Good Thoughts As I Head Home

Fridays are a little wak in terms of posting anything I actually want people to read.

I will just use Fridays as a link day, sending people to sweet websites, and balance it with a short, personal update. Weekends are generally lame for posts, but since I am determined to post daily, I want to have content for each day of the week.

CHICO, CALIFORNIA
Performed at Chico State last night and it went well. The best part of my stay in Chico was surely my time spent with Kyle, Heather, Lor, Sarah, and Tazuo. It was good to catch up with them.

The gig was fun. It felt like impromptu stand-up comedy. I went mostly humorous and felt the audience riding along with me.

Chico’s a cute town. I enjoyed my time here, but this is not a place I could settle in. The summers in this region of California are blazing hot and humid. Makes me feel gross.

Tazuo’s doing an invitational slam on June 10. Should bring more quality spoken word to Chico. Not sure where it’s being held, but there will probably be information at ThePoetTazuo.com

YESTERDAY’S POST ON HEALTH
Been getting tremendous response to my post on better health and developing a healthy living regimen. I really appreciate everyone who’s chimed in with advice and personal accounts.

I’d like to clarify that when I said I was developing a 7-year plan, I think some people took that as I planned to wait for 7 years to be healthy. No. Sheesh. I just meant that I should be wholly different and at peak health by the time I am 41 years old. These new habits should be normal within 7 years. This plan started yesterday. I’ve already doubled my water intake. I’ve also been sleeping a lot more, not pushing myself to stay awake. Seven hours of sleep as opposed to 4-6.

I’ve talked to a lot of people and I don’t want to worry so much about my health at 40. If I do this right and pace myself, I should be fine. I have accomplished a lot more difficult things in my life. I can do this.

I am also now convinced that a Master Cleanse is not for me, plus, I feel pretty cleansed whenever I eat right anyway.

I just have to stay set on my sights. I think if I can drop 60 pounds, I’ll feel pretty damn good.

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE POETRY SLAM FINAL
I am hosting the Slam Free Or Die Final on Saturday night.

It’s going to be rad. More info here…
———
Word to the nerd.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 7 May, 2010 at 8:42 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged chico, Friday Post, Travel, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Kitchen Sessions Are Awesome [3/365]

Kitchen Sessions are merely:
–an excuse to get my friends to perform in my house
–an excuse not to have to cook
–a good reason to have a few beers
–a fantastic opportunity to talk with awesome people
–a ploy to let myself host a show every month

KITCHEN SESSION #10
Last night was incredible. I know I should post more after-show recaps from the kitchen, but last night’s festivities were one of my favorite sessions to date. Kitchen Session #10 made me feel so good to have poets in my house. Khary Jackson (a.k.a. 6 is 9) is one of my favorite performance poets out of the whole scene. I really love his work and his theatrical skill. Laura Yes Yes happened to travel up from NYC with him, so I gave her a mini-feature as well. They both killed it. One thing I love about the crowd that comes through is that most of them are poets who just simply love listening to good, solid work. I can’t think of very many intimate readings such as these; those rare evenings when only very good, new work makes it into the minds of every single person in earshot. Where awesome snacks abound, beer and wine flow, and conversation is law. In a tipsy state, I ended the night by naming various boobs. It was weird and hilarious and fun.

BUILD YOUR OWN KITCHEN SESSION
I cannot recommend the notion of hosting your own event in your own home enough. Call it what you will, but it’s very easy to make it a regular thing. To turn your open space into a venue is a huge boon to people who wish to perform, especially with regard to rules and regulations of your living space. Residential venues can usually be a lot more lenient than commercial venues.

