29May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ the Day – Super Ball Bounce Back Cast Party Photos!

29May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ the Day – Super Ball Bounce Back Cast Party Photos!

If you don’t know about my triumphant comeback live show a few weeks ago in Hollywood, start here.

After nearly sinking on the Titanic 6 months before, the success of these two sold-out performances meant more to me than anyone can imagine.

Not to mention the fact that I learned the importance of hiring professionals over friends who say they know how to do certain things, as well as learning the importance of rehearsals, something that prior to this was completely alien to my totally-spontaneous-fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-without-a-net approach to every art form I participate in.

Many of the folks who appeared on stage with me as well as behind the scenes worked for gratis. I can’t thank all of you enough.

This was a massive breakthrough for me, the filling up of a big wide, raging hole in the gut of my career. Believe me, my gratitude extends a lot further than the soul food dinner thrown to thank you here at Willis Wonderland.

I can’t wait to get up on stage with all of you again. We’s family now. This was a life changer for me and you were all a massive part of it. Badeya!!!


A plethora of Super Ball Bounce Back cast party photos here.

21May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ the Day – A zillion trillion PHOTOS from my sold out Super Ball Bounce Back Review concerts!!

21May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ the Day – A zillion trillion PHOTOS from my sold out Super Ball Bounce Back Review concerts!!

.

On May 8 and 9, 2012 I had one of the greatest experiences of my career performing my Super Ball Bounce Back Review at King King in Hollywood. It not only was only the second and third performances I’d done since jumping off the stage in the middle of my own show in 1974, but was an attempted – and I’m happy to say TOTALLY TRIUMPHANT – comeback after one of the worst experiences of my career seven months before when 90% of the technology my first attempted comeback show was dependent on failed. But I knew that I had to get back up and practice what I preach: From some of the worst situations come the greatest miracles and I had proven to myself time and time again that, if nothing else, I was someone who had the courage to make lemonade out of big, fat lemons.

So I’m happy to report that I have risen from the ashes and had two of the greatest nights of my life bouncing back as a performer in a major way. I can’t thank everyone who came enough. And I can’t thank everyone who worked with me on the show enough.

So I leave you with a whole lotta photos from both nights, videos to come and a big, loud Badeya-say-do-you-remember there never has to be a cloudy day as long as you have sunshine inside. ENOY THE SHOW!!

15May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ the Day – A few photos from my live show last week

15May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ the Day – A few photos from my live show last week

Just a sprinkling of the over 2000 photos I’m still going through from my “Super Ball Bounce Back Review” live show at King King in Hollywood last Tuesday night, May 8.  There will be TONS more coming from both Tuesday and Wednesday nights performances at the top of next week, and a whole lotta videos after that.

Will post some from May 9 soon. And trillions of them this coming Monday. Badeya!

11May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – My “Super Ball Bounce Back Review” Is the Biggest Bounce I Ever Had!!

11May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – My “Super Ball Bounce Back Review” Is the Biggest Bounce I Ever Had!!

Ideally I would’ve had a shitload of photos and videos to post already after my – I’m not too proud to say – sold out SMASH shows at King King in Hollywood this past Tuesday and Wednesday nights. But, alas, as I’m everything from the star of the show to co-producer, co-director, set designer, maker of all souvenirs and handouts, MC and anything else that’s involved in putting the show together, just getting everything unpacked and trying to make up for the total 6 hours sleep I got in the last week means I won’t get any serious documentation up before next week or so. But here are a couple videos that my assistant Dina, on stage with me at all times, shot on my little Canon Elf.  I only have them up on Facebook so hopefully you can see them there by clicking below. Didn’t want to put anything up on YouTube yet as I want to wait until I have the real footage. SO way way wayyyyy more coming in weeks to come, with at least photos hopefully by Tuesday.

Part of “September”:

Part of “Boogie Wonderland”:

Badeya!

08May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – OMG ITS TONIGHT!!

08May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – OMG ITS TONIGHT!!

Here’s a few shots from the last rehearsal yesterday before I make another go of it live. Both shows tonight and tomorrow night are thankfully sold out, though there may be a few places to stand by the bar. See you there!

