Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Unconventional Tour-Tulsa - The Away Team

The Away Team, electronic duo Penny Little and Nik Green, perform "Komputer Made Me Cry" in Tulsa at the Nightingale Theater. This song was going to be the theme song for Penny's film which later became titled "Electile Dysfunction" with the theme song being "Electile Dysfunction" by Indira Stefaniani. Part of the Unconventional Tour, the Away Team's performances included media clips, clips from films, images in what they called a "Mashup" of film and music.

Monday, November 24, 2008

The Stars Seem Closer Than Chicago ©2008 P. Little

This is the song I wrote before we left on our Unconventional journey. I didn't get a chance to record it or perform it....I had wanted to sing it in Chicago at the Heartland Cafe, even though it isn't really "political", in the same sense as "No En Nuestro Nombre" for example. I was born in Chicago, my mother was born in Chicago. I have a bit of a nostalgic longing for the skyscraper canyons of big cities..... So today, I just turned the camera on, and ran a few takes, and did a quick edit. When I get back to Chicago, and get some more Chicago footage, I'll be able to finish the video.....

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Unconventional Tour Albuquerque- The Away Team

At the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Social Justice, the Away Team performed before Penny Little's film "Electile Dysfunction". Here they perform Penny's song, "Hang Together"

Unconventional Tour Chicago - Swizzle Tree

Swizzle Tree Acoustic, Steve and Saarang joined the Unconventional Tour at the Heartland Cafe for an evening of political music, video clips, and fun!

Unconventional Tour - St. Louis "Free Speech" Contest

Part of each Unconventional event included the opportunity for the audience to participate in a "Free Speech" contest. 2 minutes, stopped by the gong, judged by clap-o-meter (audience applause) and arbitrary decision of the Unconventional Crew, each contestant can talk or rant about the political or social issue he or she feels is most important. There were no clear winners in St. Louis. Each participant got a free t-shirt in their size.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Review from Unconventional Tour Chicago by Ragen Gillam


Review of Chicago Show submitted by Ragen Gillam.


Those of us lucky souls who attended Penny Little’s Unconventional Tour at the Heartland CafĂ© in Chicago on Friday October 24 were treated to a variety of entertainment, including great music, political satire, including some 911 truth, and audience participation.


Jim Post, one of the “Midwest’s great treasures”, and an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, sang a few folk tunes, including one called “Brain Damaged”, about the lingering effects of the 60’s drug culture. Jim also is a Mark Twain look-alike, and does a traveling show called Mark Twain and the Laughing River. Check out Jim Post’s site here.

Jungle of Cities, featuring Tim Wais and Kimi Carpenter, are a stunning Chicago band playing socially and politically aware music. If you're in the Chicago area, check out their schedule to see where they'll be playing.

The Away Team, featuring the incredibly talented duo, Penny Little and keyboardist Nik Green, performed a few of their original songs, interspersed with some great videos clips, including this video referring to the NIST report about building 7.

Also on the bill that evening was Swizzle Tree, a really hot Chicago band, treating the audience to some hard-hitting songs.

One of the highlights of the evening was the free speech contest where audience members were allowed to vent and rant on stage for 2 whole minutes, or until the gong was hit.

The audience – representing all age groups - realized they had witnessed a truly unique event filled with mind-expanding truth and exceptional talent, seamlessly put together in one great show! Hats off to Penny Little, Nik Green and Dawn Perrine for a delightful and mind-expanding evening of great entertainment!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Unconventional 2008: Pictures along the Way

These are some of the still photos taken (mostly by Nik Green) along the way from California to New Mexico to Little Rock to Bloomington to Chicago to St. Louis, Tulsa, Austin and New Mexico, California again - a giant 7,000 plus mile journey with the horse trailer and our troupe...Music by Cosmic Love Child "I'll Be Your Drum" Mix by Nik Green

Monday, November 3, 2008

We're in Flagstaff - Dixville Notch results are in

The truck decided we're going to stay the night in Flagstaff. it went into "limp home" mode which means it would only go 20-30 miles per hour. We got off at Exit 201, where there just happened to be a Koa campground, called the Chevy dealer who said we could bring the truck in the morning, But when we filled up with diesel across the road, the truck suddenly decided to work perfectly again. (It wasn't out of gas...) We went to the Lowell Observatory and watched stars, the M-15 globular cluster, Jupiter with four of its moons perfectly aligned, Andromeda and the moon. The Universe is BIG, and we are tiny little cells; minute pieces of starstuff. Thinking about the ripple effect of our making waves tour..