I recommend:

–not planning to make money from it
–having a space that does not require sound amplification and large enough to house 20+ attendees
–keeping track of touring poets and invite them to come read
–passing a hat then giving most of it to the person you used to promote your event, i.e. a featured poet
–giving the rest of the money to anyone who goes beyond the call of snacks
–an hour of opener poets (1 to 2 poems each), then up to an hour for the featured poet(s)
–compelling people to bring food and drink
–coming up with a continuous format, mine is never-before-read works
–being a good host or finding a good host to keep the night cohesive
–letting people know it is their show too
–keeping it once a month or every other month
–acquiring folding chairs

You’ll be surprised at who will want to attend events like these and how easily word will get out about it if they maintain a certain quality. The sheer awesomeness of who has come through my kitchen is outstanding.

KITCHEN SESSION PAST FEATURES
KS#1 July 26, 2009 – Simone Beaubien
KS#2 August 15, 2009 – Lara Bozabalian & David Perez
KS#3 September 5, 2009 – Adam Stone
KS#4 September 27, 2009 – JW Baz
KS#5 October 23, 2009 – Jack McCarthy
KS#6 November 15, 2009 – Rachel McKibbens and Rob Sturma
KS#7 December 26, 2009 – Bill MacMillan
KS#8 January 9, 2010 – Sierra DeMulder
KS#9 January 26, 2010 – Blair
KS#10 February 27, 2010 – Khary “6 is 9″ Jackson

UPCOMING SESSIONS
KS#11 March ??, 2010 – 3 BRAND NEW POEMS PER SIGN UP (No Feature)
KS#12 April 17, 2010 – Karen Finneyfrock
KS#13 May 23, 2010 – RC Weslowski
KS#14 June 2010 – Geoff Trenchard & Jon Sands

That’s a full year of sessions. It’s so awesome to have this simple, little gig become something that is highly anticipated by a good chunk of New England spoken word folk. I look forward to them like no one’s business. I am always so stoked the day before and the day of.

If anyone starts up their own session of any sort and I am nearby, traveling through, and time permits, I will gladly come and perform.

If anyone already has a house show going on, please let me know. I am well aware of the White Haus in Jamaica Plain/Boston, but for some reason, I have yet to attend an event there. As for other events, pray tell.
———
Word to the nerd.
Bunny up.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 28 February, 2010 at 4:58 PM, filed under Uncategorized and tagged kitchen-sessions, massachusetts, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Kitchen Sessions Are Awesome [3/365]

Kitchen Sessions are merely:
–an excuse to get my friends to perform in my house
–an excuse not to have to cook
–a good reason to have a few beers
–a fantastic opportunity to talk with awesome people
–a ploy to let myself host a show every month

KITCHEN SESSION #10
Last night was incredible. I know I should post more after-show recaps from the kitchen, but last night’s festivities were one of my favorite sessions to date. Kitchen Session #10 made me feel so good to have poets in my house. Khary Jackson (a.k.a. 6 is 9) is one of my favorite performance poets out of the whole scene. I really love his work and his theatrical skill. Laura Yes Yes happened to travel up from NYC with him, so I gave her a mini-feature as well. They both killed it. One thing I love about the crowd that comes through is that most of them are poets who just simply love listening to good, solid work. I can’t think of very many intimate readings such as these; those rare evenings when only very good, new work makes it into the minds of every single person in earshot. Where awesome snacks abound, beer and wine flow, and conversation is law. In a tipsy state, I ended the night by naming various boobs. It was weird and hilarious and fun.

BUILD YOUR OWN KITCHEN SESSION
I cannot recommend the notion of hosting your own event in your own home enough. Call it what you will, but it’s very easy to make it a regular thing. To turn your open space into a venue is a huge boon to people who wish to perform, especially with regard to rules and regulations of your living space. Residential venues can usually be a lot more lenient than commercial venues.

