"Extreme production fascinates with variety"

'Extreme' production fascinates with variety
By MARK LOWRY (mlowry@star-telegram.com)
Star-Telegram staff writer

FORT WORTH -- Tammy Gomez's She: Bike/Spoke/Love, presented one time in a sold-out Saturday performance by Sound Culture, is difficult to categorize. Let's just call it "extreme theater."

It's extreme in that it involves bicycles, of various sizes and shapes, with the actors riding them around a small stage, close to the audience.

But it's also extreme in how it fascinates with a variety of performance styles.

It's modeled after hip-hop theater, using spoken word (the "If I Hit It" passage was the best verbal moment), showboating (there's a bicycle stunt dude) and a turntablist (DJ SOL*LOS). There's also multimedia, live music and agitprop (the line about how we're "choking on auto exhaust and government deceit" sums it up best).

But at its heart, there's a moving story about a young girl named Esa (Dominique Fay, in a beautifully natural performance) working on her relationships with her boyfriend Ken Sabe (Richard Rangel) and her mother (Dina Lee Chavez). Esa imagines her perfect novio in the form of El Sabe (Ramsey Sprague). In the end, they learn to accept one another for who everyone is.

And what about the bikes? They serve as metaphors for sex, growing up, finding balance and participating in life's race.

The piece could use tightening, but it's successful overall. One thing's for sure, you'll probably never see anything else like it.

For more information about She: Bike/Spoke/Love, visit www.bikespokelove.com.

Air up bike tires, bring lights TONIGHT!

great gracias.

more news you can use - AND CALL TIMES!!

DRESS REHEARSAL: Tonight @ SIX P.M. --- DO NOT BE LATE!!!!
There will be tons of people down there for the Jazz Festival.

Take EXTRA time to get to the SANDERS THEATRE. When you arrive,
please sign in with PATRICIA GREENE, who is STAGE-MANAGING.

ONCE YOU ARRIVE, please don't plan on leaving 'til 10pm.
Bring food, drink, costumes, bikes, props/extensions that are to be used.

(Special exceptions are being made for bmx-ers...and Layne, who is part of the
pre-show.)

THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE THEATRE is via CAMP BOWIE OR MONTGOMERY.
From CAMP BOWIE AND MONTGOMERY, you can TURN EAST (TOWARDS DOWNTOWN). ON LANCASTER TO GET TO ENTRANCE OF THE FORT WORTH COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER.

My sister and niece (Miranda and Breanna) will be stationed in the circular driveway to GREET YOU, HELP YOU UNLOAD YOUR VEHICLE, and WILL WAIT WITH YOUR GEAR/BIKES while you DRIVE OFF TO PARK YOUR CAR.

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED=====> GET THERE EARLY! TO LOAD-IN, TO FIND PARKING, TO WALK TO THE THEATRE.

HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED=====> Please consider PARKING IN THE LOTS AT MY WORKPLACE (UNTHSC--University of North Texas Health Science Center).
This campus is located just NORTH of the Amon Carter Museum. Free & plentiful
parking. Easy walk to the Sanders Theatre.

love,
Tammy

speaking loudly, but carrying no stick....

CALL TIMES on SHOW DAY!

(which means the precise time you are REQUIRED to be ON-SITE at the Sanders Theatre)

Saturday, September 22nd. 11:30am for our last complete run-through.

Saturday, September 22nd . 6pm to prep, dress, rehearse for show

DRESS REHEARSAL: Tonight @ SIX P.M. --- DO NOT BE LATE!!!!

There will be tons of people down there for the Jazz Festival.

Take EXTRA time to get to the SANDERS THEATRE. When you arrive,
please sign in with PATRICIA GREENE, who is STAGE-MANAGING.

ONCE YOU ARRIVE, please don't plan on leaving 'til 10pm.
Bring food, drink, costumes, bikes, props/extensions that are
to be used.

(Special exceptions are being made for bmx-ers...and Layne, who is part of the
pre-show.)

THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE THEATRE is via CAMP BOWIE OR MONTGOMERY.
From CAMP BOWIE AND MONTGOMERY, you can TURN EAST (TOWARDS DOWNTOWN)
ON LANCASTER TO GET TO ENTRANCE OF THE FORT WORTH COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER.

