My Blog

8 GATES & Protea in Oakland Tues 10-6

Serena — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:59:06 GMT

'8 Gates' -A Metamorphic Ritual Theatre Production. Part play, part shamanic underworld journey, concerning past lives, atavistic resurgence, mists, ravens and the density of matter. Using hypnotic repetition and hceeps sdrowkcab Orryelle begins by taking the audience/initiates into trance and guiding them through a path-working to access past lives. He then cuts to dramatically relating some of his own experiences with this journey-work, choreographing this tale onto a spider-web mandala used to ritually access 8 Gates of experience. Shards and fragments of different lives and selves (inc. a Norse viking, a sabretooth tiger and a fly agaric mushroom) eventually link back up in a complex mosaic of non-linear relativity resolved in a paradox of profound absurdity/ absurd profundity. Plus SF's PROTEA (me): - Serena Toxicat's thorny, sharp-clawed, 21st century brainchild. An intensely personal, dark experimental project, its manifestation into form has come about through technologies of varying strata, from low budget to high end, and has never included any stock loops or sounds, rather soundscapes crafted from found aural sources. A priestess of Bast, Sekhmet and Isinephthys ordained in the Fellowship of Isis at Isis Oasis temple and ocelot sanctuary, Serena celebrates the Ancient Egyptian pantheon with gnosis and devotion in a matrix of ether and artful "noise". For this performance Serena will present material from her new CD 'Going Forth by Night' with thereminist Joseph Max, ntula providing electronic support, and Orryelle on violin. Orryelle will also be performing some of his own recent musickal material from his 'rehctaWatcher' CD with related Egyptian themes and Protea's collaboration. Sa Sakhem Sahu. Ama Iset. Em hotep. Mau Bast! Mau Bast! Mau Bast! $10 at the door (or presale via http://www.crossroads.wild.net.au/morph.htm)

CONFLUX Dark Arts Festival, Portland, OR Sept. 25 & 26, 2009

Serena — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:20:12 GMT

Below is the official blurbage, but here's what you need to know: gothic tinged arts festival with Music & Dance Performances, Art, Fashion Show, Workshops, DJ's, Vending... We had a great time in 2008 and expect this year to be even better. I'm releasing a limited edition of my new Protea album! Only 23 copies will be made for this very special event. I will also be selling my book, Evangeline And The Drama Wheel. ------------- Conflux 2009 tickets are now on sale through Paypal. Weekend pre-sale tickets are $40.00, all tickets will be will call. You WILL NOT receive a paper ticket. Your name will be waiting on a list at the door. Pre-sale will end on September 20th, 2009 Single Evening passes will be available at the door, as well. $45/weekend, $30/evening at the door. To pay online, email your payment via Paypal.com to ConfluxNorthWest@gmail.com. Please remember to let us know how many tix you need and provide your name as it appears on your i.d.! Conflux NW Dark Arts Festival 2009 line up: Abney Park Ariellah The Ghosts Project Serpentine Atlan: Soriah with Ashkelon Sain Seraphic Society Deshret Bogville Creature Feature Hands of Kali Among the Weeds Protea w/Like Deities Land of the Blind The Conflux Vision: To engage the eyes, minds, and bodies, of all the artistically inclined through dark fashion, dance, and music. An opportunity to build community through art for everyone engaged whether a part of the show or those who attend. [CONFLUX NW Dark Arts Festival Sept. 25 & 26th- Portland, OR **Will be vending and participating in the fashion show with 6 other designers!] Cash tickets are available at these local shops: Robot Piercing and Tattoo 2330 NW Westover Road Portland, OR 503*224*9916 Essential Elements Apothecary 3135 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 503*281*2831 Conflux 2009 is an 18+ event. Vending tables and art show slots still available. Contact Conflux for details! ---. Hope to see you there! Serena~*

9th ANNUAL TRANSBAY SKRONKATHON BBQ this Sat. 7-11! My band, Protea, on at 7pm!

