My first Full Length Album, Chik'n & Waffles

4/18/2019

Chik'n & Waffles - Penny Grune-Fae
Prepared Guitar
First full length album by Penny Grune-Fae
Seven songs, ranging from 7 min 12 seconds to 16 seconds long.

1. Haunted City
2. 2 Grunches
3. Le Feu Follet (winter)
4. Rougaroux of East Slattery
5. What We Buried On St. Ann Street
6. The Ghosts of the Delta Queens
7. 30.9843° N, 91.9623° W

Chik'n and Waffles was recorded over the last six months onto my Sony ICD-PX470 Stereo Digital Voice Recorder, then mastered at Barnes and Noble's Cafe in St. Petersburg, Florida. DJ Hollow Life was human duct tape, assisting me get it all nice and neat for y'all's souls.
Some of the Toys and Instruments used on this album: Electric Guitar, Personal Portable Fans, Absinthe Spoons, Various Chopsticks, Cymbal Mallets, Dictaphone, 808 Bluetooth Speaker, Fidget Spinners, Bullet Vibrators, and a Slinky .. there is probably more..lol

It was Summer time, on East Slattery Street, Shreveport.. I was born a Louisianian... Monsters are real. Some run wild in the woods, some live under your bed, some are forced to suffer in closets, and some,,, Escape!!!

I believe in ghosts. I do think there are some cities that are haunted. Every time I visit a city, I try to let myself go and feel who the city is.. I go on a walk-about, taking in the energy of the space and hearing what the spirits could be saying to me. Each city has a Spirit all its own. The city of New Orleans has a major Ghost Airport. So many Spirits travel there for pleasure and some are trapped because of the unjust acts of mankind. The City of New Orleans is also filled with wonder, magick, and story upon stories are told for those who would like to hear them.. If you ever make it there, please spend some time listening to the old ones of the city. Also..when you visit, go treat yourself to a cup of Coffee with Chicory and some fresh beignets at Café Du Monde.

Winter on the mighty Mississippi. Up and down the shores of this wonderful woman, you can sometime see the ancestor fires burning. Winter winds roaring through the ancient places, feels like a bit o' wonder for me. Yes it is bitterly cold, yes the wind can smack you right in the face..lol.. but.. it is so worth it. I feel alive.. The French Quarter is not as busy the weeks around the Holidays, so that is definitely a great time to go enjoy her.

When I visit this wonderful Crescent City I usually stay at Place d’ Armes. What an enchanting place. They say it is haunted.. Legend says it is the most haunted place in New Orleans.. If you throw a rock in any direction in Louisiana there is Ghost Story and they are all true.

One early morning I was up reading and I heard the clop-clops of a horse-drawn carriage going down the street. That was odd. It is 3 AM and the horses should be sleeping and off for the night. The sound of clop, clop, clop, clop kept getting louder... so I got up and went the window where I heard the sounds of the horse and carriage. I then opened my window in my room and looked out... No horse and carriage anywhere.. I could still hear the horse's walking sounds and the wheels of the carriage.. I leaned out the window more, to see the street. The street was empty.
The next day when I arose I walked over to the Square and asked a carriage driver if there was an event last night on St. Ann Street? He said with an odd look on his face "The Carriage does not run that late at night". We looked at each other and both smiled.

Chik'n and Waffles for me is a self portrait. I claim to be a Southern Gal with a city girl's heart. I was born in LA; the stories of wonder are apart of my DNA. Each song on this album is about that.. I really do believe in the reality of the Paranormal. Life is too wonderful for there not to be.

The title came from enjoying a plate of Chik'n and Waffles with a good friend, and yes, like a good Southern Miss I was enjoying a glass of Sweet Tea with 'em. I said time to do a full album. This album popped out. I could give y'all every story from behind each track, but what would be the fun in that. Instead come sit with me, I will pour a glass of Tea, chat a bit and I will tell you some real Ghost Stories..

22 Comments

penny grune-fae

Name: Penelope Rebecca “Penny”

Born: Shreveport, Louisiana
Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida
Formerly: Massachusetts, Rhode Island

Present Music Project: Penny Grune-Fae

Sound, it fascinates me, haunts me, and moves me. My entire life has been the exploration, application, and pursuit of sounds.

