La Farsa

Salt Lake City's La Farsa get ready to release their first album.

 La Farsa

I entered the La Farsa house, and founding members Erin Haley and Ryan Cron welcomed me. Haley put a beer in my hand and waved a shirt in my face. On the shirt were the words “La Farsa” and a picture of a matador dragging a flag, as though to entice a bull. La Farsa is Spanish for “the farce” or “the deception” and is used to describe a macabre play, a circus sideshow, or something so obscene it is like a circus sideshow. Haley and Cron were laughing behind the shirt. She drew back the shirt, and I saw La Farsa merchandise—T-shirts, tote bags, buttons—strewn about the room.

Like a bull, I was confused but intrigued. So, what is the farce?

Haley shoved a pile of shirts off the couch and we sat down to listen to the Salt Lake City band’s recently mastered album, At the Circus, and chatted about their upcoming West Coast tour.

Cron and Haley flipped through the merchandise and explained that their shirts are made of organic cotton, their CDs are packaged in eco-friendly cardboard sleeves, and they’ll be touring in a “green” van powered by natural gas. La Farsa’s members are political activists whose passions extend from the environment to gay and lesbian rights (coincidentally, their CD release party is happening during Pride weekend).

They aren’t cutting any corners with the release of their album, which opens with a pastiche of a city soundscape and a noodling violin that fades into hand clapping and guitar strumming that introduces Haley’s ballad “Some Insight,” about being lost in translation in Spain. The five multi-instrumentalists add musical and vocal layer upon layer, displaying each musician’s presence—but in tasteful minimalism—to bring the song to a climax.

Each song on the CD is like a different sideshow of a larger circus and is highlighted by Cron’s mellow, Grizzly Bear-ish “Grand Delusions,” Flora Bernard’s swaggering blues rhythms and rapid-fire vocals on “End Times,” and Cron’s Irish-styled anthem titled “Johnny Untitled.” The nine-track album ends with Haley’s waltz, “Elephant Revisited,” that sounds like an appropriate farewell to a good night at the circus, sending the kids dancing merrily home.

Just as a bull is misled by the matador’s flag, so La Farsa lures its audience with music. But when the flag is drawn, the audience is in for much more than a mere musical performance. As Haley explains, “We like to mess with the audience, and make it not just a concert but a show.” That’s the farce.

Music | Henry Rollins gets a few (more) things off his chest.

