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Hometown: Athens, GA
Label: Mux Productions, Mux Productions
Management: Mr Blank
Website: www.carnivaleofblackhearts.com
Genre: Other
Once upon a time ...on a night that could only be described as the darkest night of the year, an unusual man appeared walking into town. The man had no name, no memory, no past. No one knew who he was or where he had come from, but instantly word began to spread of his arrival. They called him Mr. Blank. Shortly there after this strange man began gathering together others. Suddenly, seemingly as if under some sort of trance, all sorts of bizarre persons came rolling into town to join him in his unknown and fearfully dark plan. Questioning murmurings and whispers continued to spread throughout the perplexed town. What was this eccentric man up to? Was he some kind of demon, or evil spirit? Were the children safe? As if from nowhere one night, a tent was erected in the middle of town. Shadows of monstrous figures could be seen moving inside. Then a few nights later there came suddenly a strange and magical sound creeping out from inside the tent, which drew at everyone's curiosity. A sign reading "CARNIVALE" lit up for all to see as a man in a tattered top hat and tails stepped out and beckoned everyone to enter. Nearly all the town's people came, no one could resist. Lights of all colors filled the tent. Gasps and cheers, Ohs and Ahs, and other sounds of excitement could be heard as performers performed astounding physical feats. There were all sorts of other musical, scary, strange, odd, gross, hilarious and entertaining acts that captivated the town's people's imagination. Then in a flash it was over... everyone awoke the next morning tucked away in their beds unable to remember how they got home. They rushed outside to see but the tent was already gone, and no trace was left of the mysterious Mr. Blank, or his horde. Only the memory of the magically wonderful show the night before was left to bring a smile to their faces.
“The Moonlight Gypsy Market is no one’s idea of normal.
Created by the founder of the Carnival of Black Hearts, Mux Blank said that it caters to the “outsider, erotic, macabre, weird, dark, odd and all things far from the ordinary.”
Between theatrical circus performances and macabre arts and crafts, Blank is pulling in entertainers and vendors from each dark corner he can find.
But to fully understand what this event encompasses, it’s imperative to comprehend who Mux Blank is....
(continued, follow link)”
RANDY SCHAFER - Red & Black
“Take one part provocative dance, toss in some vaudeville, mix in a saw performer with a dash of rap duo and this cocktail of an open-mic night turns into Grotesque Burlesque. Vaudeville shock performer Mux Blank, of Mr. Blank’s Carnivale of Black Hearts, will be unleashing his “Dirty Harriette the Bearded Lady.” The act “honors the old timey bearded lady burlesque act,” he said. “At the same time, kind of making fun of burlesque and drag queen acts.” In grotesque fashion, hoop dancer Samantha Gabai will be performing a “beat-up little girl dance routine.” “Hoop dancing is something in between dancing and object manipulation,” she said. “You learn how to use the force of the hula-hoop with your own movements and incorporating it with your dance.” She will dance appropriately synchronized with the song “Little Girl,” by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse.”
RANDY SCHAFER - Red & Black
“Spin the Wheel of Misfortune for Mr. Blank’s Carnivale of Black Hearts.
Mr. Blank’s Carnivale of Black Hearts will perform at Flicker Theater & Bar Friday night. Photo from FILE
The Athens-based sideshow of vaudeville-inspired performers will host a night of spectacle acts. The Carnivale began four years ago when Mux Blank decided to unite Athens’ circus performers, dancers and sideshow actors into one large group.
“I started noticing that there were more and more people doing weird and amazing circus- and sideshow-type acts in town, so I contacted everyone I could find to see who would be interested in doing a show,” Blank said. (continued at site)”
Emily Patrick - Red and Black
“...these guys are going to play their brand of Psychedelic Vaudeville Freak Music alongside some Psychedelic Vaudeville Freaks. Din of Thieves will be joined by Mr. Blank’s Carnivale of Black Hearts, a travelling circus of performers geared at bringing back the art of the freak show. According to Mr. Blank, “We are a vaudevillian variety sideshow from Athens GA. Featuring: Blockheads with Power Tools, Fire-wielding Belly dancers, Jugglers on Unicycles, Clowns and Carnivale Games… plus a variety of other human oddities and astoundingly entertaining acts!”... [Get full article at Scene SC Upstate's website]”
Chris - Scene SC Upstate
“What a weird, wonderful night. When we asked Mr. Blank's Carnivale of Black Hearts to be our stagehands and opening act, I expected to see some freaky things—like a guy hammering a huge nail up his nose—but nothing can really prepare you for a dude on stilts wearing a garter belt and pulling glitter out of his banana hammock… glitter that many a barefooted band would be sliding in the rest of the night. Only at the Flagpole Awards, folks!”
Michelle Gilzenrat - Flagpole Magazine
“Freaks, geeks and outsiders can count themselves lucky this Friday the 13th as the Moonlight Gypsy Market rises up in the Little Kings patio just after the sun goes down. Event organizer and belly dancer Susan St. Charles (AKA Madam Surayyah) says this isn't your grandma's craft fair, so don't expect to find innocuous knits or pastoral portraits. These artists are hand-picked for their eccentricities, and the vendors' specialties range from erotic to macabre. Even cross-stitch, like that made by Dena Maxwell, is on the funky side, featuring what St. Charles calls "rude phrases." The goal here isn't to shock or offend, but to entertain and unite.”
Michelle Gilzenrat - Flagpole Magazine
“Local artist and musician Mux (Rat Babies, Mr. Blank) has announced plans to do another Carnivale of Black Hearts show this year. The show is a collection of sideshow and musical performances similar, but not the same, to other extreme traveling carnival shows. Mux has suffered some setbacks this past year, with a serious injury to a finger and various economic problems, but is determined to hold at least one Carnivale of Black Hearts event before the year is out. The venue is yet to be determined, but it looks like the date is going to be on or around Oct. 24. Check back periodically at www.mrblankisdead.com for more info.”
Gordon Lamb - Flagpole Magazine
