The Ever-Turning Experience Of Joel Eilde

 

Netera Landar recently interviewed singer/songwriter Joel Eilde, who has been performing in Second Life for years. He enjoys focusing on numerous genres. He spoke with Netera about his love of creating music.

 

Read Netera's interview in People. 

 

Interview With Maestro (Mythrilweaver Atlas)

 

Recently at an event, Netera Landar ran into a talented resident named Maestro / Mithrilweaver Atlas. Also known as Konstantin the Mithrilweaver, he's an accomplished singer and songwriter, as well as a writer of poetry. Netera would interview him about these and more. 

 

Read Netera's interview in People.

 

Cartoon of The Day: Ordinary Girl

 

 Taken at the Relaystock, Among the performers was singer Erika Ordinary. 

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

 

In Passing: Josiane Auster, Crito Galtier, Beccca Baxton

 

As we close out 2025, sad to say one of our final articles for the year is of three people who recently passed away or it was just confirmed they passed away.

 

One was Josiane Auster (Josiane Llewellyn) of the Freda's Place writers' group

 

 I'm sorry to tell you all that Josiane Auster, a long-time friend of Freda Frostbite's, burlesque dancer and resident of Freda's Village, passed away on Aug. 29, 2025, her 18th Rez Day. 

 

The person announcing her passing went on to say a memorial exhibition of pictures of her experiences inworld was being put together, "You are invited to the Grand Opening on Jan. 4, 2026 at 1 pm SLT. " It will be in the Seeking Wisdom sim.

 

In the Relay for Life Volunteers group, Selene mentioned Crito Galtier had recently died. 

 

"... we have lost another Relayer.  One who was a great designer, decorater and one who always thought outside the box.  He was one that organized with a children's hospital so the kids could see the live singers in world sang disney songs for a relay event.   It was amazing.  ...  he will be greatly missed."

 

 It was also announced that singer Beccca Baxton had died. 

 

With profond sadness (we) share the passing of Beccca Baxton on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025. 

A long-time SL singer, Beccca's voice, spirit, and kindness touched countless hearts across the grid.

Following a glioblastoma diagnosis in November, Beccca's journey was surrounded by love.

Our hearts are with her daughter Lily, family, friends, and the SL music community.

Beccca loved to sing, bring warmth and laughter to every venue she graced.

Even through challenges she continued to give selflessly through her music.

A devoted mother, cherished friend, and a true light whose voice and love created unforgettable memories.

She will be deeply missed and always remembered.  

 

It was also announced Dillian Michaels (dillianm) made a memorial for her, and set it up at his club, "It is beautiful and sweet and you can click a candle and leave a message." It is located at Katanga (55/155/3002). 

 

Rest in peace,

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Singer Austin Moores Returns To The Stage

 

Musician Austin Moores has played in Second Life for quite some time. Recently, he had to take a three month break. But a few days ago, he's back, and back to performing on stage with his Austin's Angels. Netera Landar had a chance to interview him. And he had much to say. 

 

Read Netera's interview in People. 

 

Announcement: Wake For SL Musician Reno Jones

 

A reliable source has told the Newser that SL musician Reno Jones has passed away. There will be a wake for him at his Reno's Junkyard venue at 7PM tonight, (http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mishiland/216/184/1701)    

In his profile, Reno would say of himself, "I've been playin' guitar since I was 10. Started singing out of pure necessity when I was 15. Wrote my first good song that year. I've been fortunate to make music with some of the best I Love it all.  5th Generation Californian.

 

"Reno Jones' singing and guitar playing defies all expectations. 'A voice like golf balls in a dryer.', and "'You call this music?', are just a few of the things critics have said about Reno Jones' musical stylings. Mixing it all up in a blender, Reno Jones covers songs from the 1920's to the 2020's; from Louis Armstrong to Foo Fighters to Tom Waits to Radiohead and even originals, Reno adds his unique spin to all genres. As a studio musician and recording engineer for many decades, Reno has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Train, Foo Fighters, YES, Tom Petty and David Bowie.'

 

"Every Linden I make from performing fees and tips goes directly to American Cancer Society's Relay-For-Life. Thank you in advance!" 

Once again, the wake is at 7PM tonight at Mishiland (216/184/1701)

Rest in peace. 

Bat Masters Retiring From Live Singing

 

 

 Last night, November 30 at Nat's Jazz Club, live singer Bat Masters gave one of his final performances in Second Life, if not the last. He was retiring from performing music due to declining health.

Bat Masters has performed inworld for over a decade, at a variety of venues such as the Lavender Field. He was among the singers who performed over a decade ago in an event to support fellow musician Beth Odets when she was having surgery for brain cancer. For years he played the guitar. But with his nerve disorders, his profile stated that he had Primary Lateral Sclerosis that I was told had advanced to ALS.