 

06May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Pizza Never Big Enough

06May 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Pizza Never Big Enough

Many mouths to feed as my live Allee Willis’ Super Ball Bounce Back Review is only two days away and we be deep into rehearsals. So this 36 incher from Big Mamas and Papas was the only way to go.  Actually it wasn’t… There’s also a 54 incher. And it’s mmmmmmmmmmm good too!

My esteemed bandleader, Andrae Alexander, takes the first bite:

24Apr 2012

I’m on the radio LIVE tonight!

24Apr 2012

I’m on the radio LIVE tonight!

Talking about my upcoming live show in LA, 5/8-9, as well as the unbelievably fantastic trip I just had to Detroit and my future plans there. Oh, Mary! show. 7-7:50pm PST. www.latalkradio.com.  The show will be archived at www.latalkradio.com/Mary.php.

BTW, the sandwich I’m pictured with above, The Boogaloo, is the single greatest sandwich I’ve ever tasted. If you live in Detroit, jump immediately in your car and go to the corner of Curtis and Wyoming. And tell Chef Greg that Allee sent you. (takeout only but sooooooooo worth it.)

20Apr 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – What An UNBELIEVABLE Night at Mumford High!!

20Apr 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – What An UNBELIEVABLE Night at Mumford High!!

I wish I had time to write at length this morning because I can’t even tell you what a SPECTACULAR evening I had last night at my high school in Detroit, the greatest one of all, Mumford, about to be destroyed by the wrecking ball but still the most spirit-filled place in the city. Kids from the  choir, dance company and band performed some of my greatest hits while I told stories about how they were written. So many of my classmates showed up, some of whom I hadn’t seen since I graduated, some of my family, the ones who weren’t afraid to show some soul, leave the burbs and come into the real city, friends I’ve made on my last couple visits here and, of course, the wonderful and dedicated Mumford teachers, principal and former principal, and staff who helped so much to make this one of the favorite nights of my life.

I have to race out of the hotel seriously fast and check out a recording studio because I’m hell-bent and determined to collaborate with the entire city, at least any of those who want to be on a record, on a Detroit song that I’ve been working on back in LA with my upcoming live show bandleader, Andrae Alexander. Then race back to the hotel to change and get over to Cass Technical High School where the City Council will be presenting me with the Spirit of Detroit Award, and where I’ll also be attending another performance my musical, The Color Purple, all the while trying to edit the close to 600 photos taken last night, not to mention at least 10 hours of film from cameras we placed all over  the auditorium.

I hope to be blogging a lot about this next week once I’m back in LA so please check back then. Until then, I’m cheering for you, Mumford High! And Onward, Detroit!

19Apr 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Calling all Detroiters: Come to Mumford tonight!!

19Apr 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Calling all Detroiters: Come to Mumford tonight!!

All the hits you can stand to hear!!! And the last time in an architectural treasure.

https://www.alleewillis.com/detroit/mumford-last-call.html

18Apr 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Making Off With True Booty

18Apr 2012

Allee Willis’ Kitsch O’ The Day – Making Off With True Booty

You all know of my love for the physical structure of my classic Deco baby blue high school in Detroit, Mumford, as well as my dismay that the wrecking ball is hitting it mere months after the concert I’m doing/hosting there THIS Thursday night. One of the MANY reasons the school is near and dear to my heart is also because it was made famous in the film I won a GRAMMY for, Beverly Hills Cop, when Eddie Murphy wore a t-shirt bearing its name throughout the movie.

So it upsets me even more that features like this, all over the school, are about to be nothing more than a pile of crumbled limestone:

One place inside Mumford I loved like no other was the auditorium.  Here’s a photo of when I was there last year watching rehearsals for when I conducted the marching band playing a medley of my greatest hits. I was sitting in my favorite seat, Row A, first seat on the middle aisle.

Here was Row A, seat 1 yesterday as wrecking ball syndroome has already hit the school:

Here I am leaving the school:

At least there’s some small concilation for the crime of classic architecture demolition. Now if I could only get that clock!