That New Old-Time Sound - Music - Baltimore City Paper

That New Old-Time Sound - Music - Baltimore City Paper

Lily Herman Reads From Her New Book "Each Day There Is a Little Love In a Book For You" At Normal's Books & Records, Wednesday, November 13

Hearing Lily Herman read at an Artichoke Haircut night was a literary experience almost comparable to first reading Flannery O'Connor as a teen. My mind was transported and I was envious of her powers. Dryad Press has just released a new book by her and we are going to celebrate that fact Wednesday, November 3rd, at Normal's Books & Records - 425 E. 31st St.

There will also be readings from Adam Shutz, who is one of the organizers of "You're Allowed", the Artichoke Haircut reading series where I first heard Lily, and from Fitz Fitzgerald who I first heard at Chris Toll and Barbara DeCesare's series in the Bromo Seltzer building.

Before the reading to get our spirits moving and between sets, there will be music spun by DJ Mills.

Lily Herman was raised in and around Baltimore, Maryland. She had a short collection of poems, Better than some, not as good as some others, published by Furniture Press Books in 2011. She has been part of several of The Corresponding Society's anthologies, Correspondence, and has a poem in their upcoming reader, Foreverland. During the editing process of Each Day There is a Little Love in a Book For You, she was landlocked in Laramie, Wyoming, but has returned to the east coast again.

On Adam Shutz: Adam is happy. He tells himself this to make it so. He co-founded Artichoke Haircut. He co-founded "You're Allowed" (a reading series). He is happy.

Fitz Fitzgerald is a surrealist poet and theorist when he is not stupid. Author of Things to Do in Baltimore.

Mole Suit Choir's "Campfire Spacesuit" Hits The Streets and Ehse Airwaves!

Anyone who has stood within hearing distance of me the last year (yikes, it's been close to a year!), knows how excited I am about this project, The Mole Suit Choir, with the supernaturally talented and inspiring Liz Downing, who once stared down the horror of The Pig Boy of Booger Holler in Alabama. How is it that Alabama people have come to have such powerful influence on my life? Very weird.

This collaboration was first talked about at a wonderful Shakemore Festival and was given extra urgency by the passing of three close comrades. Singing again really gave me solace as some of the people who loomed largest in my personal vortex moved on to the next stage of this cosmic riddle. If not for Liz I might have become glued to the couch and just watched Breaking Bad over and over in a loop, the seasons spinning around me faster and faster.

Through a strange twist of Fate, Dr. Shugg Stew Mostofsky caught our second show at the Windup Space. From a languid sprawl on the leather couch he said he wanted to put an album out by us. The next thing we knew, Wee Ginger Lad Greg Hatem of Heart of Hearts and Mr. Mocassin was hopping about my living room with microphones and a portable recording deck. It was all very blissful and is now captured on glorious cds and cassettes.

Here is the link to Ehse headquarters where you can get a free download or order a cd or cassette:
www.ehserecords.com/ss009/

Or you can use your human legs to cruise on over to Normal's in Waverly, True Vine in Hampden or Soundgarden in Fells Point:

We've gotten some really nice words about the record already. Here is some beauty from scribe China Martens:
"Glen Burnie, Poland meets Extraterrestrial, Alabama in Outer Baltimore from Inner Space: somehow they found each other, on their porches (I think it was Liz that knocked on Rupert's door, incredulous he answered, and without fear bundled up all his fears. Together they struck the matches and watched them burn, aglow, like bread crumbs soaked in firecracker rock worms); and picked up old instruments to continue digging their way out of the spinning yarn and into the fire. Come sit and warm yourself".

And here are some kind words from David Beaudouin:
Think George Jones & Tammy Wynette just back from an unexpected interdimensional jaunt, bringing with them sweet melodies, brilliant songwriting and the secrets of the spaces behind the stars. That's Mole Suit Choir, currently the leading lights in Baltimore's burgeoning neo-folk scene. Created by poet Rupert Wondolowski and painter Elizabeth Downing (both as well accomplished musicians), Mole Suit Choir gets to the heart of things as the best music does, with two voices entwined in high, lonesome harmonies accompanied by guitar or banjo. And like the best music, their oddly familiar songs will echo in your thoughts long after the lights go out. Highly recommended.

Come check us out Sunday, November 3rd at the kindly Metro Gallery on Charles Street, 7:30, for the official release party. Joining us will be Nathan Bell and Liz Durrette, plus readings by Stephanie Barber and Megan McShea.

themetrogallery.net/events/

You Climbed Party Face

No, that moon
the one way over there
I clung like
a biker's leather
pants in August
to it one desperate
night and forty
gazing down
on
slacing tadpoles
in giant construction
mudpond
broken things
more numerous
than fires
at the old Duncan Place
start with hearts
end with plumbing
squandered maps
found on backs of
fleeing meth mother's
legs dragging child
to next fruitless caper
You can find your dead
in oil streaks on
highway puddles
or seated immobile
among spent ketchup squibs
in a scowling
Hip Hop Chicken
I've gotten
my shit together
since I lost weight
and can easily slip
through windows
to steal copper
out of basement walls

Espresso Ink V Publication & Listening Party

Bob's Ball Of Worms

Surely never before has a man losing a testicle brought such an amazing array of beauty. Baltimore, DC, Philly and parts other be sent out their poetic, musical and visual arts power to generate some green for WORMS host and editor, poet, musician and good guy Bob O'Brien to fight or reason with his cancer.