I recommend:

–not planning to make money from it
–having a space that does not require sound amplification and large enough to house 20+ attendees
–keeping track of touring poets and invite them to come read
–passing a hat then giving most of it to the person you used to promote your event, i.e. a featured poet
–giving the rest of the money to anyone who goes beyond the call of snacks
–an hour of opener poets (1 to 2 poems each), then up to an hour for the featured poet(s)
–compelling people to bring food and drink
–coming up with a continuous format, mine is never-before-read works
–being a good host or finding a good host to keep the night cohesive
–letting people know it is their show too
–keeping it once a month or every other month
–acquiring folding chairs

You’ll be surprised at who will want to attend events like these and how easily word will get out about it if they maintain a certain quality. The sheer awesomeness of who has come through my kitchen is outstanding.

KITCHEN SESSION PAST FEATURES
KS#1 July 26, 2009 – Simone Beaubien
KS#2 August 15, 2009 – Lara Bozabalian & David Perez
KS#3 September 5, 2009 – Adam Stone
KS#4 September 27, 2009 – JW Baz
KS#5 October 23, 2009 – Jack McCarthy
KS#6 November 15, 2009 – Rachel McKibbens and Rob Sturma
KS#7 December 26, 2009 – Bill MacMillan
KS#8 January 9, 2010 – Sierra DeMulder
KS#9 January 26, 2010 – Blair
KS#10 February 27, 2010 – Khary “6 is 9″ Jackson

UPCOMING SESSIONS
KS#11 March ??, 2010 – 3 BRAND NEW POEMS PER SIGN UP (No Feature)
KS#12 April 17, 2010 – Karen Finneyfrock
KS#13 May 23, 2010 – RC Weslowski
KS#14 June 2010 – Geoff Trenchard & Jon Sands

That’s a full year of sessions. It’s so awesome to have this simple, little gig become something that is highly anticipated by a good chunk of New England spoken word folk. I look forward to them like no one’s business. I am always so stoked the day before and the day of.

If anyone starts up their own session of any sort and I am nearby, traveling through, and time permits, I will gladly come and perform.

If anyone already has a house show going on, please let me know. I am well aware of the White Haus in Jamaica Plain/Boston, but for some reason, I have yet to attend an event there. As for other events, pray tell.
———
Word to the nerd.
Bunny up.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on at 4:58 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged kitchen-sessions, massachusetts, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Try “The McGee” Now Featured At Ralph’s Diner [22]

EDIT: Being that Ralph’s Diner also offers a veggie version of their cheeseburger, one could ostensibly order “The Veggie McGee,” or as Tony Brown called it “The McGeegan.”

What you see above is the first of it’s kind made in Worcester, Massachusetts. Hence, it has been dubbed “The McGee”

Now featured at the one-and-only Ralph’s Rock Diner in Worcester, Massachusetts. It’s a bowl of meatless chili with a cheeseburger (sans bun) and onions stacked on top. Invented and eaten for the first time by Mike McGee on February 22, 2010 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Prepared by Yosh Shartin, Worcester’s coolest bartender.

It came about due to the fact that Ralph’s only serves cheap booze, a standard, yet, very delicious cheeseburger and a bowl of chili. There is no menu. Burger or chili are your choices. Well, it turns out that I enjoy both immensely, but the bun is fucking enormous and too filling. I am never able to decide, although, when I do, I go with the chili 9/10 times.

I usually eat at Ralph’s on Monday nights, just before the utterly tremendous Dirty Gerund Poetry Show gets started. I really couldn’t decide what to eat last night, so I asked Yosh to top my chili with a cheeseburger and onions.

History was made. I am and have been honored! Next time you’re very hungry and in Worcester, hit up Ralph’s for “The McGee.” It pairs well with a Narragansett lager, of which they have on tap. Yosh charged me $10 for the dish and a pint of ‘Gansett. Probably wouldn’t recommend it very often, but it will fill you up, guaranteed.

Or tell your local burger joint to start making it. It tastes fanfuckingtastic!

Fear it! Enjoy it! Let it consume YOU!
———
Word to the nerd.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 23 February, 2010 at 2:57 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged dish named after me, food, massachusetts, the mcgee, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

I Am Moving Back To The Left Coast [14]

PORTLAND, OREGON
Since I’ve notified everyone in Worcester, Massachusetts, for the most part, and told my family in California, I figured I might as well make it known that I intend to move from Worcester, Mass. to Portland, Oregon. Probably this summer.