Edit: As we tried to leave Flagstaff, the truck went back into "limp-home" mode, so we had to stop at the dealer. It was almost as if Flagstaff wanted to keep us there. $350 plus later, we're headed home.

Dixville Notch-- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama emerged victorious in the first election returns of the 2008 presidential race, winning 15 of 21 votes cast in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. Dixville Notch residents wait for the stoke of midnight to be the first voters for the nation's presidential election. People in the isolated village in New Hampshire's northeast corner voted just after midnight Tuesday. It was the first time since 1968 that the village leaned Democratic in an election. I maintain that if McCain wins, it is by fraud. From what we've seen, from all the polls, Obama will be our next President.

Leaving Albuquerque

The Unconventional Tour: Making Waves 2008 leg from Santa Barbara, Little Rock, Bloomington, Chicago, St. Louis, Tulsa, Austin, Albuquerque, is done.

What we have learned is that the club gigs with the media “mashup” worked the best. In fact, we started talking about doing a West Coast tour, as we packed up and drove away from the Albuquerque gig. It might be possible to promote a film showing at a music gig, or find people who would sponsor and/or host a film showing on our way back through a town...

Our tour has been largely separate from the election; in fact, as Jack Blood said, “If this had been an Obama rally”, there would have been thousands flocking to us. But we didn’t bill ourself as partisan, got no support from any political party. We wanted to bridge the common ground, not stand on any one side, and forge the way for more third party candidates in future elections. If there were a genuine coalition of opposition to the corporatized elections, where Ron Paul Republicans, Kucinich Democrats, Progressives, Naderites, McKinney fans could get together....work on viable election reform.

When we started we thought we would mobilize voters -- especially young voters. It appears our outreach mission has been more about creating a model for the future, inspiring organizers, and being an example of blind faith, as mentioned in prior post. We’re calling it the Meeting Friends Tour or Tour of Faith. We did not break even. The gig in Albuquerque didn’t pay for our way home, but we’re ok.

Over the next couple weeks we'll be uploading video from all of the cities.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Review from St. Louis Show



Posted Nov 2, 2008 3:45 PM
DS
I would tell you that Penny Little and her troupe are brave and good people, but I can't. Not because it's not true, but because if I did you would be suspicious about what else I say about them. You'd think I was just laying it on. I'm not. I was amazed at the professional quality of her singing voice and the proficiency of the couple's keybording. I suppose fogies like me will be amazed at what can come out of a set of electronics, but really, it was like an orchestra. Miss this show?-Don't.

Donald E. Stahl

Unconventional Tour - Austin - Jack Blood

In Austin, at Ruta Maya, excerpts from Jack Blood, talking after film showing of "911 Dust and Deceit", by filmmaker Penny Little. This film documents the plight of first responders, volunteers at Ground Zero on 9/11, exposes the government lies.

Unconventional Tour - St. Louis

Hiphop duo "Family Affair" performed for the Unconventional Tour in St. Louis on October 26 at the Community Arts and Media Project.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Unconventional Tour: Austin

We arrived in Austin just in time to set up, after our night in Tulsa last night. As soon as we finished our show in Tulsa, we drove 100 miles, got up in the a.m. to close the distance...... There's little time to upload video or write... After unloading equipment from the truck, setting it up, playing, talking, listening, breaking down the equipment, loading the truck, it feels like we've moved house 4 times in one day. I'm not sure people understand the effort that goes into presenting a show like this. We all wear so many hats, and we must switch gear from roadie, techie, organizer to performer, speaker, presenter, merchandiser, and hope that no one gets hurt, nothing gets lost, be vigilant, and yet hopefully, have some fun ourselves....

We have now dubbed this "Unconventional 2008: Making Friends Tour". Perhaps the Making Waves Tour is just the little drop of the pebble in the water, and there will be a ripple effect outwards. Perhaps we might inspire someone else to do the same, do it better. I have dubbed it the "Tour of Faith". We started with little money, and at each stop we hope to make money to get to our next destination. We don't have corporate sponsors; we had a couple of small donations before we began. There was no reserve, nothing to fall back on. We proceeded because we had gotten an enthusiastic response from various organizers and organizations.

.After the show in Austin, we're in a Motel 6 (courtesy of one of the organizers) after a really great evening at Ruta Maya. Jack Blood spoke to the audience which was the core of the finest of Austin organizers and activists. The big question on this tour has become, "Do people care?" Most of our audiences have been the hard core organizers, people who care.

