Do not touch baby leopard on head!

I went to the Oregon petting zoo…

Shutter Island

Hadn’t seen a movie in a while so I ventured out to the theater tonight. I realized its the first time I’d been to the movies by myself. I don’t really like going alone I’ve decided. Maybe I would if there were more people there, but with a 3 person audience I felt a little naked.
I don’t think your average Joe would cry watching Shutter Island, but I did because it’s relevant to something happening in my life right now. There are all sorts of people in this world, and up until roughly September, I only knew of a few. I knew the people back in Wisconsin who were mostly genuine, down to earth, honest people. I knew LA’s transplanted crowd who are mostly a bunch of self important wannabes who will do anything to get one rung higher up the ladder even if it means stepping on your head. I’ve met all kinds of good and bad people, but there are some people you think you’ll only ever hear about or see in movies. This past year, I’ve met both the good and the crazy. Though Leonardo DiCaprio plays an extreme version of crazy in Shutter Island, I recognized the traits as something familiar. Reliving past traumas while denying any wrong doing on your part, making up stuff to rationalize, I’m guilty of all of this to a degree as well, but at least I make an effort to be better about it. People don’t want to feel shame. I understand that, its the worst feeling in the world. But when in denial, you don’t recognize any of your problems, therefore it gets pent up and locked inside, which is more difficult to reach the older you get. It becomes your way of being. You lie to yourself until you truly believe it. Then, because rationalizing things for yourself affects people, especially ones you love, in a negative way, a lot of hatred develops. Anger, defensiveness…its a downward spiral. It can tear families apart. It leaves you clinically depressed. Continuing to refuse admitting your wrongs and making an effort to right them will eventually lead you to die a very lonely death.
The movie did mess with my head enough to send me out of the theatre disoriented. I didn’t know where my car was even though the lot was almost empty. When I got home and plugged in my electric guitar, I could have sworn I heard my name coming out of the amp.
Another thing I want to point out is that we as humans are naturally very curious creatures, and this is why we are so attracted to movies that involve mystery and intelligence. It all ties together like this… We see a mystery, and our curiosity draws is in to uncover it, and once we do that means we have learned something new, leading us to be more intelligent, more like the satisfied investigator character in the movie.  Thats what inspires us to leave the theatre and go find a new mystery.  Have you ever wondered why almost all movies have a problem and a solution? Well that is why. We would be bored otherwise. We’d be more curious about the stitching in the theatre seats. Also, its life. We can relate to movies because we all experience pain, happiness, stress, etc.
I don’t know why I’m thinking so hard about all of this. I bet nobody will even read this whole journal post anyways.  If you are reading this, then I have one more thing to say.  The last line in the movie caught me off guard and was worth watching the whole movie for.
Goodnight
Holly

It came and went…

So thats that. Whisper House is over. Maybe I’ll get to do it again in the future. We’ll see.
There was an after party but I didn’t go. I hope people didn’t take it personally…I just have an entire studio to pack up and have to be in LA at a reasonable hour tomorrow. Keeping it moving, you know. Busy. Its good. But I would thoroughly enjoy a mani-pedi tomorrow and maybe a movie or something to chillax.
I’m looking forward to these upcoming Portland and Eugene gigs. Its probably the last set of acoustic gigs you will be able to see me do for a while. I have big plans.
To all the people who came to see Whisper House- THANK YOU!
And to all a good night.

Holly

Last Whisper House Performances Today!!!

Well…I’m glad its over BUT I know I will miss it. All together, we performed this show probably 50 times. Time really flew, as I knew it would. Still no word on if the show will go to New York or anywhere else…
Things will continue to be busy for me. My birthday is this Tuesday…wow 24! I’m not real happy about that. BUT that will be a fantastic day because I will be in the studio tracking live drums with Joey Waronker. I have been very productive here in San Diego on my hours off, and its looking like I’ll have another album ready for your ears by this summer. I mean it this time! I know, there have been a lot of empty promises in my blogs for the past few years, but the reason I was unable to fulfill them was because of the other people involved. So folks, here is where the rumor starts. Start spreading it. New album by Holly Brook coming this summer. I will have an official announcement with the release date as soon as I know.

Peace,

Holly

Valentines Day came and went…

No big celebrations…no flowers…I did have a little chocolate gelato though.  Anyways, here is another random writing from my iphone notepad:

I do not feel the need to point fingers or place blame

Criminals and activists are one in the same

And love is watered down in the is digital age

Thoughts are clutter

Too many numbers and chaotic codes

Remember when things were simpler?

Just a few solid matters…

Now, everyone tries to navigate to the end of infinity

Nobody gets there

Nobody wins

The best you can do is stay ahead.

So, make a point to learn the back ways

The trickier roads that few dare to drive

And when traffic sticks to what they know

You’ll be passing by with a smile

Unless you just sit there collecting dust

Trying to make the best decision as your car turns to rust

The clock is on

Throw the ball before you get sacked.

If people only knew what happens backstage…

Holly Brook as The Crow…or so I’m told.  Never saw that movie.  By the way, notice how Kevin is shaving, and Ted is combing his hair.  Good stuff.

What happened to music?

We are nearing the end of this run of “Whisper House” already, and I can’t believe its already February. My birthday is right around the corner…February 23. I will be 24. OH NO!!!!! I don’t want to grow up!!!!!
I haven’t written many journal entries, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing. I like to take notes in my iphone notepad. Usually they are very random thoughts that I sometimes refer to for lyric inspiration. Maybe I should start typing them into this journal. I’ll leave you with one…

Too many singers and rappers
Are just method actors
I’d like to see you in a straight jacket and try makin that racket
We know most of the time you’re fakin it, takin the piss out of us
Ladies shakin their tits and butts
Just gettin loud and wearin that money proud
Feeding aggression divorce and depression, fuck the recession
Level the playing field
Kids want to be you
Do the things you do
But you’re like a singer with auto tune
Or soy cheddar
Wondering why you don’t taste better
Hyping your lifestyle to make us feel shitty, not pretty enough, skinny enough, whitty or nitty gritty enough
Songs on caffeine and cocaine
You can get me dancin too
I’ll burn off the carbon
But nothin really moves me
It all sounds the same
Just a game for the fame and the fat checks and the sex, you’re a wreck.

MOre pix

Whisper House rehearsals

This is 2010. I’m going to be 24 this year. I still feel like a kid though. I’m currently playing dress up and getting paid for it. I look like a ’40s movie actress or something. I’m wearing a mic inside a wig…so I have to be REALLY careful about what I say behind the scenes… someone could be listening all the time.

Well, I can honestly say that I’ve never had to work so many hours in a row in my life. This is the most intense job I’ve ever had. We are in “tech” rehearsals right now, which is the first time we incorporate the play with the stage set, the lights, the backdrop, and the full band. All in full costume. But its a very tedious process. A lot of starting and stopping. We are still working on the first scene and have been here since 1pm. We will be here until 11:30. Tomorrow is 11:30am to 11:30pm. Its difficult to find time to pay bills, go to the bank, come online, etc, so I’m sitting in the audience seating in full costume with my laptop, waiting to be called to my scene.

Check out the pix:

First day at Whisper House

On Thursday, I moved into my place in San Diego and visited the rehearsals for Whisper House, where the actors are just beginning to stage the show. I also got fitted for my costume! Here are some pix of the mock ups…keep in mind the fabric is going to be different, they are just figuring out the perfect shape with dummy stuff.