As sad and frightening as it was on hearing the news of Bob's illness - more bad news for a Baltimore poet in a period where two had died - it felt good to be honoring and helping a poet friend still alive.

Dear Leader Chris Mason summoned his organizing powers and put the call out that Bob needed some financial help. Not since Chris staged an all ferret production of "Our Town" when first dealing with "empty nest syndrome" and a Moxie soda habit have I seen him so tenaciously hone his vision and energies into one goal.

Each day he would call me two or three times to hammer out event details, often telling me "I need to hang up now so that I can call you back." It was near midnight of this successful and love filled fundraiser, when Chris had put a few adult beverages down, that he announced "I myself have enough balls to fill a golf bag".

Above - Mel Nichols googling herself with piHole

Stephanie Barber, author of Night Moves and member of Bobbie Donnie.

Poet, musician and Bob O'Brien frequent tourmate Lesser Gonzalez.

The Tinklers demonstrate a full range of arm movement and run through some of the classics like "Cheesewolf".

Joseph Young, a word parser, not one to clutter.

Christophe Casamassima, poet and editor of Furniture Press.

Lauren Bender, poet, performance artist and "Tron" enthusiast.

Rod Smith, poet, author of In Memory of My Theories, Protective Immediacy, Music or Honesty and others, publisher of EDGE books and curator of the Bridge Street Books poetry reading series.

Philly poet Ryan Eckes, author of Old News on Furniture Press.

Sea Couch and Erik Boat Water discussing a Derrida like deconstruction of the Spice Girls movie.

The Mole Suit Choir was honored to be part of the proceedings and put together a musical arrangement of Bob's haunting poem "Increasingly Virtual Worlds". The set was a blast and went well once the soundman helped me set up a truly annoying new musiv stand with a spring action neck. After our set Wheatie asked to borrow it and she, Dan Dorsey of Sea Couch and I could not get the flimsy legs to stand up. It's called something like a "touring stand", for the musician on the road who needs that one last nagging hitch to drive them over the edge.

After the Mole Suit set it was bliss to kick back in the front row and absorb the soothing and inspiring powers of Wheatie Mattiasich. I worried that maybe we had placed her too late in the lineup for what was turning into a long action packed night, but the slightly restless fueled up crowd immediately fell into a hush when her sacred warble unfurled. Steve of Thank You, Ghostlife and More Dogs joined her on stage for a few pieces on keyboard, including "Little Black Star", the title song for her new album she's finishing.

The grand finale of the night was Bob's brother Ben doing standup. And though the idea of comedy at a cancer fundraiser, particularly by the brother of the ailing human, may seem to hold large opportunities for awkwardness, such was not the case here. Ben didn't get too hardcore with the illness details or spiral out of control emotionally, he delivered a strong funny set that reflected his love for his brother and that hit that fine balance of the night - quality thoughtful entertainment delivered with passionate concern.

Sadly I neglected to get any pictures of all the great art that was also donated. It filled three or four tables and got snapped up by the end of the night. I somehow lucked into two pieces as gifts. A Thai "curry western" movie poster from Katie Brennan for my birthday and a beautiful painting of a mechanic's lot from Jamie and Margaret for Everly and my wedding. Coincidentally, Jamie and Margaret then got hitched a few weeks later. They will not be receiving the painting back.

It was a nice ending to the night to see The Chesapeake House Restaurant open again. I never got the chance to eat there in my youth when it was first open, but I have fond memories of peering in there after seeing "Polyester" when it first opened at The Charles.

Free State Review Publication Party This Sunday

Sir Barrett Warner and the other fine editors of The Free State Review were kind enough to publish my homage to Chris Toll in their new issue. Now they are hosting an event at the slick and comfortable Ram's Head in Annapolis. Unlike the Ram's Head in Baltimore, this one has atmosphere and is completely unlike a BWI terminal.

I haven't been there since me and my Niece Shredder sat front row center ( pushed up against the stage, really) to see the Zombies. This time I will stand where Colin Blunstone stood, with less hair, and unleash some of my verbiage in a slightly less mellifluous voice. Barrett will emcee. It starts at 1 and runs to 3, with samba by Jonathon Stone.

This is posh venue month for my broke- ass! Mole Suit Choir performs at the Creative Alliance September 26.