Henry Rollins scares the?shit out of me—and not just because his neck is twice the size of my thigh. A tight package of brawn and wit, the former Black Flag and current Rollins Band frontman, author, poet, actor, record-label owner, spoken-word artist, publisher and unconventional talk-show host has a voracious appetite for knowledge and little patience for ignorance and hypocrisy. I’m anxious about asking the wrong question, of seeming like one of those people who hijacked his America and ransacked it within an inch of its freedom-loving life. And I’m not talking about foreign terrorists. Then again, this is the man whowner, spoken-word artist, publisher and unconventional talk-show host has a voracious appetite for knowledge and little patience for ignorance and hypocrisy. I’m anxious about asking the wrong question, of seeming like one of those people who hijacked his America and ransacked it within an inch of its freedom-loving life. And I’m not talking about foreign terrorists. Then again, this is the man who once penned a pro-choice article for Spin magazine while most of his contemporaries continued to brag about notches on their belts. Bitches. Hoes. That’s not part of Rollins’ vernacular. In fact, he’d love to take on the Food and Drug Administration’s reproductive advisery committee and show all those invisible appointees that “you just don’t get to tell a woman what to do with her ovaries.” The chances of that happening are pretty slim. Since The Henry Rollins Show launched on IFC in 2005, he’s sat down with subjects diverse as Werner Herzog, Russell Simmons, Gore Vidal, Larry Flynt, Arianna Huffington, Joan Jett and Christopher Walken. He’s even entertained Kiss leader Gene Simmons, a notorious misogynist and arrogant rock star whose favorite conversation topic is himself. How did he not lose his cool? “I just let Gene be Gene,” Rollins says, adding that Simmons isn’t exactly Mussolini. “I don’t have any real bones to pick with him. He doesn’t harmfully impact my life. He didn’t invade Iraq.”
That would be Bush. Cheney. People who won’t give Rollins the time of day. He’d love to sit down and debate the hell out them, but “I don’t think they would be foolish enough to go on camera where we own the footage and can cut it any way we want,” he says. Ditto for Christian fundamentalists. They’re too busy telling homosexuals how much God hates them: “I don’t know anything about religion, but what I have gleaned about Christ—if he was a person—is that he was just a character who embodies all of these pretty cool ideas. I can get with that. What pisses me off is the people who espouse his word [then start attacking minorities]. It’s like, ‘Start acting like it, you homophobe.’”
Rollins doesn’t have much respect for cowards. He does, however, recognize that there’s a time and place for certain discussions. His work with the United Service Organizations, for example, doesn’t involve berating the troops about justification for the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
“I’m not onstage speaking to soldiers in Iraq saying the war is bogus,” he says. “What they’re dealing with every day and what we read about is quite a different conflict. They wake up, they’ve got a 12-hour shift and the job is Don’t Get Blown Up.” Overseas, Rollins keeps things light and sticks to more humorous topics: dating, driving, Los Angeles. When he hosted two Iraq veterans on his talk show, he gave them the floor.
“They were very respectful, but they said ‘This is an unsustainable conflict—we’ve been there and this thing sucked,’” he says. “You should have seen the hate mail I got for that. I thought ‘What? I just let these people say what they wanted to say—and they’re patriots!’”
Rollins gets a lot of letters from soldiers telling him what they’ve done. They send photographs of bodies on fire, torture victims they’ve found—visions of hell. It sends chills down his spine and gives him great concern for how this generation of war veterans will be met by folks back home.
“What do you do with well over a million people coming back in various states of trauma? Who pays for it? Well, the government doesn’t seem to want to,” he says. “That’s going to be a very visible part of the American landscape—the man with that interesting walk because he has a missing leg.”
Rollins manages to keep other things on his mind. He’s watching the presidential campaigns, waiting to see which Democrat takes the primary. No way is he voting Republican. Politics are always on his mind. He wishes people were more cynical, hopes they’ll wake up and take back their country from the corporations and warmongers who ripped it away.
Of course, he’s not cynical about everything. Rollins is excited about today’s music. No, not the kids on MTV, but the more obscure bands, such as Dax Riggs, who in a just world would be on everyone’s radar. People who claim great music is dead aren’t paying enough attention. “Music doesn’t suck at my house nor does it on my radio show,” he says. “There are bands putting out records this week who are completely happening. Music is in a really good place, and I think that’s partly due to major labels hitting this critical mass.” One of the main reasons he’s on TV—to tune people in to true talent.
The Internet’s a bright spot, too. Black Flag and DOA could have used the Web to further their careers. With MySpace and YouTube “you’re seeing the indie network become what it should have been in the ’80s and basically saying fuck you to the man—which is always the right thing to do.”

Tips for shopping for perfume

Perfume works well to highlight our individualities. Once you know what smell fits your personality, image and lifestyle, it's time to go shopping. But be aware - shopping for perfumes usually is not an easy task. Do you know how to shop for the right perfume?
First of all, don't use any fragrance before going to the shops. If you perfume yourself and then go out and use another perfume, you won't be able to detect the real smell. This can lead to disappointment later because the new perfume will smell different than the first time, unless of course you use both fragrances each time. Avoid spicy food before shopping, as it might temporarily take away the ability to distinguish different scents. Remember that your nose is ‘rested' in the morning, thus it's the best time to try out new perfumes. You may be too tired in the evening to choose between sandalwood with a hint of amber and sandalwood with a hint of musk.
It's very important to try on the perfume before you actually buy them. The same perfume smells differently on each person because of different reaction to one's body. So if the commercial says it smells like fresh citrus with a hint of patchouli, it's better to try out what it really smells like when it mixes with your own scent. Individual body chemistry is also the reason why you shouldn't buy perfumes just because you like how they smell on your friend or cousin. Always try a fragrance on your skin, not on your clothing or a tester sheet.
You don't have to decide whether you like the perfume or not right after trying them out. The scent is always very strong when applied; it usually wears out after more than 10 minutes and then you can feel the real smell. This period of time is also needed for fragrance to react with your skin. Give yourself a little time to decide!
If you're not sure what perfume you really want to have, it's ok to try several types and brands. However, you should avoid spraying more than three different perfumes at a time. If you try out too many scents they will confuse your smell and you won't be able to recognize the difference between them.
Try on some new scents. It won't hurt and you can make some great discoveries! If you're an attached person and you've been loyal to lily of the valley scent since early teen days, you can find a whole new world inside local perfume shop. Just don't be afraid to experiment! If you're looking for perfumes for a daytime, remember that the smell shouldn't disturb you or people around you. If perfume smells great, but it attracts your attention all the time, there's a great possibility that the smell will irritate you after several hours. Perfumes for evening and special occasions are meant to be heavier and stronger, but they usually don't irritate because they are supposed to be worn for a shorter period of time.
Keep an eye on discounts. Many perfume shops offer ‘perfume of the day' or ‘perfume of the week' with a considerable rebate. Don't miss out on discount coupons in local press or mall; they can help you to save a little or even afford the fragrance you've dreamt about for years. Also, don't be shy to ask shop assistant about additional discounts: many shops apply some extra rebates to loyal clients. Maybe all you have to do is sign up for shop's loyalty program. If you're faithful to one and only perfume, buying bigger phial is always an option that pays off.

