Lisa Koch: News

In January, I was asked by my good friend Patti West if I wanted to be a part of the Seattle Solo Performance Festival.  I said, "sure"-- and then thought about what new material I wanted to create.  Since the death of my father March 2009, I had been wanting to write about sharing his last 2 months on earth.  It was a profound experience, and affected me deeply.  So... I wrote about my dad.  I started writing, and the words just came pouring out of me.  The result is a one-woman show, "Demonstrate the Place Of My Abode."  It's a salute to my funny father, the music he inspired, and a window into his experience with Death With Dignity.  Writing and performing this show has been utterly cathartic for me.  I don't know what the future holds for this story, but I'm glad I took it on.  It has moved me, inspired me, and changed me.  Thanks, Dad.

Okay, it's the day after my birthday and I don't feel appreciably older... hmmm.  I guess that's a good thing.  Besides, the sun is shining in Seattle and it's 57 degrees in Feb.  Crazy.  

Had a great birthday bash at the Triple Door last Sun, what fun!  My pals Vickie Shaw and Roxanna flew in for the night, and much laughter ensued!  Other friends at the Bash-- Peggy Platt, DJ Gommels, Michael Oaks, Jen Todd, Mel Watson, Linda Severt, my brother David, and a special visit from Scott Warrender.  Really, really wonderful night.  The Colonel and Shenille showed up to sing a few songs about Seattle transit, and we held a "sing off" between the Sequim Gay Men's Chorus (Lisa, Peg, DJ and Michael) and the Barstow Gay Men's Chorus (Lisa, Rox and Vickie).  The BGMC kicked booty and won by audience applause-- yeeeeaaaahh!  Anyway, lots of great music, big laughs and wonderful friends.  Dave and I sang a song from our 70's duo past (Without You by Harry Nilsson), and I got chills singing with him again.  Pretty cool.  We closed the evening with Jen Todd's rendition of "In the Name of Love" (U2)-- what a great way to end, and I got to play bass (which I love so much).  A lovely, lovely night.

I am immersed right now putting together a new one-woman show for the Seattle Solo Performance Festival (coming up in March).  It's called "Demonstrate the Place of My Abode" and it's stories about my dad.  I need to write about him.  So.. gotta get back to work.  

That's the latest, I'll check back soon-- Lisa

Hey Everybody,

Happy Turkey Day, ahhhhh!

Our Xmas extravaganza opens in just a few hours-- "Ham for the Holidays: Lard Potion #9"-- we've been rehearsing like crazy for the past 3 weeks, and are very excited about the show.  It's another Dos Fallopia fun-fest.  Peg and I are joined by the very talented DJ Gommels and Michael Oaks.  This year's show was directed by my brother David, and we had a ton of fun with him.  Characters include:

The Colonel and Shenille, a tacky lounge band entertaining at the Tukwila Light Rail Station

The Sequim Gay Men's Chorus, small but mighty, and filled with Pride

"All in the Family Feud", pitting the Bunker Family (Archie, Edith and cousin Maude) against audience members

The angst-filled Slam Poet, reciting her original poetry

"Trailer Park's Got Talent", featuring mother-daughter singing duo, The Spudds (Euomi and Wynotta)

Anyway, I'm so proud of the show this year, and can't wait to see some audiences this weekend.  Come check it out for the holidays!  

I look forward to the show, and I also look forward to coming up for air after it closes! 

I was nominated for 4 Just Plain Folks Awards, and by gosh...I won something! 

I got 1st place in the Vocal Jazz Song category ("You Must Have Forgotten"), and landed two 2nd places: 2nd in the Cabaret Song category ("I'm a Middle-Aged Woman"), and 2nd place for Cabaret Album ("Tall Cool Drink").   I believe the last 1st place award I got was in Humorous Interp in Debate, my junior year of high school.  Okay, so it was a long dry spell...

More info about Just Plain Folks at www.jpfolks.com. 

Well go figure... I was nominated for 3 song awards: Best Cabaret Song: "I'm a Middle-Aged Woman" and "Back When We Had Sex" Best Vocal Jazz Song: "You Must Have Forgotten."  Also nominated for Best Cabaret Album: "Tall Cool Drink".  Hooty hoot!

