Steampunk Clocks

This will be the next to last post before i leave for London to begin rehearsals for the show. Before we get to looking at some steampunk clocks i do want to point out that while i’m gone the posting will be sporadic, BUT there WILL be posts containing videos of rehearsals. Performer rehearsals, band rehearsals, puppet rehearsals… it’ll on be on here.

When i started this blog i was clear that my intention was to chronicle in some way the moment from the decision to make something (a steampunk opera) through the full length of making it. Rehearsals for our first little square dance are crucial to this, just like all those demos were during the composition phase. So you can expect lots of fun stuff.

Now if you’ll excuse me, i must pack, so here are some steampunk inspired clocks which count down my minutes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frenchy And The Punk

One of the mainstays of the steampunk and cabaret music scene, Frenchy And The Punk (she’s Frenchy, he’s the Punk) are touring behemoths. From music clubs to steampunk cons to faerie and witch festivals they take their in your face eurofolk carnivalpunk across the states to wherevere America and alternate world overlap.

In all this they have recorded a new album which i turn your attention you. Once again we demonstrate how “steampunk music” can an utterly different interpretation for a different artist.

Should you like this music you can check out and buy the full album (or any tracks thereof) here at Bandcamp.

 

Steampunk Kung Fu

I don’t know what to say other than it’s about time.

The movie Tai Chi O is set to be released in theaters on Sept, 27, 2012. It’s Chinese of course, because let’s face it, no one, and i mean NO one makes kung fu movies like the Chinese. And Director Stephen Fung, with Enter The Pheonix and House Of Fury under his belt is a solid choice, not to mention it’s produced by none other than Jet Li.

Tai Chi Zero is part 1 and the sequel, which was shot at the same time is Ta Chi Hero. You want a synopsis?

“In legendary Chen Village, everyone is a martial arts master, and uses a powerful form of Tai Chi in all aspects of their life. Yang has arrived to try and learn it, only to find that it’s forbidden for the villagers to teach their secret style to an outsider. But when a mysterious man comes to town with a frightening steam-powered machine and plans to build a railroad through a village, the villagers realize they may have no choice but to put their faith in Yang, who has a secret power of his own.”

It’s a kung fu movie. Don’t overthink it. Just pass the popcorn

 

The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing

The Men Who Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing

Putting the punk back in Steampunk.

The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing are a London quartet and they are not mamby pambying around. They are not goth. Guitarist and vocalist Andrew O’Neil may be a crossdressing metalhead, but he is not a goth and he will punch you in the face if you cannot respect the difference.

The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing come from a past which probably never happened via a present they didn’t want. The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing have a new album with such a long damn title no blogger on the planet is going to write write the damn thing out and will praise the invention of cut and paste. The title is ’This May Be The Reason Why The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing Cannot Be Killed By Conventional Weapons’

The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing also made a Christmas song:

The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing have albums and stuff here and you can also listen to them on MySpace here.

 

The Album Is Here!

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

Welcome everyone to the grand premiere of the entire album The Dolls Of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera. This 90 minute, 4 Act slightly demented musical story features the immense vocal talents of Lauren Osborn, Jason Broderick and Kayleigh McKnight. Written and produced by Paul Shapera.

Officially out today you can purchase the entire double album for only 12 little measly US dollars. If you live in England or Europe this is like money you lose in your couch and if you live in a Scandinavian country, this isn’t even money. It costs more there to feed a flea.

But wait! There’s more! Not only does the full download come with the complete lyrics, should you want them compiled in one easy spot then take note, if you look near the top of the page you’ll see a new tab called Libretto. It has all the lyrics so you can read them, copy and paste them, or use them to make dirty rhymes by substituting naughty nouns and verbs at just the right places.

It slices! It dices! How many times have you had to put up with embarrassing spills and odors? Well no longer! It’s a @#$#^## download! It won’t mess up your kitchen and is great to cook while listening to!

In order to take this project from here to the live stage in decent venues we need more than anything word of mouth. Seriously, word of mouth is gold. It’s a long road from here, folks, barring unforeseen miracles. Word of mouth…

I’d like to lastly thank Mark Swetz and MProductions for their invaluable assistance.

If you have already purchased the 1st Act or the Random Tracks sampler before May 8th, 2012 and would like a half off discount, please email me at paulms@gmail.com with your name (which i have on file) and i will send you a special download code. Also, thank you, each and every one of you who not only buys it, but actually likes the damn thing. I cannot put into words what that means to me.

 

The Sultan’s Elephant

The Sultan’s Elephant is a show, specifically a piece of marionette street theater featuring a giant mechanical elephant. It was created in 2004 by the French theater company Royal de Luxe to commemorate the centenary of Jules Verne’s death and commissioned by two French cities, Amiens and Nantes..

The show takes 3 days to perform, is free, and occurs outside on the streets of the city. Its biggest performance was in London in May of 2006.

Basically on day 1 a rocket crashes into some town square (in London it was Waterloo Place).

The elephant arrives carrying the Sultan to see what’s going on. A huge marionette girl emerges from the rocket.

The Sultan has dreamt of her.

Girl meets elephant and sultan.

The girl walks around town and the elephant walks around town and on day 2, the girl gets on the elephant and together they tour the city.

The girl loves to sew and as they walk about she sews things, like cars to the tarmac.

Alas, all batshit insane things must come to an end, and so the girl and elephant bid each other farewell.

The girl climbs back into her rocket and time travels away.

Obviously the question of Why and WTF would be the first words out fo one’s lips. Do not bother yourself with such questions just accept the awesomeness.

 

The Most Amusing Steampunk Video You Will See Today.

Why would someone make this? Who knows, why does anyone make anything?  Wtf? Hell if i know, but if you are sitting at your computer at this moment, crying out “I DEMAND 7 MINUTES OF AMUSEMENT! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU VASSALS THAT YOU CANNOT PROVIDE ME WITH 7 MINUTES OF AMUSEMENT?!” then fear not. This video is here to satiate your need.

Who made it? My skills at cutting and pasting are once again here to insure you do not die of curiosity:

“A short film from Media Design School based on the sci-fi world of Dr Grordbort created by writer and artist Greg Broadmore from Weta Workshop.

The live action/CGI film was created by 11 students over 22 weeks under the direction of 3D animation program leader James Cunningham.”

Without further ado your 7 minutes of amusement. After that you’re on your own.

 

Steampunk Sesame Street

I know you clicked here because you just HAD to know wtf.

Fortunately i kid you not. Here:

But wait, i did not lure you here to merely show you one image like all those regular brands. No, i have more. For instance, you would have clicked on this had i said nothing but Steampunk Ernie & Bert. Steampunk Ernie and Bert could have a picture of Ernie & Bert fornicating and a single goggle laying on the floor and you would clicked here anyway because the moment you hear “steampunk Ernie & Bert” you know you HAVE to know.

Know now:

I would also like to point out that Cookie Monster has been steampunk for a long time.

 

Steampunk Star Wars

You saw this coming, right? Where there is steampunk Star Trek, steampunk Star Wars cannot be far behind. And due to the world wide geek wank for Star Wars, there is a shit load more of steampunky star wars. I am thus not including every little thing on the net, just my favorites.

 

Steampunk Star Trek

I hereby present all things steampunk Star Trekky. We begin with some great photoshopping by Rabittooth: