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i am alacartoona

alacartoona's stage show is a visual extension of her all-original songbook. utilizing a stripped down ensemble of accordion, bass, drums and the occasional guitar, she brings to life vivid tales of love and loss, of bedrooms and back alleys, of the solitude and the camaraderie of sex, drugs and cabaret.

an alacartoona show is an experience: poignant lyrics, powerful vocals, surprising compositions, all supporting a cast of characters completely convincing in their triumphs and tragedies. no one leaves an alacartoona show unmoved, be it to tears or libidinous conquest. or both.

but words pale in the face of experience. come to the cabaret and see for yourself...

"your new piece was amazing—so darkly dramatic and intense, after what starts out in a seemingly innocent fashion. it’s almost a little play unto itself, with a great depth of feeling and pathos, and both compelling and chilling in its effect."

— paul tyler, arts council of metropolitan kansas city

press

the kansas city star: review: alacartoona's 'bought & souled'
"the faustian theme has found many a place in the world of modern music, from robert johnson's trip to the crossroads to randy newman's musical "faust." it's a theme worth exploring, especially in these hyper-marketing days: how much would you compromise your art for a taste of wealth and fame?"

kcmetropolis.org: enigmatic film is a testament to kc's thriving arts community
"from the first few moments of night is the mirror, it is evident that the film is not your run-of-the-mill concert film or even alacartoona's trademark lighthearted, 'fun' show. there's a dark undercurrent throughout, from the mysterious opening remarks to the quirky back-and-forth, rapid-fire dialogue between various characters..."

the kansas city star: 'mirror' holds their future
"in the process of creating and then producing 'night is the mirror,' the band...taught itself a few things, like: be careful what you wish for. if you're going to dream, dream big. and you can't have too many creative friends."

kcmetropolis.org: sinners, saints and mix tapes
"...alacartoona herself has gotten worked up for the rousing climax of 'where'd you get that / ruby's lament,' a theatrical suite that finds ruby crumbling beneath the weight of junkie-ism and despair. the languid refrain of this dirty bohemian fantasy—'we'll lie around all day'—belies the band's real-life industriousness."

kcmetropolis.org: alacartoona: night is the mirror
"...the motive of the song [willkommen], and the rest of the show, promoted a bigger idea—that there was a story behind the scenes, and a history to the characters. each song or acted scene was a piece of the larger ambiguous story."

lawrence.com: then we take berlin: an interview with alacartoona
"they sing in boisterous voices and play accordions and seduce their audiences with a combination of hard liquor and woozy gypsy waltzes." (includes a podcast.)

the pitch: alacartoona prepares to take it to the next level
"i knew my gender afforded me a little added security against getting singled out by the singer for alacartoona. but this is a cabaret act that used to gig regularly at bar natasha."

kkfi 90.1 fm: 'night is the mirror' interview
"with us live in the studio we have members of alacartoona who are currently in the midst of creating a new project, a full-length stylized concert film called 'night is the mirror.'" (this is a streaming .m3u file.)

ACCORDEON & accordéonistes: alacartoona - tango du missouri
"alacartoona est une formation hétéroclite du kansas [city], bizarroïde, bien éclatée. un cabaret moderne qui se laisse aller à des compositions originales et pleines d'humour."

the kansas city star: ARTSKC announces eight inspiration grants
"the artskc fund has rolled out its third round of 2008 inspiration awards to artists and arts professionals."

the kansas city star: willkommen to the wild side
"the sound of alacartoona jumps around the big music buffet: gypsy-folk and folk-rock and show-tune pop and lounge jazz and free-form jazz, all performed by a quartet that is so portable and organic it could stage itself on a street corner if it wanted."

verge: i am beautiful, i am alacartoona
"the band members...do, indeed, mount a playful, emotional performance of cabaret-style oompah-bombast; they will tell you, however, that alacartoona is more than a band. it is a living spirit, to which they refer in the third person, always respectively."

kc stage: alacartoona pours on the sauce
"the players commit to the style and concept with passion and dedication, which boosts the act from a mere band to a true theatrical experience."

folk101: alacartoona week – 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
"these characters shine not only because of the indefatigable energy of their creators, but also because they spring to life against a background of impeccable musicianship."

kcur 89.3 fm: interview
"the founders of the performing troupe known as alacartoona have backgrounds in acting, theater and rock but they wouldn't call themselves any one of those things." (this is a streaming .m3u file.)

lyrics

what follows is an actual quote from valerie t. (one of alacartoona's uber-sexy lovers): "i went to alacartoona's website and read her lyrics. i didn't know whether to f*ck, cry or die."

you can share in her anguish by visiting alacartoona's lyrics page.

links

join her mailing list

visit her website

purchase her second cd "live on the air: kkfi radio"
cd baby | itunes | bitmunk

purchase her debut cd "songs from the show"
cd baby | itunes | payplay

this profile was edited with the luminous mind of alacartoona