My sister and niece (Miranda and Breanna) will be stationed in the
circular driveway to GREET YOU, HELP YOU UNLOAD YOUR VEHICLE, and
WILL WAIT WITH YOUR GEAR/BIKES while you DRIVE OFF TO PARK YOUR CAR.

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED=====> GET THERE EARLY! TO LOAD-IN, TO FIND
PARKING, TO WALK TO THE THEATRE.

HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED=====> Please consider PARKING IN THE LOTS
AT MY WORKPLACE (UNTHSC--University of North Texas Health Science Center).
This campus is located just NORTH of the Amon Carter Museum. Free & plentiful
parking. Easy walk to the Sanders Theatre.

love,
Tammy

speaking loudly, but carrying no stick....

We've all worked our asses off for this - look back & appreciate how far you've come in this process.....

Carlos: audio/sound cue issues needed to be resolved...

script page number precedes the description:

p. 3 -- track on cassette - got to identify which
one to record onto cd or put into your system

p. 15 -- use track #7 from the Transglobal Underground
cd (00:00-00:10)

p. 24 -- once you watch the video sequence, i'd like you
to decide on some "dream music" which would play after
Esa and El Sabe finish talking. (by dream music, i don't
necessarily mean "dreamy" music--but obviously,
instrumental and ambient would probably work)

p. 25 -- have to nail exactly when Cesar/Basco starts
speaking, cuz the clip you have is short from the Bobby
"Blue" Bland song ("Blind Man")

p. 25 -- i guess you'll be coming over to borrow the
Los Tigres del Norte song

p. 26 -- same thing for the Chingo Bling song
("Can't Deport Us All")

p. 26 -- need to get the beginning of the classic
ZZ Topp song "La Grange"

p. 37 -- same song from cassette is needed for the
video cue -- Vanishing Point 2

p. 37 -- need to nail down exactly the precise sequence
of the TRAFFIC SOUNDS, the CAR HONKS, the BRAKES
SQUEALING, ESA YELLING, YOU SHOUTING.

p.40 -- need music/audio/sound --- maybe ocean
waves?

p. 48 -- J-Lo song needs a much lower volume, cuz
i couldn't hear the GIRLS speak the other night.

p. 57 -- need to solidify the mix/speed of the DJ Nu-Mark
blues song--when to slow it down, how long to play it,
etc.

p. 66 -- starting gun sound/audio is Track 4,
Transglobal Underground, 00:00-00:09.

p. 67-68 -- possible sound cue BEFORE the Crustacean
music. "Wipe out on the waves of Armageddon" by
Mike Ladd. will play for you...


THANKS!!!

Gettin' play all over the internet...

Spent a little time in the wee hours of today looking online for any buzz about our premiere on Saturday.

I actually found quite a bit of stuff, including nice mentions and promo blurbs on GOT POETRY, OM PLACE, TOPIX, CARAVAN OF DREAMSand the STASH DAUBER websites.

Bernie at PANTHER CITY BICYCLES suggests that SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE may possibly be the coolest bicycle event ever in Fort Worth.

And lastly, but not leastly, the good folks (Tom, Chris, Neil) over at KTCU's THE GOOD SHOW posted our flyer and an mp3 of me & Natalia talking with Tom on their blog. Give it a listen if you have some time!

Rehearsal--Thursday, Sept. 20th - 7-10pm, RMT gallery

Same place as last night. Please arrive ON-TIME.

SEVEN, not SEVEN-THIRTY.
Load in your bicicletas, props, etc., and begin stretching, working on your lines.

We WILL have digital projections (video sequences), so that will be good.

AFTER rehearsal, Carlos & Dominique will come to my place to work on some audio production.
Cesar also will be finishing up some video editing.

BRING YOUR FLASHLIGHTS, BIKE LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!

Nice letter, nice news, from our very nice website designer, Layne C

Hi Tammy,

Hope you are feeling upbeat and positive about the big night. I can feel the momentum building. The good news is that I know the webmaster for FW Bicycle club and he sent out the link to the web site to all members. So between the article in the paper and and the distribution to the bicycle club there were close to 5,000 hits on the site between Sunday and Monday...
I also know the webmaster for the LMRA bicycle club and he posted the link on their site and in their chat room....

