🌌 Life in the Desert: Night Skies, Cool Air, and Canine Joy
One of the things I absolutely love about living in the desert is the breathtaking view of the night sky. Out here, far from city lights and surrounded by open space, the stars put on a show every night. With little to no light pollution, it’s easy to get lost staring into the cosmos — planets, constellations, and sometimes even meteor showers.
Daytime in the desert is a whole different story. With temperatures climbing well over 100 degrees, we tend to go dormant during the heat of the day, focusing on ways to stay cool and conserve energy. Even the dogs know to take it easy. The sand gets scorching hot, so they usually lounge in the shade or stay indoors until things cool off.
But when the sun goes down? That’s when the magic happens.
As the desert starts to cool, we all come back to life. The dogs race around the yard, tails wagging, chasing shadows and each other. We sit outside, soaking in the cooler air, watching the sky transition from golden sunsets to deep star-filled black. It’s peaceful, grounding, and absolutely beautiful.
**Last night’s view was especially breathtaking.** The mostly full moon lit up the desert, casting soft shadows and adding a silvery glow to everything. It made sitting outside completely worth it — the kind of night that reminds you why you live out here. The stars still sparkled, but that moon stole the show.
Sometimes we go live on TikTok to share this little slice of desert life — the calm, the stars, the moon, and the dogs doing what dogs do best: playing under the night sky.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#DesertLife, #OffGridLiving, #FullMoonMagic, #StarryNights, #DogLife, #DesertDogs, #NightSkyViews, #MoonlitDesert, #DesertVibes, #Stargazing, #LifeInTheDesert, #CoolingOff, #NatureLovers, #DesertNights, #PeacefulLiving
Author: Ka-Hoon Campground
This Band Has Animatronic Members?! You’ve Never Seen a Show Like Advocatus Diaboli Before!
🔥 Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band: A Show Unlike Any Other
Out in the New Mexico desert, where the sky stretches forever and the silence can be haunting… something strange is happening onstage. A band like no other is rising from the dust, built on dark humor, raw creativity, and a lineup that blends **live performance, animatronics, and theatrical storytelling**.
This is **Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band** — and they’re not here to play it safe.
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### 🎭 What *Is* the Grim Leafer Band?
At its core, this is a **theatrical variety show** disguised as a band. You’ll get **parodies**, **originals**, and a few twisted covers — but this isn’t just music. It’s a story unfolding in front of your eyes, with characters, chaos, and layers that reveal more the deeper you listen.
Think *gothic vaudeville*, *desert freak show*, and *punk rock puppetry* all rolled into one. And yes — they have **animatronics**.
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### 🎤 Meet the Cast
**Advocatus Diaboli** – The lead vocalist, creator, and storyteller. With decades of songwriting behind him and a powerful voice that mixes mischief with meaning, he pulls the strings — literally and figuratively — behind the scenes.
**Shamshini** – Soft-spoken offstage but vocally captivating on it. Her harmonies and stage presence add contrast to the darker tones of the act.
**Blunt** – The deceased keyboardist who didn’t get the memo to stop performing. Ghostly and stiff, he adds eerie ambiance and unexpected moments of comedy.
**Roach** – A spiked-hair drummer whose energy feels barely contained. He’s part punk, part chaos, and all rhythm.
**Spliff** – The guitarist with a twisted back and a twisted sense of humor. His posture may be off, but his playing shreds.
Together, they create an atmosphere that’s equal parts concert and cult performance.
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### 🌵 Born From the Desert — And Defying Expectations
This band wasn’t built in a studio or plucked from a scene. It was imagined, constructed, and brought to life in the desert. Created by **Advocatus Diaboli** after a lifetime of music, stage production, and storytelling, the band was born out of necessity — and passion.
No one was going to drive out to the middle of nowhere for rehearsals. So… the band was built instead.
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You never know what you’ll catch — a new character, a glitched-out performance, or a parody that hits too close to home.
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### 🎪 Want to Book the Band?
Looking for something that will **stand out**, grab attention, and leave audiences talking?
**Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band** is perfect for:
* Alt music festivals
* Themed events (Halloween, horror, comedy)
* Dive bars, dark stages, and open-minded venues
* Off-night experiments that need something unforgettable
📩 Booking Contact: **Melodie’s Oddities**
https://plateauhamedecolquhoun.com/melodies-oddities/
📧 melodies.oddities@gmail.com
Www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
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#AnimatronicBand, #TheatricalMusic, #ParodyBand,
#DarkHumorMusic, #DesertMusicScene, #WeirdBands, #UniqueLiveShow, #AlternativePerformance,
#GothVaudeville, #OffGridEntertainment, #UndergroundMusic, #StorytellingThroughMusic, #MelodiesOddities
He Created His Own Bandmates?! Meet the Animatronic Mayhem of Advocatus Diaboli’s Desert Show
🎭 Behind the Scenes: How a Desert Musician Built a Band Out of Animatronics
Some people form bands.