There were over 70 people at the venue when I arrived. Linda Sautereau, who owns the club, told me at one point she saw 75, "He's one of the special ones in here. ... he is one of the nicest, kindest and most talented people I've met in SL and I've been here since 2007."

Bat's voice was somewhat rough, but he sang well, the last song being Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

At the event, there were many cheers and well-wishes. "We love you Bat!!" "Bat you are one Class Act." "I'm not crying, shut up!" "The entertaining won't cease entirely, but it is an honor to recognize your contributions as you experience a transition of phases most of us can only find unimaginable. Big love to you, Bat." Bat smiled, saying before leaving, "good night dear friends." Over the stream, he would say to his supporters, "Thank you for all you've done over the years."

Wherever Bat goes next, we wish him well,

 

Hat tip: JardenAlexis

Bixyl Shuftan

RFL Announcement: Songbird Sorbet At Club Amarantha Today

 

Songbird Sorbet at Club Amarantha

Today at 4PM SL time

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife.Amarantha/23/149/1501
 

A Second Life Musician Says "Thank You"

 *
The following was posted on the Second Life Forums on Sunday November 29 by a Da5id Weatherwax, titled, "A moment to say 'Thank you.'"

*  *  *  *  *

As my friends across the pond were preparing to celebrate a rather strange Thanksgiving I was doing what I normally do as part of preparation for any week, putting the finishing touches to, and rehearsing, the set list(s) I would be playing in the coming week. It struck me that I had something enormous to be truly thankful for in these troubled times. I haven't picked up a busking pitch or played a RL live gig or session since late February. All the RL venues here closed in early March, all bookings cancelled until further notice. Even when this lovely city, a true hotspot of the arts and performance, was not under the most severe public health restrictions nobody who could be out and about would gather to listen to a busker and the po-po would tell that busker to move smartly along if they did. It's almost impossible to sing through a mask anyway.

Like so many of my colleagues in performance I was instantly unemployed. My usual fallbacks when I wasn't getting bookings as a performer were also gone, because there was no work as a sound or lighting tech either. Hundreds of other performers were in the same position, having to take whatever they could get as a "day job" just to keep the lights on and the fridge full. In the music industry you're used to "living on your wits" somewhat but I know from personal chats with others that even after all this shakes down there will be some who will not be returning to the stage. I'm not talking about the real tragedies, of the voices we will no longer hear because the pandemic has taken them from us, but of the small-venue musicians who can no longer summon up the energy, the fire, to break free of the rat race a second time. They know, from sometimes bitter personal experience, how great a leap into the unknown launching a career in the arts is, how precarious it is and how numbing the fear can become. Deep in their hearts, way too many of us know that we don't have it within us to do that again.

I have something to sustain me that most of them don't. I have YOU.

It is you,the population of SL, who have continued to show up to my sets, continued to appreciate my performances and kept my sense of identity as a musician alive. I'm still putting a set list together every week because I'm bringing it to you and you're showing up to hear it. Even though that soul-crushing day job is blowing massive holes in my schedule, I'm still a performer because of you.

So, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. You are what I have reason to be thankful for this season.

*  *  *  *  * 

Da5id Weatherwax's post didn't have many responses yet, but perhaps this will soon increase as word gets around.

Source: Second Life Forums 

Interview With Aby Teamo-Hastings (AbyGail Hastings)

At the Second Life Birthday celebration, there will be a number of live singers. Among them is Aby Teamo-Hastings (AbyGail Hastings). This active singer has been in Second Life for quite some time. The Newser recently interviewed her, and she had much to say about her singing and her time in Second Life.

Read the interview in People.

Musician Chip Takacs Dies, Was Minutes From Performance on Stage

In Second Life, we often take many things into consideration. But seldom do we think about death. Sometimes when it arrives, we have a little warning such as when someone announces he or she has cancer and has to take a break from the Grid and later on we sadly hear the person has passed away. Other times, the news comes to us as shock and surprise as someone who was doing fine one day is suddenly dead. Last week however, there was a case in which a man died at his computer just minutes after talking to others and with his avatar still around.

Over the weekend, I heard about the passing of a musician named Chip Takacs. Jen Smith had posted the news on Facebook early Wednesday February 13. She would later post something from Lisa Lavoie.


Just to maybe save someone from having to repeat what happened... Chip was in SL Tuesday morning, around 8am SLT to do a show. He was typing to people in local...and joking around with them, like he always did. A couple of minutes before 8am SLT, they put his stream in as he was getting onto the stage. But he never turned the stream on and never started playing.  After awhile, they thought maybe he'd fallen asleep. When it was time for the next performer to go on, they bumped Chip's avi off the stage so the next performer could play.

This afternoon, they found out that Chip had passed away. A RL friend of his, who is also a performer in SL, confirmed it after speaking with Chip's RL wife. Speculation is a massive heart attack, but they are going to do a private autopsy to verify that.

