Victor D. Infante's Blog, page 166
March 1, 2013
The Newspaper Shuffle: Los Angeles and New England
There are two big questions on the business side of the journalism business these days: Who will buy the New England Media Group, which includes the Boston Globe and my employer, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and who will buy the Los Angeles Times. Curiously, these keep being addressed in the press as unrelated questions, as though they were pieces on different corporate game boards. They are not: several of the same potential buyers have been name checked for each media group, and indeed, Evercore Partners is handling both sales, which puts that organization in an interesting brokerage position. Most observers, mostly speaking out of regional interest, have reflected on the possibility of individual companies being broken up -- say, the Telegram being separated out from the The Globe -- but no one has really explored the possibility of an even bigger media merger, even though some of the players have been definitely eyeing expanding their media holdings.
It's definitely the less likely scenario, but it's not entirely out of the question, especially as -- as The Daily Show so effectively spoofed -- "merger mania" is in the air. Aaron Kushner, current publisher of The Orange County Register, has at various times expressed interest in both groups. Warren Buffett is on a buying spree. Generally, I think smaller news organizations are both more profitable and easier to manage, but then, corporate America has never been entirely sensible.
Of course, being a displaced Southern Californian in New England with personal and professional ties to both media properties, I'm hardly objective in the matter: I couched my feelings on the Telegram being up for sale in an essay revisiting the album Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails. (My friend and colleague Dianne Williamson wrote about it much more sensibly here.)
Others, less emotionally invested, have been writing about the potential sales more clinically. Worcester Magazine has a pretty good story on what might happen to the Telegram, which features, as one Telegram reporter pointed out, a pretty classy quote from the police chief, who has no reason to be friendly toward the paper, and a hilariously self-serving quote from that Four Loco website. LA Weekly has a story out on what might happen with the LA Times. (Interestingly, I've been personally and professionally involved with both of those papers, too. All of which reminds me that I'm old and have worked, mostly freelance, for a lot of companies over the years.)
But really, when it comes right down to it, everyone is speculating. No one knows a damn thing right now, and that's what makes this all a bit maddening. Somewhere, less than a year down the road, there's going to be a major realignment of the media companies we currently refer to as "newspapers." It's going to be a fairly substantive change, but whether it's for the better or worse ... no one knows. Maybe those terms don't even mean anything. Maybe it'll just be different.
Whatever happens, the change feels both overwhelmingly large and terrifyingly personal. I don't know how to wrap my brain around that dichotomy. I only know how to write.
It's definitely the less likely scenario, but it's not entirely out of the question, especially as -- as The Daily Show so effectively spoofed -- "merger mania" is in the air. Aaron Kushner, current publisher of The Orange County Register, has at various times expressed interest in both groups. Warren Buffett is on a buying spree. Generally, I think smaller news organizations are both more profitable and easier to manage, but then, corporate America has never been entirely sensible.
Of course, being a displaced Southern Californian in New England with personal and professional ties to both media properties, I'm hardly objective in the matter: I couched my feelings on the Telegram being up for sale in an essay revisiting the album Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails. (My friend and colleague Dianne Williamson wrote about it much more sensibly here.)
Others, less emotionally invested, have been writing about the potential sales more clinically. Worcester Magazine has a pretty good story on what might happen to the Telegram, which features, as one Telegram reporter pointed out, a pretty classy quote from the police chief, who has no reason to be friendly toward the paper, and a hilariously self-serving quote from that Four Loco website. LA Weekly has a story out on what might happen with the LA Times. (Interestingly, I've been personally and professionally involved with both of those papers, too. All of which reminds me that I'm old and have worked, mostly freelance, for a lot of companies over the years.)
But really, when it comes right down to it, everyone is speculating. No one knows a damn thing right now, and that's what makes this all a bit maddening. Somewhere, less than a year down the road, there's going to be a major realignment of the media companies we currently refer to as "newspapers." It's going to be a fairly substantive change, but whether it's for the better or worse ... no one knows. Maybe those terms don't even mean anything. Maybe it'll just be different.
