NYC, Boston
So I need to slam through this quick so I can get on my new PID article while, you know...working.
NYC
I was in some dread of the drive to NYC because of weather. Turns out the weather was perfect the entire time! I didn't get lost until I got out of the tunnel, and even when Google Maps's directions imploded at a critical juncture, I used my natural sense of direction, a couple of key landmarks ("I think that was the Chinese restaurant I peed outside of the last time I was at Bowery") and made it there JUST in time for my pre-show workshop.
Its always awesome to see the crew there, and I love how everyone has a job. Shappy remains a top-shelf MC, and what can I say about Cristin that hasn't been said before? She's a light. I'm always a little overwhelmed at the people who make the effort to come see me perform that may not usually show up. It means a LOT (even when you come late, YOU-KNOW-WHO-YOU-ARE).
I read three Poetry is Doomed articles and it was the right three. It was really interesting to read the one I did in December about Elizabeth Alexander mere hours after she read at the inauguration. I sound like a smarmy psychic! A couple of really good questions about being critical, and we were off to the races.
The set was the right stuff at the right time. Doing the pre-show bit helps prep the room too, so I don't know why every feature that comes through that gets offered to do that doesn't take them up on it. Outside of the pay bump, it's a chance to connect with the audience before you go into your hack. But then I've been re-investing in an old model for features lately that's served me very well, so I'm biased.
They sang me happy birthday and provided cake. Now THAT? That's class.
Afterwards there was food next door, some Robin Roberts drooling, and late night conversation with Cristin in an awesome condo overlooking the city. 28 floors in the air is the New York you see in the movies. We went back and forth on poets and poetics and I realized that it was the first time we've ever had a conversation longer than five minutes long. Yeah, we do email, but she makes it so easy to let it all out. When I woke up the next morning, we did it again, with the poets and the poetics, as New York rubbed sleep out of its eye.
BOSTON
Cambridge, officially. I decided to hit the road out of NYC early and spend some time in Mass. The only other time I'd been there it got short shrift, so I sought to fix that a little. I spent some time in a coupel of record stores (Cheapo Records and one whose name I forget). I bought a Freddie Hubbard LP at Cheapo. The stores are about on par with Used Kids here. I spoent some time at Pandemonium, which is a nerd store (books and games). It's no Soldiery here, but they do have a very dungeon-like basement for gamers to hang out in and they sport demo games (opened boxes). I would have bought Arkham Horror anyway, but it would have been cool to play it first just to say I did it.
Aside: Columbus people dog Columbus a lot about what it offers, or doesn't. I maintain that what you find in many other cities Columbus has, and many times at the same level. Get some new hobbies and the city will open up for you.
Had dinner before the gig across the street at Picante, which I cannot recommend highly enough for Mexican on the cheap. I usually don't eat before a gig, but I had some time if things went south. Turns out it was a perfect blend of good food that didn't make me feel sleepy or grump-bellied.
The Cantab is the Cantab: awesome, packed to the gills at start time, with the longest open mic list anywhere. I was trying to figure out why a room full of people weren't trying to ruish and grab seats and it was becuase they were all in line to sign up for the show. Mike McGee was there and made a funny joke about not being used to waiting in lines for open mics. It was something to see.
Again, I was struck by the people who made the effort to come, and the geenral comraderie of the venue. It had been two years since I was last there, and I couldn't wait to get back. Simione runs an awesome night, and there's a great crew there: Adam, Muse...awesome folks. Got to see Victor and Lea, who, no matter what, I never get more than five minutes face time with in all these years. they'll be in Columbus soon though, so we'll fix that proper.
Adam gave me a couple of awesome graphic novels (thank you!) and I proceeded to try to condemn the building with my feature. It was an awesome time, and you can tell how cool things were going when you glance at my setlist and see "Scowl" on the list. I perform this one almost nowhere. The room has to be really right and I have to belive that they'll get at least 50% of the references (or really see where the "Howl"-isms are in the piece). It's fun, and when I'm having fun, everyone's having fun.
I stayed for the whole show (midnight!) and then hit The Road. I capitalize it because it was very much like driving through a Cormac McCarthy novel: dreaded. I pulled over a lot. A LOT. I got home shortly before yesterday's post.
- - -
I am in the middle of responding to a friend's email about what good comes of these money-draining, wormholes-in-time trips. I mean, when you got about $300+ in overhead and countless hours invested, why go do a show for $100 three states away?
It's the show. There is nothing like getting up on that stage in front of a room filled with peers and people who don't know you and dropping bomb after bomb on their heads.
