In 2010 I ran off and joined the circus.
Well, the Carnival, to be specific. In early 2010 I was working as a mild-mannered Production Manager at a TV station in Tulsa, and a press release – the kind of thing that would rarely, if ever, actually cross my desk – actually crossed my desk.
It announced auditions for The Crispy Family Carnival, a wild-sounding old-time carnival sideshow troupe in Tulsa (founded in Denver by a Tulsan, who had returned home in 2009) that was looking for new talent. It caught my interest immediately, and when I saw that in the CFC’s previous incarnation there had been a musical member, one Ukelele Loki.
It had never occurred to me before that I should team up with a circus or carnival act, and suddenly it seemed like something I should have thought of doing a decade sooner. I contacted Mr. Crispy, a lovely sort of gent who runs the show, and we agreed it might be an interesting pairing.
The audition was a blast, and I was added to the cast by a unanimous vote of the existing members. Before my first gig with the group (three weeks to the day after the audition) I was assigned the task of writing a new theme song, complete with room for audience participation – which I did, and I’ve apologized profusely ever since for making it so damn catchy.
At my first rehearsal/band meeting I discovered that the group had long been performing a routine to Tom Lehrer’s “Masochism Tango,” and mentioned that I had been playing that one on guitar for years.
Pretty sure that was the moment that Mr. Crispy and I both knew we’d made the right call.
| Sat Feb 27, 2010 | Crystal Pistol 417 N. Main, Tulsa |
open audition for The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sat March 27, 2010 | Nightingale Theater 1416 East 4th St., Tulsa |
my debut with The Crispy Family Carnival in The Crispy Family Adult Variety Show |
| Fri April 16, 2010 | Crystal Pistol 417 N. Main, Tulsa |
with The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sat May 22, 2010 | Crystal Pistol 417 N. Main, Tulsa |
SUMMER OF FIRE preview show with The Crispy Family Carnival plus TWO LIPS BURLESK and TWIN FISH |
| Fri May 28, 2010 | Area 51 Marina Lake Eufaula, OK |
A NIGHT WITH THE STRANGE with The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sun May 30, 2010 | Area 51 Marina Lake Eufaula, OK |
SUMMER OF FIRE with The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sat June 5, 2010 | special event Wichita, KS |
w/ The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Fri July 2, 2010 | Area 51 Marina Lake Eufaula, OK |
A FAR CRY FROM NORMAL with The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Mon July 12, 2010 | LOCAL FLAVORS | radio interview & performance live on KRSC 91.3FM |
| Fri July 16, 2010 | Tulsa Riverparks 41st & Riverside, Tulsa |
RHYTHM ON THE RIVER Acoustic Ross solo show |
| Fri July 23, 2010 | Crystal Pistol 417 N. Main, Tulsa |
SUMMER BURNOUT with The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Fri-Sat July 30-31, 2010 | 400 block N. Main, Tulsa | FREETULSA! Festival details & lineup here |
| Sun Aug 22, 2010 | Crystal Pistol 417 N. Main, Tulsa |
the ACOUSTIC ROSS 40th BIRTHDAY / 200th GIG CELEBRATION also featuring Tony Romanello and the Black Jackets |
| Sat Oct 30, 2010 | 36th Annual FREAKER’S BALL Cain’s Ballroom 423 N. Main, Tulsa |
with about 3 dozen other bands |
| Tues Jan 18, 2011 | Cain’s Ballroom 423 N. Main, Tulsa |
the WAKA WINTER CLASSIC 5 bands for 5 bucks competing for a slot at Wakarusa 2011 (I didn’t win but it was a killer show) |
| Sat Feb 12, 2011 | The Crystal Pistol 417 N. Main Street, Tulsa |
Mr. Crispy Entertainment presents: A Bewitching Evening |
| Sat Feb 19, 2011 | Nightingale Theater, Tulsa | LET’S MISBEHAVE with the Crispy Family Carnival & TwoLips Burlesk |
| Sun April 3, 2011 | Nightingale Theater 1416 East Fourth Street, Tulsa |
A MURDER OF COMICS PRESENTS BRADCHAD PORTER: a night of comedy, variety, burlesque & music |
| Sun April 24, 2011 | live radio performance! | Edge Homegroan KMYZ 104.5 The Edge Tulsa |
| Sat April 30, 2011 Bluebonnet Bar |
Norman Music Festival 4 Norman, OK |
free festival! solo set!! |
| Sat May 7, 2011 | Agora Coffeehouse 4959 South 79th East Ave. Tulsa OK |
free! all ages! TULSAMUSIC.NET Sampler #1 Release Party with Future Depression Sound |
| Sat May 21, 2011 | 20th Annual Atkins PickleFest Hole in the Wall venue Atkins, AR |
with The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sat May 28, 2011 | BACKWOODS BASH Music & Camping Festival Keystone Lake, OK |
with dozens of other bands |
| Sat-Sun June 25-26, 2011 | KIDSFEST Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve Bartlesville, OK |
with The Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sat July 23, 2011 | Eclipse Cultural House 1336 E. 6th, Tulsa |
with The Dirty Creek Bandits |
| Fri-Sat July 29-30, 2011 | FreeTulsa! Festival Blue Dome District downtown Tulsa |