Attached please find the 11x17 poster.

Let me know if you need anything else...Luv, Layne

Good things are coming our way.....

....i love to be mysterious sometimes......



heart,
T

Tammy and Natalia on KTCU-FM last night, Sunday, Sept.16th

I managed to snag some air-time to promote our play on "The Good Show" which airs weekly (Sundays) on KTCU-FM (88.7). Called Natalia, who was super-cool to drop everything--including precious possible sleeptime--to meet me for this broadcast opportunity.

We were on about 12 minutes, chatting about the project and the upcoming premiere, and Natalia read the "bicycle poem" that she performs in the play. Tom U, one of the co-hosts of the show, seemed very interested in the project, and we gave out the website URL a coupla times.

Fun times on the radio.

REHEARSAL LOCATION TONIGHT: 7pm-10pm at the Fire Station Community Center

We have rehearsed there one time before. Half of the basketball court/gym is what is available to us. No food/drink, please--but water okay.

7pm to 10pm --- please try not to be late. (or call me if you are going to be late---call before 7pm).

I expect everyone to be 98% off script/book. Someone will be there to call lines, if needed.

If you have props that are used in a scene you're in, bring them today.

FIRE STATION COMMUNITY CENTER IS LOCATED AT
1601 LIPSCOMB STREET - 76104.

NEAR CORNER OF HEMPHILL AND ALLEN STREETS.
BEHIND THE 7-11, PRACTICALLY.


Thank you, dearies.

Need help!!

Hey, y'all! The clock is ticking, and I am seeing all the specific things that I need to handle before Saturday.

YOU can help me and THE PROJECT (which is bigger than me) by:

1. Reposting bulletins on myspace and sending emailed versions of the flyer, press release, etc.
If you need any of these things, email me your specific request at tammygomexicanATyahoo.com
and i'll reply as soon as possible;

2. Delivering and posting hard copies of the flyer (and those little cards) all over creation. Natalia had
a great idea of handing out flyers near bicycle racks on the UTA campus. You could also staple flyers
around the frames of bikes. Can anyone do this on one (or more) of the TCC campuses, TCU, and
anywhere bicyclists hang out?

I personally have delivered/hung flyers at: SPIRAL DINER, PANTHER CITY BIKES, ASEL ART SUPPLY, FORT WORTH CAMERA, FOUR STAR COFFEE BAR (7th Street), BICYCLES, INC. (Granbury Rd.), ARTS FIFTH AVENUE, and 1919 HEMPHILL.

SOMEONE PLEASE deliver/hang a flyer at: COLONEL BIKES, PANTHER COFFEE HOUSE, HELIOTROPE, and any other place you
can think of---now's the time, por favor.

ALSO ALSO----we need a bunch of bicycle lights, or lights to be attached to bicycle frames. Bring to my house or to rehearsal, please.

ALSO ALSO ALSO----take a hint from Dominique: we can also do sidewalk/parking lot CHALK DRAWINGS announcing the show in front of places like the WRECK ROOM, AARDVARK, THE CELLAR, etc.

LASTLY, BUT IMPORTANT: We need help with transporting bicycles (there are THREE at my house), so those of you with rack room to spare, get in touch w/ me to coordinate this, por favor.

Hey, everyone----we need bike lights, any size, strength---even flashlights!

If you have some bike lights, flashlights, any kind of battery-powered light that can be fastened to a bicycle, please let me know or bring them to rehearsal.

Thanks!

T

BMXers, yes.

Someone, I think it was Molly, asked if we were going to still have BMXers. Yes, definitely. I've spoken to Andre, whom we met at the Undermain, and he's cool with performing on the 22nd.

Now, there's a woman BMXer in FW that I will invite to join us as well. "Buckethead Wendy" - does anyone know her?

So many details...

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

There are several rehearsals happening this week and weekend that you folks have set up yourselves. I appreciate that, knowing that whatever time you spend now working on the material will allow us a more easeful process next week.

Some of you are even reading your scenes over the phone. Very cool. Make the technology serve your needs.