Frank B. Koch
April 8, 1931- March 3, 2009

“If you live a meaningful life, you never really die. Instead, you break into 1,000 pieces, each of which stay alive within the people whose lives you’ve touched along the way.”

My wonderful father passed away March 3, 2009 after a lightning-quick 2-month battle with advanced stomach cancer. I miss him beyond belief.

My father was a great man. He was sturdy, steady, loyal, loving.
A life-long learner, an exuberant student of life. Compassionate, generous, quirky, vital. A flaming liberal. Funny, funny, funny. Frank lived large every day.

Dad was just a big kid. He loved to play. He was very often the one to initiate a pillow fight in our living room. Dad would pick up a pillow, pretend to throw it at me, and blindside David in the head. That would start a full-fledged pillow war, with Mom yelling, “David, Lisa, Frank…stop! Kids, Frank… stop!” He was our Dad, but he played hard, and he always had a twinkle in his eye.

Frank was notoriously cheap. He was always looking for a deal, clipping coupons, and complaining about the cost of… pretty much everything. When David and I were in junior high, we came up with a joke: Why did Frank cross the road? To get to the Bi-Mart on the other side. Growing up, I had no idea that you could buy tires new… Dad only bought retreads. So that’s what I bought for all my early cars, and I watched my tire tread fly off at high speeds on the freeway. The good news? I could change a tire in 15 minutes flat, because I had to do it a lot. Thanks, Dad.

Frank taught rocks and minerals to his 6th grade class, and he really loved geology. Loved science, loved nature. Dave and I called him Mr. Science because he had the answer to everything. “I have a Master’s Degree… in Science!” When we were kids, we had no idea that our family outings were really test field trips. If it worked on us, he’d try it out on his 6th graders.

Later, when I was in high school, I took an aptitude test to see what subjects I excelled in. I was a musician and I figured I’d score high creatively. I scored off the charts in Science. I thought I hated science. Apparently, I learned it by osmosis. Thanks, Dad.

Dad and mom both were so supportive of their children, no matter what. Supportive of alternative vocations and lifestyles. David and I both started a career in music, which has got to be a parent’s biggest nightmare. But Dad was our best audience, from the time we first started hamming it up. If we could make Dad laugh… we knew it was funny. He was the master, all we had to do was watch and learn. We’d be at a social gathering, and as we were leaving, Dad would go up to the host, put his thumb and forefinger together with a teeny space in between and say, ‘It’s been this close to being interesting.”

Dad and Mom encouraged us to do what we loved… and we did. I watched my parents as educators all those years, and they loved teaching, they were passionate about it. Dad treated 11 year old kids with respect, and humor, made them look at things a different way, challenged them--- and they blossomed. Dad was passionate about everything he did.

Someone once said, "The people whose lives you touch may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

Dad touched everybody he ever came in contact with. He made us all feel special, listened to, loved, ALIVE, because he was so alive. We received hundreds of cards, letters and emails from people, mourning dad’s illness, and then the loss of their friend. In his last 2 months, Dad got to hear and see how much people loved him. That’s a gift. He was one-of-a-kind. I’m proud to be his daughter, and I carry him with me. Bad jokes and all.

"Some people come into our lives and leave footprints on our hearts...
And we are never, ever the same..." Love you, Dad.

It's almost Xmas, and we've got the white stuff here... 6+ inches yesterday, wow.

Peggy Platt and I had a short 4-night run of "The Dos Fallopia Xmas Hour (and a half)" and managed to get through all 4 nights before the snow dumped on us! We had a marvelous little run, and were joined by the magnificent D.J. Gommels. Big fun.

Had a great reunion with the Venus Envy girls Dec 9 at the Triple Door. What a fun concert, and such a blast to play with the Venutians again. It's only been 13 years, hey!

Lynn and Ciara and I are gearing up for Xmas next week. Our sweet kitty, Abby Normal never came home after disappearing Nov 1, so it's been a sad holiday season without her. We miss her so much, sigh.

I am grateful for my family, my friends, and I continue to be hopeful for our future. We're all gonna have to hang in there for awhile until things get better, but I do believe things WILL get better. Happy holidays to all of you...