Serena — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:31:42 GMT

21 Grand Art Space -- 416 25th St., Oakland, CA 94612 Saturday, Jul 11 2009 1:00 PM until late - FREE The annual Transbay Skronkathon BBQ is an all-day marathon music and BBQ extravaganza. Admission is free, but we'll pass the hat for the benefit of the Transbay Creative Music Calendar. We'll have a passel of charcoal grills out in the alleyway for your food-searing pleasure (BRING -veg *hint* *nudge*- STUFF TO GRILL!) and a huge roster of the Bay Area's best creative musicians inside for your listening pleasure. It's a great day to hang out in the sun (cross fingers), chill with a lot of musical people and hear a whole lot of extremely unusual muzik. Schedule (more details about performers at http://www.bayimproviser.com/..calendar.asp?summary=false&..event_id=7838): 01:30-02:00 flyloops (Aaron Leese, advanced looping software) 02:00-02:30 vibrating garbage (swamplung(greg), electronics) 02:30-03:00 Matt Davignon/Jen Baker/Kaylee Coombs 03:00-03:30 weltschmerz (cello duo) 03:30-04:00 darph/nadeR (Jared Butler/Cory Thrall) 04:00-04:30 Respectable Citizen (Bruce Bennett/Michael Zbyszynski) 04:30-05:00 George Ludwig, elec. guitar with loops 05:00-05:30 T. D. Skatchit (Tom Nunn/David Michalak w. Aurora Josephson) 05:30-06:00 Jacob Felix Heule/Tony Dryer/Jay Korber 06:00-06:30 Sndrft eeoo and Mike Jacobs 06:30-07:00 Hanuman Zhang, found object noise 07:00-07:30 Protea (Serena Toxicat and thereminist Joseph Max) 07:30-08:00 z_bug (David Leikam/Zachary Morris/Sheila Bosco/Craig Latta) 08:00-08:30 RTD3 (Ron Heglin/Tom Nunn/Doug Carroll) 08:30-09:00 John Hanes/Steve Adams, electronic duo 09:00-09:30 PG13 (Phillip Greenlief/John Shiurba/Thomas Scandura) 09:30-10:00 Reconnaissance Fly (Polly Moller et al.) 10:00-10:30 sfSoundGroup (Kyle Bruckmann/Matt Ingalls/Christopher Jones/John Ingle/Kjell Nordeson/Alexa Beattie/Monica Scott) 10:30-11:00 Jen Baker/Ron Heglin/Karen Stackpole/Tom Djll 11:00-11:30 Gino Robair/Amy X Neuburg, Blippoo Box duo The Transbay Skronkathon BBQ: will the horror ever stop? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Really hope to see you there! www.myspace.com/proteamusic

Come see me play the How to Destroy the Universe festival tomorrow @ 4 pm at 5LOWERSHOP in SF!

Serena — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:25:56 GMT

If you are in the SF Bay Area this weekend for Throbbing Gristle / How To Destroy the Universe - Part 6 PLEASE COME SEE ME (PROTEA) represent MachineKunt Records. Show your support for EXPERIMENT HAYWIRE and all the kickass artists on the bill this Sunday @ The 5LOWERSHOP in SF http://www.myspace.com/5lowershop (All Ages) 3 pm - 10 pm. I'm on at 4. Industrial Noise Show w/ special Grrl Noize artists. FILTH MILK, DELETIST, BINKY, EZRA BUCHLA, MachineKunt Records (NYC): EXPERMIMENT HAYWIRE & PROTEA, AUTHOR AND PUNISHER, THOMAS DIMUZIO + LARRY THRASHER (ov Psychic TV, Thee Majesty) Unfortunately, CINDERGARDEN will not be able to make it. $5-$10 Sliding Donation

Blow art opening on Sat. 4-4

Serena — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:00:05 GMT

Come to my art opening on Sat. 4-4 from 8-10 pm, Bay Area lovers of fine art, wine and good food! I'll be showing about 30 pieces, including paintings, photographs, mixed media and collage, a propagand[iv]a dvd, a live photo shoot and more! There will be other artists featured, too; it will be fabulous. -Is it free? Yes. -Is it hot? You'd better believe it. As stated, Blow is at: 2112 Berkeley Way Berkeley, CA 94704 but scrutinize the image for all the info.