I plan to email the final script sometime tomorrow--this will now include the latest AUDIO and VIDEO cues in it, as well
as the STAGE ENTRANCES and STAGE EXITS for each scene.

Of course, ask me for notes, etc., if needed. Call or email me, just please communicate any needs sooner than later. Gracias for that.


REHEARSALS::
________________

Friday, September 14, 6pm, Trinity Park - our usual spot.
Saturday evening, September 15, at Dina's - Curandera and Mama

MONDAY, September 17, TUESDAY, September 18, WEDNESDAY, September 19, THURSDAY, September 20 -
ENTIRE CAST - 7 to 10pm
(bikes and guitars everyday)
LOCATION TBA (but it'll be in FW, that's certain)

FRIDAY, September 21 - FULL DRESS REHEARSAL
ENTIRE CAST - 6 to 10pm
SANDERS THEATRE

___________________

thank you !!
love, Tammy

Cool photos from the Blay shoot.

I'm sending some files to Layne, our website designer. She should be happy to see these. They're actually very cool.

PHOTO SHOOT - location! Sorry i didn't make this more widely known on this channel

Sunday, September 9th - 5pm until we get all your pretty faces on film.

At the neighborhood park which is equi-distant from MAGNOLIA ST.
and ARTS FIFTH AVENUE.

Another way of telling it: from Magnolia St., passing Benito's and
Spiral Diner on your left (which means you're driving east), turn
RIGHT ONTO FIFTH AVENUE. Drive about 2 blocks and it's the sweet little
greenspace on your left. A coupla benches, no playground equipment. Sidewalks
border the entirety of the park.

Christopher Blay, our photographer, is bringing two backdrops and we'll work with them.
I have 3 bikes at my house. I can ride one to the park.

800 promo cards now being distributed.

Thanks to Layne, our website designer, for helping me with a high-res file I needed at the last minute. I handed cards out and/or left stacks of them at the following venues on Gallery Night (earlier tonight):

FIREHOUSE GALLERY,
WAREHOUSE STUDIO (where the Metrognome-sponsored event was happening),
ROSE MARINE THEATER,
another gallery on N. Main i cannot now remember the name of,
and the
HELIOTROPE CRAFT GALLERY.

We got promoted in Friday's STAR TIME in the FW Star-Telegram!

This is quoted from the blurb that's on the second-to-last page of this week's edition of STAR TIME:

"This just might be the most out-there piece of performance art you'll see this year."

Read the whole blurb and see the color photo (Natalia, Toria, Tammy are in this one) here.

+++++++

Also, got an email from Star-Telegram theater critic Mark Lowry yesterday. He plans to write a feature article on this project for next Sunday's (September 16th - Dies y Seis de Septiembre) Star-Telegram. This is awesome news!

Friday, Sept. 7th rehearsal - NOTES

Molly - Maria - Dominique - Tammy.

Worked on:
1. I See by the Seashore -- there were some change made (we'll have to show Nati, Jennet)
2. Drop into the Middle Sprocket -- worked out a better handclap rhythm, and it's tastier! great ideas from everyone.
3. "Tambourine" song/bike dance -- worked on segue from the biking to the dialogue

Thanks, everyone.

Maria, Maria, where for art thou, Maria!

Check in, please, about GIRLS rehearsal early Friday evening, Sept. 7th.

Rehearsal/work session at Cesar's palace tonight Sept.6th

Carlos and I met with Cesar this early evening in Arlington. Dina, unfortunately, couldn't join us. We worked on the audio/music cues for the Basco radio music scene. We also peeped the latest footage that Cesar had shot (Ramsey and Dom at Trinity Park among the trees; them loading/unloading bicycles on the T's bus racks/Dom in the "race scene" and her skimpy cheering section...)

Carlos WILL indeed be able to help us with vocal recordings. Dominique, that means you and me need to get together and do a recording session at mi casa or outside sometime soon.

new poem about getting soaked on saturday...

Saturday, September 01, 2007
Poem #244 of 365

I never saw someone reach his
mouth to devour the storm
as you did, my friend, on rainy
today.

You cuddled the trunk of a tree
and allowed the pressure of a
man's shoulder to comfort you
too, as your mouths upturned
in wizened thirst.