Love,
Lisa

Hey there,
Well, my blogging skills suck. My last entry was from August, and now it's rainy November, just a few days away from the tryptophan Fest that is Thanksgiving. Holy moly, where does the time go?

Catch up time-- my partner Lynn and I got hitched on Aug 9 near Seattle. We had a big outdoor party for friends and family, and it was lovely. A little sun, a little rain-- perfect! It was a spectacular day.

Since Aug, it's just been a mishmash of stuff. I produced a couple of shows for my talented friends in Aug/Sept (Vickie Shaw and Roxanna Ward, and Julie Goldman's one-woman show)-- I did 3 gigs in Oct (as bass player) with my friends Teresa Trull and Barbara Higbie. Had fun at Olivia's Turks and Caicos gigs, where I witnessed the election of Barack Obama as our next President. Unbelievably moving. Lots of screaming, weeping, and partying ensued. I am so hopeful for our future. Now, if we can just hang on for a little while... it's scary right now. W did a great job of driving our country into the ground in 8 years, amazing.

Sad news-- our beautiful kitty Abby Normal disappeared Nov 1, and we haven't seen her since. We miss her terribly, the house is so quiet without her.

Here's wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season. I give thanks for all our many blessings.

Take care,
Lisa

Well, it's Aug. 1, and raining in Seattle. Hell I don't care--it's been absolutely lovely for the past few weeks.

Spent 2.5 weeks in France last month (Olivia cruise, Provence-Burgundy riverboat). Big fun. My partner Lynn traveled with me the 1st week, and we celebrated her birthday, the big 5-Oh. Yummy food, great company (our good pal Roxanna Ward was entertaining on the trip, as well). We met some wonderful new friends-- 2 Brazilian women who we absolutely fell in love with. Lucia Verissimo and Renata Arruda. Lucia is an actress, and Renata is a singer/songwriter-- both reeeeeeally famous in Brazil. They were certainly slumming with us, but we had a marvelous week, laughed until we cried! Lynn flew home at the end of week one, and my mom Nancy joined us for the cruise week 2. We had a swell time, although she may have shared a few too many embarrassing stories about her daughter... hey, can't win 'em all. I adore my mom, and it's great that we can travel together and get some mother-daughter time. (My dad Frank was back in Seattle, visiting his granddaughter and keeping Lynn in line...)

While we were in Paris, we visited 27 rue de Fleurus (Gertrude and Alice's old apartment)-- pretty cool, got pix. Speaking of 27-- my play "27 rue de Fleurus" got picked up by Samuel French, so I've got a publishing deal! Whoo hoo! Maybe it'll pay more than my $22.00 BMI royalties... ha.

Lynn and I are getting hitched next week in Seattle-- I'm starting to get a little nervous. I'll give you the whole poop when it's all over. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the rain, and the sun when it comes back...

It was quite the experience opening my Off-Broadway show in NYC. "27 rue de Fleurus" opened March 6, 2008 and will run through April 13. My collaborator, Ted Sod wrote the book and co-wrote the lyrics-- I composed the music. The show is about the life and times of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, told from Alice's point of view. I flew out in late Jan for week one of musical rehearsals, and met our musical director, John Bell (who totally rocks)-- also met our lovely cast, all talented vets-- lots of Broadway credits, and the nicest 5 women I could hope to work with. I came back for tech rehearsals at the end of Feb, and with a little muscle, the show was up and running! It's a lovely show, and I'm proud to be a part of the process-- I have certainly learned a lot! Thanks to everybody for all your hard work, whew!

Hey everybody-- it's 2008, whoa! Had a fabulous year, and I'm looking forward to a great '08. We just closed our Dos Fallopia Xmas show ("Ham for the Holidays: Swine, Woman, and Song!") and had a wonderful December, 27 shows and lots of laughs with cast and crew. I spent the holidays with family and friends, and I'm thankful for all the love and laughter and for every moment of my life... I'm a lucky woman.

Today I'm stretched on the couch in my bathrobe, enjoying some much needed down time. Pass me a bon-bon...

Happy New Year to all, see you somewhere in '08!