Catty Bird Day to meeeeeeeeee!!!

Serena — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:02:35 GMT

feline the luuuv! Next stop Vegas...

reposted from: myspace.com/serena_toxicat

Serena — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:15:01 GMT

All links are enabled there, please add me! ~*Just a couple more days til the Winter Solstice! I'm planning to go to the annual musical performance event at the Piedmont mausoleum, but depending on flight times I may be taking off to DC for my friend's funeral before the aural celebration starts, as that is where she wanted to be buried. She transmuted into her spirit form last Tuesday. All evidence points to her feeling euphoric and childlike on the other side. Still, I am saddened by the loss of her as manifested in the physical. My cousin is in the same hole of a hospital for her bone cancer. I hate that place (can you tell?), even though it's rated one of ten best in the US for cancer treatment. On Monday evening I'll be featured on Andrew Brewer, the Rock n Roll Psychic's, blogtalk radio. Please tune in! Here's the promo copy from Andrew's blog: 'Next week Actress, Author, Musician, Composer, Model and Professional Life Coach (yes she is ALL those things!) Serena Toxicat joins me on Monday. Tuesday (in hopes of getting more and more into the holiday spirit) is a special 'Rock n Roll Psychic Santa Rocking Stocking Stuffer Christmas Eve Eve Spectacular' . . . just like it sounds . . . ' Rock n Roll Psychic Radio airs on Monday and Friday evening at 11 pm EST / 8 pm PST on blogtalk radio. Soooo on a more entertaining note, if you'll pardon the pun, I listed my dark holiday CD on ebay. To add my Protea music space, go here! Protea's Little Drummer Boy is currently playing on this, my personal profile. Aaaand I put -> my book <- up for auction. I'd love it if you bid. To add my book's space, please click this! I shot with Steve Gatlin, director of Beauty 24 recently. The images are splendid! And I just did a shoot with David Steinberg for a Norwegian publication, as well as a TV interview for 9-11 activist Gypsy Taub's show. A Sexcetera segment that I shot here was recently diffused on British TV. On that note, Charles Gatewood and Michael Rosen are selling collectible prints of me. I'll never see a dime, but hey, it's exposure. Seriously, they're fascinating artists and great people, too. I'm a life coach now, and went on to NLP practitioner's training since I was offered a scholarship. One of the niches I'd like to explore is tattoo coaching. Only thing is, I AM the niche. As far as I know, no one has gone there as a life coach. I was lucky enough to get this domain so I'm in the process of putting a website together for my coaching practice. Had a terrific time vending at the Conflux NW Dark Arts Festival for the machineKUNT label, yelling (((KUUUUUUUUNT))) all night every night and manifesting customers with rhyming chants. One of my Protea songs appears on machineKUNT's comp, Extreme Women in the Dark Future. We also sold my Protea, The Osiris Tree CD and my novel, along with Rachel Haywire and Unwoman's merch, since we are all co-KUNTs. My good buddy and fellow vendor Damien from Dublin and I went back to Portland at the end of October to celebrate Samhain/Halloween at the Erotic Ball and also attended the (much cooler, imo) Fetish Ball featuring the Genitorturers. I opened for them with the Black Widows once, but Gen didn't recognize me. Could be the hair. She had a cold that night but I kissed her, anyway. ;) Got some amazing ink from Amy Justen at Sacred Rose in Berkeley and will be going back for more tomorrow. She etched a crazy space kitty scene on my upper left arm and tattooed my ears (the cartilage, not the lobes) - the right one with a bird, and the left with some cherry blossom branches. They are wonderful, and SO detailed for ear tats! I also had a beautiful necklace added to Isis, the Siamese cat on my ankle - and unbelievably all of this was done in the same session. My most recent piece is a breathtaking white peacock feather on the back of my neck, executed by Portland artist, Chris Edmondson, owner of Jackalope. And while I did get my 3rd eye pierced with a dermal anchor by Shawn O'Hare at the SF Body Art Expo, it migrated out about a month later on the eve of my graduation from the coaching program. Shawn had also re-pierced my sternum, as my previous anchor had grown out. Now that it's healed I can get a larger, more elaborate piece, although my last anchor was oddly attractive to Isis, who treated it like a tick and tried to pull it out. In other news, I'm a gogo dancer for the band, Wicked Soul, as is the lovely Tricksie Treat of the Black Widows. Did some shadow dancing and a photo shoot at the recent SG queer girls' party that Taye Lore put on at a nightclub in SF's SOMA...was scheduled to perform with Mistress Simone Kross and the Cowboy Perverts at the Lusty Lady Holiday Party, but my dear friend left 3rd dimensional reality that day, so I spent the evening with her family. YAY, our horror short, spek.ter made it to some new festivals, including Hollywood and South Africa! I think that makes nine fests so far. You can get more info from director Terrence Kelsey's myspace! 'Keisha Jackson', who plays Dani in the film, shot some great promo images for my book and CD, which you can view in the pics folders of their respective spaces. I auditioned for another short and have been offered roles in a couple feature length films. So far only Terrence's upcoming feature seems attractive. There's lots more to report, but I'll have to save it for another blog. In the meantime, my beautiful f(r)iends... *~Solstice blessings to all~* Serena Toxicat