Others *build* them—literally.
Welcome to the strange, theatrical world of **Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band**, a performance experience that blends **music, storytelling, parody, and animatronic chaos** in the heart of the New Mexico desert.
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### 👤 The Mind Behind the Madness: Brent a.k.a. Advocatus Diaboli
The idea for the band came straight out of the mind of **Brent**, who performs as **Advocatus Diaboli**. A lifelong musician and former international touring artist, Brent has written thousands of songs. But like many artists, life took a turn—he stepped away from the stage to raise his kids, always holding on to the hope that one day, he’d return to his true love: **music**.
While waiting for that day, he never strayed far from the scene. Brent worked as a **sound engineer and production specialist**, running audio and lights for conventions like **ConVergence** and **Paganicon**, and for bands at festivals and events. He’s mixed tracks in the studio—his own and others’—and never lost his ear for detail or his drive to create.
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### 🎬 Why Build a Band Instead of Form One?
Once we settled in the New Mexico desert, Brent decided it was time to bring his vision to life.
But there was one big problem:
**No one was going to drive to the middle of nowhere to rehearse regularly.**
So he got creative. **Really creative.**
Instead of waiting for bandmates, **he built them.**
Enter: **Blunt**, **Roach**, and **Spliff** — the animatronic backbone of the **Grim Leafer Band**.
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### 🎤 The Show: Music, Theater, and Something More
The performance includes Brent as **Advocatus Diaboli**, the mischievous lead; **Shamshini**, a mysterious co-vocalist; and the three animatronic band members. Together, they deliver a set of:
* Darkly humorous **parodies**
* Haunting and heartfelt **originals**
* Satirical **story-driven performances**
Each song is a piece of a larger narrative. If you really *listen*, the full story of the show will unfold—but we won’t spoil it for you here.
This isn’t just a band—it’s **theater**. It’s music with a message, wrapped in character, chaos, and creativity. And yes, it’s all run by one man—timing every animatronic movement, lighting cue, and vocal beat.
—
### 🎪 Want to Book the Band?
If you’re ready to bring something truly different to your venue or event, **Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band** is available for booking through:
📨 **Melodie’s Oddities**
Email: melodies.oddities@gmail.com
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Whether it’s mud, music, or animatronic mayhem—life out here is never boring.
And when no one shows up to join your band…
**You build your own monsters and make them sing.**
Www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
https://plateauhamedecolquhoun.com/melodies-oddities/
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\#AdvocatusDiaboli #GrimLeaferBand #AnimatronicBand #TheaterMeetsMusic #DesertMusic #WeirdBands #OffGridLife #StorytellingMusic #LivePerformanceArt #ParodyBand #NewMexicoMusic #BuiltNotHired #KaHoonCampground #MelodiesOddities #BookThisBand
Desert Floods Can’t Stop the Weird! Muddy July 4th & the Launch of a Booking Agency for Misfits
**Muddy Roads & Musical Oddities: A July 4th Update from the Desert**
We hope everyone had a fun, safe, and meaningful Fourth of July!
Out here in the New Mexico desert, it was a wet and wild one. We got just over an inch of rain, which might not sound like much—until you try to drive 11 miles of dirt roads in it. It was muddy, sloppy, and several sections flooded quickly. One camper transferred their stay, but a few brave souls still made the journey (thank you!). By evening, most of the **bypass routes** around the deep puddles had dried up, and things became much more manageable.
Life off-grid means always being prepared for the unpredictable—and rolling with it when the monsoon season hits.
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### Introducing: **Melodie’s Oddities Music Booking**
In other exciting news, I’ve officially launched **Melodie’s Oddities**—a small, independent music booking venture that was born from personal experience and necessity.
As many of you know, we have a very unique act: **Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band**, a darkly humorous live performance blending **animatronics, original songs, parodies, and theatrical storytelling.** It’s weird, wild, and unlike anything else out there.
The challenge? Most traditional booking agents didn’t know what to do with us. If you weren’t country, rock, or something they already understood, they didn’t bite. So after handling all the outreach myself for months—researching venues, building promo materials, and sending emails—I realized something important:
> *Maybe there’s a place for the “too weird” acts. And maybe I could help create it.*
I’m not a full-time agent. I don’t cold call. I’m not a music industry insider. But I *am* someone who saw a gap and decided to fill it. And that’s where **Melodie’s Oddities** began.
Right now, I focus on **email-based venue outreach** and support for artists who don’t fit the usual mold—acts that are **dark, unique, offbeat, or theatrical**, especially those who haven’t found traditional industry support. If that sounds like your band or project, reach out. I may not have all the answers, but I care deeply about helping strange, amazing music find its stage.
