Diane Birch Blog

J'adore Jean Cocteau!

After chatting with a friend of mine today in need of some inspiration, I started thinking about what has inspired me.  The first thought that came to mind was Jean Cocteau. The extraordinary world he created is such a prominent reminder to me that to dream is to live and in a way his life was his real masterpiece.

His work feels like a well in the desert whenever the weight of normality starts to tame the wild horse of imagination.

Shopping at Torso Vintages-San Francisco!

After a great weekend in Napa, we had a couple extra days to kill in SF which was the best excuse ever to hang out at my favorite vintage shop in the whole wide world-Torso!

Owners John & David are probably 2 of my favorite people in the world and have been my best friends since I was about 15.   Their business has grown considerably over the last decade and it’s no surprise why.  They literally have one of the most incredible collections of vintage clothing and accessories that I have ever seen(and truth be told I’m a real snob about that stuff). During my teens they orchestrated some of my most severe outfits and taught me more about vintage fashion than I have learned anywhere else! They carry women’s and mens pieces from the 1800’s and up thru the 90’s ranging from designers like Chanel, Halston, Dior, Versace, Balenciaga, YSL and on and on….They also have a killer line all their own of pieces that are deconstructed/re-worked vintage as well as jewelry and bags!

If any of you are in the SF area and have a weak spot for this stuff like I do, you simply have to check Torso out….oh and the best part is they’re super sweet and not stuffy at all!

Check them out!

www.torsovintages.com

272 Sutter St (at Grant)

San Francisco, CA 94108

415.391.3166

My new technicolor dream coat!  I didn’t know they had hippies in the 1940’s?!

It’s very dog friendly as well:) woohoo

I couldn’t resist ducking into one of my favorite candlemakers and perfumeries, Diptyque! Besides being a freak for fragrance, I’m a real sucker for divine smelling candles and when it comes down to it, no one does it better than these folks! They’re pretty pricey but are well worth the splurge.  It’s tough to pick my favorite but I’m currently on a Popanaux and Violette kick…

www.diptyqueparis.com

Napa!

Literally a week ago I got an email saying I was going to Napa to play a show! Not bad I say?! Having never been there before I was delighted to have an impromptu adventure!

We got in from NY on friday and I was feeling a little rough after only sleeping an 1.5 hours the night before.  We ended up having a 4 hour dinner at Bottega which was pretty much divine although we were almost sleeping at the table by the end it with the oodles of bottles of wine and never ending dishes that kept arriving.

Next day was a stunner and we headed to Auberge du Soleil for a little brunch on the terrace overlooking the valley!  After some various wine tastings we headed back to the Silverado resort where I played a solo show.  The crowd was great and I was even informed that various couples were getting frisky during my set!  I was so flattered at first I mean c’mon….that’s such a Marvin Gaye thing to accomplish!  Then I realized I was in Napa.  These folks just drunk!

I guess it’s just as well I didn’t get any snaps :)

Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeen....

What can I say….I’m a goth at heart, so needless to say Halloween is my favorite holiday!  The festivities began early in the week but as usual the real fun(for me anyway)was the dressing up!

A Chanel Vampire was the first look of the week but in all honesty it’s how I’d happily dress every day of the year….

My Cher impression was by far the most frightful…I tried to get Ariel to be one of the sailor’s from the ‘if I could turn back time’ vid but he was set on being Cool Hand Luke and carrying a stinky egg around all night.

The party at the unfinished NoMad Hotel was a safer bet (if you’re into safe:) than the Vice party in Williamsburg after witnessing a brief scene of crying girls, fist fights and general security mayhem outside….

You could just blame it on the rain……harhhhhararrrrrr!

SOoooo PORTLAND....

Lately, I’ve been finding myself feeling closer and closer to my hometown Portland Oregon than ever before.  NYC has been bridging the distance gap in a really rapid way over the last couple years, most recently with the opening of the Northwest’s own Ace Hotel on 29th and Broadway.

