. My previous training allows me to explore this side of burlesque through pieces that are slow and languid… like my ‘Temptation’ piece performed at Red Bennies as part of The Big Tease – Australian Burlesque Festival. Acts like these are my favourites because the slightest and most drawn out movement translates into something sensual and captivating.

CK:  Do you still dance ballet at all?
S: Only on stage for now. I perform an act that combines Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake with Burlesque and often I’ll incorporate my pointe shoes with my pieces for Atrocity – Burlesque du Grand Guignol. Other than that I do Pilates every week – after many years of long hours in the ballet studio, it’s quite nice to take a break!

CK:  With such a strong background in dancing and theatre, are there other performers who inspire your acts?
S: I’m constantly blown away by contemporary dancers with their understanding of movement and their ability to combine that with theatrics. Yumi Umiumare (modern Japanese Butoh performer/The Burlesque Hour) particularly blows me away. I’m also an avid fan of Crazy Horse in Paris – those girls are incredibly beautiful and know how to use their bodies to perform! Right now, though, I have the opportunity to work every week with local and very talented performers who I continuously learn from – there’s a lot of untapped talent out there.

CK:  How excited are you to be part of Burlesque Rhythm and Reality at Red Bennies?
S: It’s been fantastic getting back onto a raised stage – it’s a feeling like no other! I’m also really excited by RB’s continual search for varied acts and that desire to provide audiences with a mix of music through to circus and burlesque.

CK:  You've said to be heavily influenced by music, what genres or artists would you cite?
S: I’m still enchanted by classical music and have thus far used a mix of classical and modern pieces for my acts. It’s unusual songs like Apocolyptica’s (string quartet) cover of Metallica’s ‘Welcome Home (Santarium)’ that have me inspired… and I cant go past modern heroes like Tom Waits, with his ever so seductive ‘Temptation’. More often than not the music dictates my acts so that when I find the right song, I never get sick of performing to it.

CK:  Which of your acts can we get ready to see at Red Bennies?
S: Next on stage at RB might be my flamboyant French act to the track ‘Les Petits Papiers’ – you can’t go wrong with lots of white tulle and pearls!

Scarlett will perform as part of B&B Shuffle's Madame Natalia's Femmes Fatale at Red Bennies Friday Nov 12th

By Crimson Kitten

CK:  Miss Zoe Robbins, a pleasure!
ZR:  Thanks!

CK:  I had a look at one of your foot juggling performances with the umbrellas, just stunning.  How does one learn to do an act like that?
ZR: Lots and lots of practice! I started foot juggling when I was 12 years old at the Flying Fruit Fly Circus (FFFC) and trained everyday after school. Once I graduated from the FFFC I attended the Beijing International Arts School where I trained an average of 6 hours a day for a year, foot-juggling. So there is no secret, simply hard work!

CK:  What, or who, inspired you to begin juggling?
ZR: There was a teacher at the FFFC called Ms Lu. She was a really kind and caring lady and I think she believed in me when no-one else did. So I went with it, listened hard and I have never looked back!

CK:  I saw your performance was recorded at the 2009 juggling convention.  I had no idea such a thing existed!  Is there quite a large culture surrounding the art?
ZR:  Within Australia, not really, however, in China foot juggling is so well known everyone knows what it is, even non-circus people. Though, there is definitely a growing and amazing community of circus performers within Melbourne and many opportunities around!

CK:  I sometimes can't even get my umbrella open in the rain!  Any tips for mastering the art?
ZR:  Dedicate a good 3 years training and doing nothing else…but training! Be very patient! Results come after time. And enjoy yourself!

CK:  Besides umbrellas, what else can you juggle with your feet?
ZR: A cylinder barrel, a giant fire stick, 4 blankets and my friend Kali (known as Risley)!

CK:  What is your favorite thing about the beautiful Red Bennies venue?  We are excited to see you there!
ZR:  A lot of things! Firstly, I think it is providing a great opportunity for artists to perform there acts regularly! I also, love the atmosphere of the whole bar, I think it plays fun and different music and attracts a sophisticated crowd!

Zoe Robbins will perform at Red Bennies on Saturday 14th August

By Crimson Kitten

CK:  The sassy Vesper White!  Getting tingles now Gorlesque 2 is upon us?
VW:  I’m so excited I’ve got shivers right to the bone! The Gore crew and myself have been working hard over the past few months to bring this show to you, and we can’t wait to unleash our second creation upon the world!
 
CK:  Held on Friday the 13th, huh?  Spooky!  What should we look forward to seeing at the show?
VW: We’ve designed the show in a sense that it’s structured much like a horror film. There will be an explosive grind-house-style opening film sequence,  a 2 hour variety show of the best girls and ghouls from around Australia, horror-themed cocktails, and other treats and spells that will be saved as surprises for our costume-dressed fiends!
 