Protea’s spooky holiday CD is available now!

Serena — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:12:13 GMT

Just in time for the Winter Solstice, XXXmas, Festivus and Catmas~* 'Tis the season for dark paganized Xmas carols! This Protea concept album is alive with ethereal wails, echoing screams, and experimental soundscapes. It's called The Osiris Tree, because before the time of Christmas, 'twas the celebration of the Egyptian deity's birth. Order this hour-long CD and support the arts and independent artists! Message me for more details, or send $13 (+ $3 s&h within the US and Canada, and $6 everywhere else on the planet) to the following Paypal address: excuse_me_mr_cat@yahoo.com. Include a note & your shipping address, and your CD will be posted promptly. Scary holidaze (aren't they, anyway?). my pretties! Again, thanks so much for your support. ~*Serena

Conflux Dark Arts Festival

Serena — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:01:18 GMT

I'm in Portland for Conflux and will be staying until Monday! Please come, it's cheap and the performers are awesome! I'll be vending for machineKUNT records since I'm on their comp and will also be selling my own books and CD's. Aaaaaand I'm officially an NLP life coach! Just graduated last Sunday. There's more exciting news in Toxicatland, including a segment that just aired on British TV, as well as a second (amazing!) compilation featuring my project, Protea, but I've got to flux my con. I'll be back!

Book reading and show w/ me & Vernian Process @ the Uptown

Serena — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:51:32 GMT

Please come!

July 28 is Isis the Siamese cat’s 13th bird day!

Serena — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:12:24 GMT

This is a catty entry - it's Isis' 13th! My sweet kitty baby is a mature lady. Admire her triangular bluepoint fuzzy butt magnificence and wish her a lucky 13! Sunday was all about my chausie, Selket, with whom I teamed up for Meow Mix's game show audition, where we were tested and I flaunted the tattoo of her I acquired from Amy at Sacred Rose - but Monday's gaze was on the meezer (and in Isis' brilliant and pointy head, that's exactly how it should be)!

I'm opening for 45 Grave with the Black Widows goth strip revue this Friday!