I’m currently sitting in the ‘oh so inviting’ lobby of The Ace where I’m surrounded by a sea of Pendleton clad folks on MacBooks sipping Stumptown coffee(a portland coffee company that happens to be the best ever)in an ever lush setting that fuses luxury old world glamour with a Rock & Roll sensibility with a dash of street(all my fave’s)….All whilst being serenaded by the sounds of everything from Giorgio Moroder, Led Zep, The Temptations & Glen Campbell.  Cliché you say? Nah….actually just plain rad! The owners of the famed West Village spot ‘The Spotted Pig’ just opened a restaurant here called the Breslin which I haven’t tried yet but been hearing great things. The super fabulous Project No. 8 is also opening a boutique in the hotel within the next few weeks.  So many reasons to feel that Portland + NYC is quite possibly the best place ever……

It’s not surprising that the new Stumptown Cafe in the Lobby of the Ace usually has a line out the door!

Pendleton for Opening Ceremony

http://www.acehotel.com

http://www.stumptowncoffee.com

http://www.projectno8.com

http://www.openingceremony.us

Tour Journal-Last Night Nashville 10/15/09

Nashville Nashville Nashville!!!  T’was a bittersweet one indeed!  First of all my flu was gaining momentum at this point and we were all really sad to be playing our last show with Mat.  It was seriously a fun tour and he and his band could not have been sweeter dudes!

Despite our blues, the crowd at Cannery Ballroom made it fun and even with the few technical mishaps, it was an overall success!  I am pretty sure the folks in the front row could see up my skirt…..ooops!

During our encore with Mat, we were all surprised at the crazy piano licks that Dan was playing which we’d never heard before…kinda sounded like he was playing on speed. Afterwards we found out that Josh(my drummer)in his drunken state, started hammering away on the other keyboard and didn’t realize the sound was on!  I’m sure it was one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments but honestly it was hysterical! See far left of the pic below! If only we had a vid of that:)

It’s always a crowd pleaser when Mat jumps up on the piano!

After the show we headed to Rumour(s?), a super sweet wine bar in Mat’s hood where we said our goodbye’s, drank wine and got silly……

THANKS MAT! GONNA MISS YOU GUYS!

FYI….Mat has great taste in shoes:)

Mat has got some moves….

NOOOOO DON’T GOOOOOOOO……

ALEX DIDN’T HANDLE IT SO WELL…..

OH THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL…..

DOWN…….DOWN…..DOWN…..DOWN…….

………………..AND CRASH!

The slope is slippery…..the ride is quick….all i can hear is the bomb going tick……………………………..tick…………………………………………..TICK…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOODBYE TOUR

HELLO MEMORIES

Tour Journal- Milwaukee 10/12/09

Sadly, the flu started kicking in the night of the show at Turner Hall Ballroom.  My sweet band sent me this get well vid….awwww:)

Get Well Soon, Diane Birch from balthus on Vimeo.

Despite the fever, I managed to pull off a good show and for those 30 minutes actually forgot how shit I felt.

Hope to be back soon….

Tour Journal- Minneapolis 10/10/09

Minneapolis was definitely one of the tour’s highlights!  Playing at First Ave was also a treat and Prince’s spirit was definitely alive(that’s where he did Purple Rain)… (people are only allowed to wear purple…..wtf?)

The show was awesome and the encore with Mat was even more special when Tyler’s(Mat’s guitar player)adorable son came on stage and started pop locking!

After the show Ariel, Dylan & Friends DJ’ed a seriously fun dance party called Too Much Love! I must say….the folks in Minneapolis know how to get down.  Complete with Zombie attire and break dance-off’s, the night was a serious winner all ‘round!

Some of my faves…..

It’s just the Thrillllllllllllerr….

The next day we headed for Loring Pasta Bar where I ate 5 plates of food…no joke…piled high!!! DELICIOUS until the pain kicked in….I was horizontal for the rest of the day

Good-bye Minneapolis!  See you next time:)

Wisconsin Dells

On our way to Minneapolis we stopped in for a quick visit to the Wisconsin Dells.Ummmm……I spent most of the time confused but definitely enjoyed a stop in at the Indian Museum shop where I could have seriously gone nuts if i had a bit more time….the hand-made beaded moccasins were divine even if they did start at 3 bills a pair!

The stop in at Mexicali Rose was not such a good idea in hindsight after 4 members of our crew were up at 4am the next morning with some really nasty food poisoning.
This may have had something to do with it…..groooooooossssss!!!