Whatever happens, the change feels both overwhelmingly large and terrifyingly personal. I don't know how to wrap my brain around that dichotomy. I only know how to write.
February 26, 2013
Updated Readings Schedule: Mass., Calif., Maine, New Hampshire ...
Geez, Louise, this year's getting hectic. Here's the updated schedule, with a couple additions, and some more details on a few previously announced shows. Busy? Busy.
Write Bloody Publishing Showcase at AWP
Featuring WB authors Anis Mojgani, Amber Tamblyn, Mindy Nettifee, Derrick Brown, Jeanann Verlee, Jon Sands, Cristin O'Keefe-Aptowicz, Buddy Wakefield, Taylor Mali, Lauren Zuniga, Laura Yes Yes, Jade Sylvan, Victor Infante, Lea Deschenes, Elaina Ellis, Jeremy Radin, Daniel McGinn, Daniel Nester, Megan Falley and Miles Walser, with special musical guest Gracious Calamity and, on the keyboard, Adam Falkner.
Community Church of Boston
565 Boylston St.
Boston, MA, 02116
7 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2013
Barnes & Noble Bookstore Open Mic
Victor features
Barnes & Noble -- Lincoln Plaza
541 Lincoln St.
Worcester, MA, 01605
7 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013
Two Idiots Peddling Poetry
Victor and Lea feature
The Ugly Mug
261 N. Glassell Ave.
Orange, CA, 92866
8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Radius Showcase
Victor and Lea feature, with guest appearances by Radius contributors Carlye Archibeque, Deborah Edler Brown, Brendan Constantine, Daniel McGinn, Jaimes Palacio, Steve Ramirez, Sam Rees and Pam Ward.
Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center
681 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA, 90291
7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2013
The New Shit Show
Victor and Lea feature
Viracocha
998 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA, 94110
8 p.m. Thursday, May 9, 2013
Workshop at 7 p.m.
Rhythmic Cypher
Victor and Lea feature, music by Shane Hall!
Dobrá Tea
151 Middle St.
Portland, Maine, 04101
7 p.m. Sunday, June 9, 2013
Workshop at 6 p.m.
Slam Free or Die
Victor features
Milly's Tavern
500 Commercial St.
Manchester, N.H., 03103
7 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 2013
And still more in the wind. Stay tuned!
February 15, 2013
Well, then ... THAT was a heck of a week ...
It's hard to imagine a more bizarre and random set of elements to squeeze into one week, but there you are.
Sunday, after a day of shoveling snow, found us in Lexington for Jack McCarthy's funeral service. As I've said before, I dislike funerals, and avoid them whenever possible. (Probably a consequence of having to attend too many of them.) But I very much wanted to see Jack's wife, Carol. That's a responsibility to the living, which is an entirely different thing.
Outside, waiting for the service to begin, Tony Brown noticed this:
A touch of American literary history. I think Jack would approve. The service itself was about as appropriate and tasteful as one could have hoped for. My personal dislike of funerals aside, sometimes they're the only place you get to see the totality of a person. I would say I knew Jack well, but I've only known him 20 years. Listening to the talks of his early years, of his deep-seated love of sports and his early troubles, it's clear there were sides of him I barely knew at all. That's probably true for all of us.
I'm glad I went. I'm feeling much more at peace with his being gone. But a quick note about responsibilities to the living: West Coast poet Eric Morago is raising money to help Carol cover the costs of attending these far-flung memorials across the country. If you can help at all, please do so. Also, Jack's final book, "Drunks and other Poems of Recovery," is just now becoming available. It was a book Jack very much wanted people to read, and the royalties go to Carol, so please, pick it up if you can.
I had to skip out of the "open mic memorial" following the service, because I had to live blog the Grammys. Because my life is weird. Anyway, I reflected on the process here, with "An apology to Taylor Swift, and other thoughts on live blogging the Grammys."
Monday, I had my 41st birthday party, featuring at the Dirty Gerund Poetry Series at Ralph's Rock Diner, alongside one of my favorite local musicians, James Keyes. Friday's snowstorm definitely took a bite out of the audience -- it was still hard to get to Worcester, particularly from Boston, and I received many notes from friends and acquaintances who were still exhausted from shoveling all weekend. Which I can relate to. Still, there was still a pretty good sized house, and I had a lot of fun.
