The ABBEY West Hollywood & I got GLEE'D!

I performed this past Monday May 17, at the famous ABBEY CLUB in West Hollywood on Robertson. Candis Cayne asked me to fill in for her night because she had to go to Atlanta to shoot a LIFETIME movie for TV.

The crowd was packed and really really holding on and not leaving the room. Attention spans can be very short at this type of venue. My voice was in rare form as I sang:
Famous
Where Is My Man..Eartha Kitt
The Man I Love........ Judy Garland / Billie Holiday
Cher Medly
I'm Not A Girl.....Britney Spears
Evergreen..........Barbra Streisand (it came out xtra good)
I Try.................Macy Gray
8 Divas..............8 voices in 1 song
Fashionista

It was so much fun and reminded me of my days in New York City in the West Village when I used to play once a week for 5 years at a little club called PIECES (6th Ave. & Christopher St.).
I used it as a workshop to practice my skills.

I goofed around and talked about current events. It was a little bit stand-up and music too. Some performance art too where I kinda make the audience feel kind of uncomfortable then bring it back to comedy and relieve them. Thanks Candis for letting me fill in!


I GOT GLEE'D!


The latest discovery of FASHIONISTA usage. These kids are GREAT! Big smile from me and I definitely approve!

PRE MOTHER'S DAY w/ Mom & Denver gigs!

Pix from ROCK BAR promotional appearance for Lannie's ClockTower Cabaret in Denver.













































I'm finally back in LA.
Last week I went to San Antonio to visit Mom on the days before Mother's Day because I knew I'd be in Denver for Mom's day. I worked at Lannie's ClockTower Cabaret and also made an extra appearance at Tracks Dance Club to do a quick guest appearance. I also stopped into Rock Bar to visit my friend RockStar Aaron. He DJs there on Friday nights so I went into the DJ booth to do a little bit of "Fashionista."

My shows did very well at Lannie's and I was in great voice. I was able to take out to lunch, on Mother's Day, Kirk Montgomery from the channel 9News. I was so greatful for the plug he gave my show over the news.

I'm back in LA working on projects. It never ends but I'm not complaining. It's all good.

JJ

DENVER CLOCKTOWER & TRACKS DANCE CLUB

If you have friends in Denver send them to the club. May 8th (2 shows) & May 9.





LANNIE'S CLOCTOWER CABARET is a cozy glamorous venue underneath the Denver downtown Clocktower. It'll be my 4th time back.
They serve delicious cocktails and appetizers.

I'm also playing at TRACKS Dance club on Friday May 7. It's a Dance Club where I will be doing a quick promo appearance around 11:00pm. I'm singing "Fashionista" "Famous" and "Walking In Memphis" from my FOREVER CHER album by "Dark Lady" (me).

XOXO
JJ

MOM IS MAKING A GREAT RECOVERY!

Mom is getting around just fine. She is making a full recovery and I'm so grateful for this. She is healthy and is getting back into her usual routines.

I came to San Antonio for the week before Mother's Day to be with mom and family. I have to be in Denver, CO for this weekend. I perform at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret in downtown Denver.

I'm also researching music for reinventing my show. I'm feeling antsy and adventurous. It's time to change things up and move forward again. I'm exploring a lot of things. Maybe I don't want to sing as much. Although, for some reason my voice is better than ever. Ever since leaving New York, my voice got better. I'm not sure why that is. I'm not sure what the cause is but my voice has never been clearer, richer or better. Maybe I've just gotten better at using the instrument. I wonder how long this good streak will last.

I've kinda been missing doing makeup. I kinda see people on tv or in real life and I think I could help them in the makeup department. Who knows...I'm feeling like going on some kind of adventure.

JJ

The photo above is little JIMMY JAMES by my Dad James Johnson. Laredo, TX (don't ask what year).

Mom's Surgery. She's ALIVE!

I'm not going to talk about my career and things I've been working on.

Something more important was pending in my life - my mother.

I flew from LAX to San Antonio, TX to be by my Mom's bedside along with my sisters and nieces and nephews. Mom was to undergo surgery for a blocked artery on the left side of her neck.

THANK YOU to all my friends and family who prayed and sent good wishes for my Mom to pull through. The surgery was very scary for all us especially since my Mother has never had any surgery in her life.

She pulled through quicker than expected. Surgery was only about 90 minutes. The Doctor said it was easier than expected. She spent only one night in the hospital and was back home the next day. I am so grateful to have her back. The photo here was just before surgery. I know I'm smiling but I was wracked with nerves.

There is no love like a mother's love. She has handled and done so many things for me in my life and she's irreplaceable.

JJ

RED HAT LADIES FASHION SHOW IN PAMONA , CA

Saturday March 20th I performed in Pamona, CA for the Victorian chapter of The Red Hat Ladies. I did it to support my friend and Headdress Designer Shawn Lochridge. He is so talented and creative that I want to help him anyway I can.

I met so many lovely ladies. All adorable, sweet and fun. There were about 200 in the luncheon and the models were backstage. They are Red Hat Ladies of another chapter. I never knew what Red Hat Ladies were until now.

Everybody painted out of their minds. Several makeup artists were on hand to glamorize. I helped out too. I did the makeup for the lady in pink.