Barring anything that might make me move sooner, I am thinking that since the fall is a major touring season for me, I’d like to try to get settled on the west coast by September. I miss my family too often to live this far away now. I gave myself a year to live here and my family understood, but it’s getting harder to be this distant.

My father’s side of my family lives in Washington. My mother’s side lives in California. Oregon is a good central location. I have very close friends in and around Everett, WA who I love to visit, as well as in Eugene and Corvallis, OR.

LOTS OF THOUGHT
I want my family, given and chosen, to travel more. Shit — I want everyone I know to travel — but they are a sedentary lot down there in Silicon Valley and up in the Seattle area. If I move to a place they can get to in one flight or train, or even a 12 hour drive, they just might do it.

I’ve been considering this for sometime now, ever since the Elephant Engine Revival Tour last autumn. We spent a pretty solid week in Portland and I fell in love with the city itself, caught up with a surprising amount of friends in the area, and realized it’s proximity and low cost were key to being closer to San José and Vancouver, B.C., the Cities of My Heart.

Portland is a 1h:45m flight to San José and generally very cheap. Portland is also about 6-8 hours by train to Vancouver, or a 1h:10m flight straight through. Seattle’s an easy stop. Boise’s awesome and easy to get to as well.

MY TIME IN WORCESTER
I feel I’ve experienced as much growth in Worcester in the last 13 months as I did in the previous five years on the road. So much of it is thanks to Bill MacMillan and Tony Brown — my brothers from other mothers. I feel like I can be me and I like the me that I’m becoming thanks to the people who have become my New England family. My roommate Melinda Lee is the shit, plain and simple. I have felt very much at home here thanks specifically to Missy Mitchell, Dave Keali‘i MacKenzie, Sou MacMillan, Alex Charlambides, Liz Heath, Cyndi Keeley, Rushelle Frazier (before she moved), Heather MacPherson, Danielle Carriveau, Mark Palos, Sam Teitel, Roger Mindfucker (our cat), Anne O’Neill, Simone Beaubien, Danny Balel, Emily Mele, and a host of other people in New England. I haven’t forgotten any names, I just didn’t want to turn this into an acceptance speech. I will surely write that entry when I do actually move.

WHAT BOTHERS ME MOST
I am sad that so many others promised to visit me in my home while I was here and will have absolutely failed to do so before I move. I am just glad Finneyfrock and Weslowski are coming to do there own respective Kitchen Sessions this spring. And they’re coming from the WEST COAST… At this point, I will be too busy to really host anyone else before I move… Very, very saddening.

PORTLAND IS RAD AND GETTING RADDER
With the growing number of Write Bloody authors living and moving to Portland, it’s a perfect spot for a northern WB hub. We can put on shows/readings, get the ball rolling on events and brainstorm future projects. The city pushes the arts, has a fantastic transit system (which is a HUGE sell for us rare non-drivers), and loves their bicyclists, an activity I’ve missed since my Schwinn cruiser days in downtown San José.

Portland is alive and electric. It excites me. I feel I could be there even if I didn’t know anyone, although, it does also feel very, very transient. I think people come and go like mad, which is my plan as well. The gray skies will get to me in due time, but at least it doesn’t snow very often.

I think people should travel and really try living in other places. It’s easier than it seems and there are a number of people who do it enough to advise newbies. I said I would give Worcester a year and it turned out to be more. I will probably give Portland a year. I think it’s a good idea. You really get a feel for a city when you’ve spent a year there.

WHERE I TRULY BELONG
Of the entirety of the Bay Area, I would really only live in San José/Silicon Valley, but it’s three times the cost of living in Worcester. I am one of San José’s biggest fans, but I have spent 27+ years there (prior to touring) and I really just want to see more places and try out new environments for a while. I will return to San José, but I need just a little more stability and a girl-partner who is also a huge fan of Silicon Valley. And they would have to be a fan of it because anyone who didn’t grow up there has a hard time seeing it’s greatness. I couldn’t love a human baby as much as I love Silicon Valley.

