Performer Spotlight: Vivi Blackheart @ The Bootstrappers

“She’ll do as she will and she’ll say as she please…”

Vivi on the violin!

I’m always excited to see Vivi Blackheart bringing her extra measure of girl power to The Bootstrappers at Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. There is pure confidence in every performance she gives and she’s a strong personality and musical match for every man in this crew.

She easily holds her own against the guys – and she’s probably more intimidating than any of them – you wouldn’t want to mess with Vivi! She often seems to be musically “dueling” with the fellows and as far as I’m concerned, she wins!

She is so fierce that plenty of the time they just get out of her way and let her play! And I always look forward to her solos.

Playing behind her back! Really, she’s still playing a song!

This girl is simply a fiend on the fiddle the way her fingers fly over the strings. I’ve seen her perform while doing all sorts of tricks from jumping to playing without a moment’s hesitation with the violin behind her back!

She’s easily one of the most accomplished musicians in the group.

Performer Spotlight: Mean Jean @ The Bootstrappers

“But I danced until the dawn…”

The choreographical stylings of Mean Jean!

Ahoy there, mateys! This week thar’ be some celebratin’ of the piratical kind to be found. So grab yer grog as we set sail for uncharted seas…

Yeah, okay, that’s enough of that! But earlier this week it actually was “Talk Like a Pirate Day” and while I’m sorry I couldn’t celebrate the day with The Bootstrappers at Disneyland’s New Orleans Square, it does seem the perfect week to spotlight some more rascally members of this musical troupe!

And realizing that I’ve only focused on some of the men in this motley crew thus far, this weekend it will be some of the wenches’… err… ladies’ turns!

Today I’d like to celebrate that rambunctious redhead, Mean Jean!

And while her fiery wild hair and even wilder dancing may frighten off the faint of heart, I personally have a great fondness for seeing her out performing with the rest of the gang!

My Labor of Love For This Labor Day Weekend – The Mousertainment YouTube Channel

I’ve had the desire for a while to find a place to showcase some of the many videos I’ve taken at the Disney Parks (and elsewhere) over the past few years. So I finally took it upon myself to start the task!

It’s still a work in progress – and will continue to be as long as I film more performances to share. But I’ve loaded about 200 videos so far from the past five years and hope you find some to enjoy!

Here you’ll find clips of many of the performers I’ve spotlighted on my blog.

They include everyone from The Dapper Dans of Disneyland and The Bootstrappers to the 80z All-Stars and TOMASINA, as well as local favorite bands like LIGHTS and performances from Disney Parks shows like Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular and Mickey and the Magical Map!  And of course, there are LOTS of videos from The Mad T Party and Diamond Mad T Party!

And while I’ll acknowledge using the unpopular vertical perspective in many cases, there is a practical reason for it – I’m sharing whenever possible an up close view of what’s happening and I found early on that if I take video horizontally, I wind up cutting off most of the performers’ bodies from the video. And since most of the singers who I admire can also dance, you’re missing half the performance without a full view!

I am working on retraining myself to take more horizontal video to post for larger groups or shows, but I hope you’ll enjoy the different vantage points experienced over the past few years.

Performer Spotlight: Yuri @ The Bootstrappers

“I had six pints and then six others…”

My favorite photo I’ve taken of Yuri – just such a perfect moment!

Yuri is the Prince of Pennywhistles when he plays with The Bootstrappers in Disneyland Park’s New Orleans Square!

He’s really wonderful with his satchel of tin whistles that he carries at his side. I love listening to the lilting tones produced as his dexterous digits fly across the finger holes and I always look forward to his solos (playing or singing). Sometimes he gets to do an entire instrumental number – a pied piper beckoning the crowds to him. And it really does do the trick. People hear the music he plays and simply have to follow the sound to its source!

Yuri looks ready to share a story or a song!

At that point, it’s too late for the audience to escape as the merry pirate crew sings tales of their (often drinking) adventures! Yuri seems to specialize in songs extolling the virtues of vodka or whiskey or the results of such libations!

But I always enjoying seeing how he makes a song into a story – it’s just utterly entertaining and endearing! Whether it’s a tale of heartbreak or treasure-hunting, this guy always manages to perform the story, not just sing it, which always makes him so much fun to watch, especially during his solos!

Performer Spotlight: Olin @ The Bootstrappers

“Was you ever in N’Orleans Square, ‘cross the bay from Pirate’s Lair? But they ain’t got no pirates there!”

Nothing is funnier than the looks Olin gives at Sockhead Syd’s silliness!

Pirate’s Lair may not currently host any pirates, but you’ll find one of the most diverting (and therefore one who most needs a weather eye kept on!) singing with The Bootstrappers in New Orleans Square – Olin the Merchant!

While you may think he’s stealing your attention with his engaging ways, he’s most likely picking your pocket, too! This pirate is notorious for being quite the expert thief! Keep a very close eye on all belongings around this scoundrel, lest you find your possessions soon become his! (Though you’ll get them back eventually with perhaps a little negotiating!)

Still, as with all of the Disney pirates, you’ll find he’s mostly harmless but very naughty! Yet that makes him great to interact with during and between songs.

Performer Spotlight: Stringfellow @ The Bootstrappers

“Give me a ramblin’ rover…”

Ah, Stringfellow…

Absolutely one of the most charming of the scalawag Bootstrappers that roam New Orleans Square at Disneyland – Stringfellow plays guitar and often sings lead in many of the songs they perform.

In fact, the guitar always seems like a natural extension of his arms, like it would just be wrong to see him without it!

He plays the guitar wonderfully well, but I also love hearing his rich singing voice. It carries the humor and smile he always wears in its tone.

And really, it’s his smile that always reaches his twinkling eyes that makes him such a winning performer to watch! He simply makes me happy whenever I see and hear him sing and play!

Performer Spotlight: Grieving Tim @ The Bootstrappers

“I loved them one and all…”

All of my favorite pictures of Grieving Tim are all about the attitude! I dare you to say he can’t make an accordion look cool!

Grieving Tim, despite his name, is one of the funniest members of The Bootstrappers to be found performing in New Orleans Square. Actually, let me rephrase that – he’s one of the snarkiest of these balladeer buccaneers!

Everything Grieving Tim says, sings or does just seems to have an extra edge of amusing attitude attached to it. It’s not cynicism – because he clearly is enjoying himself – but it’s just that every line he delivers seems to be accompanied by a little extra metaphorical raised eyebrow asking, hmm, really?

And it makes him highly entertaining to watch!

Sockhead Syd listens intently to Grieving Tim’s accordion playing!

This guy is also one of several musically gifted group members who can be spotted playing various instruments – most often either the accordion or the upright bass.

While the accordion allows him more freedom to run around while playing and singing, I do enjoy watching his unbridled enthusiasm when playing the bass, too.