Since we'll be on the road for 2 days, on our way to Albuquerque, the footage from tonight, which includes a fantastic program from Three Shoes Posse, The Away Team, and the Free Speech segment....Check back later to see video clips from tonight and from Tulsa..... More hours in the truck tomorrow...

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Unconventional Tour -Bloomington, Indiana

The winner of the Free Speech Contest in Bloomington Indiana at Players Pub October 23

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Unconventional Tour - St. Louis

Hiphop duo "Family Affair" performed for the Unconventional Tour in St. Louis on October 26 at the Community Arts and Media Project.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Unconventional Tour - October 24 - Chicago

Jim Post joined the Unconventional Tour in Chicago. Here is one song from his set, more to follow.

Unconventional Chicago

We had a great night at the Heartland Cafe on Friday, October 24. We're now calling this our "Meet our Friends" Tour...Opening with Jungle Cities followed by a couple songs by The Away Team, Jim Post kept us laughing as the lightning and thunder claps answered. Swizzle Tree played songs from their newly released EP... We'll get some of each of the acts up shortly. When each of us has so many tasks, and we get up and drive, uploading gets to be challenging. Tonight is St. Louis. This clip is where Jungle of cities, Swizzle Tree joined The Away Team on stage to sing "No En Nuestro", learning the chorus as we set up....

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Unconventional Tour Oct. 17 Little Rock

The Unconventional Tour in Little Rock, at the Market Street Cinema, Oct 17-18 with music by Jack Sundell, Chris Long, The Away Team, and film showing of "Electile Dysfunction" with Q & A. This is a clip of Jack Sundell performing "Who Would Jesus Bomb". He also spoke about the no-coal rally on Oct. 18 at the Little Rock State Capitol building, and did a song related to that.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Unconventional Tour in Little Rock!

Little Rock is like the friendliest place on earth! Come to the show. 1521 Merrill Drive, West Little Rock http://www.marketstreetcinema.net Come and meet us. We want to make friends! Food, live music, film, freespeech contest, more! We got across the desert, Oklahoma, with our horse trailer/camper. 1555 miles...... This is the "Dog and Pony" show without the dog and pony. We're here! WHOO HOO! Stay tuned for tomorrow and Saturday's video of the show.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Unconventional Tour on the Road!

It's Columbus Day, national genocide day for Native Americans. Isn't it strange what we celebrate in this country? We eulogize the best and the worst in us. We're launching into the great unknown. It somehow seems appropriate.

The donated RV proved too small, and the hitch was a glitch, so we hastily had to make other arrangements. The "other" arrangement is a horse trailer courtesy Dawn who owns an Arabian stallion. This is a four-horse trailer with sleeping and living facilities, although we're sure the amenities are slightly less than the RV. First night we're in Williams Arizona. We arrived at 11 pm and the manager just let us in for free to the RV Park. The temperature is 23 degrees and the wind is gusting around 30 mph giving it a chill factor of winter. We stopped on the banks of the Colorado in Needles, California, where it was a balmy 71 degrees, and cooked some Italian veggie sausage, mushrooms and tabouli looking over the river, the moonlight.

We're all asking ourselves. "Are we really doing this?" Traveling 6200 plus miles across the Nation.......3 weeks to go before the general election. Two weeks for an October Surprise...... What might they pull? Nancy Pelosi has already declared Martial Law in Congress in order to ramrod through the Bailout Bill -- socialism for the crooks running banking corporations.

Through the miles we're listening to books on tape -- The War in the White House by Bob Woodward, providing our in-house entertainment for this leg of the trip. What a bunch of idiots are running our country. One could go into any town and randomly select any group of individuals to run the country and they would do a better job than these shitheads. From what it appears, it looks like they deliberately screwed up the Iraq situation to make it an ongoing cash cow for the military industrial complex.

And is the financial crisis still not on the table for the Palin/McCain ticket? We know who really wears the pantsuits in this campaign)
.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Unconventional Tour Oct. 9 Free Speech "contest"

At the kickoff party for the Unconventional Tour, each entry is given 2 minutes (or less ) to state the most important political issues of the day.....the prize in this case was a t-shirt.....

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Unconventional Tour Headline on 911Truth.org

Hi!