One question people have asked me over the last three years of my life in regards to my Experimental Music / Anti-Music creations is, “How long have u been doing this?” My heartfelt answer... as long as I have been alive. Until three years ago I just did not know what I was doing was part of a movement, community, or “A Thing” I just thought it was what it was, Having fun creating. I knew of Cage, Dada, Eno, Glass, and others. There are a few people I have come to know and respect in the Experimental Community that can tell us the entire family tree of a gazillion artists, their relationships to what we do and how it all got to here. That was never me. I am constantly learning.

It was about three years ago when I started focusing on penny music: taking down my sketchbooks, notebooks, napkins and started to see how it led me here. When I was younger, I made tape loops, tape manipulation on reel to reel tape recorder, captured field recordings, created soundscape recordings, did weird things to my percussion gear, and built contraptions to play with on stage because why not! I wanted to see how they would sound and how I could apply them to whatever music project I was working on at that time in my life.

I never knew all of this was really a thing. It was just fun.

Origin Point:
I was at a place called the Venture Compound, supporting a friend's project and started hearing and seeing some incredible shows. I started hanging out and meeting these creative people. I felt a connection to what they were doing and who they are. I felt a part of something bigger than me. I felt I could maybe belong. Then I saw SPNF, Pre-Inc and other insane shows. Mind Blown!!! Then one day I was looking up Mail-Art sites and came across Hal McGee and then I saw some of the same people who I
met on his YouTube account performing. Connections to Connections, like how a tree is connected to her roots, branches, leaves, ground and all that earthy nature stuff (LOL)

I grew as I was challenged. I wanted to create something my own. I started playing a few collaborations alongside people that were already actively creating. During this time I was doing poetry, playing drums, and trying to support others. I was asked one day if I wanted my own set. I said yes!

This is where Penny Grune-Fae evolved from. My first solo set was made of contradicting sounds mixed
into a soundscape. I used 4 mp3 players because they were cheaper than 4 Micro-Cassette Recorders. I saw Hal McGee's Dictaphonia Fest. That is where I wanted to start. That sounded so wicked Rad!!! The pursuit sounds and combining sound together. I started searching for Microcassette Recorders... man they were expensive though!! Mp3 players. So I got four, a mixer, did some insane research on pedals, bought some and started creating. I played my first set...it worked... it freaking worked!! People liked it. I
even liked it...LOL...I am, constantly hard on my self. Later that night, a few people compared me to
others out there who have been doing something like I just did... just with different gear... and professional as I said... I did not know it was a thing. I was asked to play other shows, met more killer people and I started to grow more. LOL... Since the start of this leg of adventure I now have one Micro-
cassette only 3 more to go...LOL... Hal McGee turned me on to another recording device, but that will be another story.

While there was an entire universe of experimental musicians doing their art I was growing through it.
When I was younger I was raised in the church. OOOOOH no!! not religion... Yup... LOL... In that time
of my life, I was given the choice to sit with my folks or go sit in the sound booth and learn sound. I choose to learn sound. During that time I also learned how to run lights, do spots, fixed stuff when it broke build stages, build instruments, program light boards, lay lots of duct tape, and get electrocuted, I was hungry to learn. I also choose to do technical support first before I had spots on me. I wanted to lift others up rather than just be "Look at me". I learned so much during that time, and I feel I am a better musician for it.

Percussion: I love drumming, I have been having a relationship with drums my entire life. From my Mum's heartbeat to playing pots and pans on my Mum's floor to doing some touring I have been
drumming. My foundation as a percussionist has greatly added to what I have been creating.

Other points of Interest that I enjoy exploring: Making friends, Mail-Art, Creating Asemic Manuscripts.
Sketching Future Noise Instruments. Roaring 20's Culture, Radio Dramas and doing Stand Up Comedy.

Ditlev Buster link

4/18/2019 07:15:08

So glad to see the first full length Pennt album is a reality! Awesome work, Miss Grune-Fae!

penny

4/19/2019 23:56:36

thanks d.. i am glad u enjoyed it!! thank u for pitching it to your friends over seas, i really appreciate it.

Leslie Singer

4/18/2019 15:31:21

Penny, what a beautifully mesmerizing and haunting collection! Your Chik'n and Waffles is delicious!