Set List :
First Set
"That Old-Time Religion"
"Atomosophobia"
"Waiting For the End of the World"
"On the Outside"
"Sixteen Was the Year"
"Toxic Waltz"
"For Beth & Mindy"
"How to Grow Old Gracefully and Still Love Rock 'n' Roll"
"Letter to Louis, 10 Years Later"
Second Set
Excerpts from "Why We Should Suffer For This"
Most of the first set were poems that appear in my new chapbook, "Toxic Waltz," which I still have some copies of. They're available from me for $5 in person, $7 if I have to mail them. Drop me a line backchannel at Victor.Infante [at] gmail.com if you're interested. (Because it's a limited edition, I can't trade at this time.)
James, of course, was phenomenal. He had a crowd around him after his set, and with good reason. I was shocked at how many people in the room had never heard him before. So if I introduced an amazing artist to an appreciative crowd, I can say that my mission has definitely been accomplished.
My next big show isn't until March, but it's a doozy:
Seriously. I'm terribly excited for this show, and to share the stage with this collection of writers. Many, such as Daniel McGinn, Derrick Brown and Mindy Nettifee, are old, dear friends. Some are amazing young writers I'm just getting to know, such as Miles Walser and Lauren Zuniga. And at least one or two are almost completely new to me. But in any case, this is definitely the show to see during AWP, and since it's an off-site event, you don't need an AWP pass. If you're in the Boston area, don't miss this one. Because people will be talking.
Yesterday, I had the fourth and final round of my ongoing periodontal surgery. Consequently, I slept through most of Valentine's Day, and today I'm supposed to be resting and recuperating more. I intend to putter around the house and read the book on the history of the filibuster that I checked out from the library. Because right now a book on Constitutional history? That sounds positively tranquil.
Sunday, after a day of shoveling snow, found us in Lexington for Jack McCarthy's funeral service. As I've said before, I dislike funerals, and avoid them whenever possible. (Probably a consequence of having to attend too many of them.) But I very much wanted to see Jack's wife, Carol. That's a responsibility to the living, which is an entirely different thing.
Outside, waiting for the service to begin, Tony Brown noticed this:
A touch of American literary history. I think Jack would approve. The service itself was about as appropriate and tasteful as one could have hoped for. My personal dislike of funerals aside, sometimes they're the only place you get to see the totality of a person. I would say I knew Jack well, but I've only known him 20 years. Listening to the talks of his early years, of his deep-seated love of sports and his early troubles, it's clear there were sides of him I barely knew at all. That's probably true for all of us.
I'm glad I went. I'm feeling much more at peace with his being gone. But a quick note about responsibilities to the living: West Coast poet Eric Morago is raising money to help Carol cover the costs of attending these far-flung memorials across the country. If you can help at all, please do so. Also, Jack's final book, "Drunks and other Poems of Recovery," is just now becoming available. It was a book Jack very much wanted people to read, and the royalties go to Carol, so please, pick it up if you can.
I had to skip out of the "open mic memorial" following the service, because I had to live blog the Grammys. Because my life is weird. Anyway, I reflected on the process here, with "An apology to Taylor Swift, and other thoughts on live blogging the Grammys."
Monday, I had my 41st birthday party, featuring at the Dirty Gerund Poetry Series at Ralph's Rock Diner, alongside one of my favorite local musicians, James Keyes. Friday's snowstorm definitely took a bite out of the audience -- it was still hard to get to Worcester, particularly from Boston, and I received many notes from friends and acquaintances who were still exhausted from shoveling all weekend. Which I can relate to. Still, there was still a pretty good sized house, and I had a lot of fun.
