JULY 4th / FASHIONISTA LIVE Orlando, FL.

I'm posting this July 7, 2010 late at night. I'll come back and write about my mini tour on July 1, 2, 3, 4. I'm just too sleepy to write too much right now.

July 4th crowd at The Parliament House in Orlando, FL.
http://www.parliamenthouse.com/.
I also did shows the night before, outdoors on the main stage by the pool and in The Footlight Theater inside. Lots of fun!

JOLTED INTO WORKING! Where's my headdress?

This coming Independence weekend is going to be a hectic one for me especially because I've been on vacation chillin' out in San Antonio. I'm gearing up for this literally. I have new costumes to wear and new headdresses too. I'm going to play some new territories in Michigan where I've never been before.

July 1 at The Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, MI. July 2 I play The Dunes Resort in Saugatuck, MI. And July 3 I play the massive Parliament House in Orlando, FL. You are nobody in the dance music world unless you play the main stage of Parliament. It's an institution. It's been around for 35 years! In the nightclub world that's major. I'm excited!

Wheewww! Jolted into working...lol! Who wants that?

Landed in San Antonio for Vacation

Baby James Laredo, TX
(long time ago)

I suppose a lot of people get away to vacation but I'm lucky enough to be able to visit family in a town that is a vacation spot. Although my Mom's house is in quiet suburbia it's such a nice relaxing oasis from everything. I still have my room here with all my things. I'm able to get away from LA and in the past from New York City, to just chill. I think I've said this before but I could almost take a year off and work on projects here. I have storage, costumes, fabrics, memorabilia, photographs, music, on and on .... Tons of tapes that need to be transferred and put on YouTube etc... lots of stuff that needs to be sorted and organized.

I come here and time flies. No sooner do I start a project and I gotta go back to LA or New York. I have an idea for a book about my life but I have to go through thousands of photographs to help me remember everything. It would take time to sort it out. A few years ago I put together a book idea of my Marilyn years and I'm now trying to find it.

I don't live like a hoarder, I keep all the stuff in storage so I don't have to look at it. But once I start looking into stuff, I open Pandora's box. My career has now spanned 27 years!
I started performing professionally in 1983. I have not had a "regular" job since then. I saved a lot of memorabilia over time in anticipation that the day may come when I might want to write a book about my life. Maybe I'm feeling that time is near. Some of my adventures won't be pretty but some of it will be incredible and fun and funny.

July 1 - I'm playing at The Acorn Theater in Three Oaks Township, Michigan.
July 2 - I play The Dunes Resort in Saugatauck, Michigan
July 3 - I play the HUGE complex known as The Parliament House in Orlando, FL. ("Fashionista" was a hit here. I will be performing outdoor to tons of people)

I'm excited to do all these gigs and then I'll play The Rrazz Room in San Francisco July 31.

I'm not performing in Provincetown this Summer. I'd rather wait to return next year with a fresh new show. I've never liked over-exposure even though right now I'm feeling a little under exposed. Tomorrow's a new day and there's always a chance to keep on keepin' on. Look at Betty White. When you catch a wave, you ride it.

I recently saw Joan River's documentary "A Piece of Work." INCREDIBLE! So much inspiration for anyone who has a dream, whatever it may be. You just keep working at it. Never give up. You have to put yourself out in the rain to get struck by lightning.
http://www.ifcfilms.com/videos/joan-rivers-a-piece-of-work-2

In closing I have to say, I feel very peaceful whenever I come to San Antonio. I feel like my skin glows more, my eyes are bright and refreshed. Maybe it's because I get a lot of sleep, maybe because I have less stress, who knows but I feel rejuvenated here? I'm so lucky and grateful I have this little place where I can get away from everything.

JJ

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).