Podcast: Episode 12

I recently interviewed Robbie Q. Telfer of Chicago for my show. You can listen to it on iTunes, or click on my podcast link in the Blogroll.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 23 January, 2008 at 5:22 PM, filed under Podcast and tagged interview, robbie q, telfer, tour. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Podcast: Episode 12

I recently interviewed Robbie Q. Telfer of Chicago for my show. You can listen to it on iTunes, or click on my podcast link in the Blogroll.

Originally published at Posted on MikeMcGee.net. You can comment here or there.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on at 5:22 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged interview, Podcast, robbie q, telfer, tour. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Podcast: Episode 12

I’ve posted the latest episode of my podcast. You can also find it on iTunes.

This episode was features Robbie Q. Telfer and was recorded in his 2002 Silver Chevy Cavalier while we were on tour last week.
–––––––––
Word to the nerd.
2008: Doing it!

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on at 3:01 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged Podcast, q, robbie, telfer, tour. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Robbie Q and I Knead Your Help

Hey, there peepholes.

January 1 Columbus, OH
Black Pearl Poetry Slam, Club Ice @ 40 E. Long Street

January 2 White Plains, NY
www.stolensnapshots.com (visit Zork’s page for more info)

January 3 Providence, RI
AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence, 02904

January 4 Buffalo, NY
Gabrielle Bouliane’s venue

January 5 Syracuse, NY
8pm at The Redhouse Theatre www.theredhouse.org

January 6 Worcester, MA
The Q Cafe (362 Chandler Street, Worcester)

January 8 NYC
Bowery Poetry Club

January 9 Boston, MA
Cantab, www.slamnews.com/

January 10 Worcester, MA
Bobby Gibbs’ venue

January 11 Manchester, NH
1117 Elm street, Manchester, New Hampshire 03104

January 12 Toronto, ON
The Drake, 1150 Queen W

January 14-16 Mike Hangs Out in Chicago

January 17 Detroit, MI
Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Check local listings for more info.
–––––––––
Word to the nerd.
2008: Doing it!

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 30 December, 2007 at 1:19 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged 2008, glory, Love, north east, robbie q, salvation, slam, spoken word, spoons, tour. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Electric Whale Revival Updated Tour List

Listed below is the updated schedule for Solomon Sparrow’s Electric Whale Revival. We’ve added shows in Fredonia, NY; Amarillo, TX; and Denver, CO. We’re working on a few more to fill the rest.

This tour is so fun. Maybe the most I’ve ever had.

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SEPTEMBER

Saturday 29th
Boston, MA
Show details:  6:00pm @ The Paradise Lounge
969 Commonwealth Avenue,
Cost:  $10

Sunday 30th
Providence, RI
Show details:  Brown University @ 8pm
45 Prospect St.

OCTOBER

Monday 1st
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Show details:  Doors at 7pm/show at 8pm @ Circle of Hope
1125 S. Broad St.  Philadelphia, PA 19147
Cost:  $10 at door/all ages
www.circleofhope.net

Tuesday 2nd
Daytime: 
Valhalla, NY
Show details: 10:00 am @ Westchester Community College
75 Grasslands Road Valhalla, NY

Nighttime: 
Fredonia University
Show details:  8:00pm @ the student center
280 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063
Cost:  $2  
  
Wednesday 3rd 
Keuka College
Show details:  8pm @
141 Central Avenue Keuka Park, NY 14478

Thursday 4th
Buffalo, NY
Show details:  Doors @ 7:30 @ The Third Room
56 West Chippewa Buffalo, NY 14202
Cost: $10/ all ages

Friday 5th 
BOOK US!
Show details:
Hotel details:  

Saturday 6th
TRAVEL DAY

Sunday 7th
Chicago, IL
Show details:  7pm @ The Biograph Theater
2433 N. Lincoln Ave.
Cost:  $10/all ages
Tickets @ www.victorygardens.org

Monday 8th
Omaha, NE
Show details:  Omaha Healing Arts Center
1216 Howard Street Omaha, NE
Cost:  $10/all ages

Tuesday 9th
BOOK US!

Wednesday 10th
BOOK US!

