This Mistress - Don’t Change

Requested by one of our long time fans, Douglas Shields, here is another This Mistress track saved from oblivion from a long lost tape.  It’s our cover version of INXS - Don’t Change.  The quality of this boom box recording from early 1988 is very sub par.  It also sounds as if we were still learning the song or should I say, I was still learning the song.  Enjoy!



P.S. This photo was taken at Long Pine Run Dam in Chambersburg, PA in early 1988 and features the original line up of This Mistress (from L to R) Tim Harrell, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan, Matt Norcross, Brad Shaeffer, and Scott McConnell.

This Mistress - Moonlight In Samosa

After the live debut of Dungeon Aire on New Year’s Eve 12/31/87, we rolled into 1988 by adding an additional guitar player, Kevin "Bart The Fart” Wilson, and changing our band name to This Mistress.  There was nothing to stop us.  

In order to help us get some gigs, we recorded a “cassette calling card”.  In true DIY fashion, we set up a boom box with a built-in mic and hit record.  Here is our cover version of Robert Plant - Moonlight In Samosa.  Saved from oblivion from a long lost tape.  The quality of this recording is very sub par but it highlights a more subtle and nuanced side of the band.  I hope you enjoy it!



P.S. This photo was taken at Long Pine Run Dam in Chambersburg, PA in early 1988 and features the original line up of This Mistress (from L to R) Tim Harrell, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan, Scott McConnell, Brad Shaeffer, and Matt Norcross. 

Dungeon Aire Rehearsal

This is a rare video of Dungeon Aire during a rehearsal with some of it's members on January 2nd, 1988.  Unfortunately, Scott and I are both missing from this rehearsal.  I'm not sure why we were not there since we were the ones that always (except this time) lined up rehearsals.  I guess we had something better to do.

To set the record straight, we were still called Dungeon Aire at this time.  We would not become This Mistress until Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson joined the band on guitar.

Thanks to Steve Olsen for uploading this video and for all of his support over the years.  A large part of our video history was recorded through his lens.

This Mistress 2013 Reunion???

2013 marks both the 25th Anniversary of This Mistress (shown here with original line up) and my graduation from Shippensburg Area Senior High School. In honor of both of these events, I'm contemplating the idea of a This Mistress reunion show at the 2013 SHAPE Solstice Arts Festival and, if it happens, maybe even the possibility of a performance at the SASHS Class of 1988 reunion.

If you are interested in either of these events becoming a reality, post a comment.

This Mistress - Music For Tents Part 3

We end This Mistress week with another recently discovered photo from the This Mistress performance at Wynn Ruffin's "Music for Tents" birthday party in Summer 1988. This line up included (from L to R) Matt Norcross - Bass, Scott McConnell - Synthesizer, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson - Guitar, Tim Harrell - Drums (hidden), Ken Chandler - Vocals, and Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan - Guitar.

Behind the scenes with This Mistress

It's turning into a This Mistress week on the blog. Here's another behind the scenes photo from the This Mistress gig at Wynn Ruffin's "Music For Tents" birthday party during Summer 1988. Some pictured are (from L to R) Jackey McConnell (pink shirt), Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson (red shirt and two beers), Doug "Drug" Shields (red hat), Robby Wilson (red bandana), Tim Harrell ('fro and mirror shades), and Jim "Aaaarrrrhhhh" Dewey (holding cigarette).

This Mistress and "The Van"

This behind the scenes photo of members from This Mistress was shot at Wynn Ruffin's "Music For Tents" birthday party during Summer 1988. Pictured are (from L to R) Scott McConnell, Matt Norcross (in purple shades mostly hidden behind Matt Skirpan), Matt Skirpan (in "short shorts"), and Ken Chandler.

This happens to also be the only picture of "The Van" that I would occasionally get to borrow from my parents. The Dodge Van 200 customized by Marshall Van Inc was the main form of transportation during the sports playing days of my youth and the scene of many roving "parties" later as I began to drive. Many innocent and not-so-innocent fun times transpired around its whereabouts.

This Mistress at Long Pine Run Dam

Here's the third long lost This Mistress photo which I uncovered while sifting through a stack of negatives. Highlights (or some may say low lights) include Matt Skirpan in Moon Boots, Kevin Wilson wearing pants instead of his cut off jean shorts, and another cheesy mustachioed smile by me. Tim Harrell provides some comic relief while Brad Shaeffer gets "serious" and Scott McConnell wonders "What in the hell have I done? Why did I want to form this band?"

This photo was taken at Long Pine Run Dam in Chambersburg, PA in early 1988 and features the original line up of This Mistress (from L to R) Tim Harrell, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan, Matt Norcross, Brad Shaeffer, and Scott McConnell.

How Do Rocks Multiply (Solution IV)

Here's another live in the studio track unearthed from the FFS Vaults. This version of How Do Rocks Multiply (Solution IV) was recorded at Horse and Buggy Highway Studios in Shippensburg, PA during the recording sessions for The Secret Society debut release in Summer 1988.