CK:  Gorelesque is definitely gonna be something a bit different.  How do you find people react to your burlesque shows?
VW: My shows are often very dark, bizarre almost, and the majority of people often don’t know how to respond! That’s why myself and Miss Nic started Gorelesque, we wanted to provide a stage for all the performers and specific acts that were a little strange, a bit gruesome or just totally off the planet. It’s really exciting to have a whole cast of misfits that stage such a visual feast for any film, burlesque or theater lover.
 
CK:  Following the horror theme, got a favorite horror flick we should watch?
VW: Favorites would be Dawn of the Dead or American Psycho (which is screening as part of the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, check it out!). Of late Tokyo Gore Police, Matyrs and Dead Girl have really grabbed my attention: brutal, horrific, you just can’t tear your eyes away! Very disappointed with the censorship of LA Zombie at the MIFF, we will find a way to watch it!
 
CK:  Do films like that, and the rest of the genre, inspire your performances, or would you cite something (or someone!) else?
VW: Films are definitely a source of infinite inspiration. I’ve mixed quotes from horror films in with my performance tracks to spark recognition from the audience as to an underlying message, so those in the know can decrypt my show riddles. I’m also continually inspired by dreams and prophecies, mythology and the world of fetish.
 
CK:  Any last words of advice for aspiring gore-gore dancers or horror honeys before we see you at Red Bennies on Friday?
VW: Get on board! This year we have a couple girls forming our Gorehound Girl gang to help get our audience into the party mood, and we’ll definitely need to fill places in our horror army for next year’s installment!

Vesper White will perform as part of Comic Strip on Nov 10th at Red Bennies.

By Crimson Kitten 

CK:  Good day, Miss Nic!  How are you?  Getting excited for Gorlesque 2?
MN:  Doing fine, very excited about our show this Friday! I'm barely sleeping, [due to] final arrangements, it looks to be a killer show.  This year we have such an amazing cast!

CK:  The event was such a success next year, I guess it was a no-brainer to do a follow up show?
MN: The show last year was a sell out and people were practically fighting to get over each other to witness the show.  We weren't expecting it to be as big as it was, but hey !  It was so fun, and I guess we wanted to keep the sleeping dragon under wraps until a year had past and [we could] bring Gore-lesque 2 back with a massive bang!

CK:  I've caught your coffin and severed head routine on YouTube, you definitely perform burlesque with a bit of a twist!  Was it always your intention to do something different?
MN: I've always been interested in horror and all things to that genre, I guess these days with so many girls doing burlesque, its good to have something different that people will remember you by.  I always like to push boundaries during my performances and implement shock tactics, I enjoy captivating the audience and seeing their reactions to how I am on stage, it makes me laugh.  If I can make people respond [enough] so I notice it during a performance, I know I've done my job.  I can be a classy dancer when required but can also be an audience member's worst night mare!  I don't just do horror/gorelesque, when asked I'm more than happy to oblige and throw in a cute balloon pop, classic fan dance or get down and dirty with some bump and grind, (or things that go bump and grind in the night!)  It always good to mix up a night as I've been to many shows where half the cast were doing fan dances and similar routines with similar music, which does sometimes becomes a bit boring.  I just enjoy throwing a spanner into the mix, so to speak, and showing people that its about "entertaining".

CK:  Who or what inspires you in your work and routines?
MN: Not really any inspiration, although I love Tempest Storm and Sally Rand, I also love Zorita - she was the snake charmer and so magnificently beautiful, so slinky, and held herself of the highest regard.  Generally, if I hear a song I think would be a great song to dance to, I just take it and go with with it.  For example there's acts where I dress up as a man, a zombie lady, a sailor and even Gene Simmons from Kiss!  I love using songs that people love to hear, good party songs that will raise the atmosphere of the audience, and I think best of all if you're having the time of your life on stage and having fun, the audience responds.  I just gauge the audience as to how crazy my routines get on stage.

CK:  You're quite the tattooed lady, do you have a favourite bit of ink?
MN: Haha, yeah! I drew them myself! I love tattoos, I guess I'm the token sideshow "tattooed lady", who performs burlesque.  My favourites? Probably the coffin on the front of my throat, and my two Niagara "paintings" on my shins, she is an amazing artist! I wanted to purchase the paintings, but this way I can take them [with me] where ever I go!

CK:  So, can you give us a teaser of what we'll see at Gorlesque 2 at Red Bennies?
MN: Blood, beer, booze and babes!

Miss Nic will perform as part of Dinner of the Dead: A Feast of Fashion and Flesh on Nov 19th and B&B Shuffle's Madame Natalia's Femmes Fatale on Nov 12th at Red Bennies.