Jan Steckel's Blog: Horizontal Poet Sings Bidyke Blues - Posts Tagged "julene-tripp-weaver"
Band of Poets
Monday night, July 18, I had a terrific time at North End Forum, a reading in the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle. I can honestly call this one of the best open mics I've ever been to, and I've been to a LOT of open mics. This one, organized by singer, poet and guitarist Jed Myers, had as much music as poetry, and both were top-notch. The poets and musicians welcomed new Seattle resident Tracy Koretsky and me to read a few extra poems, and they received us convivially.
High points for me included (but were not limited to) the music of the Band of Poets, which consisted of the host with vocals and guitar; pediatrician Ted on the drums; Ted's wife Roseanne on the harmonica; and a very good female vocalist whose name I didn't catch. Later they were joined by a trumpeter named Philip, who also read very witty poetry. A singer-songwriter named Jacob played guitar like James Taylor and sang like Gordon Lightfoot, one of those basses you can feel in your chest like drums.
Early in the evening, a startlingly talented young poet named Chase Evans moved me to a standing ovation. Turns out he has a band named Slow Bunny and appears in Seattle slams. My husband Hew made everybody laugh with his poem "What Would Jesus Do?"
Tracy Koretsky, my friend from Berkeley who co-featured, knocked me back with her superb work, expertly delivered as always. She just gets better and better. Tracy and I also got to spend an afternoon writing together by a poolside. She really taught me a lot about craft.
Julene Tripp Weaver, a friend from this website, showed up and sat next to me! What a thrill to meet her in person. My only regret is that she had to leave at the break, before I could hear her read. I did manage to snag a copy of her new book, though, which I'm really looking forward to reading.
This trip to Seattle marked a milestone for me. It's the first time I've been physically able to travel that far in about six years. Colorado and Chicago, here we come!
If you live in Seattle or pass through, don't miss North End Forum (certain Monday nights at Bai Pai Lounge) and the remarkable Band of Poets.
High points for me included (but were not limited to) the music of the Band of Poets, which consisted of the host with vocals and guitar; pediatrician Ted on the drums; Ted's wife Roseanne on the harmonica; and a very good female vocalist whose name I didn't catch. Later they were joined by a trumpeter named Philip, who also read very witty poetry. A singer-songwriter named Jacob played guitar like James Taylor and sang like Gordon Lightfoot, one of those basses you can feel in your chest like drums.
Early in the evening, a startlingly talented young poet named Chase Evans moved me to a standing ovation. Turns out he has a band named Slow Bunny and appears in Seattle slams. My husband Hew made everybody laugh with his poem "What Would Jesus Do?"
Tracy Koretsky, my friend from Berkeley who co-featured, knocked me back with her superb work, expertly delivered as always. She just gets better and better. Tracy and I also got to spend an afternoon writing together by a poolside. She really taught me a lot about craft.
Julene Tripp Weaver, a friend from this website, showed up and sat next to me! What a thrill to meet her in person. My only regret is that she had to leave at the break, before I could hear her read. I did manage to snag a copy of her new book, though, which I'm really looking forward to reading.
This trip to Seattle marked a milestone for me. It's the first time I've been physically able to travel that far in about six years. Colorado and Chicago, here we come!
If you live in Seattle or pass through, don't miss North End Forum (certain Monday nights at Bai Pai Lounge) and the remarkable Band of Poets.
Horizontal Poet Sings Bidyke Blues
Bidyke writer and disabled former pediatrician Jan Steckel writes about poetry, fiction, sexuality, doctoring, poverty, and what it feels like to remember what kind of socks everyone at her readings w
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