2011-01-15 Blast-Off Burlesque Holidazed and Confused

Blast-Off Burlesque has been voted the Best Burlesque Troupe in Atlanta for the past two years and there's no question of why with their innovative and original ideas and takes on everyday things, Holidazed & Confused proved to be a continuation of their genius!  Going through the calendar and celebrating all of their favorite famous and some rather obscure holidays made you want to celebrate with them all year long!

They kicked off the show in traditional Blast-Off style with a group number celebrating Christmas with a very pregnant Mary trying to give birth with assistance of Joseph, the Wise men, some farm animals and an Angel.  The result of their efforts was a beach ball that turned the whole scene into 1950s style bathing beauty number with synchronized beach balls for everyone!  With this sacrilegious start the show only got better and weirder from there!

Hosted by Jon Waterhouse as Rip Taylor flinging confetti and doing introductions with bad puns and props, he is always an amazing host for these shows, letting himself be fully immersed in the characters he portrays.  With guests to the show including Jim Stacy as Stilt-walking Sam representing all of the patriotic major sale holidays who popped out at seemingly random intervals, much like the holidays he represented.  Other guests included Talloolah Love doing her tribute to Bastille Day complete with French Flag and working guillotine created by Bart Webb Studios that she used to chop off the head of her oppressor before doing some aerial work on the bar at the top of her death device.   Then came The Chien Hong Liondance Troop, who did an amazing Dragon Dance to kick off the celebration of Chinese New Year with the always amazing Chinita La Chou Chou.  The Chameleon Queen did an amazing tribute to Rubber Duckie Day as her newest character, Amaretto Sourpuss, to swan lake.  Their final guest was May Delight who sang a salute to the guy's answer to Valentine's Day, March 14th also known as Steak and Blowjob Day!


Some of my favorite Blast-Off acts included a brilliant tribute to Halloween by Mysteria.  She went from a Charlie Brown Ghost, to Pumpkin Head, a witch, and then a sexy cat!  The shedding of all the many layers of different costumes to an amazing mash up of different music was truly ingenious.  Such a simple idea but executed so brilliantly you couldn't help but enjoy yourself.   Dickie van Dyke's celebration of Valentine's Day Freddie Mercury style continued the tradition of Dickie being a fantasy that works for everyone regardless of sexual preference.  The show ended to Blast-Off Burlesque coming out to take their bows to "Calendar Girl" as the months flew by on the video screen behind them.  As the last performer took their bow, the calendar reached Dec 21, 2012 and the end of the world ensued in a video montage of angels, demons, space aliens, and Blast-Off partying like there's no tomorrow.  Once the video dust had cleared, out came the performers covered in leaves to restart the human race through dance!  It was an amazing way to end the show and once again proved that the amazingness that is Blast-Off Burlesque knows no bounds!


I took over 2,000 photos and got them narrowed down to around 1,300 after I weeded out some not so great ones.  So I hope you enjoy the photos and make sure to catch the next Blast-Off Burlesque Show and buy your tickets early as they always sell out.

2010-01-14 Search for the Golden Sprocket

On January 14th The Extraordinary Contraptions, Thimblerig Circus, Tupelo Honey, Doctor Q and Talloolah Love via video came together under Rusty Gears Productions to create the Search for the Golden Sprocket at The Shelter.

When I walked in there were Steampunk clad enthusiasts were scattered about the bar with rapped attention to the stage.  The Extraordinary Contraptions were playing some of their new songs while a video of  Talloolah Love doing a silent Burlesque Cooking Show played on the televisions.  The music continued as she got drunk with sampling her ingredients and slowly shed her clothing through out the cookie baking process.  It was a cute, cheeky way to fill some video with her expressive face and comedic timing.  A break between the band's sets brought  Doctor Q playing an assortment of music while they cleared the way for Tupelo Honey to perform and captivate the audience!  Decked in red she performed to Blair Crimmon's "A Demon Like Me" and wowed the audience with her butt spanking strut!  Then came a PSA for pirate gunshot insurance before the band's second set.

During the band's second set the next video graced the screen. Done in silent movie style staring Tupelo Honey as the daughter of a vicious pirate who buried a treasure and tattooed the map on her back as a child.  Now an adult, she was dressed as a harem girl being chased by a villain who wished to steal the treasure.  With batting eyelashes and skulking capes and tops hats it really captured the old 1920s feel.  Then came the video premiere of The Extraordinary Plushies,  puppet versions of The Extraordinary Contraptions, flying around on their blimp and their misadventures!

