September is a busy month

Summer is leaving and fall, on the calendar at least because it's not in the air yet, is fast arriving. The Mets are on the outside looking in of a crazy wild card race, Everton are off to their embracing of mediocrity and somewhere in there I had a poetry feature.

As part of the Streetlight Guild's Rhapsody and Refrain series, I was asked by Scott Woods to take part. I agreed with some quiet trepidation as I have not read in public at any length for some time and writing has been, to be honest, very tough.

Yet I persevered and brought together a selection of poems, new and old.

For posterity, here's the set list

I already know about John Wayne, open a book (new)
The view from the patio of Atomic Liquors, Las Vegas, on a pleasant 95 degree evening (New)
Planned on this being about a rich Brit in an airport lounge calling Angela Merkel a nazi, but I'm keeping it local
The morning nod (new)
Notation
Before we went to Paris
Imposter father
From the streets of the under served
The luckiest ones
Is gun
David's rock
Ten reasons why I'd rather sit in my basement with a guitar than read a poem (new)
Space: the bigly frontier
After birth
Workshopping a strategic planning task force
For daredevils
The nail spa couch (new)
The last old reel spins (new)
All time none of the time
An obscene phone call from Mr. Potato Head

It went well, I hate my own work more than anyone and I felt comfortable with my personal review. Thought it was presented and paced properly. May have been too shouty, but that was my nerves and excitement. People seem to have genuinely liked it, and that counts the most.

Brought out the Danelectro guitar (and matching Hodad amp) for the 'ten reasons why poem' and tried to do a short riff between the stanzas. All I will say is it sounded better in the basement with no one watching. It looked really good though!

Felt alright to get back out there, maybe this month will inspire me to keep writing.

Early promotion

On Wednesday, September 11th, I will be taking part in a reading sponsored by Streetlight Guild at Kafe Kerouac. 30 poets will be reading in 30 days in the Rhapsody and Refrain Series. I'm humbled and honored to be one of them.

It's been awhile since I've read anywhere and I've written some new poems for this event. There will be new and old poems, I'll even take requests in advance.

Here's my Instagram Page for more information.

Pulled back in for a night

After a few years of discussion with Scott Woods, we finally accomplished Pairings: A Night of Wine and Poetry at his new venue - Streetlight Guild. The poetry part was provided with great skill and whimsical gravitas by Zach Hannah.

A wine budget was established and I made the selections based on personal taste and wines which would engage and please the guest. Five wines were on the menu, and all five showed their excellence.

My self confidence is shot to Hell right now for many reasons, but this showed me that after 21 years away from hosting any form of wine event, that I still was competent and capable of flexing my wine knowledge when given the opportunity.

I mean, I can go on about Germans for hours, still.

The audience was receptive, positive, and that made so much difference.

Thanks again to Scott for trusting me with his space to put on a really cool event we've been kicking around for awhile. It may happen again.