[The] DropZone (02.15.26)

Now that's a flashy-ass SL stage. Rocking [The] DropZone on a Sunday afternoon. Photo by Kat.

Continuing with our series of brief show reports... this was my second time performing at [The] DropZone in Second Life. As I mentioned last time, I think it's a cool place. Definitely a slick and contemporary-looking design. I feel like the venue is still developing its own community, and that's something that takes time and needs to be cultivated to be successful.

But the build itself is cool, and they are certainly bringing in a wide variety of artists to try and familiarize people with the venue. I do wish them success and would definitely play there again if they wanted to have me.

Me, onstage, lit in blue neon. Photo by Kat.

[The] DropZone is pretty cool. Hope they have me back there again sometime. Photo by Kat.

I'm playing, people are dancing. Seems like a good way to spend the day. Photo by Kat.

[The] DropZone set list...

1979 (Smashing Pumpkins)

Polly (Nirvana)

Hand In My Pocket (Alanis Morissette)

Better Man (Pearl Jam)

Save Me (Aimee Mann)

Linger (The Cranberries)

Hunger Strike (Temple of the Dog)

Wonderwall (Oasis)

Wild Wild Life (Talking Heads)

Saved by Zero (The Fixx) 

So. Central Rain (R.E.M.)

What I Got (Sublime)

Thanks to all who hung out for this show, with special extra thanks to those who helped support it!

MattLoveJoy Resident, PrijaLeopynx Resident, Richy Nervous, Kat Claxton, Devin Collazo, my terrific manager Maali Beck, and [The]DropZone CEO Chloe Smythe and their great staff!

Hotel Chelsea/Shyla's Rezday (02.10.26)

This was not a typical show, but Shyla the Super Gecko is not a typical person. Photo by Kat.

I was just wrapping up my show in January at Hotel Chelsea when Shyla the Super Gecko — Chelsea's manager of all things artistic — asked if I was available to play at my following month's regular show (I was), and also asked if I was free a week later on February 10 to help celebrate her rezday.

The answer was an immediate and resounding yes. Shyla is great... one of the coolest people in SL, and she's hosted me for years at my monthly show at her venue. Playing her party was the least I could do. What I didn't realize at that moment was that Shyla had already determined a theme for her party: alien abduction.

Well, that was something I could work with quite happily. I put together an alien-themed set list and bought my little retro spaceman helmet, and away I went. We had a great crowd and her lineup of artists was outstanding. Every single person seemed to be having a great time throughout. Also, even after the show was long done, I'm still even sure exactly where the party was held; I can only assume that we were upstairs in one of the many rooms of that majestic building. It sure was decked out for the occasion. How cool!

Honestly, I think I spent like L$20 on this helmet and it could not have been more perfect. Photo by Kat.

A big room full of freaks. I felt at home among my people. Photo by Kat.

Shyla's rezday party ended up being one of the more fun shows I've played in a long time. Photo by Kat.

Rocking the aliens. Photo by Kat.

Hotel Chelsea/Shyla's Rezday set list...

People are Strange (The Doors)

Six Underground (Sneaker Pimps) 

Things Behind the Sun (Nick Drake)

It's Choade My Dear (Connan Mockasin)

Everything Is Scary (German Error Message)

Jesus Ranch (Tenacious D)

It's Easy Like Walking (The Sadies w/Kurt Vile) 

Welcome to the Machine (Pink Floyd) 

Starman (David Bowie)

Swing Lo Magellan (Dirty Projectors)

Rocket Man (Elton John)

Things Under Trees (They Stole My Crayon)

I Am The Walrus (Beatles)

Big thanks to all the crazy people who were at this monster mama jam, with extraterrestrial thanks to the following who helped support it!

Basil Brooks, Echooo Oh, Judytoo Resident, Richy Nervous, dk77333 Resident, Indigo Starling, Clashofblepandmlem Resident, Diana Winchester, Saffron Spice, Echooo Oh, Sangreal Arnica, bundy Xue, Kat Claxton, Sienna Cupola, Lisa Brune, my terrific manager Maali Beck, and the rezday reptile herself, Hotel Chelsea manager Shyla the Super Gecko!