Overall I would say that the night was a success for all involved.  It was a good show, some really innovative ideas as far as set up and definitely something different to do on a Friday night. Below are my photos from the event, they are of Tupelo Honey's act as I wasn't feeling super great so that's pretty much all I felt up to shooting, enjoy!

2010-12-17 Syrens of the South Tits for Tots Holiday Spectacular

December 17, 2010 marched the Fourth Annual Syrens of the South Toys for Tots Drive.  Each year there is a discount offered to the audience to bring in toys to be handed over to our very own Marine at the end of the night.  This year the Marine sent was actually one that had been with them back in 2008 and said he would had been back in 2009 as well if he hadn't been deployed as he had so much fun last time.  There were over 200 toys sent off at the end of the evening thanks to the generosity of the audience making this the most successful toy drive yet!

The show started out with a student showcase that included two very impatient students who were dying to get on stage and begged to get to perform, so there was a mini student showcase MCed by Katherine Lashe(me) to open the show with a very erotic fan dance by Lilith Fox and and amazing leg show with chair work by Pearl E. White.  I expect to see great things from these ladies in the future.

Once the MC torch was passed to Fritzengrueben after he stripped out of his Santa Suit the main event could begin.  First was a dance routine by Savannah Rouge, bellydance performer and teacher Oracle in her showgirl persona!  She shimmy, shook and swiveled her hips leaving the audience begging for more without removing a single piece of clothing.  Next came the comedic styling of puppeteer Tim Monteith with his light up costumes and puppets dancing to Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner.  What a great tribute this was to Mary on this Holiday Season!  Then our naughty girl Tupelo Honey made her way to the stage doing an amazingly devilish number to A Demon Like Me by Blair Crimmins and the Hookers.  Showing us that sometimes getting that piece of coal just means you have to crush it under your heel to turn it into diamonds!  After the naughty came the nice with Lola le Soliel closing out the first half dressed as Santa Claus in the audience to "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" by Mabel Scott and then teaching the audience what good girls really want for Christmas, to "Five Pound Box of Money" by Pearl Bailey that ended with dollar signs on her behind and a boa covered in money.

The second act opened with the sultry songbird singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and then continuing her stripping serenade out of a Catholic School Girl outfit to "Someone to Watch Over Me" showing how much she loves the reason for the season!  Continuing the love came Fonda Lingue and Devin Liquor doing an adorable duet to "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" with Fonda's incredible shrinking muff before going into "Winter Wonderland".  They defiantly put the Kings and Queens in Drag!  Then came Ruby Redmayne who teaches us that the carpet should always match the drapes and continued her lessons with "Conjunction Junction" from School House Rocks.  If doing well in school means you get more presents; I think the audience wanted to stay after school with her to get some private tutoring!  Chad Sanborn followed with his version of our favorite after school show Mr Rodgers to teach the audience a magic trick.  Next time he should make sure to listen carefully as there's a difference between B-A-N-A-N-A and B-A-N-D-A-N-A, but he did look awfully cute in his sweater while making that banana disappear!  Catatonic Raucous came on to "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" as a bad little elf with mistle toe hanging on her panties and bows on her breasts, she was a present that the whole audience was glad to see unwrapped!  Then came the biggest present of all, literally a giant present!  A huge box was carried on stage as "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" played.  Slowly the lid came off and one hand then another slowly reached out of the box covered in bows to reveal a very festive D'lilah D'lite.  The music then switched to "Santa Bring my Baby Back" by Elvis while bows flew off of her from all over her body into the audience!  I don't think any of them will ever look at a bow the same way again!  Closing the show was Katherine Lashe(me) doing a holiday fan dance to "Zat You Santa Claus".

Below is the link to the Syrens of the South Flickr Group which includes a ton of photos from the show with special thank to Mr. Wombat and Derek Jackson!



Sadly our regular videographer was unavailable but someone did come and video tape the show and then put the acts on YouTube.  The sound is rough but you can at least see the guys and girls that made this event possible.  So please click HERE to see the playlist!

2010-12-14 Syrens of the South at the Atlanta Photographers Guild

The Atlanta Photographer's Guild meets every other week in the basement at Elliot St Pub with an assortment of models for both professional and beginner photographers to shoot.  They set up an assortment of backdrops and lights in addition to using the natural brick and bar props that come with the basement.  These events are put together for the most amazing photographer Marc Turnley, known as Brilliant Z.  There are usually 2-3 models who bring 2-3 outfits each and each photographers gets about 10-15 minutes with each model per outfit.