As in yesterday's post, this performance was recorded in between the "serious" recordings for the release and features the line up of M Scott McConnell (Synthesizers), Matt Norcross (Bass), Tim Harrell ("Live" Drum Machine), Ken Chandler (Vocals), and birthday boy, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson (Guitar).

The occasion for this recording was Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson's birthday. Though none of his guitar work made it onto The Secret Society official release, we celebrated his birthday with a day (and night) music making and partying. Though by listening to this and the other recordings from this day, you may wonder which we did more of but, suffice it to say, we made sure that we did plenty of both.

Without further digression, I present to you the dueling guitar work of Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson.

P.S. The photo was taken at the This Mistress performance in Scotland, PA in the Summer of 1988. Pictured (L to R) are Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson (Guitar), Matt Norcross (Bass), M Scott McConnell (Synthesizers), and Ken Chandler (Vocals).

Progressions

During the sweltering Summer of 1988, The Secret Society convened at Horse and Buggy Highway Studios in Shippensburg, PA to record songs for their debut release. This rev (Rev 2) of The Secret Society was comprised of members from This Mistress and concentrated on recording original songs written by M Scott McConnell and Matt Norcross.

When we weren't sweating to death (there were no air conditioners in the studio) or doing "serious" recording, we would sometimes roll tape and record some live versions of the songs with whoever happened to be visiting the studio at that time. This recording of Progressions is one such recording. It features M Scott McConnell (Synthesizers), Matt Norcross (Bass), Tim Harrell ("Live" Drum Machine), Ken Chandler (Vocals), and Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson (Guitar). It was recorded direct to a Fostex X-15 cassette 4-Track. It's distorted and sonically poor but still a fun listen. I hope you enjoy it.

P.S. This photo was taken at the This Mistress performance at Wynn Ruffin's Birthday Party in Summer 1988. Pictured (L to R) is the line up featured on the recording. Matt Norcross (Bass), Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson (Guitar), M Scott McConnell (Synthesizers), Tim Harrell (Drums), and Ken Chandler (Vocals).

This Mistress - Live at SASHS Part 2

I mentioned in my previous post about this performance that I was hopeful to resurrect some of the very poor quality video footage from the show. Here you have it... This Mistress performing Led Zeppelin's Misty Mountain Hop sans lead singer (Brad "Chicken Strut" Shaeffer) during a soundcheck at Shippensburg Area Senior High School on 03/12/88.

The line up for this Winter Carnival show included Brad Shaeffer - Vocals, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan - Guitar, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson - Guitar, Scott McConnell - Synthesizer, Matt Norcross - Bass, and Tim Harrell - Drums.

This Mistress - Back In The Carport

In this video, This Mistress performs Get It On by Kingdom Come. It's another "classic" carport performance captured during our outdoor concert in Scotland, PA during the Summer of 1988.

Not to be deterred by the lack of attention paid to us by the partygoers who were busy either swimming, playing volleyball, or feasting on BBQ, we worked through our eclectic set of originals, classic rock, alternative, and metal songs.

This line up of the band included Ken Chandler - Vocals, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan - Guitar, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson - Guitar, Scott McConnell - Synthesizer, Matt Norcross - Bass, and Tim Harrell - Drums.

This performance was shot and edited by our longtime videographer Steve Olsen and, if you watch closely near the beginning of the video, you'll see a young, feathered hair and toe tapping Jackey Dickey (later McConnell) sitting off to the side of the band enjoying the music.

Another long lost This Mistress photo found!

Here's another long lost This Mistress photo which I uncovered while sifting through a stack of negatives.  If it weren't for my cheesy smile, this would be a really good photo.  Especially classic is Kevin's peek at the camera over Tim's shoulder and Scott's manly chest hair.

This photo was taken at Long Pine Run Dam in Chambersburg, PA in early 1988 and features the original line up of This Mistress (from L to R) Tim Harrell, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan, Scott McConnell, Brad Shaeffer, and Matt Norcross.

This Mistress - Back In The Basement

In this video, This Mistress performs Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zeppelin. It's another "classic" performance captured during Matt Skirpan's birthday party held at Tim Harrell's house in Shippensburg, PA on 07/23/88.

At this point during the party, Matt "Birthday Boy" Skirpan had returned with his guitar and joined the rest of the band... Ken Chandler - Vocals, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson - Guitar, Scott McConnell - Synthesizer, Matt Norcross - Bass, and Tim Harrell - Drums.

Other well known Shippensburg natives and alumni appearing in this clip include Jim Dewey, Rhonda Laughman, Jamie Lovell, and Beth Lynn.

As usual, Steve Olsen was manning the video camcorder and recorded this performance.

This Mistress - Basement Band

On July 23, 1988, This Mistress performed what was possibly our final show. The occasion was a birthday party for our fellow band mate, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan. The party, held at Tim Harrell's house in Shippensburg, PA, is one which has spawned many legends which are still spoken of today. From the drunken Jim Dewey's "RRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!" to Kelly "F***in'" Mackey's "My boyfriend's Jamie Doyle!" to Steve Olsen's video invasion of the Harrell bathroom and others. In fact, there is so much classic footage from this party that I'll need to edit many more excerpts to share.

