Forget all the trendy, hipper-than-thou performance art pieces you've ever seen and get ready for some real fun with the WIGband. The WIGband (Women in Grace) provides a unique experience, combining film, song and unusual props in a multimedia extravaganza. Unlike most performance art, the WIGband shows are intentionally humorous, using satire to get the points across. They want to audience to have a good time, to laugh and to dress up in some primary colors.

WIGband member Johanna Poethig (the self-described "daughter of missionaries") is a visual artist and muralist who, along with sister WIG and songwriter Barbara Golden ("ex-housewife turned born-again multi media artiste") has composed the many songs for which the WIGband is justly famous. These include "Steroid Rock", "Just Say Yes", "Liposuction" and their newest offering, "Clit Envy". Along with WIG filmmaker, Helen Prince, Poethig and Golden have been performing since 1986, attracting appreciate fans along the way.

The WIGband started when longtime friends Poethig and Golden began writing songs together just for fun. Pretty soon, it was ,"Hey let's put on a show!" Their latest collaboration, "Lifestyles of the Poor and Shameless" premiering on June 23rd at Centerspace, includes newest member Sofie Siegmann, who's responsible for "dance and exotic effects". "Lifestyles" also features the music played by The Hogs (William Winant "quintessential hog", Chris Brown and Mark Trayle).

This show, like most of the WIGband material, came about from "Just hanging about and venting our spleens," Poethig says. She further explains that writing "is a very organic process--we get pissed off about something and then write a song about it."

If you're very politically correct, then the WIGband probably isn't for you, but if you're looking for some fun with a bite to it presented by serious artists who don't take themselves too seriously then check it out. You'll be glad you did.

WIGband and The Hogs present "Lifestyles of the Poor and Shameless" on June 23rd and 24th at 8:30pm at Centerspace, 2840 Mariposa (next to Theatre Artaud), SF, $6.