Serena — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:30:25 GMT

It's at The Uptown Nightclub -1928 TELEGRAPH AVENUE, OAKLAND. We go on at 9:20. Hope to see you there; it's going to be an amazing show featuring some true death rock legends! 45 GRAVE THE FLOATING CORPSES MISUNDERSTOOD MONSTERS THE BLACK WIDOWS GOTHIC STRIP REVUE DJ'S TIM & CHRIS OF RADIO Rumor has it there will be lap dances!

New interview in Marquis magazine!

Serena — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:19:56 GMT

I'm featured in the latest issue (#44) of Marquis, the glossy latex/fetish fashion mag, in the Big in America column! So to see a rad photo & "hear" me rambling on about my book, music, magick, domme work and random people, places and things, GO GRAB A COPY - but only if you happen to live in Europe. If you're in the US, you'll have to wait a few weeks. Then again, so will I!

Happy Summer Solstice!!

Serena — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:25:18 GMT

Talk about a looooong day! Enjoy~*

Cheap Evangeline and the Drama Wheel DOWNLOADS!

Serena — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:24:19 GMT

I'm raising the price of my (lit fiction) book downloads from $5 to $7 at the end of the week, so now would be the time to take advantage of the current price. Evangeline And The Drama Wheel can be found here: http://www.lulu.com/content/1153339 Printed copies are available, too. And thanks to everyone who has supported me and the kitties by buying and reading my novella. We're still grateful for the literary love!

Muse, mews & news

Serena — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:54:22 GMT

So one of my Protea songs is going to be on this compilation: Extreme Women in the Dark Future. http://machinekunt.com Ms. Rachel Haywire is the brain behind the machineKUNT label. And spek.ter, the recent horror film I was in, directed by Mr. Terrence Kelsey, got another great write-up! You can read it here: http:www.thechainsawmafia.com/home/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=66] Lots of projects in the works at the moment, including a music video, a new concept album, acting roles in a couple horror flicks, including a feature by Terrence Kelsey, some very uniquely themed photo shoots, and last but certainly not least, a cover song for the Attrition anniversary tribute album! I know I'm forgetting something... Oh, and I'm in training to become a life coach! Will be certified to practice in September. Also have plans to return to Portland and pay a visit to Minneapolis from July 16-22. :D Will try to keep you updated as the events unfold! ~*Serena

Come to my book release party tomorrow night!

Serena — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:04:33 GMT

Monday, March 10th - upstairs at Death Guild (Glas Kat Club in SF) at 11:45pm! (~*Please be there on time, as the show will only last 20 minutes. ) Release Party for my debut novel, Evangeline and the Drama Wheel, a fantasy-inspired chronicle of a local goth band's dysfunctionally liminal cross-country tour - book reading and signing - with vocal performance + pickin' and frownin' by Leslie Dean http://www.myspace.com/telto - featuring the dark visual art of Kristine Katalyst and Tania Seabock Death Guild 520 4th St, San Francisco, CA 9:30pm-2:30am 18+ w/ valid ID $3.00 before 10pm $5.00 after ________________________________________________________ book info here http://www.lulu.com/content/1153339

Merry XXXmas!

Serena — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 12:28:06 GMT

Blessed feast of Osiris! Mewy Catmas! Happy Saturnalia! Merry Mithramas! JOYEUSES FÊTES!!! Happy post-Hanukkah Joyeux Noël! Buon Natale! Merry Midwinter! Happy Kwanzaa Joyous Yule! And a freaking fun Festivus for the rest of us!!! one earth one chance happy holidays ~*Serena Toxicat *~

My dark experiMental holiday CD is available!

Serena — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:20:12 GMT

It's creepy, it's noisy, it's oh-so-goth! It's my Protea holiday CD and it's called, The Osiris Tree, and IT is available via Paypal for $13, shipping included. Let me know if you are interested. They make great gifts for the iconoclastic Xian and kooky Pagan alike! If you purchase/have purchased my book, Evangeline And The Drama Wheel, the CD is 1/2 off. (Just send me the receipt or thank you note and I'll deduct the $6.50.) Thanks~* me0wz!

