2009 to 2010: Top Things that Tickled Kara of TSAN

There is such a communal sense of wrapping a year up when a new year arrives. All of the "best of 2009" and "top 10 (or whateva') of 2009" drive me a little crazy. I mean, really, must we summarize EVERYTHING? And why does this typically only happen at the end of a year? Of course, really, I get it. It just mildly annoys me. Kinda like all the labels we all have to label ourselves with all the time... everything must have its place... everything must be categorized and organized and regulated and identified...

So I know for a fact that I certainly can't beat "em"... so I guess I'll join this collective summarizing to a small degree. Here's a list of a few things that happened this year with Team Smile and Nod that really tickled me. Yeah, that's right, tickled.

Things that Tickled Kara of TSAN in 2009 (all lists MUST have titles):
*We played 11 shows (including Columbus Pride Festival!). My goal was 10. Bonus.
*Some people said nice things to us about our music at the shows.
*Positive words were written about us... Curve Magazine, Feministing, Columbus Underground, Columbus Alive, etc...!
*Anneli Rufus (author), Nicole J. Georges (author), and Jon Peterson (Shakin' It Radio) gave us some super-kind quotes.
*Jeffrey Brown drew a comic about our CD!
*We did a sweet give-away for Pride with Queerics.
*We put together a bunch of YouTube videos.
*Our tunes were played on some cool radio programs (KAOS, Queer Sounds, Shakin' It...)

So that's my list of summary. Pretty awesome, eh? This year will also rock. A new CD is in the works. Awwwww yeaaaaahs...

In summary, damn, it's snowing hard.

WIN some Team Smile and Nod SWAG!

http://chesh.lmfao.org.uk/queerics/giveaway.shtml



I decided to prove how easy and fun it is to enter the QUEERICS Gay GIVEAWAY! All you do is answer one of these questions:

*Which queer artist melts your heart, and why?
*What band or musician do you most wish was queer?
*If you were to create the ultimate queer 4-piece band, which musicians would you choose? Why?
*Which queer artist have you been listening to for the longest? How'd you discover them?*What's the most awesome thing you've ever heard a musician say about his or her sexuality?
*What would be on YOUR Pride month mixtape?

THEN, post your answer on your blog, myspace blog, facebook... where ever you can post content. FINALLY, send a link to your entry to QUEERICS@GMAIL.COM.

Please follow the link to QUEERICS to get prize details... but really, it's that easy. 11 people will win!

So here's my entry that will not be entered to win:

*Which queer artist have you been listening to for the longest? How'd you discover them?

Ani Difranco. I found out about her from one of my good friends in high school who happens to be Ani’s second cousin… So I was a mega-fan through high school. I even used a quote from her song “As Is” for my graduation speech! Rah ha ha!! Her music definitely aided my coming out process. And, of course, she is one of my hugest musical influences. And now, for a semi-off-subject story: Take a trip with me to the summer of 1999… I had tickets to see Ani… her “F-Word” tour with Maceo Parker… she had just released “Up Up Up Up Up Up”. I was set-up to go with a group of friends. Before the show, my friend (who is Ani’s second cousin) told me that her dad wanted to give me his backstage pass since I’m such a big fan. WHOO! And so, I gave my unused tickets to my parents (Cool, huh? They totally wanted to go!). Side note: Columbus (Ohio) had just passed a law that allows women to go topless. It was an outdoor concert, so my parents were hanging out with the topless Ani fans! So after the show, we went backstage. Ani was super-cool and chill. She even asked me, “What do you want to do?” I said, “Play music.” She said, “Play and play and play and sing and sing and sing and you’ll make it.” And so… I suppose that I also answered the question: Which queer artist melts your heart, and why?

QUEERICS' Gay GIVEAWAY!

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
To celebrate, QUEERICS, Team Smile and Nod, and Elizabeth Gearhart have joined forces to bring you a super-fun give-way!

Want to win a Team Smile and Nod CD??? A glow-in-the-dark tee? Buttons? Stickers? A custom small watercolor painting by Elizabeth Gearhart!?! You have until 11:59 pm PST on June 28 to enter! Follow the link to learn how to enter:
http://chesh.lmfao.org.uk/queerics/giveaway.shtml

While you're there, check out the QUEERICS website. It is a wonderful resource for those of us looking for LGBT musicians, bands, and songs. FURTHER, the creator of the site, Chesh, is flippin' fun and hilarious. Check out the QUEERICS blog so you can see what I mean: http://community.livejournal.com/queerics

11 people will win! Why not you??? Enter! Tell you friends to enter! It will be fun for everyone to read how everyone answers the question(s)!

QUEERICS- a super-fun website

Sooo... there is a super-cool website called Queerics. It is a collection of songs that have queer (LGBT) lyrics. Each week, it is updated with new songs. There is also a "Gay Guide" on the site which is informative AND humorous. Check it out here: http://chesh.lmfao.org.uk/queerics/ You will notice 3 Team Smile and Nod songs were posted on 3/14/09!! WHOO! Also, we're mentioned in the "Gay guide". Further, the awesome Queerics web-author says some super-kind stuff about us on the Queerics blog: http://community.livejournal.com/queerics/20234.html <> So, here's a big thank you to Queerics! And a toast! Cheers! Oh, I also want to mention that the site is really fun 'cuz you can submit songs that you think should be posted. Now, you must have proof that they are indeed full of super-queer lyrics. Not a guess. Proof, baby, proof. So yeah, check out the site... it's really fun... and there are some great artists on there that I hadn't heard of... sooo... whoo!

In summary, some tea is good hot, some tea is good cold, and some tea just isn't good at all.