I took no time to notice the
configuration of puddle as I
twisted my feet to turn from
the car and join you, and
be with you in wet.

You offered a song, it was the
mist of your smile, and I felt
worshipping words touch my
own lips, and the rain licked
our clothes, sealing them to skin.

Dreamy in mud, I could not
leave you to mirth in isolation,
as that shower washed away
everything but the sweetness
in our lives.


copyright 2007 tammy melody gomez

[republished from my blog at xxcommunicator.blogspot.com]

Cesar posted this as a myspace bulletin.

Subject: Basco rocks

SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE
Written and Directed by Tammy Melody Gomez
World Theatre Premiere • September 22, 2007
World Car Free Day!

Sanders Theatre at The Fort Worth Community Art Center
1300 Gendy St, Fort Worth • 7:30pm

Basco, the character I play is an apocalyptic, cool ass vato and the more I study my lines the more I think he rocks. (Tammy could I wear a mullet and a Ron Jeremy stache?)

It's a really fantastic project & it only plays that one night. The cast is a really great goup of vagabond, poetic souls and we are all in great company.

(Mellow-Dee, how 'bout spiked hair w/my old football number shaved in the back of my head?)

It's gonna be one helluva.....!

CHECK IT OUT ON THE WEB: www.bikespokelove.com

MONDAY, SEPT. 10 - rehearsal location - 5:50pm until...

Location: Fire Station Community Center (just north of Allen St. -- 1 block west of Hemphill -- 2 minutes from Tammy's house)

We'll be in the gym - i'm renting half of the gym and it will all be closed off from others to use that evening.

We have that space from 6-8pm. Bring bikes. We need to knock out alot of blocking w/ bikes, and configure all the exits and entrances.

Carlos---could you make it to this?

Survey in Star-Telegram today - on bicycling

I haven't read it yet, but my mom says a writer named A.Tinsley wrote it.

One of the questions in the survey: "What would make you ride more?"

One answer I'd offer: "Seeing the show SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE would motivate me to get back on a bicycle!"

atinsley@star-telegram.com

16 more days to SHOWTIME!

Only 16 more days, folks. (I always count the day I'm in, how could you not?)

That's 16 days to build confidence in who you are as YOUR CHARACTER.

That's 16 days to perform ALL the lines from memory.

(By now, you should have memorized all the lines from the Undermain show--it's been over a month since that performance.)

Only 16 more DAYS until we bring the coolest bike drama in the world to a Fort Worth stage. (Probably the ONLY bike drama in the world...)


Keep smiling, you're all doing great.

Thank you!!

MAMA is now going to really be a mama!!!!!

Congratulations to Dina! You did it, little mama. I am super-happy for you. I'm going out after work to celebrate...thanks for the excuse to go have a beer w/ some friends tonight.

Our show is on the Ft.Worth Community Arts Center calendar now!

Here's the link to the online calendar for the FWCAC. (Move your mouse over SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE to read more info.) Please refer folks to this if they want more info on the venue for our show.

When telling your fans & friends about the show, please mention that it's gonna be a major clusterf**k down around the Will Rogers Coliseum/Omni Theater area on the night of our show.

Not only is the "Jazz on the Boulevard" jazz festival going to be in full swing on the streets down there, but the Fort Worth Community Arts Center itself is way booked in multiple spaces within that complex.

There is a WEDDING, a TANGO DANCE event, AND a QUEER COMEDY show happening in that building on the same night as our premiere. Alot of hubub indeed.


[Some of my colleagues believe, as I do, that cramming too many events in one center--particularly when those events are weddings and class reunion-type shindigs--shows that the priority seems to be on making money (e.g., with rentals) than on showcasing artists in a professional manner.]

Bike parking - night of our show

Quick note: I had just mailed a letter at the post office on 7th Street, mid-afternoon Friday (August 31st), when I spotted a little BMX-type bike leaning against the front of J & J's Hideaway (local watering hole).

I decided that I needed to find out who owned that bike; I had a strong feeling that I'd know the person.

