Marking the birthday of the Black Dahlia

Ah, facebook. You tell me things I don't know what to do about. Today is apparently the birthday of the most unfortunate Black Dahlia. Neill wrote, and I sang, an extraordinary song about her, Black Dahlia Blues. It was one of the most difficult singing assignments I've ever received, and I made him sing every note with me, like a shadow. It's very, very dark. And beautiful. Like the Black Dahlia.

Reunion nigh!

A Flutterbox reunion is imminent, commencing August 4 when we meet to attend a screening of 20,000 Days On Earth as a guest of the artist.

First verse is an obvious keeper. Second verse leads to another keeper....

Rules To Live By

Flutterbox regrets contributing to the overuse of the word Nazi, but loves Peanuts beyond words.

The Real Thing

Somewhere in Denmark last night, Neill was cutting vinyl on a deadline and using, I quote, "John Lennon's actual genuine 100 percent authenticated Twittenhurst EMT140 plate reverb!!!!" That's four exclamation points from a grammarian. I hope one day he will use it on us. The band is called Eggs Laid by Tigers. They sing Dylan songs – Dylan Thomas, that is. Have a listen. The first record was very engaging; I was especially impressed with the dark humor they elicited with their settings ; Dylan's no Ogden Nash, neither one.

Poster by Inky Falconetti

Keep Calm and Flutter On!

Fear not: The return of Fbox is still nigh. The long delay has been for good reason – Neill has been in Denmark working on a dream assignment, writing lyrics for a theater production entitled Mozart Undone: A Theatre Concert. The show was a huge success in Copenhagen and Oslo and is soon to play at the Barbican in London, Feb 25 - March 1, 2014. Tickets available here and a very enticing slideshow here. When Mozart Undone played in Oslo, the company received a further commission to do for Ludwig what they did for Wolfgang. TEATERKONSERT BEETHOVEN is currently playing at the Rogaland Teater in Stavanger, Norway; this is a production still. Better still is this Google Translation of a rave review of Neill's work: "and even more of the beautiful word-drown from Cardinaling Furio, who can make you gooseskin to laughter tears with-out why." Only Beckett could have said it better. I hope to see both shows in New York someday. Could Mozart and Beethoven match the seemingly endless appeal of Jersey Boys? Let's dare to hope so.