By Desi Rubio, Jan. 29, 2015.
From the outside, this downtown Phoenix residence appears to be a quaint 1930s home in a once-charming neighborhood. Inside these four walls, there’s an entirely different story being told.
It is here that the music is composed and rehearsed, that the videos are filmed and that professional and personal relationships are forged. It may not be the most conventional setting for innovation, but to Chelsey Louise, Robert Ciuca, brothers Matt and Ben Foos – the four members of Fairy Bones – this is where they thrive.
In fact, it is in this sanctuary of creative inspiration that their collaborative efforts converged to birth the new wave/rock band’s first full-length album, Dramabot, which is scheduled for digital release Feb. 3.
While these four have only been together two years, they have already made a lot of noise within the local music scene: They’ve performed more than 150 shows, signed to 80/20 Records, released a four-track EP and recorded a full-length album.
“I love them all so much, they’re my family and we’re making our dreams come true together,” Louise said. “I can’t ask for much more than that.”
Making the Band
Louise, named one of “The 10 Best Frontmen and Frontwomen in Phoenix Right Now” by the Phoenix New Times earlier this month, brings her powerful pipes, songwriting superiority and piano prowess to the stage.
She’s known Ciuca, the guitarist, for six years, a friendship that dates back to a time where they both belonged to the now-disbanded Born Loser and the Hangers On.
According to Louise, once the duo realized how serious they were about making music they quickly formed Fairy Bones and their search for band members began.
Louise recalled placing an ad on Craigslist, to which Matt, a local drummer, responded. After the trio held their first jam session, they collectively knew it was meant to be. Shortly thereafter, Matt suggested his younger brother Ben, a bass player, as the fourth member, and according to Louise, “the rest is history.”
Sound
Today, a typical Fairy Bones performance involves a lot of energy, sweat and a strong theatrical flair. Louise’s voice and colorful hair demand the audience’s attention, and the fellas combine for an over-the-top stage performance that brings their grungy-rock melodies to life.
“When our fans leave our shows, I want them to know that we take this seriously,” Matt said. “The audience and performing mean something to us, it’s a whole experience.”
Fairy Bones has been compared to such bands as No Doubt and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, emphasizing the unmistakably strong female lead vocals with edgy hard-hitting sounds to back it up.
These four musicians-turned-friends admit to always putting the band first. While they’re not overly serious, they’re driven. They can be found rehearsing in their living room at all hours, until, as Ben said, “someone faints or vomits,” adding that the neighbors don’t mind the jam sessions one bit.
And, as they say, practice makes perfect. But don’t take our word for it; just watch the band’s music video for “Waiting,” which made azcentral’s “16 best music videos by metro Phoenix artists in 2014,” at fairybones.com/music/dramabot.
Dramabot
The excitement and anticipation surrounding an album release is always a highly anticipated moment. But for Fairy Bones, who funded the Dramabot by raising $5,000 with the help of the crowd funding website indiegogo.com, it’s the fans and friends who made the recording process possible – and for that they’re thankful.
“I hope our fans see our passion and that it inspires them in some way or another,” Ciuca said, adding that he can’t wait for fans to hear it.
According to Louise, the contributions of each band member were also crucial in the creation of this album, adding that each member put their own signature touch on this project. Which, in some cases, involved them switching up instruments to create unique sounds.
The album, which was recorded, mixed and produced by a good friend of the band, Bob Hoag, in just two weeks, is a collection of music that spans all genres including reggae, grunge and pop. And, Louise added, that the lyrics draw from past relationships, dreams and “weird late-night thoughts on society.”
Louise, who does most of song writing for the group, said the typical Fairy Bones fan is between 18 and 25 years old. The band also has a strong LGBT following, she said, adding that it is important for her write in an inclusive way.
“I don’t want the listener to feel excluded just because I say a certain pronoun,” Louise said. “Love and heartbreak are genderless emotions that anyone can relate to, regardless of your orientation.”
As a self-described former outcast who has identified as lesbian most of her life, Louise does not enjoy labeling others or herself and wants fans of Fairy Bones to feel welcome.
Staging Success
Similarly, in support of the LGBT community, Fairy Bones played at the 2013 Rainbow Festival and hope to perform at this year’s Pride Festival.
Sharing the stage – and their home – with each other comes easy because these four love what they do. And soon, they’ll be sharing even tighter quarters as they pile into a Ford Expedition and hit the road for their first Midwest tour. The tour will run from Feb. 21 through March 9, and beyond that the band hopes to be on a tour of the east coast before the year’s end.
With their new album already generating a buzz and a new chapter of touring ahead it is clear that this band’s momentum is as dramatic as their stage presence. This will not be the last you hear of Fairy Bones.