As I approached the bar, the guy came out, and it was Stephen Moore aka "Massage Peddler" (he used to, maybe still does practice massage for cyclists). Stephen and I went to the same Catholic school, decades ago. We embraced, greeting one another, and he asked what I was up to.

Bike play, basically. And then, Stephen seemed to know exactly all about it. "Oh, it's going to be at the Sanders Theatre, yeah, my friend told me." Turns out, Stephen also runs lights and sound there, and will, most likely, be running lights for our show.

Stephen then said, "We're taking care of the bike rack for you." (What???!!!!!) Apparently, he has another bike fiend buddy who owns a rack that they're gonna haul over to the front lawn of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center--where the Sanders is located.

Stephen also offered the use of bikes, if we need any.

Magic happens if you slow down enough to notice it, make a place for it.

UPCOMING REHEARSALS / CAST PHOTO SHOOT (part deux)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5: Ramsey and Dominique - my place - guitar and bikes - 10am

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6: Cesar, Richard, Jacob, Dominique, Esa - BASCO SCENES INTENSIVE - 6pm - LOCATION TBD

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: GIRLS rehearsal - outdoors w/ bikes - after 6pm - LOCATION TBD
(Natalia cannot join us 'til after 8pm.)


NEEDED:

Richard and Dominique - REHEARSAL INTENSIVE - with guitar and bikes (Thursday morning, Friday morning??)

Opalina and Dina (possibly with Dominique) - LIMPIA SCENE INTENSIVE - when?????

Richard and Jacob - SECTIONAL REHEARSAL INTENSIVE w/ bike stunt - when???????


IMPORTANT::::

A second photo shoot will take place on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th - outdoors with bikes - 5pm
(Christopher Blay will be shooting with a special Polaroid film camera.)

Preliminary run-through w/ bikes and music and props - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th - 6pm - LOCATION TBD

Devin's mother sent a thank-you early this a.m.

Date: September 4, 2007 4:44 AM
Subject: Your dedication to Devin Re: She/bike/spoke/love

Tammy,

Thank you so very much for your dedication to Devin. Jeremy asked if he could put it on her website (I hope that is OK with you). He was so pleased (we are).

You are so gifted! I'm glad it is all coming together for you.

Blessings,

Daina

Sunday , Sept. 2 and Monday, Sept. 3 rehearsals - NOTES

Sunday, September 2nd:

Dominique and I traveled to Dina's home, where Opalina also met us. The four of us worked until after midnight. Eight o'clock until after midnight. (Dominique and I actually left Dina's around 12:30am)

Great session: Opalina and Dina got more established blocking cues. Opalina has more "intention" now. Everyone worked on increasing their volume. Dominique was helpful in calling lines--thanks for doing that.

Cesar couldn't meet w/ us, but Dina-Dom-I read through the "new" last section of the MAMA/BASCO/KEN SABE scene. It's finished, guys. I was relieved to hear that the scene reads well.


Monday, September 3rd:

Molly, Natalia, Dominique, and I gathered for GIRLS rehearsal. Worked on poem that Natalia performs; "I See by the Seashore"; and the "Tambourine" bike dance. Everyone is liking how "I See by the Seashore" is coming together. Great ideas were suggested by everyone! Thanks.

THANK YOU, Jacob, for showing up and doing a little rehearsing on your Ella/Wise Cracker scene!

Communique from Jeremy (re: Tribute to Devin page on Myspace)

>From: "Jeremy Brown"
>To: sound_culture@hotmail.com
>Subject: Hey Tammy
>Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 11:38:56 -0400
>
>My name is Jeremy and I'm an old friend of Devin's and I just saw the
>tribute page on the She: Bike/Spoke/Love site! Thank you so much for that...
>
>
>I created and now maintain (along with her mother) Devin's Tribute page on
>MySpace and would love to put the logo from the home page on Devin's tribute
>page and provide a link...
>
>Would that be alright? If so, e-mail me the pic/logo and I'll 'throw' i up!
>
>-Jeremy


hi, Jeremy:

Thanks for the message.

Daina already knows about the play/project, and I am hoping that she can make it out to see the FW premiere of the show. I am now hoping that you can share that evening with us as well.