Set List :
First Set
"That Old-Time Religion"
"Atomosophobia"
"Waiting For the End of the World"
"On the Outside"
"Sixteen Was the Year"
"Toxic Waltz"
"For Beth & Mindy"
"How to Grow Old Gracefully and Still Love Rock 'n' Roll"
"Letter to Louis, 10 Years Later"
Second Set
Excerpts from "Why We Should Suffer For This"
Most of the first set were poems that appear in my new chapbook, "Toxic Waltz," which I still have some copies of. They're available from me for $5 in person, $7 if I have to mail them. Drop me a line backchannel at Victor.Infante [at] gmail.com if you're interested. (Because it's a limited edition, I can't trade at this time.)
James, of course, was phenomenal. He had a crowd around him after his set, and with good reason. I was shocked at how many people in the room had never heard him before. So if I introduced an amazing artist to an appreciative crowd, I can say that my mission has definitely been accomplished.
My next big show isn't until March, but it's a doozy:
Seriously. I'm terribly excited for this show, and to share the stage with this collection of writers. Many, such as Daniel McGinn, Derrick Brown and Mindy Nettifee, are old, dear friends. Some are amazing young writers I'm just getting to know, such as Miles Walser and Lauren Zuniga. And at least one or two are almost completely new to me. But in any case, this is definitely the show to see during AWP, and since it's an off-site event, you don't need an AWP pass. If you're in the Boston area, don't miss this one. Because people will be talking.
Yesterday, I had the fourth and final round of my ongoing periodontal surgery. Consequently, I slept through most of Valentine's Day, and today I'm supposed to be resting and recuperating more. I intend to putter around the house and read the book on the history of the filibuster that I checked out from the library. Because right now a book on Constitutional history? That sounds positively tranquil.
February 10, 2013
The !!!SNOWPACOLYPSE!!! Rearranges Everything
I can see the 290 freeway in the distance from my kitchen window. Even late at night, I can usually see far away headlights coming and going, vanishing to wherever one goes at that hour. Friday night, during the height of the blizzard, the freeway was empty. Maybe every 15 or 20 minutes or so, I'd see the distinctive blinking lights of an emergency vehicle, but that's all. Friday night was nearly silent.
Needless to say, the weather and the subsequent travel ban has made plans go kablooey. Saturday was spent outside with upstairs neighbor Kate, shoveling snow. Thankfully, some neighbors came by with a snowblower to help finish off the glacier at the bottom of our driveway, or else it would have taken forever. As it was, it took all day. Luckily, the roads were good enough for us to run to Nancy Chang's to grab Chinese food for our floors, as no one was in the mood to cook. On the way there, at the top of Harlow Street, we came across a car stuck in ice. I got out to push, and when that wasn't enough, Kate got out to help. We were soon joined by a young couple who came out of the church, then a big guy saw us from across the street and came over. It took five of us to get that car unstuck, but we finally sent it on its way.
I fell in love a little with my neighborhood yesterday, the way everyone helped each other out.
Yesterday was supposed to be the Northeast memorial for Jack McCarthy, but it's been rescheduled for today at the Follen Unitarian Church in Lexington, Massachusetts at 3PM. The service will be followed by a reception at the church and an open mic at 6:30PM at the Chelmsford Public Library.
I had previously been set for a birthday lunch with my in-laws today, but I've cancelled that to be able to make the service. Can't stay for the open mic, though, because I have to be home in time to LiveBlog the Grammys for Telegram.com. Because work is work, even if it seems a little strange, under the circumstances. I think it's a strangeness Jack would appreciate.
Tomorrow, back to a jam-packed day at the office, with things I delayed working on to get out ahead of the storm. But I can't linger too late, because I have my "41st Birthday Celebration" reading at The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show at 9 p.m. I'll be releasing my new, limited-edition chapbook "Toxic Waltz," and reading selections from the longer piece I have under way, "Why We Should Suffer For This." Also, there will be music from one of my favorite local musicians, James Keyes.
It's going to be a busy next few days. Glad to be out from underneath the snow.