However, back to this video. Here we are performing Love Removal Machine by The Cult. It is before Matt "Birthday Boy" Skirpan arrived party so the band line up was Ken Chandler - Vocals, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson - Guitar, Scott McConnell - Synthesizer, Matt Norcross - Bass, and Tim Harrell - Drums. Once the song ends, Matt arrives and we sing Happy Birthday to him.

Also featured in this video clip are several well known Shippensburg natives or alumni including Jennean Hunter, Ed Hartford, Chris Terry, Mark Brown, Rhonda Laughman, Ted Hile, Angie Laughman, Beth Lynn, and Jamie Doyle. Many others were at this party and I'll identify them in future blog posts.

"This Mistress, come out to play-i-ay!"

After a long trip back from Long Pine Run Dam and a brawl with the Baseball Furies, This Mistress pose for a photo.

Shot near Orange Street in Shippensburg, PA in early 1988, this photo features the original line up of This Mistress (from L to R) Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan, Matt Norcross, Brad Shaeffer, Tim Harrell, Scott McConnell, and Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson.

Long lost This Mistress photo found!

This long lost This Mistress photo was uncovered while sifting through a stack of negatives.  The question remains, "Should it have remained lost?"

This photo was taken at Long Pine Run Dam in Chambersburg, PA in early 1988 and features the original line up of This Mistress (from L to R) Tim Harrell, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan, Matt Norcross, Brad Shaeffer, and Scott McConnell.

This Mistress - Music For Tents Part 2

Here's another photo from the This Mistress performance at Wynn Ruffin's birthday party in Summer 1988. This line up included (from L to R) Matt Norcross - Bass, Scott McConnell - Synthesizer, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson - Guitar, Tim Harrell - Drums, Ken Chandler - Vocals, and Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan - Guitar.

Read the show report here.

This Mistress - Live at SASHS

Being a member of Student Council had its advantages during my senior year at Shippensburg Area Senior High School (SASHS) in 1988. One of the perks was when it came time to offer suggestions for entertainment at Winter Carnival (a school event/dance), I was able to recommend the band I was in, This Mistress.

In the end, it came down to a Student Council vote between This Mistress and a DJ. After the ballots were cast and counted, This Mistress was chosen to perform at Winter Carnival on 03/12/88.

In retrospect, the $120 budget that Student Council had for entertainment would have better served the student body if they had chosen the DJ. Though we performed a good set of modern and classic rock songs, most of the student body would have probably preferred the DJ. So, to the students of SASHS in 1988, please accept my apology for suggesting that This Mistress play at Winter Carnival.

The original six member line up of This Mistress which played this show included Brad Shaeffer - Vocals, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan - Guitar, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson - Guitar, Scott McConnell - Synthesizer, Matt Norcross - Bass, and Tim Harrell - Drums. We also had extra tech support which included Ken Chandler - Main House Mix, Chris Terry - Lights, Kurt Smith - Videography, and Tony Townsend - Guitar Tech.

Some of the songs from our set included Guns 'n' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle, The Cult - Wildflower, INXS - Need You Tonight, Led Zeppelin - Misty Mountain Hop, Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train, and Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe. As you can see, our set was musically all over the place.

Though video of this performance does exist. The quality of the tape is very poor so I'm not going to share it at this time. Unfortunately, at the end of filming this performance, Kurt Smith dropped and broke his VTR machine (Sorry Kurt!) that he was carrying in his back pack to record the show. Maybe I'll be able to resurrect some of the footage for a future post but, for now, you only get to enjoy a picture from the show.

The Chicken Strut and Wooooooo!

In early 1988, Dungeon Aire added a second guitarist, Bart "The Fart" Wilson, and we changed our name to This Mistress. Our first gig under this moniker was during Open Mic Night at The CUB on the campus of Shippensburg University.

However, this show almost didn't happen. Our lead singer, Brad Shaeffer, threatened not to perform. At the time, no one really knew why he was refusing to play but it was later revealed that he didn't want to perform because he hadn't had enough time to rehearse and develop his song and dance moves in front of his mirror.

As this video will attest, maybe we should have honored his request and not performed. You'll bear witness to his infamous "Chicken Strut" dance and bent over "Wooooooo" warblings during the choruses of the song. Remember now, he is a "Monster Man"!

This original six member line up of This Mistress included Brad Shaeffer - Vocals, Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan - Guitar, Kevin "Bart the Fart" Wilson - Guitar, Scott McConnell - Synthesizer, Matt Norcross - Bass, and Tim Harrell - Drums. Musically, it's a pretty good rendition of a band favorite, The Suburbs - Monster Man. As usual, "Scrap Pap" is slightly out of tune due to his penchant for tuning to the television instead of an instrument tuner but the rest of the band performs well and Scott delivers an inspired synth solo.

P.S. Thanks to Steve Olsen for, again, capturing on video another one of our performances.