Yes, definitely, you may make a link from the DEVIN TRIBUTE page to my website. Attached is the jpg of the project logo. (The original design was created as a woodblock print by Austin artist Beth Ferguson. A local graphic design student, Fabian Gomez, and my website designer, Layne Calabro, embellished the original drawing using Photoshop.)

Thanks for your interest and for continuing to cherish and honor Devin.

peace&blessings,

Tammy

Labor Day rehearsals: Sept.3 - Monday

PART ONE: Dominique & Ramsey - can thee get together with mee today? After the Labor Day picnic among the trees, perhaps?

PART TWO: In the cool of the evening, I would love to meet THE GIRLS at 6-7pm. Then, if THE GUYS (Richard, Jacob, Robby) could meet us from 7-8pm, we could work on 2 or 3 scenes where the GIRLS and the GUYS are together onstage.

Basco - Mama - Ken Sabe scene is finished.

I'll email it to anyone who wants to see it. Let me know.

Of course, Cesar & Richard, I'm forcing you to read it (and, oh, uh, memorize it as well).

Dina and Dominique and I read through the scene tonight---actually, early this morning. It met with the approval of Dina and Dom. Thank you, ladies, for your kind feedback and reassurances.

dead musicians - bicyclists struck by automobiles

NICO - singer with the Velvet Underground and sometime muse to Bob Dylan

For over twenty years, Nico was heroin dependent. Biographer Richard Witts speculated that the habit was caused by her traumatic experiences of war and of being an illegitimate child.

In his book Nico—Songs They Never Play on the Radio, James Young, a member of her band in the 80's, recalls many examples of Nico's fiendish behaviour due to the addiction. Just before her death, she had managed to kick the habit and had embarked on a regime of exercise and healthy eating.

On July 18, 1988, the musician was injured riding her bicycle while on holiday with her son, Ari, in her favourite haunt of previous years, Ibiza, Spain. She had a minor heart attack while riding her bicycle and hit her head as she fell. A passer-by taxi driver found her unconscious, but had difficulty getting her admitted to local hospitals. She was incorrectly diagnosed as suffering from exposure, and died the next day. X-rays later revealed severe bleeding in her brain as the cause of death.

She was buried in her mother's plot in Grunewald Forest Cemetery in Berlin. A few friends played "Mütterlein", a song from Desertshore, on a cassette recorder, at her funeral.


Mary Hansen - member of Stereolab

Mary Hansen (November 1, 1966 - December 9, 2002) was guitarist and singer with Stereolab.

Born in Maryborough near Brisbane in Australia, Hansen moved to London in the late 1980s and became a backing singer with the Essex-based indie band, The Wolfhounds.
She met Stereolab founder Tim Gane when the Wolfhounds played with his band McCarthy, and joined Stereolab as second vocalist in 1992. She also played guitar, as well as percussion and keyboards, and occasionally sang lead vocals.

Hansen was struck by a truck and killed while riding her bicycle in London, December 9, 2002. She was 36-years-old.

In 2004, Hybird, an album of some of Hansen's music, was released posthumously. This album, which also featured her artwork, contained three tracks which had been released in limited editions before her death, and a final track which was finished by Andy Ramsay of Stereolab.

Brent Liles - bass player with both Social Distortion and Agent Orange

Former Social Distortion and Agent Orange bassist Brent Liles was killed when his bicycle was struck by a large truck in January 2007.

Liles was entering the crosswalk at the Orange Freeway in Placentia, California when the tractor-trailer turned right on a green light on to an on-ramp, accelerated and hit the musician. The 43-year-old Liles was pronounced dead at the scene, but it took two days to identify him. The accident is being investigated, but no charges have been laid against the trucker at this point.

Liles joined Social Distortion in 1981 and played on the Orange County punkabilly band's critically-acclaimed and influential "Mommy's Little Monster" debut album two years later. He was featured prominently in the "Another State Of Mind" documentary that examined the early struggles of Social Distortion and fellow punk bands Youth Brigade and Minor Threat as they toured across the U.S. Liles became frustrated with the Mike Ness-fronted band's lack of commercial achievement and, along with drummer Derek O'Brien, quit in the middle of a show on New Year's Eve as 1983 turned into 1984. Liles went on to play with a number of other SoCal punk bands, with Agent Orange being the most prominent.