4/19/2019 23:57:58

thank u for the kind comments. also thank u for purchasing it.

Chris Phinney

4/19/2019 09:43:16

Penny, What a sonic delight of sound. I love it! The prepared guitar reminds me of Sue Ann Harkey. Sweet Tea oh hell yeah! Wonderful decriptions of the pieces.

4/20/2019 00:03:37

Hi Chris, i am glad u enjoyed it. today at work. after reading your comment, i took some time and listened to Sue Ann Harkey as u suggested. i can see what u mean. i have never heard of her. thank u for the suggestion.

4/20/2019 11:56:43

Penny,

Your new album is excellent, glad you took some time to check out Sue Anns work & that you heard my comparisons. Sue Ann Harkey is also in case you hadn't noticed the designer of the EC logo on the site, which was also the logo for the printed EC mags. :)

Hal McGee

4/19/2019 19:09:47

Penny, I listened to Chik'n Waffles today and really enjoyed it! Very well done!

4/20/2019 00:05:37

thank you hal, for taking some time to comment and also some time to give a listen. i worked really hard on it. that means a lot to me.

4/20/2019 01:26:26

I am so happy that you shared your album with us. I really enjoyed reading your interesting stories. It added so much to the listening experience.

4/21/2019 12:30:46

Penny, listening to Chik’n Waffles late last night when it was super quiet outside in NYC was a celestial experience. The way you layer your guitar and mix and move the sounds from ear to ear is so heavenly! And I want to do a shout out to you and DJ Hollow Life (Joe Billingsley) for your just recently released split album, live long, The Split. Now that is what I call music!

Penny

4/30/2019 02:18:05

Thanks u Leslie..

Lol...i work joe to the bone..naw.. Yup..
I enjoy playing with how the listeners will hear a piece. One of my bucket list happenings is to go play on the B.E.A.S.T in the UK. Thank u for enjoying the split as well.. That was fun to work on..
Did u hear the Dylan and myself collab?? What a fun night of working it.. Thank u for enjoying.

Phillip Klampe

4/22/2019 16:24:56

Great album! Enjoying both the textural and rhythmic aspects of the tracks. The Ghosts of the Delta Queens is my favorite.

Adam J Naworal

4/23/2019 14:27:26

Amazing tunes here, Penny! So glad the album is now a reality!

Aimee G Naworal link

4/29/2019 03:12:19

Weebly wasn't working this morning (sometimes it doesn't load for me and that's probably why I don't comment as much as I would like to)

So I finally get to comment:

I really enjoyed ALL the spooky soundscapes on this album... I think The Ghosts of the Delta Queens might be a fav by many because of the percussive elements which stood out in that composition.

I love the stories here describing the mood and vibe of each track. :)

I have been to New Orleans and I wish I could've stayed longer because it was really interesting. I felt so much interesting energy while there.

4/29/2019 11:30:31

Hi Aimee! This is news to me about Weebly not opening for you. How long has this been going on? What web browser are you using? Would you like me to file a Help Desk request with the Weebly Support Team? I would be happy to do so if you think it might help.

Aimee Naworal link

4/30/2019 10:05:18

I think it was just internet connectivity on my end I rthink it's ok I'll let you know if it happens even while connected to wifi or anything :)

4/30/2019 10:08:46

Thanks, keep me informed.

Tom Furgas

4/29/2019 04:13:20

I think Derek Bailey and Fred Frith would have loved this! An incredible sonic landscape created with such minimal means. Come to think of it, Keith Rowe would definitely embrace this too. I am glad you found the community you needed to get your work out there for us to hear and enjoy.

4/30/2019 02:23:03

Thank u Tom. I am glad u enjoyed it. What a humbling compliment. I look at them as masters of this style of instrument manipulation.. I always hope to create authentic art that has the potential to touch the listener.

Jeff Central

4/30/2019 15:13:37

A sweet sonic delight!! Nice job Penny on your first full-length release!! Keep up the good work and always remember to hit that record button!!
Cheers,
Jeff

5/4/2019 00:22:19

Omg..
That happens..
I have played a few shows where i forgot to hit the record button.. I was like...noooooo!!!
Thank you for your kind words.

My first Full Length Album, Chik'n & Waffles

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