Silicon Valley Example of Greatness #2,482: 300 days a year of sunshine. 300. Yep.

SILICON VALLEY vs. PACIFIC NORTHWEST
There are really only a few places I feel I belong in a living situation and they are Silicon Valley and the Pacific Northwest (Eugene, OR to Bellingham, WA… Vancouver is the Pacific Southwest to Canadians.) I belong in Vancouver. I am so very much at home in Vancouver, but the cost of living there is fuckstupid, especially for an American. With my constant travel, I’d have to fly from Vancouver to U.S. destinations pretty often. I tend to have to book flights on short notice. I just did a sample search and a ONE-WAY flight two weeks from now from Vancouver to Denver is $309-USD. However, one-way from Seattle to Denver is $101-USD. Prices for Canadian flights to the U.S. are almost always three-times U.S. prices, across the board. I could bus it down to Seattle whenever I had a flight, but making the right bus-to-flight connection is a bitch-and-a-half and pretty costly over time. It’s a 2h:30m ride and you have to cross a border every time. I’ve done it and I despise it.

Vancouver Suckiness Example #2: Three short days a year of sunshine.*

I’d be better off living in Seattle, but Seattle has always felt like Vancouver Light. Aside from the awesome poetry people who live there, Seattle feels very, very sad. It is almost like 60 to 70% of the city is depressed. I feel it whenever I am there. The Seattle spoken word scene is pretty stellar thanks to Daemond Arrindell and Youth Speaks Seattle, but a thriving poetry scene is one of the last reasons I would move to a city. If it were my first reason, I’d be living in Vancouver already.

I did seriously consider moving to Bellingham, but it was only because I like the Poetry Night crew and their proximity to Vancouver, B.C.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles is a congested maze and nearly impossible to navigate without a car, but I do like it more than I did five years ago. I have some very close friends down there, but the traffic alone kills me. I don’t know how anyone does it. It seems to me to be the place so many people go to realize their dreams, only to get stuck in a job they despise and eventually abandon their reason for moving there. Success in the arts in L.A. must be limited to a very lucky/determined 2% of the population — if that.

There is so much sadness in L.A. and such a shattered spoken word and poetry scene. In all of my touring I have only ever lost money in Los Angeles. I’ve been paid a few times, but I feel like it was always out of Rob Sturma’s pocket and not really from the community around him. And merch sales? Doubtful. I think so many people are always broke in L.A. because they have to save their money to buy gas and keep their car running. I only ever go there to visit friends. Any gig I get is merely an attempt to deflect some of the cost of travel. But seriously, If I am wrong about L.A., please tell me so. If there is a growing spoken word scene I don’t know about, let me know. Da Poetry Lounge is always a fun gig for me, but it pays irregularly. A lot of poets would like to tour through L.A. but everybody outside of it has no idea where to start.

Orange County seems to have a decent reputation for gigs, but it’s one giant suburb.

Long Beach is the home of Write Bloody and Snoop Dogg, and it’s about an hour away from L.A. I can dig Long Beach, but it’s still too similar to the rest of Southern California. It’s a nice place to visit. All of it really is, but if you have no family there, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.