My BOOK is finally available!

Serena — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:58:02 GMT

You can order a copy here: http://www.lulu.com/content/1153339 Description: Evangeline and The Discarnates aren't always ready for the road but the road is even less prepared for this feral band of subcultural hybrids. Hop on their crazy caravan and experience the fantastic, magical and dysfunctional intrigues of players so strange, seductive and hilarious that you'll almost wish they'd crash on your living room floor. Follow them through scandals, fits of passion, contract offers, death, infidelity, bipolar disorder, kidney donation and the sex industry. If you're just the right kind of "awake and aware", these talented misfits might snatch you up, hustle you into a smelly van and shuttle you off to freedom. Pre-apocalyptic survivalism has never sounded so delirious: this is no ordinary goth band and theirs is like no tour on earth.

The BLACK WIDOWS are baaack!

Serena — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 10:54:00 GMT

The BLACK WIDOWS goth strip troupe is back - at VIXEN (was Chez Paree) this Sunday night in SF! Look at the flier for details.

Selket benefit info available me0w!

Serena — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:01:05 GMT

http://www.tekrah.com/selket.html

Casting for the Vagina Monologues in the Bay Area

Serena — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 09:39:52 GMT

It's almost THAT time of year, Valentine's Day, an occasion characterized by bad chocolate, awkward dates, and tales of vaginas - YOUR vagina, MY vagina - none is off limits. So if you are a woman in the SF Bay Area, don't let your story slip into the great astral chalice before you share it with Oakland. What will make this production of the Vag Logs different from those occurring in theaters and campuses across the nation? It will be taking place in an apt. lobby whose microstage cries to be ephemerally occupied by us. Alert the media! (No, really, we have to get the word out.) A theatrical production? About vaginas? In an apartment lobby?? Not since Urinetown have we seen a play in such an unlikely location. OK, it's not a bathroom, but it's the ground floor of an apt. and the church is right across the street; we just must! I would prefer original pieces about our vaginas memorized and proclaimed with grand gestures and tears, but if you're really busy and at a loss, go ahead and obtain a copy of Eve Ensler's book and read one of the great monologues on stage (just be sure to practice first, we want to rock the Grand Canyon, as it were). As with all productions of the Vagina Monologues, audience proceeds will benefit the V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. (http://www.vday.org/main.html) We'll have to discuss the exact date, since lots of people have plans on the 14th and we really need to have enough time to do this gig right. Still, time is of the essence and it should happen in Feb. We also need to decide how much we're going to charge. If you are too shy to act, your networking skills are invaluable! We really need to get the word out. Whatever contribution you wish to make, send me a message as soon as you can. My private email is toxicat@hellokitty.com, but you can also reply here if you're in a hurry. Viva la vag! Serena

Protea, Osiris Tree spooky "Xmas" CD now available!

Serena — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 07:27:49 GMT

BUY MY EVIL DARK SPOOKY XMAS CD (please) Hey, if Nina Hagen promoted a CD that has a Diamanda Galas cover on it it can't be too bad, right? This album has all your grandma's favorite Xmas carols on it but please spare her the cardiac arrest and don't play it for her unless she's really cool or deranged. Performed and produced by me with tracks contributed by talented friends, this concept CD features epic darkwave, ethereal, and noisy experimental compositions. A favorite for twisted Xians and Pagans alike! Proceeds benefit my injured kitty, Selket, whose vet bill is now 6K. Contact me if you're interested in purchasing a copy!

MONDAY night - Black Widows opening for Galaxxy Chamber

Serena — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 06:46:34 GMT

Thanks to any and all who came out to see me perform at Chez Badunkadunk Sat. night and/or the DNA Sun. eve with Vernian Process opening for Attrition. Tonight (Mon.) night I perform with the Black Widows opening for Galaxxy Chamber, Dudemanfuck et al at the 12 Galaxies - 2565 Mission St. in San Franpsycho! Show starts at 9!