TAXLO - Taxidermy Lodge History and Archive
Early Taxidermy Lodge (TAXLO) History and So Say the Waiters (The kidnApp)
Taxlo or Taxidermy Lodge was founded by Justin Sirois, Jason Urick, and Mike Singer in 2002. It was a Monday night indie dance party at the Goodlove Bar in Baltimore, Maryland. When Goodlove burned down in 2003, the party was moved to The Talking Head Club (THC) in the old location of The Ottobar on Davis Street in Baltimore. Soon after, the party picked up another night on Friday at Sonar just around the corner from The Talking Head.
Key co-founding DJs include
- Mike Singer (DJ Mikey)
- Greg Magliacane
- Dan Rumain
- Jason Urick
- Ben Paris
- Tonie Joy
- Drew Nelson
Baltimore native Guy Blakeslee played one of is first shows as Entrance at Taxlo.
During the GoodLove days, other DJs also played. Simon the Phoenix and Cullen Stalin among them. Dave Nada, Chris O, Dereck Fenwick, and Lonnie Fisher (owner of Sonar) also DJ'd regularly. Simon and Cullen would become essential curators for the nights, bringing talent from both DC and Philadelphia. They brought in DJs and performers like Michelle Mae, Diplo, M.I.A., Hollertronix, Spankrock, K Swift, Dan Deacon, and more.
Justin left Taxlo in 2006 to focus on writing. The party went on for another two years and is occasionally revived for special events.
In hardcover for the first time to celebrate Taxlo's 25th and Severed Books 15th anniversary, this new edition of So Say the Waiters has new material including a forward by author Justin Sirois. Coming to Kickstarter in early 2027.
Optioned for TV and Film
So Say the Waiters (now named The kidnApp) was almost immediately optioned for TV/film after its publication in September of 2012. Justin wrote the pilot, full series outline, show bible, and look book though, after four years, it was was not picked up for production. Respect to Jeffrey Pratt Gordon for giving it a great shot. The pilot and look book PDF were in circulation for years with interest from Anonymous Content, Johnathan Frakes, and director Chirs Grimser.
Take Me - The Movie by the Duplass Brothers
Take Me was a straight to Netflix film produced by the Duplass Brothers, staring Pat Healy and Taylor Schilling, written by Mike Makowsky. It came out five years after the publication of So Say the Waiters (Now named The kidnApp). Justin Sirois did not have anything to do with this film and the makers of the film deny any connection to the novel. Justin stopped writing fiction and scripts after Take Me came out due to its devastating emotional impact.