Luff,
Lisa

Hi all,
Gee, I guess I should journal more often, my birthday was loooong ago! I've been busy this year, and all is well. Had a reading of a new play I've co-written in NYC in Feb, and it went well-- the show ("27, Rue de Fleurus") will be produced in NY this coming Mar/Apr '08... watch for details on my website. I took a couple of great Olivia trips-- Amsterdam in April (took my mom, that was a hoot!) and Greece in June. I opened for my friend Barbara Higbie at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley (live CD), and had fun in July with my pals Dana Goldberg, Julie Goldman, and Erin Foley in Albuquerque (SW Funnyfest). Peggy Platt and I (Dos Fallopia) spent 6 weeks in Indianapolis this summer, and we had a great run of our show "Desperate Spuddwives" at the Phoenix Theatre there. Now we're hard at work on our Xmas show, "Ham for the Holidays: Swine, Women and Song!", which will run the month of Dec in Seattle. I have a few more Olivia trips this year (Tahiti, Mexican Riviera, Vallarta Palace), so I'm a busy chick. Life is good! Hope you all had a marvelous summer! That's all for now-- Lisa

Okay, I'm officially 50 now-- so far, so good. Had a grand birthday celebration at the Triple Door in Seattle on Jan 31. My actual b-day is Feb 4, but close enough. It was a combo CD release/birthday bash, and good GAWD, did we have fun! I had a kick ass band-- my good friend Barbara Higbie on piano/fiddle; Chuck Deardorf on bass; Mark Ivester on drums; Rod Cook on guitar; my brother David and Jen Todd on backup vocals--- AND, a host of friends who showed up and jammed! The lovely Mel Watson (Fruit) sat in on trumpet/sax, my old pal Laura Love came up and played a tune, the wondrous Cris Williamson came up and sang a tune with me--- and my amazing friend Roxanna Ward flew up to join us with her stellar piano chops and twisted humor! It was quite a night, and a perfect way to usher in 50-- whoo hoo! Thanks to all for sharing the night with me, it was truly spectacular...

Hey everybody--- happy holidays to all. I'm in snowy Santa Fe, NM right now, playing 3 private parties at the new Rainbow Vision Complex. Many thanks to Francis and Michael for booking me for not 1, but 3 parties-- whew! Santa Fe is gorgeous, but I am hoping the snow holds off long enough for me to fly back home to Seattle. I visited my new friends Dana and Deanna today in Albuquerque. Dana (Goldberg) is a VERY funny comedian chick, and we just met at the Olivia Columbus Isle Resort in early Dec. The cast of loonies on that trip was stellar-- Kate Clinton (such smart, smart comedy- she's a genius), Julie Goldman (flat-out brilliant), Dana Goldberg (very funny fresh stuff), Jennie McNulty (great Iraq material, she kicked ass), Karen Williams (absolutely hilarious- she brings down the house every time), and me (I play guitar). We laughed until we peed our pants. My God, what funny women! Kate, Julie, Julie's friend Rachel and my partner Lynn spent hours in the pool, working on their synchronized swimming routines. I gave them a 9.5... anyway, a gorgeous, relaxing week in the Bahamas, and many wonderful connections were made. And... I saw a 10 ft hammerhead shark when I was scuba diving- whoo hoo!

Have a great Christmas, and here's to a fabulous new year. I am so very grateful for my family, friends, and all of you. Many, many thanks!

I'm proud to announce the release of my 4th solo CD, "Tall Cool Drink." I recorded it in Aug '06 at David Lange Studios, and the musicians and I had a blast bringing this puppy to life! Barbara Higbie flew in to work her magic on piano and fiddle, and I had a fine group of wackos in the studio-- my brother David (vocals), Jen Todd (vocals), Mark Ivester (drums, percussion), Clipper Anderson (bass), Rod Cook (guitar), David Lange (piano, accordian) and Jay Thomas (trumpet, tenor sax). The CD is a real nice mixture of original tunes and covers, with a couple of comedy tunes thrown in for good measure. Anyway, I'm SOOOO happy it's finally available-- give it a listen!

Hey everybody, Lisa here. My new website is finally up and running. I don't know what the heck I'm doing, so I've got my fingers crossed that everything works. If you have any trouble, shoot me an email, and I'll get right on it. Whew!