Piscataway NJ, May 18-20 - Every year, towards the end of spring, The Steampunk World’s Fair, beckons enthusiasts of steam to the emerald fields of the Garden State, preparing to guard the walls against their fist-pumping foes from the shore. Now entering its third year, they arrive on airships, horseless carriages, unicycles, and the occasional T.A.R.D.I.S., ready to celebrate for a three-day weekend full of performances (from artists such as Voltaire, Platform One, and Danny Blu to circus/sideshow acts), costume contests, panels, and burlesque shows!

- Phil (Knightmare6)

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Just finishing up a tour for his new album, Riding a Black Unicorn down the side of an Erupting Volcano while drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children, we had the chance to talk to Voltaire about his music, his writing, his filmmaking, his geeky side, and even his love life.

photographer : Paul Collins
interview by : Gia C. Manalio-Bonaventura

Hey, Voltaire. I want to thank you for talking to us. I know that you just wrapped up your US Black Unicorn Cabaret Tour as well as a few international shows in Scotland and Whitby and have jumped into your next project, so we really appreciate your time.

Can we talk about the tour a bit? It was described as, “A Villainous Vaudeville of Bawdy Burlesque, Music, Mischief, and Mayhem.” The title alone is so much fun. How did the tour go?
Voltaire : It was great! I really felt like it needed to be more than a couple of bands on tour, it needed to be an event. So I brought along with me a couple of the finest bands I know in the dark cabaret genre, Hellblinki Sextet and This Way to the Egress. And we had local burlesque talent at the shows. So it was a big themed night of dark cabaret and burlesque. Lots of people came out all dressed up and all in all we had a fantastic time.

As I’m writing this, I’m listening to Riding a Black Unicorn down the side of an Erupting Volcano while drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children. Once again, I have to congratulate you on an amazing album and I again love the cabaret style. Can you tell us a bit about what went into making it?
V : I had worked with Brian Viglione of the Dresden Dolls on my previous album Hate Lives in a Small Town, so when I was ready to record this album, I asked him if he would join me again. So he played all of the drums. I asked Melora Creager of Rasputina if she’d play the cellos and she kindly joined us. So at this point I realized I had the makings of a supergroup! [laughs] When it came time for bass, I invited David J. of Bauhaus to contribute those parts. The rest of the musicians are amazing New York City-based players. It’s really a great line up!

read the full interview in the December/January 2011/2012 Issue

The December/January 2011/2012 issue is the nineteenth issue of Auxiliary, a magazine dedicated to alternative fashion, music, and lifestyle. This issue features an interview with Voltaire, an interview with Haujobb, a designer spotlight on Gallery Serpentine, and Marlo Marquise as our PinUp. The issue also contains an interview with Aesthetic Perfection, an editorial by Sam Rosenthal of Projekt Records, Auxiliary Magazine’s top 20 albums of 2011 list, a frostbitten beauty editorial, a fashion editorial showcasing dresses that will make you the life of the party, a 20s inspired accessories editorial, a flirtatious lingerie editorial, and a dark future style article. It features photography by Saryn Christina, Zelko Nedic, Joey Buczek, Zach Rose, Ema Suvajac, and Paul Collins, and fashion from Hell Bunny, Iron Fist, Antiseptic Fashion, RockLove Jewelry, Plastik Wrap, Unique Vintage, Rose Mortem, Blue Velvet Vintage, Spin Doctor, Cryoflesh, Loungefly, and mush much more.

You can download it for free at :
www.auxiliarymagazine.com/issue19/AuxiliaryMagazineDecember11.pdf

Print copies are available for purchase online at :
www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/310828
And for purchase in stores at :
www.auxiliarymagazine.com/distribution

Plastik Wrap’s Midnight Madness Sale

If you’re in the Toronto area, this is the weekend to shop!

Plastik Wrap’s semi-annual Midnight Madness Sale is happening this coming Sunday, August 1st, both at their Toronto boutique at 2235 Dundas St West and online at www.plastikarmy.com from 8pm to midnight EST.

For those that attend the sale at their boutique, they will have drinks and treats, along with music, a sample rack full of one of a kind pieces for super low prices, and some styles on sale for less than online. Every Plastik Wrap item in the store is going to be discounted just for this one night! If you can’t make it to all the fun planned at boutique, at least make sure you take advantage of the sale online!

for more info visit the facebook event page

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