"Bicycle Bicycle You are My Bicycle" - lyrics

"Bicycle Bicycle You Are My Bicycle"
by Be Your Own Pet

We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby

We will come to your town
Burn your house down
Turn the sky brown
All because, all because

We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby

Change the eye colour
Of every lady
We're fast, we're fast
We're fast we're having a blast
All because

We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby

Change the colour of your make up
All the sleepyheads will wake up
All because all because all because
Because because because because...

No gears no brakes no reals no fakes! (repeatedly)

Have fun, and be safe with it
Just kidding, fuck shit up
We ride bikes, cars are for idiots
All because, all because
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby

Rehearsal: Sunday, September 2nd - 8pm

Dominique, Dina, and Opalina will be rehearsing at Dina's place at 8pm. (Perhaps Cesar can join us so he can work w/ Dina on the MAMA and BASCO scene...)

I'll definitely be there as well.

Monday, September 3rd - Rehearsal AND Labor Day Picnic/Rally

Monday, there's a Labor Day picnic at the site where some trees are earmarked for clearcutting. It's a kind of protest/rally event, but a fun one nonetheless. I'll be there, and so will Ramsey and some other cast members (11am-2pm).

If we could have a rehearsal with THE GIRLS (Natalia, Molly, Jennet, Dominique, Toria) that would be cool.
7-9pm or 6-8pm---I have to make calls.

Notes on video shoot and rehearsal, Saturday, Sept. 1st

Fernando Palomo showed up to be one of our racing cyclists in the video scene of a bike race. Unfortunately, he was not able to bring any other racers along with him. But, helpful as he wanted to be, Fern strode out to the bike paths trying to recruit people bicycling along the way.

In the meantime, we (Molly, Carlos, Richard, Robby, Dominique, and I) helped Cesar prepare for the video shoot. We inflated balloons and taped them to sticks; we set up a race course line with crepe paper and some bamboo poles; we made signs to hold as the crowd cheering the racers. Eventually, Cesar shot some video of Dominique in her "racing" get-up (colorfully-painted helmet, work gloves--thanks, Fern--, and a balloon for the cruiser). Some storm clouds gathered and the sky darkened as Robby forecast that rain would be imminent.

We shot as much as we could with "Esa" before the first thunderclaps sounded. I urged everyone to pack up immediately, and we walked quickly--carrying bags and boxes of our gear and supplies--towards our cars. By the time we were mere feet from the parking lot, the clouds spilled upon us.

The rain ended up being harmless and, more importantly, a gorgeous relief. My favorite "Kodak" moment was watching Robby and Richard huddled up near a tree, with Richard smiling ecstatically as he got drenched.

I stood outside and let the heavens rinse the sweat off my skin. We were like children not wanting to go indoors. Or get into our confining cars. It was a very beautiful and cathartic rainfall.

We (Richard, Cesar, Dominique, Robby, Carlos, and I) went to Ole South for some grub and were pleased to see the sun eventually emerge once again. We looked a bit weird, arriving at the restaurant all soaking wet, with shiny hair. There were plenty of belly laughs, as we communed and joked around the table. We left soggy spots on the vinyl seating, but oh well. Afterwards, we phoned Jacob to meet us back @ the park, where Cesar shot some more video footage of Dominique and also of the starting gun--thanks to Carlos for bringing it today, and "performing" as the hand that pulls the trigger.

Jacob showed up and the BASCO scenes were rehearsed. We kept joking about how good Ramsey read the Basco lines last week, and now that's one of our running jokes.

Cesar and guys enjoyed the Basco beers almost as much as they enjoyed rehearsing the scenes. They did some very good work.

Oh, Dominique caught a tiny frog--smaller than your average thumb--and we got to have a peek at it for a few minutes.

Robby is joining us as one of THE GUYS. He stuck around for a while watching the others rehearse.

All in all, a productive day.

Too bad we didn't get Fern on tape, though. Maybe he'll be willing to try again next week. Vamos a ver.

Our website is up and LIVE as of today !

Please check out the website for She: Bike/Spoke/Love. It just went live today!

Check it @
www.bikespokelove.com.

love, T