The Patsy Decline Show

My friend Lannie Garret gets away with murder in a red wig, crazy country western poodle skirt, singing and slinging her sometimes raunchy always hilarious comedy in a gin soaked basement – and you’ve got to see her do it!

Lannie is a terrific singer and entertainer who nearly owns the City of Denver (she’s engaged to make Daniel Brogan, editor of Denver 5280 Magazine her bridegroom) created a fabulous shtick character called Patsy DeCline – “not to be confused with a singer with a very similar name because she’s dead and I’m here and that’s that” say’s Patsy.

This show is a riot! Unpredictable, and spit your drink out funny!

Patsy DeCline Goes Corporate?

I first discovered “Patsy” at a corporate showcase I was in for Brooks International Speakers. She invaded our “corporate clean” world with her high spirited spoof and humor and was the smash hit of the show as the quintessential spoof of every hack trick in the book of the tired country western or Vegas lounge act of used-to-be pop stars.

Cautioned by Maureen Brooks that she would need to clean up her act, literally, Patsy riffed through her faux country standards set and rap without a hitch, until right near the end. Shooting for an “employee motivation” bit she sighed and began – “so, when ya’ll go back home or to the office, there in your shitty little cubicle. Realizing she’d said the S word, she turned back and in a seamless smile she assured the stunned room full of meeting planners (a fear based group who basically worries themselves sick about hiring a speaker who drops a bomb and gets them fired) – Patsy/Lannie smiled sweetly and in her long southern accent assured – “Of course, we can take shitty out for your corporate event.”

And went right back to her gig, while we speakers howled and wished to be so free!

The Patsy DeCline Show Rides Again!

Last night I saw Lannie again at her night club Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret and she was pure gold. If you are in the Denver area she is doing the Patsy Decline Show on Saturdays through the end of April. But check out the website and see all the edgy, sexy, and cool acts she brings to this unique venue and get down there and support this awesome club.

Lannies ClockTower Cabaret is tucked away like a 1920′s speakeasy beneath the ultra-cool tower on Denver’s 16th Street Mall. Lannie, a collector of curious with a designer head even edgier than the interior decorator on Beetlejuice, has created a gorgeous venue where even the waitstaff match the act, be it country kitsch or burlesque.

Lannie could easily have a showroom on the strip in Vegas or the very lucrative Branson Missouri strip, and I’ll bet Dolly Parton would give her right something to have her camped out in Dollywood, but clever Lannie has chosen to keep her talent here in the Rockies, a decision I totally understand.

Lannie Garret is a Nice Lady

One time, not at band camp, some friends had invited me to go see Don Henley at Red Rocks Ampitheater. On the heels of being dumped by this crazy girlfriend I had no date, and no energy to get one. I called Lannie up and asked if she’d accompany me on sort of a mercy thing, and she stepped up. This photo was taken at that groovy little Italian place in Morrison, a favorite pre-Red-Rocks nourishment stop. We had a good time and supported by my friends and Lannie’s nutty enthusiasm and humor, I even made it through Henley singing “Wasted Time” for an encore!

In a world of franchise sameness, and boring predictable food, and as movies get stupider and stupider, Lannie Garret remains a beacon of talent and creativity who refuses to be put in a box. I highly recommend you go see her soon.

And remember, she can take “shitty” out for your corporate event.