Mad Girl World isn't just for Girls, No Sir!

I'm curating the Local Listening Lounge at Mad Girl World! You know the place or have seen owner Meredith Alex's  super fascinating creations in the front gallery of Port City Music Hall, at a music fashion show, in catalogs or at festivals. She presented the one and only men's fashion show last spring at Port City Music Hall and Marion Grace, Adam Ezra Band, and Sly Chi played too! Remember? Or Pete Kilpatrick Band and Bronze Radio last fall with The Hunt fashion theme? That was Meredith's event too! Well, I've been going into Mad Girl World since she opened her studio shop in 2009, and on a recent visit to find some bright fishnet tights Meredith asked me if I'd like to work with her. When I say "work" I mean play! Because that is what we do at Mad Girl World, where the motto is Live Your Chaos Love the Madness, a slogan that suits me to a t.

The Local Listening Lounge got it's start about a year ago to give back to the musician/artists of our community. Customers can come in, have a seat on the cool couch or funky seats, don a sweet pair of headphones and preview any local cd off the shelf. If they decide to purchase the cd, they get a recycled gift card guitar pick of their choice and all $10 goes back to the band or artist! It's all to support music here in Maine and create a sense of community since hanging out is encouraged and coffee, tea and sweets are often offered in the Mad kitchen. Musicians such as Hutch Heelan, Joe Gallant, Dean Ford, Anna Lombard McGeachey of Gypsy Tailwind, Mat Zaro of Bass Box, and Peter Bissell (photographer), Kyle Poissoneur (Elykssor Clothing), Angie Weymouth (Bikram Yoga) and Sheridan and Pete Giordano (Heart Shaped Rock, Twisted Roots) have all hung out and had couch time or fun time in the studio on recent days. New titles on the shelves include Sara Hallie Richardson, Spouse, Paranoid Social Club, Zach Jones, Mallett Brothers Band, Marie Moreshead, Hutch Heelan, Joe Walsh, Line of Force, and many more! We've also restocked Eric Bettencourt, Pete Kilpatrick, Amanda Gervasi, Brzowski, and other top sellers.

The shop is also full of fun shoes, clothes, jewelry, hair pieces and other adornments as well as Beer Me and Maine clothing, mugs, coosies, and other locally produced attire and accessories. You should come plan your next outfit or buy a great vintage tie or Super G hoodie here! Mad Girl World is more than a studio or shop, it's an experience! Hours fly by here. It's honestly too much fun!

See!

Local Listening Lounge photo by Peter Jensen Bissell. That's me and Haisel McGeachey wearing a Mad Girl headband!

Peter Jensen Bissell's music photos grace the LLL & he & Meredith Alex have more fun in the works for late summer!

That's Sheridan Giordano of Heart Shaped Rock and me! Sheridan is helping Pete design the Water Closet Gallery as our guest artist for June! The Weekly Poop will be on display!

Dean Ford is a Mad Guy for sure. Dean's music is here in the LLL!

Codi Booher is the artist who designed the recycled gift card picks! Mad World wants to keep the world green and the artists and product local!

Local Listening Lounge info: All southern and central Maine artists are welcome to add to our cd collection, and the only criteria is that the cd be professionally presented with cover art and cd case.  Bring 5 of each title and a Bio that is presentable for the Local Listening Lounge Listing Book. We'd also love to have your band buttons or pins to give away and stickers or memorabilia for the Mad Music Memorabilia Book! Stop in any day 10-6 and join the party!

On Friday, June 3rd our First Friday event will feature Ralph Graceffa live from 8-10 pm

The Water Closet Gallery will house The Weekly Poop, a rarely displayed collection of almost vintage comics created  by Pete Giordano of Twisted Roots when he worked at the now defunct Keystone Theater on Congress Street.

Mad Girl World is at 275 Commercial Street Portland, Maine
email me robinivy@maine.rr.com 


Love, the Mad Girls!

Robin Ivy, Local Listening Lounge Curator
and Meredith Alex, Mad World creator and owner