Thursday 11th
Denver, CO
Show details:  8pm @ The Oriental Theater
4335 West 44th Avenue
Denver, CO 80212
www.theorientaltheater.com
Cost: $10/all ages

Friday 12th 
Amarillo, TX
Show details: Epicenter
6100 soncy rd.
Amarillo, TX 79109
doors at 7:30
myspace.com/thekellyagency
Cost:  10 bucks

Saturday 13th 
The Orpheum in Flagstaff, Arizona
Show details:  15 W Aspen Avenue 86001
20 bucks
all ages
25 dollars day of show
noraz poets present

Sunday 14th 
Orange County California
all ages
Rancho Santa Margarita High School
smhs.org
22062 antonio pkwy
rancho santa margarita CA 92688
All are welcome
Pay at door (cost unknown…3-5 dollars)

Monday 15th
Koo’s Gallery in Long Beach, CA –
Mindy Nettifee opening with art and sounds by Matt Wignall
Doors at 730
Wine wine wine!
Cost:  $10
www.poetrytickets.com
koos.org
530 e. broadway
long beach CA 90802

Tuesday 16th
Double decker topless bus in Long Beach
Show details:  “Let off some Steam Party/Show”  HYPERLINK “http://www.bigredbus.com” www.bigredbus.com. 
$20 a head/free booze.  Tickets on  HYPERLINK “http://www.poetrytickets.com” www.poetrytickets.com
4 beautiful scenic stops, 4 bars, sightseeing with random poetry and belly laughs

Wednesday 17th
Dominican University in San Rafael, CA
Show details: 7:30-9:30pm @ Angelico Concert Hall

Thursday 18th
Morgan Hill, CA
Show details:  1:00pm @ Oakwood County High School
105 John Wilson Way, Morgan Hill, CA
-and-
Berkeley, CA
Show details:  8:00pm @ University of California Berkeley
2232 Piedmont Avenue Berkeley, CA 94720

Friday 19th 
Pacifica, CA
Show details:  8:00am to 1:45pm @ Pacifica Terra Nova High School
1450 terra Nova Boulevard Pacifica, CA 94044

Friday 19th
BOOK US!
Show details:

Saturday 20th 
BOOK US!
Show details:
   
Sunday 21st 
BOOK US!
Show details:

Monday 22nd
ON HOLD!
Show details:

Tuesday 23rd
Portland, OR
Show details: 8:00pm @ Lewis and Clark College
0615 S.W. Palatine Hill Road Portland, OR 97219
  
Wednesday 24th
Bellingham, WA
Show details:  7:00pm @ Whatcom
237 W Kellogg Road Bellingham, WA 98225

Thursday 25th
Bellingham, WA
Show details:  8:00pm @ Western Washington University 
516 High Street Bellingham, WA 98225

Friday 26th 
BOOK US!
Show details:

Saturday 27th
Spokane, WA
Show details:  7:30pm @ Empyrean Coffee House
154 South Madison Spokane, WA 99201 www.myspace.com/empyreancoffee.

Sunday 28th
Victoria, British Columbia
Show details:  8:00pm @ Victoria Conservatory of Music
907 Pandora Avenue, Victoria, BC V8V 3P4 Canada

Monday, 29th
Vancouver, BC
Show details:  Vancouver Poetry Slam
Café Deux Soleils
2096 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC
Cost:  $5

Tuesday, 30th
Vancouver, BC
Show details: Cottage Bistro on 4468 Main Street (near Main and 29th).  Show times at 7:00pm and 10:00pm.
Cost:  $15

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 29 September, 2007 at 3:45 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged electric whale revival, spoken word, tour. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

New Tour Dates Added

If you live near these events, please come by. For more information, post a comment, or email me at mightymikemcgee at gmail

Friday, March 30, 2007 – 7:00pm
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho

HOME FOR A SHORT SPELL, YAY FOR THE BAY!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 – 7:00pm
The Blue Monkey (http://www.pcsj.org)
San Jose, California
(I would very much enjoy it if as many as possible South Bay-ers came to this show. My favorite American poet–Derrick Brown–will be there to perform as well. I’m going to try to attend the San Jose Slam after this event.)

Sunday, April 8, 2007 – 7:30pm
City Slam & Experimental Mic – Poleng Lounge
San Francisco, California

BACK ON THE ROAD
Friday, April 6, 2007 – TBA (JUST ADDED 3/29/07)
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 – 7:00pm
Western New England College
Springfield, Massachusetts

Friday, April 13, 2007 – 7:00pm
University of New Hampshire
Durham, New Hampshire

WAITING FOR INFORMATION:
4/17 @ Linfield College – Oregon
4/21 @ Quinnipiac University – Connecticut
4/27 @ East Connecticut State University
–––––––––
Word to the nerd.
2007: Go for it!