In case you're wondering what we all have been busy getting this Unconventional tour together, and it's now looking imminent....The donation of the fifth wheel to the cause and the dedication of the People to People Team, donating hours of work, and of course getting the show together, would not have gotten this far without knowing that there's a real audience out there, people like you, who are interested in finding truth and not just the spin.   We're running on a shoestring, but with your help, by showing up, by coming to the shows, by helping where you can, as volunteers, (and with donations, which we still need), we're launching with a party on October 9th in Santa Barbara.

This morning we're a headline on 9/11 Truth.org!   Check it out:  http://www.911truth.org

The world is ready for something unconventional, not tied to party lines, and we're hoping as we venture into the heartland, to meet a lot of kindred souls, and in some small way be part of networking and bringing us together.   There are a lot of good films out there that are not getting enough distribution and attention and we know that there are lots of good people who just don't have good information, who have been denied the facts by a complicit corporate media  And we all know what that means -- because it enabled criminal behavior by an out of control corrupt "cronyocrisy".

What we are doing is unconventional - combining music, film, messaging and fun.   We're trying to put some of the "party back into politics".  These are serious issues, there are serious flaws in our system and there's a lot of serious effort going into making this happen, setting the stage for the more serious information presented.  We're featuring two of my films: "Electile Dysfunction" (updated) and "9/11 Dust and Deceit".  In Austin the showing will be a benefit for the first responders - all proceeds after expenses to go to the Feal Good Foundation.

Please check out the Unconventional website for more unconventional info:  http://www.unconventionaltour.com

So here's where we'll be:  please join us in the city nearest you:
Oct. 9                   Santa Barbara,  (John Lennon's Birthday - call 805-320-7981 for more info
Oct. 17-18 -        Little Rock
Oct. 21-23          Bloomington, Indiana
Oct. 24                Chicago
Oct. 26-27          St. Louis
Oct. 29                Tulsa
Oct. 30                Austin
Nov. 2                 Albuquerque
Election Day      Nevada or Arizona?  (we'll be filming where ever we are)

If you would like to help, with a donation, a tank of gas, or more, there is a link from our sponsors' page
http://www.unconventionaltour.com/sponsors.html
If you would like to table, just contact us, and/or go to the page:
http://www.unconventionaltour.com/tablerform.html

Thanks so much for helping us to make some waves!

Let's build!

Penny Little
Coordinator, musician, filmmaker, activist
http://www.unconventionaltour.com

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Why Unconvention?

For some of us the mainstream Presidential Conventions are inaccessible, irrelevant, or not where we want to be. That’s why we’re having our own “Unconventions” to engage in the political process in our own way -- with music, film, candidates and inspiring speakers who are accessible, and our own town halls.
Most of us know the political process is tainted; however the power of your vote is real. The greater the number of voters, the harder it is to cheat, steal or rig an election. This year, its important to keep the momentum, get activated, have fun in our activism, and catalyze and create the change we want to see in the world. We are connecting the dots. We are connecting with each other.

We must make it more difficult to steal by mobilizing large numbers of voters. Even if you're feeling disenfranchised from the Presidential Selection process, it is important to prevent them from stacking the House and the Senate. We need to slow down the fast track to fascism in whatever way we can using the political process as well as grassroots actions.

Activist organizations working together cancreate a greater awareness of the important political issues in the US right now - the illegal occupation of Iraq, the torture, the Patriot Act, the treatment of our soldiers and veterans, the loss of our civil liberties, election fraud, the wasteful spending abroad while social programs, quality of life and infrastructure deteriorate at home, the shameful treatment of the heroes of 9/11 and the lies of 9/11....

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Open for Vlogging

Unconventional Tour is on the road past the Conventions. Wake Up America and smell the Truth. A Political Mashup of music, film, politics, fun, a mini fest with the intention of bringing greater awareness to the plight of the first responders, workers at Ground Zero, election process, issues which are critical in our Nation. This being an election year, this tour will highlight the importance of citizen involvement in political process - aka voting. The power of your vote is real, why else would they be trying so hard to steal it?

This tour is a way to bring together the peace and justice movement, the anti-war movement, the 9/11 Truth movement, environmental groups, labor unions, churches, free speech and civil rights groups, the movement for fiscal responsibility, social justice groups, and various student activist groups. We believe in our diversity and in our common purpose of making our government accountable to We the People.

This will hopefully become the space for the video blog aka vlog for the progress of the tour, and other information as it comes together. You can check back here or check http://www.unconventionaltour.com or http://www.music-unconvention.com