Needless to say, the weather and the subsequent travel ban has made plans go kablooey. Saturday was spent outside with upstairs neighbor Kate, shoveling snow. Thankfully, some neighbors came by with a snowblower to help finish off the glacier at the bottom of our driveway, or else it would have taken forever. As it was, it took all day. Luckily, the roads were good enough for us to run to Nancy Chang's to grab Chinese food for our floors, as no one was in the mood to cook. On the way there, at the top of Harlow Street, we came across a car stuck in ice. I got out to push, and when that wasn't enough, Kate got out to help. We were soon joined by a young couple who came out of the church, then a big guy saw us from across the street and came over. It took five of us to get that car unstuck, but we finally sent it on its way.
I fell in love a little with my neighborhood yesterday, the way everyone helped each other out.
Yesterday was supposed to be the Northeast memorial for Jack McCarthy, but it's been rescheduled for today at the Follen Unitarian Church in Lexington, Massachusetts at 3PM. The service will be followed by a reception at the church and an open mic at 6:30PM at the Chelmsford Public Library.
I had previously been set for a birthday lunch with my in-laws today, but I've cancelled that to be able to make the service. Can't stay for the open mic, though, because I have to be home in time to LiveBlog the Grammys for Telegram.com. Because work is work, even if it seems a little strange, under the circumstances. I think it's a strangeness Jack would appreciate.
Tomorrow, back to a jam-packed day at the office, with things I delayed working on to get out ahead of the storm. But I can't linger too late, because I have my "41st Birthday Celebration" reading at The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show at 9 p.m. I'll be releasing my new, limited-edition chapbook "Toxic Waltz," and reading selections from the longer piece I have under way, "Why We Should Suffer For This." Also, there will be music from one of my favorite local musicians, James Keyes.
It's going to be a busy next few days. Glad to be out from underneath the snow.
February 9, 2013
Jaimes Palacio, archaeologist of the odd, unearths the days when we were young and goofy
Ah, youth.
Back in the late '80s and early '90s, my good friend Jaimes Palacio would convince his friends to let him videotape us doing outlandish things, running around like maniacs and dressing up in silly costumes to make completely silly music videos. Mind, since most of us knew each other from 'Rocky Horror," that behavior was hardly a stretch. Now, more than two decades later, Jaimes has begun posting some of these online. It's like a bizarre time capsule to a different era.
My personal favorite is the one where I play a hit man to the tune of Golden Earing's 'Twilight Zone," but it turns out I can't embed that here because it's only on Facebook. If Jaimes puts it on YouTube, I'll put it up.
This one is pretty much just us goofing around to Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer":
[image error]
A video for The Dickies' "Killer Klowns":
A video for Swing Out Sister's "Breakout!" which I love because everybody just seems so gleeful:
Same with this one for "Hello Cruel World":
And there are many more, mostly over at Jaimes' YouTube channel.
None of them make a lick of sense, but they are awesome.
And dear God, we were young.
But it was SO much fun ...
Back in the late '80s and early '90s, my good friend Jaimes Palacio would convince his friends to let him videotape us doing outlandish things, running around like maniacs and dressing up in silly costumes to make completely silly music videos. Mind, since most of us knew each other from 'Rocky Horror," that behavior was hardly a stretch. Now, more than two decades later, Jaimes has begun posting some of these online. It's like a bizarre time capsule to a different era.
My personal favorite is the one where I play a hit man to the tune of Golden Earing's 'Twilight Zone," but it turns out I can't embed that here because it's only on Facebook. If Jaimes puts it on YouTube, I'll put it up.
This one is pretty much just us goofing around to Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer":
[image error]
Source: youtube.com via Victor on Pinterest
A video for The Dickies' "Killer Klowns":
A video for Swing Out Sister's "Breakout!" which I love because everybody just seems so gleeful:
Same with this one for "Hello Cruel World":
And there are many more, mostly over at Jaimes' YouTube channel.
None of them make a lick of sense, but they are awesome.
And dear God, we were young.
But it was SO much fun ...
February 7, 2013
Thursdays Are For Pimping
Or at least, they used to be. I've been too busy with things to keep up. Still, lots going on, so I should probably give it a go.
The Grammys are on Sunday, of course, and once again I'll be live blogging it for Telegram.com. You can see some of my early thoughts on the Grammy contenders in my column today. In other music stuff in the paper today, Craig Semon talks about the newest from Bat For Lashes, and Alan Sculley talks to Daughtry in advance of their DCU Center show. In realted news, Richard Duckett talks to bull riders. Which is not something that happens every day in Worcester.
