February 19, 1999
-
Friday night February 19th the Cafe Voltaire stage was set
for the Hyperplush debut. Tables are covered with different colored paper
and supplied with bowls of "hyperplush brand" crayons and blow bubbles so as to inspire the creativity of those in attendance.
An array of different hand printed Hyperplush tees, tanks and teddies
are hung around the room in different groupings. 10:15 pm the lights fade to black...crowd applause...a single
spotlight washes diagonally over the left side of the multi "hyperplush" colored backdrop then notorious local Andy
Warholish artist M.B. Hanrahan comes climbing through the open window stage right creeps across the thick furry rug
to the wash of light
with great camp and circumstance, unrolls a clear plastic sheet which she attaches to the backdrop and sprays with green paint,
she removes the stencil providing a unique introduction by revealing the word HYPERPLUSH.
Stage lights come up, the band takes the stage
beginning their set with "Save a little" without pause they go right into the 2nd song "Chameleon". The response is tremendous as each song is
followed by all kinds of applause, whooping and hollering.
The band rocks out of the 3rd song "Blond" and again the room goes dark. The number "Forgot" begins along with a slide presentation
full stage size words of the song being projected onto the backdrop. Followed without much delay "Come Sun,"
"I'm not tortured," "Take Me There,""More than equal" near the end of
the scorching 1 hour set Loren invites Voltiare's
Todd Winokur to come to the stage and proceeds to present him with the Hyperplush
gold practice tape marking the bands 500th
hour of rehearsal and to show appreciation for Todd and Voltaire providing a venue for local Art and Music. (Note:
about a month ago just 1 week before playing halftime at the superbowl, Ventura's Big Bad Voodoo Daddy had played a
special anniversary show at Nicholby's and had presented Nick with a Gold Record.) Todd seemed very pleased.
Hyperplush then played a couple more songs "Time bomb formula" ending with "You can see angels"
where Loren switches to Cello and Alexis to Clarinet. After much hoopla the band obliges the
enthusiastic audience
a single encore, an upbeat "What...did you say?" bringing the evening to a considered success. Raising $100.00 for the
self designed cause "Art in Ashes" benefitting local artists who lost their work and supplies in recent Art City and MK Salon fires.
Hyperplush looks forward to many more shows as they return to the rehearsals so as to add more songs as well as the recording studio
to begin work on their CD single due out in a couple months and begin working on a full length CD promised by summers end.
More to come soon...see ya there.
E:mail
photos: Steve Zambrano and
Site Design and Maintenance
©C Jensen 1998