Homemade Beauty Recipes 1

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Honey Mask Recipe
The best facial mask is honey. Place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores. Smear on honey, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores. Use once a week.

Miracle Whip Exfoliator
"Yes, I am talking about the same Miracle Whip your Aunt Mable uses in her macaroni salad. Apparently, women all over the US are using this salad dressing ingredient on their faces to remove dead flaky skin.

I have not tried it myself, but supposedly, KRAFT MIRACLE WHIP Exfoliating Facial makes an amazing treatment for normalizing over-oily skin.
Here is how you apply this "miracle cream":

Make sure all your hair is pulled back from your face. Apply a thin layer of the KMW all over your face, up to the eyelashes and make sure to also put some on your neck. The "fumes" from the vinegar may bother you so walk around the house to try to escape them. LOL!

Leave on for 10 minutes, then massage gently. The dead skin cells on your face will roll off in rubbery little balls. Rinse your skin with tepid water, then cleanse as usual following your regular beauty regime. If you apply the KMW every day, in 6-8 weeks your skin should be completely renewed.

I cannot help but wonder if this Miracle Whip eats away at the dead skin cells on your face, what does it do to the inside of the body when someone eats it?? Pretty scary!!! One person believes that the vinegar in the Miracle Whip is what causes the exfoliation and rejuvenation. If that is true, why not try a mixture of organic apple cider vinegar with some olive oil, apply that and see what happens? One could whip together the olive oil and apple cider vinegar, apply it to their face and then use the leftovers on their salad!

I think I will start experimenting with some ingredients and try to come up with a facial recipe to rival the KRAFT MIRACLE WHIP!"

Special Note from, Lucie:
"After reading Victoria's email about the Miracle Whip beauty trick (the above is an excerpt from that email), I bought a small jar of Miracle Whip. I applied a slighter thicker layer than was recommended, and the vinegar smell was quite strong.

After a minute or two the Miracle Whip 'melted' and that left my face very shiny and oily looking. After 10 min., I washed the Whip away and I couldn't believe the results. All the flaky dry skin was gone and my skin felt tight and smooth. Very strange, indeed!"

Remove Hair Build-up Recipe
1/4 cup vinegar
1 cup water
After conditioning the hair use this as a final rinse. Leaves your hair soft and shiny.

Hair Egg Conditioner Recipe
1 teaspoon baby oil
1 egg yolk
1 cup water
Beat the egg yolk until its frothy, add the oil then beat again. Add to the water. Massage into the scalp and throughout your hair. Rinse well.

Hair Conditioner One Recipe
Combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk. Comb it through the hair and let sit for 10 -15 minutes, rinse out.

Shampoo Recipe
In a blender, combine 1 ounce olive oil, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Use as regular shampoo.

Remove Conditioner Buildup Recipe
Baking soda removes conditioner build-up from your hair. Rub in and rinse thoroughly, then shampoo with your regular shampoo.

Hair Conditioner Two Recipe
Mayonnaise is a great conditioner for dry hair.
Depending on the length of your hair, apply approximately 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to your dry hair. Work into hair really well and then cover your hair with a plastic bag, allowing to set for about 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and then shampoo as usual.

Avocado Facial Recipe
Avocado is a naturally rich moisturizer. Mash the meat of the avocado into a creamy texture. Massage into the face and neck . Leave on for 15 minutes and gently rinse off.

Facial Mask Recipe
Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Leave on your face overnight or, for a quick pick-me-up, just 15 minutes. Splash warm water on your face to rinse.

It helps to removes blotches, because the lemon works as a bleaching agent.

Lighten Circles under Eyes Recipe
To lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off residue and apply an eye cream.

Egg & Honey Mask Recipe
Mix together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 teaspoon almond oil and 1 tablespoon yogurt. Honey stimulates and smoothes, egg and almond oil penetrate and moisturize, and yogurt refines and tightens pores.