Perhaps most exciting is Noah Bombard's online interview with singer-songwriter Cara Brindisi:
In the "things I probably should have mentioned earlier" department, I have a review up of poet Miles Walser at the Poets' Asylum; a look at Dave Magario's song "I Was Saved"; a roundup of some of the songs from the Scott Ricciuti tribute, "One Song Is Not Enough"; a look at Hunter Amabile's song, "Beyond the TV"; and reviews of the albums "All By Myself," by Jon Bonner, and "Phantom Train," by the Marshall Pass.
Busy? Busy.
There's also been lots of stuff over on Radius, including my "Absent Friends," Tatyana Brown's "Your Invitation to the Wake: For Alexandra Petri, After Her Article, ‘Is Poetry Dead?’" and Dave Macpherson's "At the Slush Pile Saloon." As always, there is much, much more in the works.
Lastly, on the books front, I'll be releasing my newest chapbook, "Toxic Waltz," on Monday at The Dirty Gerund Poetry Series, where I'll be celebrating my 41st birthday. Also performing is one of my favorite local musicians, James Keyes. Because evidently I've decided that to celebrate my birthday, I get to listen to awesome music. I think that's a good plan for the future.
Also just coming out now is "Best Indie Lit New England," which I co-edited alongside Lea C. Deschenes, Lori Desrosiers, Thomas Dodson, Astrid Drew, Annabel Gill, Elizabeth MacDuffie and Samantha Milowsky. Which is a lot of editors. But then, it's a lot of book. More info on ordering and release parties to come. But on the whole? It's looking like a hectic time ahead.
The Grammys are on Sunday, of course, and once again I'll be live blogging it for Telegram.com. You can see some of my early thoughts on the Grammy contenders in my column today. In other music stuff in the paper today, Craig Semon talks about the newest from Bat For Lashes, and Alan Sculley talks to Daughtry in advance of their DCU Center show. In realted news, Richard Duckett talks to bull riders. Which is not something that happens every day in Worcester.
Perhaps most exciting is Noah Bombard's online interview with singer-songwriter Cara Brindisi:
In the "things I probably should have mentioned earlier" department, I have a review up of poet Miles Walser at the Poets' Asylum; a look at Dave Magario's song "I Was Saved"; a roundup of some of the songs from the Scott Ricciuti tribute, "One Song Is Not Enough"; a look at Hunter Amabile's song, "Beyond the TV"; and reviews of the albums "All By Myself," by Jon Bonner, and "Phantom Train," by the Marshall Pass.
Busy? Busy.
There's also been lots of stuff over on Radius, including my "Absent Friends," Tatyana Brown's "Your Invitation to the Wake: For Alexandra Petri, After Her Article, ‘Is Poetry Dead?’" and Dave Macpherson's "At the Slush Pile Saloon." As always, there is much, much more in the works.
Lastly, on the books front, I'll be releasing my newest chapbook, "Toxic Waltz," on Monday at The Dirty Gerund Poetry Series, where I'll be celebrating my 41st birthday. Also performing is one of my favorite local musicians, James Keyes. Because evidently I've decided that to celebrate my birthday, I get to listen to awesome music. I think that's a good plan for the future.
Also just coming out now is "Best Indie Lit New England," which I co-edited alongside Lea C. Deschenes, Lori Desrosiers, Thomas Dodson, Astrid Drew, Annabel Gill, Elizabeth MacDuffie and Samantha Milowsky. Which is a lot of editors. But then, it's a lot of book. More info on ordering and release parties to come. But on the whole? It's looking like a hectic time ahead.
February 6, 2013
41
I sometimes suspect I'm not a very good friend. I'm often withdrawn, and sometimes downright reclusive. Usually, I'm terribly immersed in my own work, and that frequently makes me unavailable. I'm somewhat socially awkward, which sometimes makes me a terrible conversationalist. I have an awful memory, especially lately, and forget basic things about people, like the names of their children or spouses. I dislike talking on the phone, and am terrible about keeping up with friends. I know a lot of people, and more importantly, love a lot of people, but sometimes have to wonder why anyone would put up with me. I can't always claim I make it easy for people to have me in their lives.
