The Industrious Age: Shows 2010-2019

Circus Time and The Cardiac Kid


Crispy Family 2010

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.

Make it Crispy


2010: The Sideshow Comes Calling and Acoustic Ross Hits 40


 

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

 

40th birthday, 200th gig


2011: Lots of Shows, and Things Get Haunted


 

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

 


2012: Every Season Is Festival Season


 

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

 


2013: Acoustic Ross Hits Comedy Scene, Scene Hits Back


 

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)

 


2014: Twenty Years I’ve Been Doing This Stuff?


 

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!!

 


2015 Begins, and We Think Everything Is OK.


 

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

 


It Is Now Clear That Nothing, In Fact, Is 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

 


2016-2019: Mostly Behind the Scenes.


 

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!

 

Mr. Crispy Goes To Washington


 

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!

 

Man on Fire