A week late: Recap of the IndieFeed / NYC Urbana Showcase and Party
Hey All...
It's been a week now, and I really should have posted this note shortly after the event. But to be honest, I was kind of exhausted, and then I managed to get sick, and so I've been holed up and nursing my wounds here in New York for the past week (in my little cubby hole on 3rd street with the four foot high ceilings).
But let me just say: The event at the BPC on the 27th was friggin' amazing! I think it's not overstating the matter to say we had more talent on one stage, in one evening, than at least *I* have ever seen! Let me thank, first off, those who performed!
Bob Holman
Shappy Seasholtz
Eboni Hogan
Chad Anderson
Nicole Homer
Evert Eden
Jeanann Verlee
Jon Sands
Darian Dauchan
Adam Falkner
Jonathan Chin
Ian Khadan
Lynne Procope
Topher Cusumano
Maximus Parthas
Ngoma
Tony Brown & Faro (Duende)
Mike McGee
Mahogany Browne
Helena D. Lewis
Emily Kagan Trenchard
Gary Mex Glazner
Soul Thomas Evans
Kelly Zen Yie Tsai
Wess Mongo Jolley
It was amazing to see one stunning poet after another hit that stage. And although I was totally hyped up on adrenalin the whole night, I was acutely aware that everyone was bringing their best game, and the audience was knocked off their feet, again and again.
I want to note one special name that is NOT on the list above, and that is Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (twosnoos ). As the evening progressed, Cristin and I realized that we were going way over time, and we were in danger of having to cut folks off the bottom of the list in order to get out on time. First we cut out one of the interviews (thanks, Tony and Faro, for being so gracious about that), but we still were running long. She and I were the last two poets, and I tried to get her to cut my piece. But she'd have none of it, and dropped herself off the list instead.
It's that selflessness and willingness to put the work of others above her own that makes me love Cristin so very much. And without getting all emotional and maudlin here (which I have a tendency to do when I talk about Cristin), this show would never have happened if she hadn't, first, had the idea, and second, worked to make it all come off so smoothly.
I should also note that if she hadn't kept reassuring me that IT WOULD ALL BE FINE, and that I needed to RELAX, I probably would not have been able to hide the fact that I was a nervous mess.
This woman is a community treasure. She deserves big hugs from every poet who happens to cross her path.
Anyway, that's it. I just wanted to thank everyone who made this show a success, and say again: I love this community. I love these poets. And I love this city.
--Mongo
P.S... Some great photos of the night are here (courtesy of Ion), here (courtesy of Maximus Parthas), and here (courtesy of Mike McGee). Check them out!
P.P.S... I have all the recordings from the night, but I won't be able to hear them until I get back to Vermont (my computer I brought doesn't have a CD drive). But stay tuned to IndieFeed to start hearing these pieces on the show, probably early in 2010, and also, stay tuned for a special promotional CD (maybe even a 2 CD set) of the night! Yahoo!!!!!! {:{)}
It's been a week now, and I really should have posted this note shortly after the event. But to be honest, I was kind of exhausted, and then I managed to get sick, and so I've been holed up and nursing my wounds here in New York for the past week (in my little cubby hole on 3rd street with the four foot high ceilings).
But let me just say: The event at the BPC on the 27th was friggin' amazing! I think it's not overstating the matter to say we had more talent on one stage, in one evening, than at least *I* have ever seen! Let me thank, first off, those who performed!
Bob Holman
Shappy Seasholtz
Eboni Hogan
Chad Anderson
Nicole Homer
Evert Eden
Jeanann Verlee
Jon Sands
Darian Dauchan
Adam Falkner
Jonathan Chin
Ian Khadan
Lynne Procope
Topher Cusumano
Maximus Parthas
Ngoma
Tony Brown & Faro (Duende)
Mike McGee
Mahogany Browne
Helena D. Lewis
Emily Kagan Trenchard
Gary Mex Glazner
Soul Thomas Evans
Kelly Zen Yie Tsai
Wess Mongo Jolley
It was amazing to see one stunning poet after another hit that stage. And although I was totally hyped up on adrenalin the whole night, I was acutely aware that everyone was bringing their best game, and the audience was knocked off their feet, again and again.
I want to note one special name that is NOT on the list above, and that is Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (twosnoos ). As the evening progressed, Cristin and I realized that we were going way over time, and we were in danger of having to cut folks off the bottom of the list in order to get out on time. First we cut out one of the interviews (thanks, Tony and Faro, for being so gracious about that), but we still were running long. She and I were the last two poets, and I tried to get her to cut my piece. But she'd have none of it, and dropped herself off the list instead.
It's that selflessness and willingness to put the work of others above her own that makes me love Cristin so very much. And without getting all emotional and maudlin here (which I have a tendency to do when I talk about Cristin), this show would never have happened if she hadn't, first, had the idea, and second, worked to make it all come off so smoothly.
I should also note that if she hadn't kept reassuring me that IT WOULD ALL BE FINE, and that I needed to RELAX, I probably would not have been able to hide the fact that I was a nervous mess.
This woman is a community treasure. She deserves big hugs from every poet who happens to cross her path.
Anyway, that's it. I just wanted to thank everyone who made this show a success, and say again: I love this community. I love these poets. And I love this city.
--Mongo
P.S... Some great photos of the night are here (courtesy of Ion), here (courtesy of Maximus Parthas), and here (courtesy of Mike McGee). Check them out!
P.P.S... I have all the recordings from the night, but I won't be able to hear them until I get back to Vermont (my computer I brought doesn't have a CD drive). But stay tuned to IndieFeed to start hearing these pieces on the show, probably early in 2010, and also, stay tuned for a special promotional CD (maybe even a 2 CD set) of the night! Yahoo!!!!!! {:{)}