You can click the link below to see a slide show of the backstage photos of everybody getting ready set to my song 'FASHIONISTA.'

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5455324f5451304e5446384d7a51334e6a41314d7a633d0d0a&sb=1&campaign=email_receipt_directurl_makeyourown

Sunday March 21, 2010:
I performed at The Celebration Theater for Ryan O'Conner's one man show.

Monday March 22:
In the evening I picked up Lady Bunny who is visiting from New York and we went to see some comics at The Improve. It was the side annex and odd. Selene Luna was hosting and she was fun also Justin Martindale was funny. Afterwards Bunny & I and Corey & Andy went to have dinner at Bossa Nova on Rovertson. Good Brazilian food.

Tuesday March 23:
This was a fun full day! First thing in the morning I answered interview questions for Joshua Miller:
http://joshuami11er.blogspot.com/2010/03/profile-jimmy-james.html

I also got confirmation from Chad Michael's that I can do a guest spot at RAGE in WeHo March 30th to promote my UPRIGHT CABARET gig. Very cool. Chad Michael's "Dream Girls Revue" is a long running drag show that has a different show every week.

Then Shawn Lochridge came to pick me up to go to downtown LA to shop for fabrics and jewels and get ideas for some looks for me. We met some cute young girls who are dancers and I told them they should dance to my song "FASHIONISTA" and they got excited because they have it on their myspace page. Wooohooo! I love that. I gave them hugs. They were so sweet.

Late afternoon Shawn and I went to a costume designer in Whittier to have a meeting. The kind of clothes and looks I'm going for are going to be different and eye-catching. Mainly Japanese inspired. I love Issey Miyake stuff.

Shawn and I returned to West Hollywood to meet up with a friend (Gary) and we had dinner at Merricks Mexican Restaurant. Stuffed our faces!

Wednesday March 24:
I never take naps but since I'm trying to ween off of sugar, by 12 noon I fell into a deep sleep for 3 hours. I felt so groggy. I'm not doing anything too drastic, just cutting back on anything with high fructose and wherever else I can cut. I don't know if this is going to work but I'm experimenting.

Thursday March 25:
Kinda groggy again due to low sugar intake but I did laundry. I'm excited. I have my airline ticket to Tahoe to go look at a possible casino/hotel to play in the near future.

I'll take pictures of Tahoe and the venue for you to see. I'll write next week.

xoxo
JIMMY

WORKING & WORKING! LAUNDRY TOO!

DON'T ACCUSE ME OF "GOING HOLLYWOOD."
I'M WORKING VERY HARD and DOING MY OWN LAUNDRY.

I'm posting this MARCH 8, 2010.

This past Monday night, March 1, I made a quick appearance at CLUB 11 in West Hollywood for their Musical Mondays. The night is dedicated to Broadway musicals. All guests have to do Broadway style songs and music. So I did my impression of Cher doing "Memory" from 'CATS.' Just before that I did an acappella of Liza singing "Maybe This Time."

Tuesday, March 2, I helped host the club night 'MR. BLACK' at a space where the Spider Room used to be. It's across the street from Capitol Records on Vine above Hollywood Blvd. I had my picture taken with Guy from "Chelsea Lately." I don't think he knows who I am but he was very sweet to pose in a picture with me. He seems very nice. Maybe I'll get to know him better later.

Wednesday, March 3, in the day, I went to a laundermat to do tons of laundry - MY OWN LAUNDRY! Does that sound like I've "Gone Hollywood???" I don't think so. Also today my TV producer pitched my reality show, "Re-Inventing Jimmy James" to VH1. Fingers crossed. It would so nice to be on VH1. Whatever happens I'm just grateful to have interest.
I went to Vegan Glory restaurant tonight with my friend Brandt.

Thursday, March 4, I got a call from a Theatrical Agent who wants to meet with me March 11 about representing me Theatrically and for Voice-Over work. Fingers crossed. Who knows what will happen. I'm just happy I get a call like this.

Friday March 5, I performed to a wildly enthusiastic fun audience who gave me 3 standing ovations! My voice was in excellent condition. I worked hard prior to the show with a 3hour sound check/ rehearsal. HARD WORK! Chilly weather and rain in LA today.
People who work at 'Chelsea Lately' showed up and bought CDs. They said they would spread the word and come again next month. Yay!

Saturday, March 6, it poured rain like crazy here in LA. It put a damper on my attendance. But still the fabulous Oscar nominated and Grammy Award winning stylist from 'Sex In The City' and 'Devil Wears Prada' PATRICIA FIELD showed up and it was a fun show.
Patricia was in LA from NY to be a style reporter for The Associated Press. www.livestream.com/aplive
(click 'Red Carpet').

Sunday, March 7, was a day of rest for me finally. I went to hang out with Patricia Field and my friend Armen Ra who did her makeup for the AP Live Internet show. Pat had a room at the new 'W' Hotel in Hollywood. She came back to the room after her commentary, to watch The Acadamy Awards on the big flat screen tv. We ordered room service and had a nice glamorous relaxing time.

If I've "Gone Hollywood" how come I still do my own laundry and hang out with New Yorkers???

Here's the show list for The Upright Cabaret:










Thanks to everybody who came to see me at The Upright Cabaret!

I'm doing it again April 2 & 3.

xoxo
JJ