lots of shows all weekend on the Crispy Family Carnival Stage |
| Sun Aug 21, 2011 | The Crystal Pistol 417 N. Main Street, Tulsa |
Crispy Family Carnival Birthday Spectacular! |
| October 2011 (every weekend) |
TRAIL OF FEAR Haunted Scream Park Lawton, OK |
performing every hour (I played 35+ shows) under the Big Top with the Crispy Family Carnival as one of many attractions at the outdoor Halloween haunt |
| Fri-Sun Nov 4-6, 2011 | 10th Annual Sideshow Gathering Wilkes-Barre, PA |
with the Crispy Family Carnival and dozens of other sideshow pros from around the world! |
| Fri Nov 11, 2011 | Private event Tulsa |
Crazy kids gettin’ all married ‘n stuff |
| Fri Nov 18, 2011 | Iron Gate First Baptist Church, Tulsa |
Lawyers Against Hunger Thanksgiving meal giveaway |
| Sat February 25, 2012 | Ripley’s Odditorium Branson, MO |
World Sword Swallowers’ Day! with the Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sat April 14, 2012 | Street Cred: Red City Revival West Tulsa, OK |
with the Crispy Family Carnival |
| Thu April 26, 2012 Bluebonnet Bar |
Norman Music Festival 5 Norman, OK |
free festival! solo set!! |
| Wed May 9, 2012 | Crystal Pistol Tulsa, OK |
with the Crispy Family Carnival and The Red Stitch Circus Phenomenon |
| Sat June 2, 2012 | Muddy Water Music Festival Anthony, KS |
with the Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sat Aug 4, 2012 | Joy’s Palace Norman, OK |
with the Crispy Family Carnival, Jon Lyle Williams & the Bravest Retreat, and Hypnotist Mike Breeze |
| October 2012 (every weekend) |
TRAIL OF FEAR Haunted Scream Park Lawton, OK |
performing every hour (I played 40+ shows, including #300!) under the Big Top with the Crispy Family Carnival as one of many attractions at the outdoor Halloween haunt |
| Fri April 26, 2013 Bluebonnet Bar |
Norman Music Festival 6 Norman, OK |
free festival! solo set!! new songs!!! |
| October 2013 (every weekend) |
THUNDERBIRD TRAIL OF FEAR Haunted Scream Park Norman, OK |
performing every hour (I played 40+ shows) under the Big Top with the Crispy Family Carnival as one of many attractions at the outdoor Halloween haunt |
| Sun Nov 11, 2013 | Comedy Parlor Tulsa, OK |
Standup Showcase (headlining set) |
| Sun Jan 12, 2014 | Loony Bin Tulsa, OK |
with the Crispy Family Carnival |
| Fri Jan 24, 2014 | Comedy Parlor 328 E. 1st Street Tulsa, OK |
with Hilton Price |
| Sat April 26, 2014 | Bluebonnet Bar 321 E. Main, Norman OK |
Norman Music Festival 7 Norman, OK |
| Sat May 17, 2014 | The Shrine 18th & Boston, Tulsa OK |
Naughty For a Cause: A Benefit for Chuck Cowen & Family 20+ Oklahoma performers from the worlds of comedy, music, hip-hop, sideshow, burlesque & more |
| Sat June 28, 2014 | Comedy Parlor 328 E. 1st Street, Tulsa OK |
ACOUSTIC ROSS: TWENTYISH 20th Anniversary Show! |
| Sat Sept 6, 2014 | Comedy Parlor 328 E. 1st Street, Tulsa OK |
ACOUSTIC ROSS: THE HAPLESS ROMANTIC & also a mini-set during CR PARSONS’ VARIETY HOUR |
| Sat Dec 6, 2014 | Comedy Parlor 328 E. 1st Street, Tulsa OK |
Blue Dome Music Series presents ACOUSTIC ROSS Free show!! |
| Sat Jan 17, 2015 | Lot No. 6 1323 E. 6th Street, Tulsa OK |
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School featuring Claire Collins & Written Quincey |
| Thu April 23, 2015 | Sooner Theater 101 E. Main Street, Norman OK |
Norman Music Festival 8 Norman, OK |
My Heart May or May Not Go On.
(Follow the link to see what I’m on about.)
Still early in my recovery, I tested my limits by performing shows every hour on select nights with the Crispy Family Carnival as one of many attractions at the Hex House indoor Halloween haunt. The Crispy Family was there all month, but I only attempted 6 nights – skipping the medley, because playing that beast probably helped destroy my ticker in the first place. Our last show together, on Halloween night, also happened to be my 375th show.
| Oct 1-31, 2015 | Hex House Tulsa, OK |
6 nights with the Crispy Family Carnival (17 shows total) |
| Thu Nov 19, 2015 | NSU – BA Broken Arrow, OK |
fundraiser for the Cherokee Nation Angel & Elder trees, with the Crispy Family Carnival plus a solo set |
| Sat Nov 26, 2016 | The Fur Shop 520 E 3rd Street, Tulsa, OK |
my one and only show in 2016! with the Crispy Family Carnival |
| Sat Apr 15, 2017 | The Fur Shop 520 E 3rd Street, Tulsa, OK |
my one and only show in 2017! A benefit show to help Mr. Crispy get to Washington DC for the Scottish Rite Web-A-Thon. Sideshow, music, comedy, fire & more! Featuring Kali’s Enferno, comedian Dan Fritschie, magician Matt Quinn, the Crispy Family Carnival & me! |
| Fri Oct 26, 2018 | Bound for Glory Books 4264 E 11th Street, Tulsa, OK |
my one and only show in 2018! MURDER BALLADS AND LOCAL LORE Hallowe’en Show! Creepy stories and local lore from storytellers Wilhelm Murg, Kris Rose, Apollonia Pina, & KD Burr with dark songs & murder ballads by Hot Sauce Koalas, Rachel Bachmann, Peter Tomshany & me! |