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### Building Something Different
So while the roads may be muddy out here, we’re still moving forward. Whether it’s launching an odd little booking project, planning upcoming shows for Advocatus Diaboli, or drying out the campground after another monsoon, we’re always building something a little different.
Because out here—weird is welcome.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
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#MelodiesOddities #StrokeRecovery #OffGridLife #DesertLiving #KaHoonCampground #AdvocatusDiaboli #GrimLeaferBand #AnimatronicBand #WeirdMusic #MusicHeals #MonsoonSeason #AlternativeBooking #SupportStrangeMusic #UnconventionalBands #UniqueShows
Rain Creeps Across Rio Grande Valley—Heading Straight for Us on the Mesa!
On our way home, we paused to film a peaceful but beautiful rainstorm moving across the Rio Grande Valley toward our mesa. Moments like this are why we love off-grid desert life.
🌐 Learn more at: [www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com](http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com)
\#KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter #RioGrandeValley #OffGridLife #DesertRain #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #NatureMoments
Advocatus Diaboli Stuns TikTok Live with Haunting “Soldier of Fortune” Performance!
Advocatus Diaboli Delivers Soulful Cover of “Soldier of Fortune” on TikTok Live
Last night’s Colquhoun Entertainment TikTok Live brought something truly special—**Advocatus Diaboli** performed a powerful rendition of the classic **“Soldier of Fortune.”** Streaming live from the Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center stage, the performance carried raw emotion, haunting melody, and the signature dramatic flair that fans have come to love.
“Soldier of Fortune” is a song that tells a story of weariness, wandering, and quiet strength—and Advocatus Diaboli embodied every note with a depth that gave the classic new life.
Though there wasn’t a full set or full band, sometimes less is more. The focus on the vocals gave listeners a stripped-back and soulful connection to the lyrics, echoing through the desert night.
Colquhoun Entertainment’s TikTok lives continue to bring unique content from our off-grid location—where the spirit of music, storytelling, and theatrical presence thrives under the stars.
If you missed it, keep an eye out for upcoming live sessions. You never know when Advocatus Diaboli will emerge from the shadows for another unforgettable performance.
http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#AdvocatusDiaboli, #SoldierOfFortune, #ColquhounEntertainment, #KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter, #TikTokLive, #LiveMusic, #DesertPerformance, #OffGridEntertainment, #EmotionalCover, #TheatricalMusic, #RockBallad, #DesertStage, #MusicInTheDesert, #HauntingVocals, #LiveFromTheDesert
We Drove Through a Flooded Desert Road—Water Over the Doors!
**Monsoon Season Hits the Desert With a Vengeance: Our Flooded Road Adventure**
Living off-grid in the New Mexico desert means you’re always at the mercy of nature—and monsoon season doesn’t show mercy. This year, it came in swinging.
We had heard the monsoon was headed our way, so we made a quick run into town to grab water and essentials. What we didn’t expect was just how fast the roads would flood. Eleven miles of dirt road turned into a wild riverbed, and by the time we hit mile five, we were deep in it—literally.
The water rose fast and high, at points reaching the bottom of the car doors. We had the pedal to the floor and still barely crept forward. The car’s exhaust bubbled under the surface of the flood water as we pushed through—hoping not to stall out.
And just like that, we reached home—where it hadn’t rained at all. The land was dry. Not a single drop. That’s the strange beauty of monsoon season in the high desert: one area can be underwater while another stays bone dry.
🎥 **Watch the video** of our wild journey back home and see for yourself what life off-grid in the desert really looks like during a monsoon.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter, #MelodiesOddities, #MonsoonSeason2025, #OffGridLife, #DesertFlooding, #NewMexicoWeather, #FloodedRoads, #DesertLiving, #StormAdventure, #MonsoonMadness, #HighDesertLife, #RuralRoads, #FloodWatch, #LivingOnTheEdge, #RainOrShineDesertLife
He Sang Again After the Stroke 😱 | Advocatus Diaboli’s Incredible Comeback
The trip to the ER felt endless. I was terrified of what we’d find out—and part of me wanted to turn around and pretend none of it was happening. When Brent stopped twitching for a moment, I almost did. But something deeper told me: keep going.
At Lovelace and the Heart Hospital in Albuquerque, the doctors and nurses were incredible. They treated us with care and respect when we needed it most.
This healing journey hasn’t just been Brent’s—it’s touched all of us.
The day we returned home and he stepped into the studio to sing, I completely fell apart. I hadn’t known if I’d ever hear that voice again. Music is Brent’s passion—it’s part of who he is.