As of the time I write this...which is nearing midnight SLT...Chip is still logged in and standing in front of the stage where he never got to do that final show. His computer is still logged in and no one has shut it down. Once that happens, or the sim restarts....he won't be in SL anymore either.

Around 9pm a small group gathered where Chip stands to try and console each other and deal with the shock of losing another SL musician and friend. It started with a handful of us...and as I logged out at midnight SLT, there were 60+ standing around swapping stories, passing the mic and spreading the word that we lost another one.

 The uniqueness of this loss was that Chip was still with us in SL. He's still there, as we remember him....but he's not really there. He's really gone. It was both eerie and comforting to be able to stand there with him...in honor of what he meant to each of us individually. It was quite a moment in my SL history. When we all just stood there with a fallen friend, not wanting to leave him standing alone....knowing that at some point, he will be logged out for the final time.


There were numerous messages of condolences after Jen Smith's post, "So sad to hear of his passing (sad) He was one of a kind. He will be missed. RIP Chip." "RIP Chip my friend.You will never be forgotten, always in my heart." "Chip was a Great Person." On Second Life, there was a memorial concert for Chip on the night of Friday February 15, scheduled to last until Saturday morning, "it is booked solid until 9:30am SLT on Saturday morning....and that's just from the performers who were standing there with Chip tonight."




Chip, or Michael Taska as he's known there, does have a recording of him singing on Youtube.

For many users, the sudden passing of someone is something they do not know how to react to. To many others, it's a reminder that death can come without warning, even while you're seemingly safe at your computer. In any event, it's a sad time for the friends and family of this musician in real life and Second Life.


Hat Tip: Annie Oh (AnnieBrightstar Resident)

Bixyl Shuftan

A Favourite Irish Musician Returns to Perform at Music Island

Dainial had been a live musician in Second Life up to about two years ago, then took a hiatus. Earlier this month, he ended his break with a performance at Music Island. Klaus Bereznyak was there, and had a seat among those in the audience as he played music inspired by traditional Irish folk songs.

Read Klaus' article in People.

Memorial Concert for Maxx Sabertooth

On July 26, a memorial concert was held for Maxx Sabertooth. Maxx was a live musician, whom was noted for his rhythm and blues music. He has been performing in Second Life for several years, at events as far back as 2012. He had performed at some charity events such as Homes For Our Troops, and the RFL Christmas Expo.

Unfortunately, Maxx was having trouble with his health in the past few years. In July 2017, a fundraising concert to help pay for medical expenses was done by fans and other supporters. Sadly, this was not enough. On July 20, there was an announcement in his fan group that he had died the day before.

As many of you may already know, Our beloved Maxx passed away yesterday after a long fight with heart disease.  He was loved by all of us and his music will be missed by all.

Over the next few days, a memorial event was planned and a memorial grounds area set up. When all was ready, an announcement was made.

Please join us today as we remember the life of Maxx Sabretooth.  Memorial service starting at 4:00 pm SLT.  Please use the landmark as the memorial is taking place at Maxx Sabretooth Memorial Garden.

Several musicians would perform at the event, which included names such as Maximillion Klene and Keeba Tammas in the schedule. When I dropped in at 8PM, the concert was still going on with over forty people at the grounds. Frets Nirvana, best known for his Veterans' charity benefits, had taken the stage.

 At 8:30PM, Paul Nowles would perform, going on to 9PM (Midnight EST), when the event came to a close.

The Maxx Sabertooth Memorial Garden is at Make it R3ign (185/220/26)

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: RFL Live Benefit Concert Wed at 11AM SL Time

Team Meli's Maniacs and Team ACTS will have an event starring Miss Longtail Wednesday at 11am SLT. The event will be held at Clubs Amarantha.  Both teams would love to see you attend this event.  Miss Longtail is just wonderful and can belt out all of our favorite tunes.

Amarantha (25,151,1500)

Resceduled: Songbird At Grendle's Today, "Bid Me" Events For Sunbeamers Extended

Due to unforeseen events, two events in Second Life will be happening at different times than originally scheduled.

On Saturday April 8, Songbird (Songbird1028 Sorbet) was scheduled to give a live music performance at Castel Bufo (AKA the "Fool's Castle") over Grendel's Children in the Avaria Tor sim. Unfortunately, the event was postponed due to technical difficulties. It has been rescheduled to today, April 20, at 12Noon SL time, "One last chance to break the dinosaurs while listening to the Amazing Songbird!!"

To get there, get to the Grendel's telehub, then sit on the nearby rocket for a quick ride to the castle.