Egg, Avocado & Mud Facial Mask Recipe
(best for oilier skin types)
Clay is available in powder form at any health food store. Mix 1 tablespoon dry clay with 1 egg yolk, 1/4 of a mashed avocado and enough witch hazel to create a smooth mixture. Mud dries excess sebum while the egg yolk and avocado replenish lost moisture. Witch hazel tones.

Egg & Olive Oil Hair Mask Recipe
Mix two whole eggs with four tablespoons of olive oil. Smooth through hair. Wrap head with plastic wrap, and leave in hair for 10 minutes. Rinse well.

Fruit Smoothie Hair Mask Recipe
Blend 1/2 a banana, 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cantaloupe, 1 tablespoon wheat germ oil and 1 tablespoon yogurt. For extra conditioning, squeeze in the contents of a vitamin E capsule. Leave in hair for 15 minutes.

Facial Exfoliater Recipe
2 heaped tsp fine oatmeal
1 tsp. baking soda

Combine ingredients, and add enough water to make a paste. Apply to skin and rub gently. Rinse and gently pat dry.

Banana Wrinkle Fighter Recipe
Banana is wonderful as an anti-wrinkle treatment. Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy. Spread all over face and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of cold. Gently pat dry.

Grape Cleanser Recipe
Grape juice makes an excellent cleanser for any skin type. Simply split one or two large grapes, remove pips and rub the flesh over face and neck. Rinse off with cool water.

Oily Skin Mask Recipe
Mix 1 tsp. brewers yeast with enough natural yogurt to make a thin mixture. Pat this thoroughly into all the oily areas and allow it to dry on the skin. After 15 - 20 minutes, rinse off with warm water, then cool water and blot dry.

Homemade Honey Beauty Recipes

Stir 1 teaspoon honey into 4 cups (1 quart) warm water. Blondes may wish to add a squeeze of lemon. After shampooing, pour mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal.

Facial Toner
In blender, puree 1 Tablespoon honey with a peeled, cored apple. Smooth over face; leave on 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Moisture Mask
Mix 2 Tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Smoothing Skin Lotion
Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

Skin Softening Bath
Add 1/4 cup honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.

Hair Conditioner
Mix 1/2 cup honey and 1/4 cup olive oil. (Use 2 Tablespoons oil for normal hair.) Work a small amount at a time through hair until coated. Cover hair with a shower cap; leave on 30 minutes. Remove shower cap; shampoo well and rinse. Dry as normal.

Honey Cleansing Scrub
Mix 1 Tablespoon of honey with 2 Tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

Firming Face Mask
Whisk together 1 Tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste (approximately 1/4 cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Know Your Local ... Electro-rocker: Vanessa Chamberlain of Cavedoll

Cavedoll singer/producer Vanessa Chamberlain, wife and creative partner of frontman Camden, is a local scene mainstay known for her signature sound and style. Chamberlain’s been in the biz since she was just a wee thing singing Christmas carols to senior citizen style. Chamberlain’s been in the biz since she was just a wee thing singing Christmas carols to senior citizens: “Anywhere they could put a mic in front of me, I’d sing.” Cavedoll performs as part of the free, all-ages Fat Flake Festival at the Gallivan Center, Saturday, Nov. 15, 4:30-10 p.m.
n
nFavorite songwriter?
nExcluding my husband Camden? That is such a hard question. John Lennon. Default is always a Beatle. John Lennon is definitely an amazing songwriter. Especially after he left The Beatles. Some of the lyrics off of Imagine...
nnIf you could do one thing for America what would it be?
nThe one thing I’m trying to do right now is raise global citizens [referencing her three children]. Children aware of problems that go on beyond their front door. I hope that all parents feel that is their duty to raise good Americans.
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Vanessa Chamberlain n Age: 29 n Utah Resident: 26 Years n Band: Cavedoll

nWhat local causes do you support?
nThe Utah Pride Center and Shriner’s Hospital. People need to support Shriner’s and donate because they’re running out; that’s what they survive on. nnFavorite coffee and tea place?
nMy favorite all time place in Salt Lake is The Beehive Tea Room. It’s a great place to take a date, a casual date. It’s a sit down and chat and have a tiny sandwich place.
nnFavorite snack?
nI’m way into raw almonds, it’s my default snack.
nnPerfect afternoon?
nIt would probably involve yarn at some point creating something. And being with Camden.
nnWhat nature spot do you enjoy escaping everyone at?
nI live by Millcreek in Salt Lake [City]. Whenever we can we go up there. It’s really, really pretty.
nnWhat was the first album that really resonated with you?
nJane’s Addiction’s Nothing’s Shocking. I remember dancing in my bedroom and losing my mind.
nnWhat would be an embarrassing band from youth you might not like to bring up?
nWhen I was in the 5th grade I was so into Paula Abdul. And now she’s so crazy, that poor woman. It’s like when people get too rich they get weird.
nnFavorite instrument to play?
nMy voice, I guess. I’d actually much rather produce songs than sing them.
nnAny local visual artists turn you on?
nI really really got into the 337 Project when it was here. Our music was listed on the DVD.