Some of my favorite moments in life are spent with him in the studio—rehearsing, singing, doing livestreams—not for an audience, but because we love it. Seeing him light up on stage or during a stream makes everything feel right. And I’ll admit… I was scared of losing that, of losing *us* in that way.
Recovery hasn’t been easy, especially with his hand and arm. He goes to physical and occupational therapy twice a week, and we do exercises and massage together every day at home.
He doesn’t always notice the small improvements. But I do.
Every time he moves a finger, grips something, or bends his wrist a little further, I see progress. I see strength. I see him.
We couldn’t have completed the shower project without him. His help—his presence—meant everything.
I know Brent doesn’t always feel like himself these days. But I see his light in every little victory. I see the man I love, growing stronger, even when he doesn’t see it himself.
And through all of this, I’ve realized something:
**I love him even more than I ever knew.**
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#BrentStrong, #MusicHeals, #AdvocatusDiaboli, #GrimLeaferBand, #StrokeRecovery, #LiveMusic, #StudioVibes, #OffGridLiving, #PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter, #TinyStageBigHeart, #HealingThroughMusic, #ComebackStory, #DesertPerformance, #MusicianLife
We Finally Took Our FIRST Off-Grid Shower! (But It Didn’t Go Exactly As Planned 😅)
Yesterday was a big day—we got to take our **first shower in our new off-grid shower setup**! After all the planning, ordering, adjusting, and waiting on parts, it felt amazing to finally rinse off right here at home.
Of course, no DIY project is ever *truly* finished on the first go. We’ve still got a few tweaks to make:
* The **drain piece we picked up was a bit too small**, so we’ll need to replace it with a better-fitting one.
* Right now, we’re **placing the water pump inside the shower when not in use**, but that’s not a long-term solution. We need to build or repurpose a small box or container to house it safely and neatly.
* Our **on-demand water heater runs on D batteries**, and the rechargeable ones we bought aren’t doing the trick. I’m going to give them one more good charge and see if that helps—if not, we’ll pick up some regular D batteries to test it out.
* We also need to **install a hanger for the showerhead** to avoid the awkward balancing act we’ve been doing.
* And last but not least—we’re on the hunt for **pallets and posts to build an outdoor privacy wall** around the shower.
Until the privacy wall goes up, showering means dressing and undressing under the wide open desert sky. It’s totally fine when it’s just us out here, but less ideal when we have visitors or campers on-site.
Still, all of that aside—**being able to shower at home again feels like a luxury.** It’s a simple thing we used to take for granted, and now it’s a real treat to step into our own outdoor setup, clean off the desert dust, and not have to plan a trip to town for something so basic.
We’ll keep updating as we fine-tune the setup and build the privacy wall. Off-grid life may not always be convenient, but it’s always rewarding—especially when you finally get to feel clean at home.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving, #DIYShowerBuild, #DesertLife, #TinyHomeProjects, #OutdoorShower, #HomesteadLife, #ShowerProgress, #KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter, #PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #WaterStorageSolutions, #PrivacyWallBuild, #OnDemandWaterHeater, #IBCSetup, #DesertHomestead, #OffGridCouple**
Off-Grid Shower Build: Parts, Progress, and a Bit of Trial and Error
Living off-grid in the New Mexico desert is full of problem-solving—and our current project, building an off-grid shower system, has tested every bit of our patience (and creativity).
We’re using water stored in an IBC tote and creating a basic but functional setup. Since many people in this area use IBC totes for water storage, we thought the parts would be easy to find locally. After stops at both Lowe’s and Home Depot, though, we came up empty-handed.
Thankfully, we were able to order most of what we needed online—and even managed to pick up a drain piece in person that we *hope* will work. Now we’re just waiting on the final parts to arrive. Once they’re in, we’ll start assembling everything. Fingers crossed it’s all the right stuff, and everything fits and works as planned.
This build has taken longer than usual—not because it’s overly complicated, but because Anne and I are not exactly seasoned builders. I’ll be the first to admit: I’m not a contractor.
What’s made a huge difference is Brent’s involvement. As he continues to heal from his multiple strokes, he’s slowly gaining more movement in his left arm, hand, and fingers. It’s been incredible having him able to help again—it’s not only sped things up, but also made the process feel a lot more hopeful.
Every project we tackle out here teaches us something new. And while this one has come with a few more learning curves than expected, we’re getting there—piece by piece.
We’ll share an update once the system is fully installed and working. Until then, we’re staying positive, staying dusty, and staying determined.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridShowerBuild #DesertLiving #OffGridCouple #TinyHomeProjects #IBCToteWaterStorage #DIYNotContractors #StrokeRecoveryJourney #ShowerBuildUpdate #HomesteadProgress #LearningAsWeGo #OffGridLife #NewMexicoDesert #BrentStrong