On December 14th they brought back regular model Katherine Lashe and first timer Lola le Soleil!  Katherine started the evening in a top hat, eye patch, corset, Victorian vest and garter belt while holding her riding crop before switching to a green corset and butt bow with black beaded fringe bra and panties, Victorian hat, green feather fans and 7 inch rhinestoned heels.  Lola started out in an amazing assortment of colors and a feather headdress that made her well over 6 feet tall with those long legs.  Her second outfit was covered in layers and layers of 32 inch fringe in different shades of blues that accentuated all of her graceful movements.

Below you can see all the pictures tagged with this particular date and event so you can see some of the pictures from the night!

2010-11-13 Syrens of the South with The Dresden Dolls

The Dresden Dolls got back together from working on their solo projects to put together a fall tour that came to The Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta, GA.  As part of Amanda Palmer's desire to help promote local performers they booked the band Lille and Syrens of the South.

Syrens of the South opened the show with a short, 30 minute set that included Katherine Lashe MCing and Burnadette Cinders who brought the house down with her bellydance skills to They Might Be Giants' Istanbul not Constantinople and her wonderful announcement that she is with child.  Then the mistress of Illusion Fonda Lingue took the stage and wowed the audience with her shimmy, shake and don't ask don't tell pastie policy.  Closing the show was the legs that make you beg Lola le Soleil with her eye popping balloon act that had the crowd begging for more.

After the Syrens were done Lille took the stage for an amazing home grown act that was a wonderful opener to the amazingness that is The Dresden Dolls.  The crowd went wild and sang along to all of the songs, it was an amazing evening for everyone involved and we hope to see The Dresden Dolls back in Atlanta real soon!

Below see a collection of photos from The Dresden Dolls!

2010-11-06 The Mechanical Masquerade

In January of 2010 Syrens of the South began producing an evening of Steampunk revelry entitled The Mechanical Masquerade.  After the July event Syrens of the South passed the torch to Doctor Q and The Artifice Club.    Under new management, The Mechanical Masquerade moved from Bart Webb Studios/Little Tree Studios up the street to The Academy Theater.

The evening was a traditional masquerade with masks being worn until midnight so people could guess who was whom.  The entertainment included burlesque performances by Talloolah Love and Knoxville's own Salome Cabaret and a musical set from the Bonaventure Quartet.  Talloolah Love did her clockwork doll routine, which was her very first steampunk inspired number lo so many years ago, so it seemed only fitting for her to do it for the first one produced by The Artifice Club.  Salome Cabaret performed they're group routine to Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka which is amazingly choreographed with a twisted sexual energy that makes it disturbingly beautiful. There was also a costume contest, sadly I did not catch the winner, but I do know one of the prizes was a weekend pass for Anachrocon.  For those that don't know, Anachrocon is a weekend of all things steampunk!  It includes performances, costumes, panels dances, parties and vendors. This February will be the third year for this rapidly growing convention and interest in steampunk.

Over all it was a very lovely evening and I know that the next event, which is Friday night at Anachrocon, will be another wonderful time had by all.  Below are pictures that have been up loaded from this and previous Mechanical Masquerades (mostly by Kevin whom we love and adore as he is an amazing little shutterbug) on Flickr, enjoy!

2010-10-31 Dangerous Curves Ahead: Burlesque On the Go-Go!

Dangerous Curves Ahead: Burlesque on the Go-Go! is a touring burlesque show that includes Clams Casino, Anita Cookie, Minnie Tonka, Gigi La Femme and Darlinda Just Darlinda.  They picked back up with their fall tour and headed all over the country including Atlanta, GA to come play with Syrens of the South for Halloween!

The show included the bevy of beauties from New York as well as Atlanta's own burlesque legend Torchy Taboo who MC'd the show with some newer blood performing including the legs that make you beg Lola le Soliel, the woman of a million jobs Burnadette Cinders, your host the Syren of the South Katherine Lashe, and The Lady Miss Vagina Jenkins played panty wrangler for the evening.

It was an evening of haunted horrors that included The Ghostbusters, a werewolf, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, a sexy game of peek-a-boo, and more sassy entertainment then you could shake a severed arm at!  There was a raffle with fabulous prizes that included The Burlesque Handbook, hand made pasties from the Go-Go Girls themselves, and special items donated from Sin in Linen who was helping sponsor the tour along with American Shapewear.com!


Below are some fabulous photos of Dangerous Curves: Burlesque on the Go-Go on Flickr!