Johnny Bertram @ Martin’s (5.20.09)
many thanks to everyone for checking out my first official post.
i’m still trying to figure out a good posting schedule. i’m thinking every sunday since i never seem to shoot on sundays and that’ll give me time to edit all the stuff i shot during the week.
still thinking about it though.
but while i’m thinking, how about some photos of Johnny Bertram laying down a pretty sweet solo acoustic set at Martin’s (located right across the street from Hal and Mal’s, in the heart of downtown jackson) last wednesday?
there weren’t a lot of people there. in fact there was, not counting me and the bartender, 3 -4 people there. but there was a good reason for that.
The Pretty Things Peepshow @ Hal and Mal’s (5.21.09)
i’ve always been a big believer in starting with a bang.
so what better way to kick off the first official Scenes Around Jackson blog post than with the lovely ladies of The Pretty Things Peepshow!
from left to right: Bettina May, Insectavora, and Go Go Amy
i took over 100+ photos at this show and then i edited that down to 111 photos. but that was still too many for one blog post so i did a brutal final edit and got…53 photos. heh. so, this first post will be a dozy.
let’s start from the beginning.
before the ladies went on they killed time working their merch table and checking their online haunts (you’ve added them on twitter, right?) 
while the band they were touring with, The Hot Rods (who i also shot that night and whose photos are coming to a Scenes Around Jackson blog post sooner rather than later), were rocking the joint. (the joint being the Hal and Mal’s Redroom, in the heart of downtown Jackson.)
after The Hot Rods finished their set, it was time for the ladies to take the stage.
and as their intro music played, take the stage they did.
let’s introduce The Pretty Things again:
Insectavora was the M.C. for the night! she introduced the ladies and kept us entertained during the costume changes. and her first job as M.C. was…
becoming Prof. Insectavora so she could teach us the rules of the show.
Rule One: You don’t talk about Fight…uh, wait. wrong rules.
pretty much the rules were, the louder you cheer, the more the ladies took off.
to make sure we understood these very simple rules, she tested us using Go-Go Amy
the next thing i know the crowd is cheering, Prof. Insectavora knows her rules have been understood, and now it’s on with the show.
first up, Bettina May!
Bettina has such a classic, 1940s look about her.
as she was going through her set, i kept thinking about this scene from “who framed roger rabbit?” 
but i don’t think Jessica Rabbit ever did anything like this
and with one quick flick of her wrist…
she brings us to the grand finish!
Bettina May ladies and gentlemen!
next up, Go-Go Amy!
Go-Go Amy gave the crowd some southern love as she walked out dressed like a true prim and proper southern belle
…but that didn’t last for long as she launched, full steam, into her dance number!
Go-Go Amy go go going!
(i really dig this shot)
remembering their instructions from Prof. Insectavora the crowd starting cheering and…
it pays off!
Go-Go Amy ladies and gentlemen!
but the show’s not close to done yet!
re-introducing: Bettina May!
Bettina May shows us some of that voodoo that she does oh so well
hey dance music was a very gothic-rock beat and she played it to the hilt
Bettina moves slower than Amy…
draws the ‘tease’ out a little more…
but then she can speed it up, turning the heat up in an instant…
Bettina May ladies and gentlemen!
the show continues with the re-introduction of Go-Go Amy!
Amy doesn’t take it slow like Bettina. her tease is a different kind of tease…
…fast, but not too fast…
…confindent that she knows what you want and knows that she has the skills to give it to you…
…her tease is the tease of speed. because she moves fast and she’ll let you have only so much at a time…
…before she let’s you see everything…
…but only for a second. because she moves fast. and she never stops going.
Go-Go Amy, ladies and gentlemen!
Next up, Insectavora hammers a nail through her nose!
aaaaand you thought i was kidding, didn’t you.
Insectavora is one hardcore lady
and as she pulls the nail out, we know the show has entered a new level.
while Bettina and Amy catch a breather backstage, Insectavora steps up.
this is Insectavora’s tease…
..she’s the one that goes were other people wouldn’t dream of going…
…her tease is the thrill of doing the unthinkable…
…of doing the ‘impossible’…
…of making your jaw want to hit the floor from the sheer cool factor of watching someone play with fire…
…like it’s the most natural thing in the world…
…wow.
Insectavora ladies and gentlemen!
now pick your jaw up off the floor and get ready for the last act of the night…
The Chinese Execution Blade Box!
(what’s The Chinese Execution Blade Box? this is The Future, yo! you have google! use it!)
Go-Go Amy is ready and willing!
all boxed up, in her pretty pink box, with blades all around her!
after the crowd comes up to the stage to look inside, it’s time to let Amy out of her pretty pink box…
*gasp!*
where did her clothes go?!
aaaaaaand that’s the end of the show!
everybody give yourself a hand!
many thanks to Hal and Mal’s for hosting the show and many thanks to the wonderful ladies of The Pretty Things Peepshow for putting on a kick-ass performance!
the ladies are currently in the middle of a nationwide tour (which is why they were in Jackson to begin with) so make sure you keep up with them on their misadventures! (you did add them on twitter, right?)
(oh, this would be a good time to mention that not all Scenes Around Jackson blog posts will be this long. but, this one was the first so, i figured, why the hell not?)
and this is how the night ended (at least for me, the ladies had to hop back on the road)
the ladies with some fans
have a good one everybody! see ya next blog post!
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