Kristi Maddocks

About me:

"I am an oddball and an artist...a poet and a singer. I have outlived my brother, and survived the kiss of death on more than one occassion. I look to the future with open arms and a smile, but must pause to wipe the tears of yesterday. With tallens and blue eye shadow, I live for today." In 2005, I suffered a congenital brain defect called a DURA FISTULA/AVM. This traumatic brain malformation caused a massive bleed on the right side of my brain, which then resulted in a stroke, massive grand mal seisures, and temporary paralysis of both legs and my left arm. For more than six weeks I struggled to speak well, think clearly, use my left arm, and then finally walk again...I continue to overcome more obstacles than I ever imagined to face in a lifetime in the couse of these past four traumatic years. Now in my fifth year of recovery and survival, I struggle to accept this new version of "me", a slightly disabled and cumbersome woman, who tries to wear her heart on the side, instead of on her sleeve. Though I never expect to be able to hold a "normal job", more than ever I am committed to documenting my adventures in life, as well as living the life I dream of and desire most, rather than living the life I think I "should live". I have always been a free spirit, living on the edge as a creative soul... From the kid in the sixth grade at Del Mar Shores who spun Saturday Night Fever at lunch break, to the fifteen-sixteen year old who danced to the Penetrators, Crawdaddies and Mystery Machine every weekend at The Headquarters and International Cafe, and punk shows from the early days in San Diego's "Che Undeground"(www.cheunderground.com/blog). Then blossomiing into my own as a singer/songwriter of Fate Gallery, then my psychedelic rock band Everybody Violet, who were nearly signed to a record deal by Greg Shaw within our first year of play in 1985, before we went bust...After surviving many ups and downs, including the unexpected and early death of my younger brother David, I was off to finish colleg at SFSU in '89. I schooled well and performed in music & theatre, video & Perormance Art...I flourished at SFSU, in The Brown Bag Theater Company and as a part of THE INTER-DISCIPLINARY ARTS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. After college in SFSU...I broke more ground at Cafe du Nord on Market Street in San Francisco. I worked almost ten years at Cafe Du Nord; when young Jazz Lions like CHARLIE HUNTER, NORAH JONES, and LAVAY SMITH & HER RED HOT SKILLET LICKERS first awoke. The whole San Francisco Music Industry TURNED ON IT'S HEAD WITH JAZZ & FUNK EXPLODING EVERYWHERE. A year into my tenure there, "Cabaret Du Nord" was born...with my help cabaret Artists, including my own comedic musical trio "BURLAP & PEARL WITH KITTY, TOO"...became all the rage. I continues acting and singing. Eventually, I blossomed into a chantuese, singing jazz standards and blues with guitarist Ben Barron and long-time collaborator and pianist Anni Sajdera. As the years passed, I helped Du Nord break from the limits of retro jazz and Swing and come full circle with The Downhear Experimental Lounge Series. As the promoter and MC of the Downhear Series, I updated the sound of the club with interdisciplinary happenings, dj's, tiki parties, soul bands, and good old rock n' roll. The cherry on the top of the Cafe Du Nord Experience came in 1996 when SF Weekly awarded Downhear "The Best Club Series" in San Franscisco for the year...and I was invited to MC and sing at their annual WAMMIES event. Of course, I took the invitation ten steps farther, and wrote, designed and choreograohed and evening of entertinment which included 8 burlesques dancers, a snake dancer, two drag queens, and three costume changes for myself! And there is nothing better than singing to an audience of 500 fellow artists at Bimbo's, San Francisco's most glamourous entertainment venue. I almost cried when I heard LEDISI applaud me after I finished a Hawaiian themed, melancholy version of "God Bless The Child" (accompanied by aficianado Ben Bonham on slack-key guitar) to the sold out croud. And of course, I looked like a million bucks back then-long before the brain injury! Over the last several years I have worked hard on regaining almost all of my physical, mental & emotional strength. Although I walk and talk nearly 100% of normal, I still struggle fron nueropathic pain caused by the fall, stroke & seizures. After 5+ years of doctor's visits and therapy, I feel I am resuming a fairly "normal" life, although my life to this point has been nothing short of extraordinary. Now, in the Summer of 2009, I have just released my first CD ever, and performed my first rock show in over 25 years! The most suprising musical partnership that ocurred in the past year plus has been that of THE BLUES GANGSTERS (myspace.com/bluesgangsters), a blues inspired rock band which was instigated by David Rinck and the fellowship of our old friends from San Diego's musical subcultureof the early 1980's,"The Che Underground"(www.cheunderground.com/blog). The Blues Gangsters is a project that started via e-mails over three continents a year ago. It has since flown me to Turkey and London, has motivated me to write new music and poetry, and has allowed me to sing, open my heart, & lift my spirits. From January 2-4 2009, David Rinck, David Ellison and I partnered with Mathew Johnson and David Fleminger (also expats of the Che Underground, but now working professionals) to record 8 (of 11) original Blues Gangsters' tunes at SDRL Studios in San Diego. The Blues Gangster's debut album "The Perils of Life", was released in June 2009(Furious Baby Face Records, cBMI). Finally!...My first published recordings! I am excited, and very grateful...it just feels long overdue! THE BEST NEWS SAVED FOR LAST-THE REBIRTH OF EVERYBODY VIOLET! On Apri1, 2008, I celebrated the 3rd "Rebirthday" of my stoke, a date I try to mark with a happy ocassuion. My 3rd Rebirthday was especially sweeet, as Carina-Burns Randolph flew from Texas to Alameda to be with Anni, David and I!among other friends) to celebrate my life. For the rest of the weekend we began to plan the resurgence of a new Everybody Violet (Anni chose not top carry on with the band, but has given us her blessing to move forward). The timing could not have been better, given the simutaneous evolution of the Che Undeground Blog. Through the blog we found our long lost drummer, Joey Miller (Injections, Noise 292). We decided to take the EV sound to a more mature, rich dimension with the addition of strings, cello and violin, so Heather Vorwerck joined the band. Finally, while rehearsing for our first gig, we filled the final piece of the puzzle with another SD ex-pat, Kristin Martin on bass (Noise 292). SO far we are all very proud of the sound and energy that the new Everybody Violet is generating. We were thrilled to be the opening act of The Che Underground Showcase, presented by Tim Mays at The Casbah in San Diego, California on Friday, May 29th, 2009. Everybody Violet opened the show to a sold out house and rocked the house to a vigorous 45 minute, non-stop set of 8 classic Everybody Violet songs that are screaming to be recorded to CD! Everybody Violet aims to pursue our intent of recording their debut CD this year...We are currently looking for producers and indie labels to partner on this project. To look back on the sounds of Everybody Violet and the people, life and times of the San Diego Rock revolution of the 1980's to the present, please go to our Official website (www.everybodyviolet.com) or visit us on MySpace(www.myspace.com/everybodyviolet). You can read about all of this and more at www.cheunderground.com! go onlone to The Che Underground Blog.

Joanne [live w/ interview]- Michael Nesmith Tribute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFBZzrmXcsk

Check out this clasic and cool Michael Nesmith tune and video, that Musical Mentor, songwriter and poet Gary Heffern turned me on to...