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 28 March, 2007 at 6:08 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged march 28, mike mcgee, poetry, shows, shows, tour, update. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Coming up

Spent a few days recouping in Chicago at citizenwind‘s place in Lakeview. I simply adore staying at his place. By far one of the best hosts in the national poetry slam network, and what’s amazing is that he’s also a badass poet who always does well in slam – except for Sunday night at the Green Mill, tee hee (just fuckin’ wit you, holmes. You know I love you and Lil’ Devil.)

Went to the “Win & You’re In” bout in Pallatine, Illinois last night. Poetry slam teams around North America must now compete in local/regional bouts in order to secure a slot for their team at this August’s National Poetry Slam. The winning team(s) automatically get a slot, then the rest who’ve competed in a “W&YI” are on a wait list. This is how I understand it. This year’s NPS–in Austin, Texas again–will include 96 teams from all over the western hemisphere.

Since I am officially qualified for the Chicago-Mental Graffiti team final this year, I was asked to compete in the W&YI against Green Mill, Pallatine, and Normal straw teams. My team consisted of Dan “Sully” Sullivan, Tim “Burger King Commercial” Stafford, and Tim “I Can’t” Cook. We won and it felt damn good to be on a team again. I haven’t been on one since NPS in 2004.

I am very seriously considering the opportunity to be on another team, and since I am not able to vie for San Jose (my dear, sweet home) I may go with Home #3. Hell, I’ve seen Chicago more than I’ve seen California the last six months.

I’ll be back in Chicago March 15. Then maybe for the Mental Graffiti finals.

I am currently at O’Hare in Chicago, on my way to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. This is to be my first ever performance in that state.

Shane, C.R. and I will be in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Friday for a T.O.F.U. set at UArk. Should be dope.
–––––––––
Word to the nerd.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 28 February, 2007 at 1:49 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged colleges, mcgee, mike, poetry, tour. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Mike McGee’s Winter 2007 College Tour (Dates added)

More dates added, filling out most of February’s portion of my tour. Still waiting on Kansas and March dates, which is when the tour should wind down. See new dates here ———> My tour page.

I’ll be chilling out in Nashville this coming weekend at NACA Nationals, and a bit at Derrick Brown’s pad to plan out more of the Solomon Sparrow tour. If you don’t know about it, it’s Buddy Wakefield, Dan Leamen, Derrick, Anis Mojgani and myself. For more info, go here ———> myspace.com/whalerevival

I’m at New England College tonight, then UMass-Lowell tomorrow night. Check the school’s websites for more info, or my tour page.
———
Word to the nerd.
2007: Go for it!

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 13 February, 2007 at 12:37 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged mike mcgee, poetry, solomon sparrow's electric whale revival, tour. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Groundhog Day, Arkansas, and IWPS

This week has been intense. Not having a laptop sucks for me. I am so addicted to computers, it is not humorous.

Good luck to all slammers this week in Vancouver. No matter the results, soak in that city because it’s awesome, and that’s probably where I’ll be living in the next few years.
———
Word to the nerd.
2007: Go for it!

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 2 February, 2007 at 4:24 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged arkansas, college, individual world poetry slam, iwps, rc weslowski, tour, Vancouver. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Summary of VT and MA

The response I got from my post, in regard to the low turnout at some of my college gigs, was very kind, but I didn’t want to give any readers the impression that I was bummed out or that I hadn’t expected it. I’ve done enough of these shows to expect small crowds. I’ve always said, “one or one billion, I’m here to perform.” Six and a half billion for that matter. It’s no mystery or secret that I enjoy being on stage. I was in no way bummed out or sad, and I cannot be too harsh with the students because for them it becomes an issue of how to promote a guy like me. They’re students, not promoters.

I guess I am just trying to figure out how to push the awesomicity of spoken word and get it to a level that is a bit more above ground, yet, not so high that it becomes excessive. I’ve just created a new community. Maybe it’ll be an experiment in poetry career building: thetalkingpoet
That is where I plan to delve a bit more finitely and meticulously into this topic, and any other topic that involves being a perfomer and trying to make a living at it. I know there are quite a few people out there that probably have something to say, add, or ask.
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Summing up the rest of my trip to the New England:

I headed back to Vermont, this time to a small town called Poultney for a gig at the reasonable tiny Green Mountain College. 760 students enrolled, 60 of them turned out. Fantastic! Best percentage yet. They really showed me a good time. Met and hung out with Jenna and Casey. Got some food.