So needless to say, I found the barrage of birthday well-wishes yesterday a little overwhelming. To the many people who sent me messages, texted and/or called, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life. Please know that you're in my heart, even when it seems like I'm completely absent. Thank you for forgiving my many, many failings, and for letting me play a role in your world, however great or small.
Please know that I am always trying to be a better friend. Please know that I am trying to never take your friendship for granted.
I am lucky. Whoever you are, I am lucky to know you.
Thank you.
So needless to say, I found the barrage of birthday well-wishes yesterday a little overwhelming. To the many people who sent me messages, texted and/or called, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life. Please know that you're in my heart, even when it seems like I'm completely absent. Thank you for forgiving my many, many failings, and for letting me play a role in your world, however great or small.
Please know that I am always trying to be a better friend. Please know that I am trying to never take your friendship for granted.
I am lucky. Whoever you are, I am lucky to know you.
Thank you.
January 30, 2013
Coming Soon ...
For the first time in years, I have a new chapbook coming out:
The self-published, limited-edition chapbpook "Toxic Waltz: Poems in Love With Rock 'n' Roll" will be debuted at my "birthday" feature for The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show, 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner.
I'd avoided putting out a chapbook for a while, if only because I felt the grab bag of writing I've done over the past few years didn't add up right to a cohesive whole. Indeed, I was actually asked last year to put all my rock 'n' roll poems together, but I didn't feel the series was done. Evidently, it is now. In honor of the theme, we're doing this old-school, 'zine revolution style. I feel so '80s.
Anyway, we're only doing a limited run of these, so when they're gone, they're gone.
And if that's not enough to draw you out on a Monday night, I wholeheartedly encourage you to come see the night's musical feature, James Keyes. Whether he's playing blues and Americana solo, or rocking out with local punk favorites, The Numbskulls, James is one of the Worcester area's most talented musicians, and I'm blessed to be able to share a stage with him for an evening.
Edited to Add: Evidently, Reverbnation players don't embed on LJ. Who knew? In any case, listen to James' music here, then come out on Feb. 11 for a hell of a party!
The self-published, limited-edition chapbpook "Toxic Waltz: Poems in Love With Rock 'n' Roll" will be debuted at my "birthday" feature for The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show, 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner.
I'd avoided putting out a chapbook for a while, if only because I felt the grab bag of writing I've done over the past few years didn't add up right to a cohesive whole. Indeed, I was actually asked last year to put all my rock 'n' roll poems together, but I didn't feel the series was done. Evidently, it is now. In honor of the theme, we're doing this old-school, 'zine revolution style. I feel so '80s.
Anyway, we're only doing a limited run of these, so when they're gone, they're gone.
And if that's not enough to draw you out on a Monday night, I wholeheartedly encourage you to come see the night's musical feature, James Keyes. Whether he's playing blues and Americana solo, or rocking out with local punk favorites, The Numbskulls, James is one of the Worcester area's most talented musicians, and I'm blessed to be able to share a stage with him for an evening.
Edited to Add: Evidently, Reverbnation players don't embed on LJ. Who knew? In any case, listen to James' music here, then come out on Feb. 11 for a hell of a party!
January 28, 2013
Your Guide to the Most Recent Death of Poetry
Spare some pity for Alexandra Petri. The Washington Post columnist unleashed the howling hoards of poetry with her column, Is Poetry Dead, written in response to Richard Blanco's inaugural poem. The column -- as is the way of these things -- says very little about contemporary poetry, in all its myriad forms and permutations. Instead, the writer substituted her own limited experience for actual journalism. This happens surprisingly often in the mainstream press, which for the most part declines to cover the numerous stories within the field of poetry and then declares that poetry no longer exists. As someone who's been writing about poetry for newspapers for a good long while now, most notably at The Worcester Telegram & Gazette and before that at OC Weekly, I find it frustrating. No one would seriously say, "Write a story about music. All of it." Or "all of politics." Poetry's much the same, and if you haven't been following the individual stories, you're unlikely to be able to capture the big picture. Was that too abstract? Probably. Point being, a macro view of anything is something you need to work up to. Otherwise you're just sitting at your desk and saying, "Look at what I don't know about this subject that I've never bothered to explore! I don't know anything, so it must be dead!" (This has become a meme on Twitter, actually, called "petri-ing.")
