There are many live musical events happening all over the grid, almost every night. However, almost every single one of them features one or two people, singing either covers, or their own little compositions in a rock or indie style, usually while playing a guitar, and while there are some very talented performers out there, after a while a lot of the acts can seem to get a little... samey. And at worst, it can get downright boring. Yet still, I tend to search on, seeking out these acts, hoping to find one of the rare gems in the mix.


It was on just such a night that a random group notice drew me to Circe Broom's Cairo Theatre where I found something truly different. A performance by Kazoo Twang and Lizzie Ryba, seen above with their piano accompanist Leemiguel Arguello and occasional guest performer Harmonica Sorbet (Kazoo is the redhead, and Lizzie is the blonde), drawing on the rich musical tradition of English Music Hall which entertains with such warmth and humour as to make you feel drawn in to a party full of fun, laughter, more than a little drink, and above all else, music. To explain the performance a little better, and give us a little more background, I met up with Kazoo and Lizzie in Kaz's personal garden (for some reason, Kazoo is the one with the bear head):


Voodoo: Ok, so firstly, could you describe your act for the uninitiated?
Kazoo Twang: Old time music hall
Lizzie Ryba: Brit style
Kazoo Twang: English burlesque
Lizzie Ryba: Sing-along
Kazoo Twang: Crowd participation - sing-a-long. Or type-a-long!!! lol Singing for those who cannot hold a tune in a bucket!!!
Lizzie Ryba: And just a barrel of laughs. Well we have a ball don’t know bout anyone else lol. Kazoo Twang: Singing for those who cannot hold a tune in a bucket!!! and just a barrel of laughs
Lizzie Ryba: Well we have a ball don’t know bout anyone else. lol
Kazoo Twang: Spontaneous audience appreciation!! Voodoo?? You do!!!
Lizzie Ryba: We try to get everyone involved cos that’s the fun of it all
Kazoo Twang: Lizzie and I know each other from rl theatre http://www.playhousecheltenham.org . I have performed in SL before. I came here with friends from an online music site - www.macjams.com. I ran into Circe recently and she asked me to perform again. I asked lee to accompany me - again - he used to live here and has played piano on some of my uploads at macjams. Lizzie got involved when....
Lizzie Ryba: I went to see Kaz perform and enjoyed it. We were going to London the following week in my car, and got talking bout what we could do together. I suggested we could do some of the music hall numbers we knew
Kazoo Twang: Music hall is always popular at our rl theatre
Lizzie Ryba: And it went from there
Kazoo Twang: Circe loves us, and ppl come back!!
Lizzie Ryba: I have to say I have never enjoyed myself so much as I have in gigs
Voodoo: Lizzie, had you originally come to SL with musical aspirations in the first place also?
Lizzie Ryba: Nah!! Kaz told me bout SL, and so I came, and haven't looked back but never for one moment did I think I would perform here. I've been on stage for real, directed musicals etc Kazoo Twang: She played bloody Mary in south pacific!!!
Lizzie Ryba: But SL different ball game
Kazoo Twang: You should see her acting in front of the microphone - it’s a riot!!
Voodoo: How does performing in SL differ to being on stage in rl?
Kazoo Twang: You don't have to worry about yer make-up!!
Lizzie Ryba: Mind u finding the right cossie is fun. I love shopping in SL!!!!
Kazoo Twang: Lizzie loves to shop - another day ... another costume!! It's easier to make up songs about the audience - in rl they don't wear their names over their heads!!
Lizzie Ryba: We love the improvisation of it all
Kazoo Twang: She doesn't get tips - she sees them as hair and shoes!!!
Lizzie Ryba: Yeah new meaning to the words shop till u drop
Voodoo: How have you found the music scene in SL? Do you go and check out any other acts?
Kazoo Twang: I have enjoyed watching the music scene grow in SL?
Lizzie Ryba: Kaz does more than me but I am beginning to check out other things
Kazoo Twang: I remember when Circe and slim warrior were the only promoters
Lizzie Ryba: Particularly those that Circe promotes
Kazoo Twang: I think we do something rather more special than singing to a karaoke machine. it may not be perfect but it is most definitely LIVE!!!!
Lizzie Ryba: too right
Kazoo Twang: Also - we don’t have to learn lines in SL :))))
Lizzie Ryba: Just have to keep finding the bits of paper u lose
Kazoo Twang: Less lines - more paper!!
Voodoo: What do you hope to achieve through your performances here inworld?
Kazoo Twang: More hair and shoes!!!! LMAO. Spreading a little personalised happiness. More pink and fluff in a grey and miserable world!!!
Lizzie Ryba: And giving a bit of laughter around. If we are enjoying it others will too
Kazoo Twang: And I think that ppl love that we are having such a good time and also they like those old songs. They are like comfort food, full of memories of grannies and aunties
Lizzie Ryba: Keeping the traditions going
Kazoo Twang: Fun!! We like fun!!
Lizzie Ryba: What is SL for if not for fun. No boundaries in SL they say.
Kazoo Twang: And ... I think the Americans appreciate the English traditions, and love a cock.. ney accent
Lizzie Ryba: Or indeed a British accent whatever lol
Voodoo: And finally, what advice would you give to anybody thinking about getting up onstage and performing themselves?
Kazoo Twang: Do it!!!
Lizzie Ryba: Go for it
Kazoo Twang: Have fun and do it. If you cannot do it in your secondlife - where and when???
Lizzie Ryba: There is a saying in our theatre - its JFDI - just fucking do it
Kazoo Twang: I teach this drama stuff in rl too, and it is a case of - just go for it!!


To experience the party for yourself, head over to the Cairo Theatre on Friday at 1PM SL time. Tell em Voodoo sent you! ;)