For booking information please e-mail warbleandrant@aol.com or message on myspace.
**********************
Roo has been fortunate enough to work with some very talented artists. And local artists at that, which kicks a little ass.
"Warble and Rant" was produced at Asylum Studio Productions by Rick Burnette of Enc0der. Rick also wrote the music for "While You're Gone", a hidden track on Roo's demo.
Kathryn Allen plays guitar on "Windermere" and "Over One Head In," bringing to life a less digital sound than "While You're Gone" or the newer "Windermere (YoshOne 2 Remix)".
Rick and Kat can be heard goofing around on the track "Palindrome."
Other local artists contributing to "Warble and Rant" are Sohma G. Dawling and Selma Pittman. Sohma's snappy little finger took the photographs lining Warble and Rant and Boy Parts, as well as the photos on this page. Selma was responsible for the liner layout and design.
Don't forget to check out Yosh, an MC and beat maker from the UK. He was Roo's first overseas collaborative partner, with the YoshOne 2 Remix of Windermere.
For audio tracks, CDs or books go to www.lulu.com/roo. Copies of "Warble and Rant" are FREE FOR DOWNLOAD or available for purchase as a physical copy. Boy Parts can be previewed and purchased in physical copy or downloadable digital format.
Roo is always looking to meet and work with other artists, especially local artists. If you are interested in working with an artist from the NC Triangle, please message Roo on myspace.
Influences
Tori Amos, Bjork, Ani Difranco, Patty Griffin, Patty Larkin, Fiona Apple, Christine Kane, Melissa Ferrick, Postal Service, Her Space Holiday, OKGO, They Might Be Giants, Over the Rhine, Sufjan Stevens, Mos Def, Saul Williams, Nikki Giovanni, Suheir Hammad, Alix Olson, Shihan, Maggie Estep, Beau Sia, Georgia Me, Tanya Olson, Dasan Ahanu, Shirlette Ammons
Roo is a gay artist living in Raleigh, NC. He believes his city will one day open up and become a major site of artistic energy and activity. Roo is the author of many works, including poetry, lyrics, short prose and short stories. he also paints, and some of his work can be seen on his artist merchandise on this page.
He already has an impressive list of accomplishments for his age. While still attending NC State University he began teaching a peer health education improvisational theater class at the university. By the age 21 he was sitting on the Wake County HIV Task Force as the only undergraduate member. He has successfully created two university wide health education marketing campaigns, and still occasionally guest lectures on several health topics and social issues in the community.
Roo has recently become a Public Allies alumnus (www.publicallies.org). Public Allies is a non-profit organization offering diverse young leaders an apprenticeship to the non-profit world. After leaving this Americorps program he has taken on a full time position at his Public Allies placement site assisting those living below the federal poverty line with HIV/AIDS with emergency financial assistance in Durham, Orange and Wake Counties through a non-profit agency in the NC Triangle.
As an artist he has recorded a demo CD of spoken word poetry and songs. While Youre Gone is a track that has gained some air time at certain Raleigh venues. After successful performances in college, including the local Take Back the Night rally and being the opening act for Randi Driscoll s NC State University concert, he has gone on to perform around the Triangle. Roo has been a featured performer at several venues and events The Green Room, durham3, STAMMER!, Durham Culture Crawl, Legends Night Club (with the Triangle Kings), the Sweaty South Radical Queer and Trans Convergence and KULTUR (an art benefit for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of NC). In December of 2005 Roo was the featured guest on WCOM 103.5's West End Report which spotlights local writers. He also created Warble and Rant, a one time open mic for local artists to share their work in a supportive environment. His rough demo CD has taken on the same title. Boy Parts is a book that Roo self-published in December of 2004. Copies of Warble and Rant and Boy Parts are available in physical copy or downloadable digital format at www.lulu.com/roo. Warble and Rant if free for download.
As a human he shares his world with an amazingly beautiful family and several wonderful people that he is honored to call friends.
Hopefully Roo wil have a new book out this Fall. It will be more of a coffee table style book with an emphasis on the visual recitation of his spoken word poems. There may even be a new CD in the works if you're lucky.
7:00p + Monday, April 13, 2009 3719 3rd Ave South (Bottletree Cafe) A Birmingham SHOUT Fundraiser
Set in an all-male school, the story follows Timothy who suffers the wrath of his homophobic classmates. He withdraws into his imagination where macho rugby players morph into dancing fairies decked in go-go boy attire. When asked to star in the school play he first balks at acting. As Timothy eventually embraces the mischievous character of Puck, he finds the secret to a magical pansy that seems to turn people gay! He then puckishly imposes a new reality by turning much of his narrow-minded town gay, beginning with the rugby-jock of his dreams.
One Night Only limited seating available $10 advance, $12 day of event Students and SHOUT members are always $7
HEY! i really hope you are planning to come to awakeningCHANGE at steelblue on March 27th! i have been helping out with the show and it will be great. it would really mean a lot to meam to me if everyone i love could come. plus, it is days before my birthday so it's twice the reason to celebrate :) go to www. awakeningchange. org for show details. love you.
Bottletree Cafe + 3719 3rd Ave South 7:00p + Monday, December 8, 2008 $10 / $7 Members + Students Birmingham Southside
Birmingham SHOUT presents the Academy Award-winning documentary that inspired the epic new movie Milk starring Sean Penn and directed by Gus Van Sant. The Times of Harvey Milk tells the story of this human rights pioneer with news footage from 1970s San Francisco and interviews with Milk’s colleagues.
Before the film is a screening of Bulldigger. This short documentary explores the challenges local State Representative Patricia Todd faced as Alabama’s first openly gay candidate. In addition, Howard Bayless, J.R. Finney, and John Smallwood are featured. Patricia Todd is scheduled to participate in a post-screening conversation.
Doco is playing at the Pour House on Thursday. The Old Regime and Makia Groove open. The Old Regime cover a Doco song. Sign up for the mailing list and get the url where you can download recordings from Clemson, Blacksburg, Richmond, and other shows.
Hey stranger!! What's up!? Are you feeling better since you've been back from Europe? Julie and I are still in town and we want to introduce you to our friend ;-) What are you up to this weekend? CALL US! 919-448-5081. We'd love to see you b4 we go which will probably be early in the week. Miss you!!! XOXO
Drama and divas and duct tape, oh my! Welcome to the world of Pageant, the exhilarating backstage documentary about the 34th Miss Gay America Pageant. Greeted by standing ovations at film festivals across the country (and winner of the coveted “Audience Award” in San Francisco, Miami and New York), Pageant follows five men as they compete to be Miss Gay America. As we get to know these men and their supportive families and friends, we come to appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that it takes to be one of the most fabulous female impersonators in the nation. Before long, the suspense, sparkle and surprise of the actual competition take over as we anxiously anticipate whose wig might finally cradle the tiara. Yet, amidst the astounding production numbers, astonishing physical transformations and antic costume changes, Pageant remains a simple, inspirational story of the beauty realized while pursuing one’s dreams.
Lol, I wouldn't know how to master them out if I tried. I recorded it on my laptop with Garageband yesterday. I'm on a learning curve. ;-) I really appreciate you taking the time to visit my page and give me a listen. The words are in my blog if you would like a read. xo~k
Hey Roo. I was going through some old pictures the other day and found a whole bunch from "The Butt". They're hilarious. Just wanted to say thank you for being my friend during that time. You helped me more than you'll ever know. Much Love!
