By: Alyse Wieland

Imagine you’re in a swanky blues club, smoke swirling around. The lounge singer is slowly beginning her tune. Then, out from behind the curtain, a vaudeville group begins performing with her. Then a three-ring circus breaks through the crowd. A beautiful sword swallowing woman is performing beside you as a tribal dance troupe spins between the masses.

Sidecar Symposium‘s Three Ring Circus is a mash-up of all these elements and more. The band will be celebrating the release of its first EP, “On the Lam”, at Scruffy City Hall, February 21, at 8:00 p.m. This will be will be a party fit for any rock-a-billy, punk loving, and swing and blues aficionados out there.

Sidecar Symposium (front l-r:) Lulu Skidoo, Kitschy Kitschy Yaya, & Rosy Blu. (Back, l-r): Scribbles “The Butcher” Bebop, Diddle-Hands Magilicutty, & Dane Bramage. Photo by: April Gallagher.

The band’s Three Ring Circus/EP release party will include special guests: local dance troupe Humaya Tribal Fusion and burlesque dancer Catalina Mystique. Daredevil Pyscho Reno and guest MC Torch will be executing stunts like glass walking and sword play. Nashville rock soul group, Magnolia Sons, will be playing after a short intermission.

Makin’ That EP the Old Fashioned Way

Singer, Lulu Skidoo, says it “just made sense” to make the EP now due to a growing fan base and a semi-regular show at Preservation Pub. With the help of Eric Nowinski, of Rock Snob Records Recording Complex, the band put down their five best songs: Wheel of Evolution, Freak Love, Totenmahl, Haint Blues, and On the Lam. 

Sidecar Symposium performs at the 2014 Freaksheaux at The Edge. Photo by: Starrlight Images.

Skidoo says, “Unfortunately we did not have quite enough [money] to record everything we’d like, but it’s been two and a half years in the making, and we wanted to take that leap and get the songs we feel best represented us.” 

The band, who all work day jobs, eschewed crowdsourcing and saved money to make their EP and to fund their 2014 mini-tour. Rosy Blu says, “We sacrificed food and alcohol money at many shows.” Dane says, “We also received some private funding from some amazingly helpful people.” Kitschy says, “Because we work as a collective. Our efforts are to sustain our vision as a band. We do things the old fashion way.”

Sidecar Symposium’s Three Ring Circus and CD Release Party with the Magnolia Sons

Scruffy City Hall, 32 Market Square, Saturday, February 21, 8 p.m.