GROWING UP NAKED: Rain Perry Relives Her Hippie Childhood, in Song and on Stage

by Kit Stolz on February 8, 2008

Ojai’s native daughter, singer/songwriter Rain Perry, will open a ground-breaking show this weekend at Theater 150, guided and supported by her many wonderful friends, including Kim Maxwell, JB White, Deb Norton, Peter Bellwood, and Guy Webster. Her show is about growing up as a “wild child” raised by a hippie dad, and the good and the bad of that. I hope all of Ojai comes out to see it, because it’s both funny and thoughtful, in Rain’s inimitable style.
For more, plus a taste of one of the songs she will sing, please see a fuller post at my site, a slightly modified version of the cover story in this week’s VC Reporter.
For now, here’s a picture from Guy. Emotionally speaking, Rain bares all in this show. That’s part of what makes it so touching.

{ 14 comments }

Suza February 8, 2008 at 12:20 pm: Wow! Just listened to the Cinderblock Bookshelves song!!
Late last night I read your wonderful article in the VC Reporter …I am so looking forward to seeing Rain’s show!
Anonymous February 8, 2008 at 7:22 pm: is she evan’s mom??
El Anonimo February 8, 2008 at 10:41 pm: I saw Rain do something similar 3-4 years ago.
Is this different?
And how is it “ground-breaking”?
Does she bear all?
Kit Stolz February 8, 2008 at 11:40 pm: This is a new and improved version of what you may have seen Rain do before at the old Theater 150. Sometimes less is more and this is one of those times. (Plus, a couple of new songs, and a better flow to the story-telling.) It’s ground-breaking, I think, because it mixes story-telling together with songwriting with an honesty I’ve never seen before.
But no, she doesn’t bare all — physically.
evan austin February 9, 2008 at 9:26 am: Anon 7:22, why would you ask if Rain is my mom? really, i’m not understanding that…
Anonymous February 10, 2008 at 8:58 am: Anon 7:22, why would you ask if Rain is my mom? really, i’m not understanding that…
evan: First, I’m not anonymous 7:22.
You asked why he or she would ask that question. “That question” was an online version of the little burning bag of dog poop left on the front porch of an unsuspecting victim. anon 7:22 collected some dog poop, put it in a little brown paper bag, put it on your front porch, squirted lighter fluid on it, set it afire, rang your doorbell and ran off to hide where they could watch you answer your door, see the little burning bag, and hope that you would reflexively try to stomp out the flames. You didn’t disappoint them; you reacted.
Just let those little bags burn. (Unless, of course, you’re actually up for a fight. In that case, stomp away.)
evan austin February 10, 2008 at 11:42 am: thank you, new anonymous…
not looking for a fight at all (but thanks for that fantastic analogy…i love it!). just genuinely confused and intrigued, and wanting to understand.
but perhaps you’re right: there is very little to understand about burning dogpoop. burn, baby, burn.
Rain Perry February 11, 2008 at 1:09 am: Changing the subject briefly back: Kit’s right. I’m not currently doing this show naked. But if it will help sell tickets for Theater 150, I’ll think about it!
old ojai coot February 11, 2008 at 5:04 pm: I knew John Perry and I’ve heard Rain. She’s great and I’d like to come to the show but nowhere in this post or in the article cited are we told where Theater 150 is located or what dates and times and for how long the show is running except for a tag at the end of the VC story about it starting January 8 (?) and running for two weeks which just confuses me. Sorry if I sound like an old coot but if you’re trying to promote this show……
Kit Stolz February 11, 2008 at 5:09 pm: You can find Theater 150 here:
http://www.theater150.org/
Their new location is right downtown, just across the street from Java Joe’s. Their number is 646-4300. The show will run again next weekend. Hope you get a chance to make it!
Tyler February 11, 2008 at 5:10 pm: looks like dates and times are here:
http://www.theater150.org/index.html#current_show
and address here:
http://www.theater150.org/index.html#contact_us
hjs February 11, 2008 at 5:11 pm: Although both Rain Perry and John Perry both sing, they are NOT related.
Tyler February 11, 2008 at 5:17 pm: hey, i’m redundant. thanks, kit!
Rain Perry February 12, 2008 at 6:57 am: Hi again – My dad’s name was John Perry, but he’s not the same John Perry you’re thinking of – actor, real estate agent, dad of Matthew. My dad lived in Ojai off and on from 1979 until about 1992 or so, then moved up to Santa Barbara.