Hotel Chelsea (02.03.26)

Some shows are big, others small. But we play just as well for each and all. Photo by Kat.

Continuing our series of brief live music show reports... I'd spent the Sunday before this Hotel Chelsea show protesting at the “ICE Out of Everywhere” action event, and I was a bit concerned that the small act of screaming for multiple hours would have possibly had a deleterious effect on my normally mellifluous voice. But no. By the time the show came around, I was fine. If anything, I sounded a little better than usual. Go figure.

The one notable thing about this show was that Bruce Springsteen, that previous weekend, had written and released a folk anthem that addressed the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. It was a strong but pretty straightforward song, and I learned it immediately and played it for the first time at this very show.

As I've said many times, I play the same for three people as I do for 3,000. It's true. Photo by Kat.

Me, rocking as usual. Photo by Kat.

That's Rosemary Teal getting ready to get onstage after me. Photo by Kat.

Hotel Chelsea set list...

Crime (Real Estate)

Carey (Joni Mitchell)

Among the Leaves (Sun Kil Moon)

Perfectly Calm (They Stole My Crayon)

Games Without Frontiers (Peter Gabriel)

Wild World (Cat Stevens)

Broken Day (Zak Claxton)

Afterlife (Alex G)

All You Fascists (Woody Guthrie)

*Streets of Minneapolis (Bruce Springsteen)

California (Joni Mitchell)

Always Tomorrow (Zak Claxton)

What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love & Understanding (Elvis Costello)

*Indicates the first time I've performed this song in SL.

Massive thanks to all who came out to this show, and even bigger thanks to the following who helped support it!

Harpo String, ImNotAplayeR Resident, Trouble Streeter, TessClover Resident, Kat Claxton, Richy Nervous, my terrific manager Maali Beck, Hotel Chelsea manager Shyla the Super Gecko!

Lutz City of Templemore (02.01.26)

Templemore — any venue, any vibe, any crowd — is always one of the best experiences for both musicians and music lovers in the entirety of Second Life. Photo by Kat.

We're going to knock out a big batch of blogs in which we fell seriously behind, so pardon the brevity here.

As always, Lutz City of Templemore is an outstanding spot in the virtual world for live music. One thing that's made it great over the 12+ years I've been doing shows there: they are constantly tweaking and building new venues and environments. While I occasionally play the same spot twice — like this amazing dilapidated library — it never fails to amaze me how detailed and well thought-out the build is. Hats off to Luis Lockjaw and everyone on that team.

Me onstage, rumbling and bumbling. Photo by Kat.

I seriously love Templemore. Amaze. Photo by Kat.

There's nowhere else like it in the universe. Photo by Kat.

Lutz City of Templemore set list...

Save It For Later (English Beat) 

Gardenia (Iggy Pop)

Pink Moon (Nick Drake)

The Rainbow Connection (Kermit the Frog) 

Shock the Monkey (Peter Gabriel)

America (Simon & Garfunkel) 

Afterlife (Alex G)

Half Moon Bay (Sun Kil Moon)

Sleeper In The Valley (Laura Veirs)

Furry Sings the Blues (Joni Mitchell)

Low Key (Tweedy)

*Templemore Improv (Zak Claxton)

*Indicates the first time I've performed this song in SL.

Huge thanks to all who came out to this show, and extra sweet thanks to the following who helped support it!

Richy Nervous, Dirk McKeenan, Maya Lockjaw, Capricia Bloodrose, Bevan Whitfield, Bonita Denimore, Laze Babenco, Carlita Primdashian, Lisa Brune, Joel Eilde, IseabalBoyle Resident, errman80 Resident, Mazzy Moonchild, Roslin Petion, ThisIsMyAlterEgo Resident, Kat Claxton, Trouble Streeter, my terrific manager Maali Beck, and most of all to Luis Lockjaw, AmyraVuitton Resident, and all the people who keep the stages at Templemore rumbling!