Dramabot album release show
7 p.m. Jan. 31
The Rogue Bar
423 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Tickets: $7
Meet The Band
Chelsey Louise, 24
Band Role: Singer, piano and “everything else”
Echo: How would others describe your stage personality?
Louise: Dramatic.
Echo: What was the craziest thing you experienced on stage?
Louise: The crowd singing the lyrics to our song “Waiting” so loud that I didn’t even sing into the microphone. Second craziest: falling straight into the drum set while wearing high heels (which I very rarely do, and don’t do anymore).
Echo: Who were your personal musical influences?
Louise: Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain and musicals.
Echo: Why was it important to create Fairy Bones?
Louise: Robert and I started Fairy Bones after the breakup of our previous band. Personally, I grew up with musicals and learned to express my feelings/emotions that way, so I find it almost essential to my mental health to sing and write music.
Echo: What are your personal goals as a member of Fairy Bones?
Louise: Become better at handling money, increase my range and learn how to fix my own instruments.
Echo: What is your favorite track on Dramabot and why?
Louise: It’s a tie between “You and You Again” and “Jack.” They changed pretty dramatically in the studio, so they’re really exciting for me to play live and listen to.
Echo: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Louise: In a mirror.
Echo: Any New Years resolutions?
Louise: Quit smoking and do that thing where people go outside. I heard it’s nice out there.
Photo credit: Verci.
Robert Ciuca, 24
Band Role: Guitar, bass, synth
Echo: How would others describe your stage personality?
Robert: Well, I like to wear a lot of colors, patterns, and shiny stuff, and I switch between three instruments, so I guess my stage personality is all over place?
Echo: What was the craziest thing you experienced on stage?
Robert: I completely lost my balance playing bass at Rogue the other night and fell backwards in the middle of the song … while wearing a dress.
Echo: Who were your personal musical influences?
Robert: Dave Matthews, Kurt Cobain and Michael Jackson.
Echo: Why was it important to join Fairy Bones?
Robert: Previous bands didn’t work out and it was important to start a new project that I could put more of myself into.
Echo: What are your personal goals as a member of Fairy Bones?
Robert: To make noises no one’s ever heard before and to be the best dressed human in every room I walk in.
Echo: What is your favorite track on Dramabot and why?
Robert: While I think “Butchery” is the best song as far as catchy parts, instrumental arrangements and structure, “Notes from Wonderland” is my personal favorite because it’s such a huge, evil sounding song. It’s great.
Echo: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Robert: Hopefully alive. That’d be nice.
Echo: Any New Year resolutions?
Robert: Be awesome-er.
Matthew Foos, 29
Band Role: Drummer, spiritual leader, constant antagonist
Echo: How would others describe your stage personality?
Matt: Focused, uptight, shirtless, sweaty and loud.
Echo: What was the craziest thing you experienced on stage?
Matt: Watching Robert slowly lose his balance and fall back on his ass, all while in a dress. It was like a slow-motion drag show disaster. I was moved.
Echo: Who were your personal musical influences?
Matt: Everything from ABBA to Zappa.
Echo: Why was it important to join Fairy Bones?
Matt: Because eventually you get to a point in life where you either notice the signs and go for it whole-heartedly or you don’t, and you settle. I chose the former.
Echo: What are your personal goals as a member of Fairy Bones?
Matt: To continue working on myself, and therefore cause less grief to the other members of this band, all while trying to conduct myself in a manner I feel mirrors those who have inspired me.
Echo: What is your favorite track on Dramabot and why?
Matt: Artistically? “Jack” and “You and You Again.” Emotionally? “Demons and Dogs” gets me every time. And, as a narcissistic asshole, “Heat on the Lips,” the one I wrote, obviously.
Echo: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Matt: Still being this, albeit a little more seasoned, with a bit more Clooney magnetism.
Photo credit: Ben Garcia.
Ben Foos, 24
Band Role: Keeping everyone sane (bass/synth)
Echo: How would others describe your stage personality?
Ben: Chef Boyardee.
Echo: What was the craziest thing you experienced on stage?
Ben: Total enlightenment.
Echo: Who were your personal musical influences?
Ben: Bon Jovi and Jesus.
Echo: Why was it important to join Fairy Bones?
Ben: To kick my crack addiction.
Echo: What are your personal goals as a member of Fairy Bones?
Ben: World domination and a bitch’ Jacuzzi.
Echo: What is your favorite track on Dramabot and why?
Ben: “Trinkets” because it makes me moist.
Echo: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Ben: Being the President.
Echo: Any New Year resolutions?
Ben: Take more bubble baths.
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.