Nothing.
NYC
I was in some dread of the drive to NYC because of weather. Turns out the weather was perfect the entire time! I didn't get lost until I got out of the tunnel, and even when Google Maps's directions imploded at a critical juncture, I used my natural sense of direction, a couple of key landmarks ("I think that was the Chinese restaurant I peed outside of the last time I was at Bowery") and made it there JUST in time for my pre-show workshop.
Its always awesome to see the crew there, and I love how everyone has a job. Shappy remains a top-shelf MC, and what can I say about Cristin that hasn't been said before? She's a light. I'm always a little overwhelmed at the people who make the effort to come see me perform that may not usually show up. It means a LOT (even when you come late, YOU-KNOW-WHO-YOU-ARE).
I read three Poetry is Doomed articles and it was the right three. It was really interesting to read the one I did in December about Elizabeth Alexander mere hours after she read at the inauguration. I sound like a smarmy psychic! A couple of really good questions about being critical, and we were off to the races.
The set was the right stuff at the right time. Doing the pre-show bit helps prep the room too, so I don't know why every feature that comes through that gets offered to do that doesn't take them up on it. Outside of the pay bump, it's a chance to connect with the audience before you go into your hack. But then I've been re-investing in an old model for features lately that's served me very well, so I'm biased.
They sang me happy birthday and provided cake. Now THAT? That's class.
Afterwards there was food next door, some Robin Roberts drooling, and late night conversation with Cristin in an awesome condo overlooking the city. 28 floors in the air is the New York you see in the movies. We went back and forth on poets and poetics and I realized that it was the first time we've ever had a conversation longer than five minutes long. Yeah, we do email, but she makes it so easy to let it all out. When I woke up the next morning, we did it again, with the poets and the poetics, as New York rubbed sleep out of its eye.
BOSTON
Cambridge, officially. I decided to hit the road out of NYC early and spend some time in Mass. The only other time I'd been there it got short shrift, so I sought to fix that a little. I spent some time in a coupel of record stores (Cheapo Records and one whose name I forget). I bought a Freddie Hubbard LP at Cheapo. The stores are about on par with Used Kids here. I spoent some time at Pandemonium, which is a nerd store (books and games). It's no Soldiery here, but they do have a very dungeon-like basement for gamers to hang out in and they sport demo games (opened boxes). I would have bought Arkham Horror anyway, but it would have been cool to play it first just to say I did it.
Aside: Columbus people dog Columbus a lot about what it offers, or doesn't. I maintain that what you find in many other cities Columbus has, and many times at the same level. Get some new hobbies and the city will open up for you.
Had dinner before the gig across the street at Picante, which I cannot recommend highly enough for Mexican on the cheap. I usually don't eat before a gig, but I had some time if things went south. Turns out it was a perfect blend of good food that didn't make me feel sleepy or grump-bellied.
The Cantab is the Cantab: awesome, packed to the gills at start time, with the longest open mic list anywhere. I was trying to figure out why a room full of people weren't trying to ruish and grab seats and it was becuase they were all in line to sign up for the show. Mike McGee was there and made a funny joke about not being used to waiting in lines for open mics. It was something to see.
Again, I was struck by the people who made the effort to come, and the geenral comraderie of the venue. It had been two years since I was last there, and I couldn't wait to get back. Simione runs an awesome night, and there's a great crew there: Adam, Muse...awesome folks. Got to see Victor and Lea, who, no matter what, I never get more than five minutes face time with in all these years. they'll be in Columbus soon though, so we'll fix that proper.
Adam gave me a couple of awesome graphic novels (thank you!) and I proceeded to try to condemn the building with my feature. It was an awesome time, and you can tell how cool things were going when you glance at my setlist and see "Scowl" on the list. I perform this one almost nowhere. The room has to be really right and I have to belive that they'll get at least 50% of the references (or really see where the "Howl"-isms are in the piece). It's fun, and when I'm having fun, everyone's having fun.
I stayed for the whole show (midnight!) and then hit The Road. I capitalize it because it was very much like driving through a Cormac McCarthy novel: dreaded. I pulled over a lot. A LOT. I got home shortly before yesterday's post.
- - -
I am in the middle of responding to a friend's email about what good comes of these money-draining, wormholes-in-time trips. I mean, when you got about $300+ in overhead and countless hours invested, why go do a show for $100 three states away?
It's the show. There is nothing like getting up on that stage in front of a room filled with peers and people who don't know you and dropping bomb after bomb on their heads.
Nothing.