Photo by Rocky Schenck

Dangerous Minds pal Ann Magnuson will be performing in Los Angeles this weekend, with a brand new show at The Steve Allen Theater featuring an appropriate theme for 2012: The end of the world!

Because the Mayan calendar promises that the world shall end in late 2012, Ann Magnuson has decided to celebrate early. And, like Cher and Streisand before her, she shall begin the first of many ‘farewell’ tours to prepare for the aforementioned Apocalypse.

But because she wants to go out with neither a bang nor a whimper, she has chosen the route of Gentility: partly because of age but mostly because, in an increasingly vulgar world, it’s the most radical thing to do.

A mashing up of ‘end of the world’ songs, appropriately themed spoken word stories and bona-fide poetry will be presented as a contemporary twist on the “Victorian Drawing Room Entertainment”.

With original songs by Ann Magnuson and Kristian Hoffman including material from the albums Pretty Songs & Ugly Stories, The Luv Show as well as golden nuggets from Ms. Magnuson’s former psycho-sexual-psychedelic alt-cult band, Bongwater.

Ms. Magnuson’s drawing room guests may also hear new variations on songs written by Jacques Brel, Kurt Weill, Bessie Smith, David Bowie, Skeeter Davis, The Rolling Stones and the Doors (in a special Tribute to the Occupy Wall Street Movement).

In keeping with Victorian Drawing Room tradition, Ms. Magnuson shall recite poetry both classical (by Percy Bysshe Shelley-woven into The Rolling Stones classic GIMME SHELTER) and contemporary (by California’s own bard, The Lizard King himself, Jim Morrison).

With musical director Mr. Kristian Hoffman on grande pianoforte and Mr. Joseph Berardi demonstrating a variety of exotic primitive percussive instruments from cultures occidental, oriental, and accidental.

Celebrate the beginning of the end in true style!

I am told there will also be a tribute to Ann’s friend, the late artist Mike Kelley, who at one time was part of Ann’s art world “super group” backing band, Super Session, circa 1996,

Tickets on sale here.

Below, a seldom-seen video for Bongwater’s (amazing!) cover of The Monkees’ “Porpoise Song.” So seldom-seen that this morning was the first time I’ve seen it myself and I am truly a Bongwater super-fan.
 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Bongwater: The Power of Pussy

Photo by Steve Lombardi
 
Celebrated fop-about-Tinsel Town, Mr. Kristian Hoffman, is an artistic and musical sophisticate, a multi-multi-multi-hyphenate in a city full of, at best, just plain old multi-multi-hyphenates...

In the mid-1970s, Kristian was an active participant in New York’s CBGBs punk scene with his band The Mumps. He was involved with “No Wave,” and has performed with legends like Klaus Nomi, Lydia Lunch, Mink Stole, Rufus Wainwright, Jane Wiedlin, Ann Magnuson, El Vez the Mexican Elvis and even Pee-wee Herman. He’s also responsible for the “Bendover Girl” artwork found in the original edition of the New York Dolls’ first album. And he is a very snappy dresser.

Tomorrow night, he’ll be performing in Los Angeles:

A Sensational Technicolor Night of Local Pop Talent! Come trip with Kristian Hoffman’s Paisley Pop Cavalcade: An Evening of Pop Psych and Outlandish Auteurs…

With the cream of Los Angeles singers interpreting their own material, and classic but obscure pop psych classics!

This musical extravaganza will take place at the Rhino Records Pop Up Store. The legendary Westwood record store that provided music lovers with a place to commune, find great deals, and hear rising music stars from 1973 to 2005, is “popping up” again just blocks away from the original location to raise funds for The Recording Academy’s popular music community charity MusiCares. The schedule for the rest of the Rhino Records pop up event can be found here. Still to come, Martha Davis and the Motels and Brother Wayne Kramer from the MC5.

Rhino Records Pop Up Store, 10952 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles

There is suggested donation of $5-15 for each show, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Below, the video for “Hey Little Jesus, Get Out of That Hole” featuring Prince Poppycock of America’s Got Talent fame as the savior. Directed by Stephen Moramarco :
 

 
Watch a FREE video stream of The Nomi Song, Andrew Horn’s excellent 2004 documentary about New Wave opera diva from outer-space, Klaus Nomi. Follows the rise of Nomi’s unlikely career until his death in 1983 from AIDS complications. With Kristian Hoffman, Kenny Scharf, Ann Magnuson, Tony Frere, Page Wood, David McDermott and in a great performance clip, David Bowie and Joey Arias. Oddly sponsored by American Express.
 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Remembering My Friend Klaus Nomi on the anniversary of his death by Marc Campbell