Avaria Tor (133/135/302)

*  *  *  *  *

The "Bid Me" events being held by the Relay for Life's Team Sunbeamers were originally scheduled to end last night at 8PM following the conclusion of the party at Club Cutlass, where the kiosks for the event are located. But team Captain Rita Mariner is in the hospital for kidney stones, possibly for a few days. So the conclusion of the "Bid Me" events has been postponed until her return, possibly at 8PM Friday April 21, or Saturday April 22.

The Newser wishes Rita Mariner a quick and reasonably painless recovery (at least as painless a recovery one can expect from kidney stones). In the meantime, people are encouraged to make further donations for the Relay for Life at Club Cutlass's "Bid Me" events.

Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757).

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Songbird Rocks the Castle at Grendels Children

WHAT:  Concert by Songbird Sorbet !!

Grendel's Children is proud to announce a concert by
the incomparable singer Songbird1028 Sorbet

WHEN:  Saturday, April 8th, at 12 Noon SLT .... 2017

WHERE:
at Avaria Tor sim, Home of Grendel's Children since 2006. The concert is in the new yuge castle of April Foolin'... ''Catsel Bufo'' - a play on "Frog-and-Cat" productions and the icons of the two founding builders. 

HOW to get there:
Arrive at Grendels' telehub:>
 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Avaria%20Tor/133/135/302
and sit on the Rocket to the April Fools ''Catsel Bufo''

MORE:
* Builders are your Cat-Toad-Octopus-and-Dragon friends from Grendels!  Clover Dezno, Toady Nakamura, Cacia Escape, Flea Bussy, RaptonX Zorger, DannyG Grun, and Lim Raeth.  

*  Wear Anything but you have to wear Something; it's a G-rated sim !!
 
*Over than 165 presents are hidden among the tricks, magic cards, fussy doors, silly games, odd art gallery and those ever-so-fragile dinosaurs... :) 

WEBLINKS

**>   Songbird !!
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT0W6HlTzSM
 
**> Grendels !!
  http://secondlife.com/destination/36  official SL link
  http://world.secondlife.com/place/eb968fa8-f34c-b18f-452c-485f0c4b346d    CATALOG via "show in search" of the store

  http://grendelschildren.net/  links to our videos
and
  https://grendelschildren.wordpress.com/  blog about our classes.

Ichie Kamachi at Making Strides Event

On October 21, singer Ichie Kamachi performed live at the at Making Strides event at the Chive Avent Area in the Terravia Island sim. She sung from 4 to 5 PM SL time.

How much was raised in her particular hour is unknown, but over 37,000 Lindens had been donated during the course of the event by the time she was done.

The high point of the Making Strides For Breast Cancer fundraising season is today, Saturday October 29, when The Walk takes place, starting at Noon SL time.

SL Video: "Woodstock at 40 Day 3 "

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Eddi Haskel on August 2009, "for more information see www.slwoodstock.com. Woodstock at 40 is a 4-day celebration of the original event in 1969, from August 14 - August 17 2009. Over 90% of the original music will be played in the Blue Nile region of the Virtual World of Second Life. Photographer Eddi Haskell created this photo montage of the third day, combining his photography with Grace Slick singing Jefferson Airplane's classic Woodstock hit 'Somebody to Love.' Please note: Although this is day 3 of the Festival in the Virtual World of Second Life, it corresponds to the second full day at Woodstock 1969 on Sunday"

Press Release: Once Upon A Song

Sign up to be a Contestant on Sing for a Cure (use your SL name)

Dates are May 3, May 10, May 17, May 24 & May 30, at 4:00 PM SLT

Finals will be held on June 25 with the two winners from each Tuesday night (fundraiser & popular vote).

* * * * *

We will be holding Sing for a Cure competition every Tuesday in May.. the winners from those will go on to Finals on June 25th. Plan to meet with Jay Sparrowtree prior to your time on stage to work on your voice quality. We will be using skype or your stream for the event. There will be two winners.. Popular vote and the Fund Raiser winner... Winners will be given bragging rights and a nice trophy (Sponsor Donation would also be appreciated). Professional singers and amateurs can compete side by side. See if you can make the leap. You can sign up for more then one Tuesday time permitting. Five minutes will be allotted for each contestant our time is from 4PM to 6 PM with breaks for the announcer and PSA's for relay. We hope to get many contestants. The event will be on the Whip Radio sim and at the Castle Contest Event Sim the final will be at the GTS sim during GorFest This will be open to all of SL so please dress accordingly.

Singer Alessandra Eberlain Returns to Live Performing

After a hiatus of about two years, singer Alessandra Eberlain returned to the stage on Sunday March 6. In an underwater area in Rainbow valley, she sung a number of Disney songs for their "Under the Sea" event, "Come and join us under the sea with bubbles and rainbows as we celebrate the Grand Opening of Rainbow Valley!"

Alessandra, whom starred in an interpretation of "Phantom of the Opera," as well as singing live on stage in a number of venues, explained she had to take some time off, but will be able to perform on Second Life regularly for the foreseeable future.