THE MIDWEST
Chicago has always been a possibility, but one of the reasons I intend to leave New England is based on my ever-growing spite of the cold. I can handle rain and chill, but to-the-bone-kind-of cold really wears on me and keeps me inside too often. The cold here in New England starts in October and last through April. I have had two seasons of it. I would just be moving into a similar weather system in Chicago, which also has a summer humidity index that makes me want to punt fat babies. I could really only live there in the spring and autumn, if they show up. I love Chicago, but I would only live there for the people I knew and the fact that Chicago has THE BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD, but I would eventually despise the city for its weather.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Chicago is, without a doubt, THE HOME for funny poets. For me, the spoken word scene there has always been a draw for this reason. If you want to be a funny poet and like cold-ass winters and humid-ass summers, Chicago is the place for you. Male, female, emale, wemale — whatever — they are hilarious. Maybe it’s the food and weather. Being well fed and in constant sweaty/freezy conditions must help mold the humor… I am serious. Think about it. If you know the poetry slam/spoken word universe, Chicago has to be the funniest American scene. Germany is very, very big on humor in their poetry, as is Vancouver, but I think Chicago sets the standard as a scene. Hmmm.

I love you, ChiTown. I do, I do.

TIMELINE: JUST TALKING IT OUT
Since I have a bunch of travel this spring, I am going to try to spend as much time in Worcester this summer as I can. Depending on my finances, I will probably move toward the end of August, but I won’t know for sure.

I really don’t want to move while it is hot, so I may have to push it closer to June, which would kill my summer plans here, but would probably be a wiser move. I don’t make as much touring in the summer as I do in the spring and autumn. I would spend money to survive all summer, then spend money to move. I have gigs lined up this spring that would make a June/July move very easy. I am at a loss. I just don’t know.

What would be awesome is a road trip/poetry tour move. Any takers?
———
Word to the nerd.

*I am kidding… Sort of.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 15 February, 2010 at 1:23 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged British Columbia, california, chicago, illinois, left coast, los angeles, massachusetts, moving, oregon, personal updates, portland, relocating, San-Jose-California, spoken word, Vancouver, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

To My Fantastic Roommate, Melinda [8]

The smartest thing I’ve done while living here in Worcester has to be asking Melinda Lee to move into my house last April. Splitting the rent and utilities has made living here very inexpensive. Very, very inexpensive.

We’ve grown so close as friends that Melinda (a.k.a. Minja) and I are like siblings. I am definitely her big brother and she’s my awesomely weird little sister who loves loud music, painting and poetry. We cook all the time and chat and keep each other’s spirits up. Together we take care of our cat, Roger Mindfucker (named before we got him by the mother of Boston poet Sam Teitel.)

We have so much in common and so much not in common that the blend of the two makes living with each other so easy. I may never have a better roommate.

Tonight she celebrates her three years of sobriety. She is 19 years old. Three years solid. A couple weeks ago she asked me before I left for the west coast if I would be the one to give her the much deserved 3 Year Chip at her meeting. How could I say no? So she pushed back the date until tonight so I could be there to give it to her. It means a lot to me that she would ask, because I know how difficult the last three years have been for her. She’s growing and living and learning like a fucking champion and I am so very proud of her.

I asked her if I could post about this and she was super cool about it. I am sensitive to the anonymous part of AA, but I also believe her story is very inspirational and young people falling into the pits of addiction can learn a lot from her story, one wrought with darkness and sadness. She is overcoming it and I love her so much for who she is and who she will be. She is one of my best friends.

If you have a story, please share it. I am sure Minja will read this, so if you have any words of support or kindness to say to her, please, feel free.

Melinda: You’re so awesome. I love you and I am so glad we’re friends. Congratulations!
———
Word to the nerd.
Bunny up.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 9 February, 2010 at 9:17 AM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged 19 years old, 3 year chip, aa, massachusetts, melinda lee, minja, personal updates, roommate, sobriety, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

This Week In McGee Town [7]

CYNTHIA FRENCH
Minneapolis poet & slammaster, Miss French, will be in New England all week. She’s featuring tonight at The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show at Ralph’s Rock Diner in Worcester tonight. Her birthday lands on Friday, so Melinda and I are having a party for her at our house. Lemme know if you wanna come by.

WEBSITE
I am annoyed by the limited WordPress/PHP-based site themes available for my site. Probably makes sense considering I am using free ones. Anyone out there design quality themes?

