You know how Jimi Hendrix opened for the Monkees? That’s sort of like what’s going on here as we’re in the opening slot of the centerpiece, Saturday night benefit concert at the Livak Ballroom at the UVM Davis Center. We’ll be warming up the crowd for Martha Barnette of the public radio program A Way With Words.

Somehow it’s taken more than a decade for it to happen, but BTO is finally getting the last check mark to complete the New England states where we’ve played concerts. We’ll be in Burlington, Vermont on Saturday, September 17 as part of the 12th Annual Burlington Book Festival. Apparently these people didn’t realize that we don’t actually type words when we bash away at our typewriters, so don’t tell ’em until afterwards and we’ll see just how much fun we can have. And seeing as this is Vermont, we’ve even worked up our first bona fide Jam that we’ll be premiering at the show.

Saturday, September 17th, 2016  
A Very Special Benefit for the Annual Burlington Book Festival 7pm
Livak Ballroom, UVM Davis Center, Burlington, Vermont
$20 in advance/$25 at the door

A full work day in the city for the Boston Typewriter Orchestra meant that we got to New York City just in time for a midnight performance at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Alumni/emeritus member Jim bussed in from Jersey City to fill the depleted ranks as only Jay, Brendan, and Jeff were able to truly represent Boston on this weekend. We kicked off the performance to a haggard crowd of city dwellers and kept on-stage Yankee sniping to a minimum. A night at the Newark HoJos would have been better spent sleeping off a drunken stupor in the UCB’s walk-in.

With Jim regaling us of tales from beyond the typing pool in the wild world of liquor distribution (we’re too greedy to share, being far more inclined to mere liquor consumption), we sped off down the Jersey Turnpike in the morning heading for our nation’s capitol.

Outside the Black Cat, we met up with Jeff Simmermon, the force that pried us away from New England for this weekend. These shows (titled And I Am Not Lying) were a whole night’s entertainment in one crazy swoop, with comedians, burlesque dancers, a boylesque dancer, and Simmermon as an officiant, comedian, and raconteur all in one. The Black Cat is DC’s finest den of iniquity, and stepping into the room to load in a bunch of typewriters it seemed like a mighty daunting space to fill.

With seating and tables added to the room, and some of the best sound men on the case, not only did the four of us sound like a whole orchestra of typewriters, but even we were able to hear it with monitors bringing the thump-thwack at us just as hard. With a deadline to return for back in Boston, we made a quick departure after the show concluded. The overnight livery service proved just reliable enough to make it home without catastrophe.

Friday March 14, 2014
And I Am Not Lying, midnight
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, East Village NYC

Saturday March 15, 2014
And I Am Not Lying, 9pm
Black Cat, Washington, DC

Even escaping Boston just ahead of rush hour traffic, the trek to Manchester was relatively painless and we played our first set for an overflowing room at the Currier Museum. We dusted off some rusty oldies for the second set, and clacked away to the delight of the audience. Seems like there was enough interest that we’ll have to find our way back north sometime soon.

-previous info-

March 6th, 2014 – Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, NH
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
http://www.currier.org/calendar/currier-after-hours-boston-typewriter-orchestra/
Join us for speciality cocktails, a food demonstration, and unusual sounds! The Boston Typewriter Orchestra is a group that combines the insistent rhythm of typewriters with elements of performance, comedy and satire. During intermission, enjoy food, art making and discussions in the galleries. A cash bar and full menu are available at the Winter Garden Café.

Thursday March 6, 2014
Currier After Hours, 6pm
Currier Museum, Manchester, NH