Summer Disney, who calls herself an "almost life-long Tucsonan," went to middle school at Casas Adobes Baptist and high school at Salpointe Catholic, "because my parents were/are indecisive." These days, she works as a job coach for Café 54's food truck, Truck 54. And in her spare time she's all about thrift stores, trying to rescue maligned and damaged vintage to sell to enthusiasts. As an avid wig proponent who styles and make wigs for Tucson's burlesque goddesses and fashionistas, Disney is also a regular collaborator with Elizabeth Denneau of CandyStrike. "We're doing a combined pop-up the Saturday after Thanksgiving for small business Saturday. I'll be selling a very limited amount of new wigs, along with add-ons such as styling, bang trims and some of my best vintage scores." The woman owns a glitter gun, people. For more info on Café 54 and the new truck, visit cafe54.org and truck54.org. And more on the pop-up CandyStrike sale, search on Facebook for "Small Business Saturday Holiday & Moving Sale."
What was the first concert you attended?
To be honest, I spent a lot of time as a child sitting in massive concert halls listening to classical music. I don't really count any of those, as I was always crouched over a book (usually ghost stories) trying to read in the dim light. The first concert I didn't read during was the True Colors Tour 2007 in LA. My brother bought me a ticket as a birthday present, probably hoping to expand my musical tastes beyond Broadway Musicals and Gregorian chant. I went for The Dresden Dolls and stayed for Cyndi Lauper.
What are you listening to these days?
I invented this game I like to play with Spotify, where I ask someone for a word and then punch it into the search engine. If a playlist comes up, I have to listen to it all the way through, without skipping anything. My favorite results have come from "watermelon" and "retro." Games aside, I've recently fallen in love with Post Modern Juke Box. I always have Acorn Bcorn, Dark Dark Dark, The Black Keys, T. Rex and Radical Face on heavy rotation.
What was the first album you owned?
I bought my first album when I was about 10, with hard-earned Bookmans trade credit. It was "Classic Queen," a best of compilation of my favorite band at the time. I would sit in front of the family sound system, blasting Bohemian Rhapsody and trying to understand the lyrics. I can still recite it from memory. Freddy Mercury will always have top billing in my heart.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?
Mash-ups. There were some really good ones at first, but things have gotten a bit weird and not particularly good as the trend has gained momentum. Not everything needs to be spliced, I promise.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
David Bowie. Preferably the early era when he was doing the Ziggy Stardust tour in '72 to '73. But I'd just settle for any Bowie at any point.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Listening to 1950/'60s pop music while baking with a martini in one hand and an apron wrapped around my waist. Coconut and maraschino cherries are usually involved.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
This would probably change depending on the way I passed, and how old I was. A funeral song can stay with people forever, we played, "Dream A Little Dream" by Louis Armstrong for my father's funeral. Now I can't listen to it without melting into a snot puddle. At this exact moment in time it would be Peggy Lee singing "Bye Bye Blackbird".
What artist changed your life and how?
Patti Smith. Her music is obviously incredible and groundbreaking, but after reading her memoir "Just Kids," I was moved and inspired by her honesty and courage. There's just something about a trailblazer who cut her path just trying to live, and created art because she was unable to do anything else. It makes me stand a little taller as I walk through life.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
"The Crane Wife" by The Decemberists.