Anyway, the uproar was predictable, and really, not unfounded. Perhaps the most cogent of the initial responses came from John Deming, editor of Coldfront.
Long story short, Petri walked back her column, a bit, with the follow-up: "'Poetry Not Dead,' says Poetry." Still, there was plenty left to say on the subject. Over at Radius, we left our response to San Francisco poet Tatyana Brown, whose written for us before, and the result was the excellent, "Absent Friends: Radius, Volume Three Your Invitation to the Wake: For Alexandra Petri, After Her Article, ‘Is Poetry Dead?’" Tatyana explores the question from an activist's perspective, and really nails the inherent privilege that lies beneath that particular cliche of poetry being dead.
Likewise, Seth Oelbaum didn't pull any punches for Petri or Deming with "Alexandra Petri and John Deming Should Probably Get Married Because They Have A Lot In Common Because They Are Both Considerably Misinformed About Poetry."
Which? Ouch.
There is more out there, of course, and probably more to come. A hornet's nest has been stirred, and it's gonna take a while to calm it back down.
Of course, does it really need calming down? I'm actually kind of enjoying the show.
Anyway, the uproar was predictable, and really, not unfounded. Perhaps the most cogent of the initial responses came from John Deming, editor of Coldfront.
Long story short, Petri walked back her column, a bit, with the follow-up: "'Poetry Not Dead,' says Poetry." Still, there was plenty left to say on the subject. Over at Radius, we left our response to San Francisco poet Tatyana Brown, whose written for us before, and the result was the excellent, "Absent Friends: Radius, Volume Three Your Invitation to the Wake: For Alexandra Petri, After Her Article, ‘Is Poetry Dead?’" Tatyana explores the question from an activist's perspective, and really nails the inherent privilege that lies beneath that particular cliche of poetry being dead.
Likewise, Seth Oelbaum didn't pull any punches for Petri or Deming with "Alexandra Petri and John Deming Should Probably Get Married Because They Have A Lot In Common Because They Are Both Considerably Misinformed About Poetry."
Which? Ouch.
There is more out there, of course, and probably more to come. A hornet's nest has been stirred, and it's gonna take a while to calm it back down.
Of course, does it really need calming down? I'm actually kind of enjoying the show.
January 23, 2013
Victor's Upcoming Shows: New England, SoCal, San Francisco ...
The 2013 schedule is rapidly filling up. Here's some of what's coming in the near future. More info as it comes:
The Dirty Gerund Poetry Series
Celebrating Victor's 41st birthday, with special musical guest, James Keyes!
Ralph's Rock Diner
148 Grove St., Worcester, MA, 01605
9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, 2013
Write Bloody Publishing Showcase at AWP
Featuring Victor, Lea and and a whole mess of WB authors. Exact lineup to be announced soon.
Community Church of Boston
565 Boylston St.
Boston, MA, 02116
7 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2013
Two Idiots Peddling Poetry
Victor and Lea feature
The Ugly Mug
261 N. Glassell Ave.
Orange, CA, 92866
8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Radius Showcase
Victor and Lea feature, with guest appearances by contributors to Radius. Exact lineup to be announced soon.
Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center
681 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA, 90291
7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2013
The New Shit Show
Victor and Lea feature
Viracocha
998 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA, 94110
8 p.m. Thursday, May 9, 2013
Workshop at 7 p.m.
Rhythmic Cypher
Victor and Lea feature, music by Shane Hall!
Dobrá Tea
151 Middle Street
Portland, Maine, 04101
7 p.m. Sunday, June 9, 2013
Workshop at 6 p.m.
And more great stuff in the works. Looks like it's going to be a busy year ...