[As some of you in the northeast may know, it was below zero degrees outside throughout the week -- an issue I have issues with. Some say, "How can you live in an earthquake zone?" I say, "Because it comes every ten years or so, and it's not cold or a tornado." The cold has a tendency to make like suck.]

As students filled up the place, I hung out by the snack table and chatted with a few of the students. I will admit here that young college girls make it hard … [I love you, Maiya!] The school definitely had a communal, small town of hippies vibe and I really liked it. Can I be a chubby hippie? I almost cried at the plethora of cookies and sugary snacks. I’ve been very good about my sugar intake.

The show got started and I busted into a few poems, and then right into the live-for-yourself-and-the-moment thing, which made everyone smile and slouch down like they were getting really comfy. “Funcle™ Mike’s about to tell us some stories!”

[Who's your Funcle™?]

My set went on for about two hours and everybody seemed to get their fill. I memorized the names of the front row through out the set and played with that throughout the night. It was fun.

–Front Row (L-R me facing them): Alex > Oz > Paula > Jessica > Melissa > Cliff > Nic > Ashley– One of the best front rows ever!

I think remembering people is the most important thing one can do just after first impression. Sometimes recalling a name and face in person can be salvation/redemption in the form of a second impression.

I sold most of the rest of the products I brought, which was about 18 times what I sold the two nights before combined. I don’t care much for selling stuff to students at schools because most of them are broke and I really don’t want to take away their ramen noodle fund. The kids, and especially the front row, were so good to me. They hung out and I signed stuff and we all joked around and got to know each other a bit. The best school I’ve been to in a long time. I mean, come on! Most of the students there have a major or a minor in Recreation! That’s my kind of school. Then two students named Clint and Tom joined me at a bar for a beer.

The next morning I Greydogged myself back to Boston. Got to my hotel for a spell and then took the T toward Suffolk University. This was where I’d hoped to meet up with my friend Petey from NH, and this girl named Alex that Robbie Q and I met at the Boston Cantab Slam a few weeks ago. [Wow, it has been a few weeks, Robb...]

Courtney and Mike (easy!) meet me at the station after we stared at each other for a minute in the cold. They had looked like they wanted directions. We walked to the venue and on the way I saw my first ever frozen-dead rat in the street. A bittersweet moment for all of us. I do still really dig Boston. It’s surprisingly small, like the sense East Coasters might get visiting San Francisco for the first time. Although, I’d say Boston is more easily navigable.

[TANGENT: OBCT could be a personalized license plate for a fat person. You read it here!]

I was stoked because a few people showed up that said they would. That’s three for three. Nicole, who saw Robbie and I at the Cantab, her first poetry slam ever, came by with her friend Maggie. They were both awesome. Alex came with her stunning eyeballs and sat addorably in the front row. Petey came from UMass-Amherst with a friend. Petey and I go back. He discovered my work when Taylor Mali covered a poem of mine at a poetry workshop in New Hampshire. That was a few years ago. Thanks, Taylor!

The show was low in turnout, but the students who stayed all seemed to really enjoy themselves. Meeting Katie and Alice (Chi-town, what?!) was awesome. There seemed to be more student organizers there than actual non-NACA-affiliated students. After the show, Maggie, Nicole, Alex, Petey and I sat for Chinese food around the corner. I then caught the T to my hotel and vegged out a bit with Adult Swim and CNN.

The next morning I went back to the airport in Burlington, VT by way of one last Greydog. My flight to Chicago was delayed, so I had lunch, made friends with a couple of my fellow passengers, and had a few cigarettes over some cell phone catch-up with friends.

Robbie Q picked me up at O’Hare with his lovely love, and then he took me for food before dropping me back off at

citizenwind

‘s place.

I’ve holed myself up in his house all weekend, catching up online, by phone and internally. Life is good.
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On Tuesday, I head to Little Rock, AR, then head straight to Memphis for a gig at the University of Memphis. I’ll be spending the week driving around with Russ Ritter. If you know Russ, you should have me greet him for you.
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If things go right, I should have a new MacBook this week! Man oh man oh man oh man!
———
Word to the nerd.
2007: Go for it!

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 28 January, 2007 at 9:51 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged boston, college, community, green mountain, massachusetts, poultney, suffolk, the talking poet, tour, university, vermont. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.