My band, Hydrogen Junkbox, also featuring David Lawton, Zita Zenda, and Starchilde, is now part of the 21st century!
What I mean is…….we have a BLOG!
Please visit. Please send us comments. Please ask us to play our music for you. I am learning that all the band-aids I ever put on my skin meant nothing.
What I mean is, music has become my salve. Also so have these humans who make beautiful music with me.
I am extremely excited to perform alongside my bandmates as Hydrogen Junkbox at the legendary Stonewall Inn at Muffins in the Window, the longest running monthly variety show in NYC!
Let me start by saying that I always wanted to play the drums. But memory tells me that my mom/dad/both said: too loud, choose again. So I/they/none chose the clarinet. Upon reflection, it is a gorgeous instrument, which deserves far more respect than I gave it. But I wanted to play the drums and bash my palms against the rhythm. Gave up clarinet and found myself playing the only instrument I found myself actually good at………the radio.
Made a bunch of mixed tapes, figured out I could record I Love Lucy, A Different World, The Jeffersons and One Day at a Time on my tiny, black-and-white television onto a tape.
Cut to two decades later and I am playing an instrument again. Hello, ukelele.
Oh, one more thing. I’ve always wanted to be in a band. Like Green Day. Like Thompson Twins. Like ’til tuesday.
Then, David Lawton. And he said, hey, wanna? and here we are. And so is Zita Zenda. And of course, Starchilde.
We call ourselves……HYDROGEN JUNKBOX
Thank you to Kat Georges, of the marvelous three rooms press for taking this video.
WHEN? Friday, February 16th Doors open 7pm/ Show promptly starts at 7:30pm
WHERE? Dixon Place 161 Chrystie St NYC
This show is FREE, but please support this excellent venue and purchase a drink or two.
Hydrogen Junkbox is a collective of poets and musicians looking to inspire, experiment and find new ways to rhythmically enhance poetry. They presents a night of NEW music and poetry exploring feminism, consent and the weaponry of words featuring very special guests: fantastic poet Liv Mammone and musician extraordinaire Davey Patterson.
Aimee Herman is a queer performance artist, teacher, poet, singer, ukulele player and cookie drum player.
David Lawton is a poet, actor, singer, ukulele player and cookie drum player. He is also co-editor of NYC small press great weather for MEDIA.
Starchilde plays synth, drums, and anything else you’ve got on hand. He makes magic with beats.
Zita Zenda is a director, poet and guitarist.
My poetryband Hydrogen Junkbox featuring David Lawton, Zita Zenda, Starchilde and I will be performing on Friday, November 3rd at Cornelia Street Cafe from 6-8pm. It will be an evening of poetry and music. Come hear some of our new songs!!! The night will also be featuring Obsidian and Matthew Hupert. Plus….a limited open mic, so bring something to read if you dare! It is $10, which includes a drink.
Cornelia Street Cafe is located at 29 Cornelia St. in NYC.
THEN…..join me the next day on Saturday, November 4th for a Brevitas reading at Parkside Lounge located at 318 E. Houston St. in NYC for a smorgasbord of poets reading short poems from 2-6pm. Two drink minimum (they have non-alcoholic beverages as well).
Someone once asked me: do you play any instruments?
I answered: My mouth. And also my hands to turn the dial of the radio.
Now, I can say: ukelele. And cookie drum. And stoop sale tambourine a bit too.
I am part of a marvelous poetry/music collective called Hydrogen Junkbox, alongside David Lawton and Starchilde. We aim to merge poetics and various forms of instrumentals to create something a little magical on stage.
I’m excited to announce two upcoming performances:
MONDAY FEBRUARY 20th: VOICES OF THE RESISTANCE @ LA MAMA 8:00-9:30PM
Poetry Electric Presents:
VOICES of the NEW RESISTANCE
Against the President on President’s Day!
TICKETS $10
@ LaMaMa (the downstairs space) located at : 66 E. 4TH STREET/ NYC
Beats of THE BEATBOX HOUSE (Kaila Mullady & crew)
along with all-star POETS & PERFORMANCE ARTISTS:
Liza Jesse Peterson, John S. Hall, Puma Perl, Alex Tatarsky, Jane LeCroy, Jeff Wright, Heide Hatry, Maria Muentes, Peter Spagnuolo, Susan Yung, Norman Stock, Bruce Pandolfo, Hydrogen Junkbox (Aimee Herman, David Lawton, & Starchild), Jimi Pantalon & friends
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24TH : ICONS IN ASH: DEATH IN ART @CENTRAL BOOKING 6-8PM
Several years ago, while in a tiny music shop in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, I fell in love. I called her Pancetta and she was the most glorious ukelele. I carried her around with me everywhere I went. She was light and small enough, that even when bike riding, I slung her over my shoulder (neatly packed inside her case) and played whenever I had a moment. While waiting for friends to arrive. Before work. After work. On benches. In the park.
Pancetta will always be my first, though I have since fallen in love with a few other ukeleles. There was a banjo uke, a concert uke and now Pancetta IV, acoustic electric. I slowly started performing with one of them while reading my poetry. Then, I’m not sure what compelled me, but I began to sing a little. I’m still not quite sure what I’m doing, but it’s brought me to this moment with one of my favorite poets/humans: David Lawton.
He and I created a poetry/band collective called HYDROGEN JUNKBOX and we have our first feature today!!! Joined by the marvelous Starchilde on synth and hand claps, we will be performing a few altered cover songs and two original poem songs. Inspired by Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, and many others, we are excited to to share our sounds today!
Come to great weather for MEDIA’s Spoken Word Sundays open mic at The Parkside Lounge located at 217 E. Houston St. NYC from 4-6pm. There is an open mic and Richard Loranger will be featuring as well!
$2 donation/2 drink minimum (there are non-alcoholic beverages as well). I really hope to see you there!!!
Hydrogen Junkbox is a music and poetry collective created by David Lawton and Aimee Herman, guided by the spirit of Brant Lyon. We aim to stir, rumble, and rouse! With Starchilde appearing on synth and handclaps.
I’m proud to be part of two great collectives in celebration of activism, poetry, music, and all that resonates within creativity:
Responding to a divisive political campaign, THE RESISTER PROJECT is a variety show of performances featuring 10-new plays, stand-up comedy, music and poetry. By and for the community of indie theater artists to partake in peaceful resistance through the power of live performance, every night will also feature dialogues and talkbacks. Proceeds from the evening will be donated to the ACLU. This is presented by the feminist theater collective, The Dirty Blondes.
The RESISTER PROJECT will be at the Kraine Theater on 85 E. 4th St/ NYC from January 4th to 15th, 2017 from 7pm
I will be performing new poems from January 4th-7th! Come celebrate community, creativity, and semi-peaceful resistance.
THEN……Celebrate the debut of HYDROGEN JUNKBOX, a marvelous music collective with David Lawton and I.
8 January, 2017 @ great weather for MEDIA Spoken Word Sundays at The Parkside Lounge located at 317 E. Houston St. NYC from 4-6 pm. $2 suggested donation/ 2 drink minimum/ OPEN MIC too!
HYDROGEN JUNKBOX is a music and poetry collective created by David Lawton and Aimee Herman, guided by the spirit of Brant Lyon. We aim to stir, rumble, and rouse! With David Lawton on vocals, Christmas drum, and kazoo. Aimee Herman on vocals and ukelele. Starchilde will be appearing on synth and handclaps.
Aimee Herman 