Desert Rocks Music Festival

Outside of majestic Moab, Deseret Rock Music Festival brings the desert to life.

  On Memorial Day weekend, driving south past Moab over bumpy dirt roads, concertgoers pull into the Desert Rocks Music Festival, pointed by a humble little red plywood sign with blue lettering.

Amid sagebrush and a slot canyon on the 320-acre San Juan County site, these fans bring an energy that starkly contrasts with the empty, harsh climate, like the verdant shrubbery juxtaposed with the red rock. They travel here for the local and national bands, the community and the outdoor attractions. And at night, the atmosphere becomes even more vibrant, with music, fire dancers and, over the main stage, white LED lights that spell out “DESERT ROCKS” like a constellation in the star-laden southern Utah sky.

In 2005, co-founders Luke Benson and John Corkery launched the festival, charging $15 for two nights of camping; 150 people watched eight bands playing on flatbed-trailer stages. Attendance has crept up steadily to 800 in 2009, and volunteer crews now build professional-grade stages two weeks in advance. “Now, if attendance hits our goal for 2010, which it most likely will, we know we have something here ... something real,” Corkery says.

The little festival that could has certainly been real for Utah-based bands. “We started the festival to support local bands, to help get them big, out to a larger audience. It worked,” Corkery says.

Case in point: local jam-band Wisebird, who now tours and is distributed nationwide. “It’s because of their music, but we think we helped them out along the way,” Corkery says. This year, Wisebird and local staples Stonefed, Equaleyes, Afro Omega, Parlor Hawk, Marinade, Puddle Mountain Ramblers, Scenic Byway and CWMA winner Spell Talk (formerly The Naked Eyes), among others, will perform.

While the music connects with the audience, the audience also connects with, well, themselves, creating a recognizable community vibe. The festival attracts a collection of good-hearted music and outdoor enthusiasts who care about each other. “I don’t think you find this at any other festival,” Corkery says, “and it’s our music that draws them.” Battling the elements—for, at minimum, a couple hours each year—certainly pulls people together. In 2009, a flash-flooding river ran through camp, yet people laughed while helping each other man the barricades, good time uninterrupted.

By day, these outdoorsy types lick their chops at the prospect of playing in Moab’s two national parks and surrounding wilderness. The opportunity for adventure is boundless. And this year, partnered with Plateau Restoration, Desert Rocks presents the Green Excursions Program, offering guided and interpretive rafting trips down the Colorado River, hiking in Arches National Park and mountain biking the world-famous Slickrock Trail. Corkery says many musicians will take these jaunts, so it’s a good opportunity to meet and greet. Yet, all the physically challenging outdoors indulgences don’t stop people from dancing the night away—music goes as late (or early) as 6 a.m.

While dance steps leave footprints, the festival, as a whole, hopes to leave none behind, environmentally speaking. They’re ramping up their green initiatives this year, striving for zero-waste and 100 percent renewable energy for power—solar and biodiesel. Additionally, they’re taking steps to neutralize carbon with offsets.

Even with all these bonuses, there’s more: Folks get stoked on the Desert Rocks headliners like JGB, featuring Melvin Seals, Chali 2na, The Mother Hips, The Motet & Friends, Emmit-Nershi Band and Groundation.

Groundation’s polyrhythmic reggae-soul soup will feed starving fans ready to reach new musical heights. Their tour, initially ending mid-May in Hawaii, was extended when trombone player and Park City resident Kelsey Howard advocated for one of his favorite fests.

Despite being sometimes chaotic for bands—with rushed sound checks and logistical hustle-and-bustle—Groundation frontman Harrison Stafford loves festivals. “It brings all these people, all walks of life, together to celebrate what’s most basic and innate. Festivals unite all religions, all people; it’s thousands of people with nothing but smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts,” Stafford says.
He’s excited to see the people of the desert come together for his first Southern Utah trip. “The desert’s always a good place to be; our spiritual backbone began there [biblically]. The desert talks to people,” Stafford says, regarding Rastafarianism and reggae. “It’s that quietness of the desert where God can really shine. He lives in and with everyone. And in music.”