NEW YORK CITY
Heading into New York City on Tuesday, February 16 for my feature at the Bowery Poetry Club. Not sure how long I’m hanging out, but if you wanna make some hang, holler at a nerd.

NEW ALBUM
In my time off from the road, I intend to record an audio version of my book In Search of Midnight. Curious: Should I make it a read-along with page-turning chimes and silliness, or separate tracks, poem-for-poem recording? Both?

AWESOMENESS BEGINS BELOW

———
Word to the nerd.
Bunny up.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 8 February, 2010 at 2:33 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged cynthia french, dirty gerund, Ideas & Projects, in search of midnight, Internet-Stuff, massachusetts, mikemcgee.net, new album, personal updates, random things, United States, Worcester-Massachusetts, wordpress. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Sierra DeMulder Is Rad [4/365]

What a beautiful little human being. She’s been in Worcester since Friday and has been a delightful house guest. She performed in our kitchen last night to a crowd I’m sure fell in love with her.

She is, this moment, featuring at Poet’s Asylum and will end her Wormtown series tomorrow night at The Dirty Gerund. (You can watch the DG and Sierra streamed live through a link at http://dirtygerund.com.)

This woman belongs on stage. She has a passion and comfort on stage I don’t see as often as I’d like. She seems very secure in her writing and presentation. I am impressed.

She is touring across this country for the next few months, and will also make her way to the VanSlam. I behoove you to see her live. Tell her I said hey.
———
Word to the nerd.
2010: Only do.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 10 January, 2010 at 7:29 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged dirty gerund, poet's asylum, sierra demulder, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Kitchen Session #2

Kitchen Sessions #2 is tonight at my house. If you get warm easily. So does my home. Wear light clothes and feel free to bring a fan. 8pm sharp. Snacks for 10 people would be gratefully appreciate and either beer, wine, or non-alkies are also splendid ideas. Mandatory: $3 to $5 for our featured poets to split. They both also have chapbooks for sale.

OUR FEATURES
Lara (Lahr-ah!) Bozabalian, one of the sweetest and loveliest women I know, is a phenomenal writer and performer. She hails from Toronto, Ontario and has been involved in her poetry slam scene for a few years now. She just represented T.O. @ the National Poetry Slam. In September, she will return to teaching 12th Grade English (Canadian style, i.e. flavour, honour, houurly, vacuuuum – but we get her live and direct tonight in the kitchen.

Sharing this headliner tonight is David Perez. A San Jose native and one of my best friends, Perez (what I call him to his face) is a magical writer and performer who knows how to take us to moments of his life, letting us join him on the journey through his past, present and future. In 2008 he represented San Jo at the IWPS and this year he was a member of the San Jose Slam Team. You can’t not like Perez. He’s also making tamale pie!

Perez and Lara are debuting a poem or two each in an hour of round-robin cycled performance.

OPENERS INCLUDE:
(Debuting never-before-read poems)
Bobby Gibbs
Sam Teitel
Lea Deschene
David Keali’i MacKenzie
Mark Palos
Steve Subrizi
with one slot left for late sign u
UPCOMING
Our next Kitchen Session #3 will feature Adam Stone of Boston. Woot!
———
Word to the nerd.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 15 August, 2009 at 5:57 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged adam stone, david perez, kitchen reading, kitchen-sessions, lara bozabalian, performance, poetry, spoken word, Worcester-Massachusetts. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

Kitchen Sessions #1

This event is amazing. Simone Beaubien ids performing to great applause in my kitchen. She is outstanding.

Next KS will be Saturday, August 15, featuring David Perez and Lara Bozabalian. It looks to be as good as this one.

Wow. Kitchen poetry is spectacular.

DJ Muse is recording all of it. I am so glad. You won’t regret listening to it. So inspiring.
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Word to the nerd.

Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.

This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 26 July, 2009 at 7:16 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged blackberry mobile post, events, my house, simone beaubien, spoken word, Worcester-Massachusetts, writing. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.