Injured Parties Live review

Nice review of The Injured Parties (and others) live at the International Pop Overthrow festival last weekend in Chicago.

Thanks, SouthSide on the Town!

Hands on Stanzas Spring Break Catch-up

As spring break winds up, and the semester nears its end, here's a few bits regarding my Hands on Stanzas residencies.

Last week, 4th and 5th grade students at Pilgrim read and responded to June Jordan's "Notes on the Peanut." Solomon's 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders tackled the same poem a bit earlier.

The week before that, Pilgrim and Solomon students read John Ciardi's "The Catalpa" and wrote poems on a general nature theme.

As a bonus, three of my students from Solomon were featured last week on Chicago Publishes: Amy, May, and Natalie.

Congrats to everyone on such remarkable work!

About the Author Launched at The Cafe

Here is a link to a video of the premiere of About the Author, from Tuesday's reading at The Cafe.

About the Author National Poetry Month Readings

Beginning tomorrow night, I will be appearing at a number of venues this month in support of my latest book, About the Author.

April 12th, I'll be the featured reader at The Cafe, 5115 N. Lincoln. There's an open mic along with the feature. Everything starts at 8:30 PM.

April 20th, I'll be taking part in Local Poet Night at The Book Cellar, 4736-38 N. Lincoln. 7 PM.

April 26th, I'll read a few poems in celebration of Logan Square Literary Review's latest issue at Cole's, 2338 N. Milwaukee, beginning at 7 PM.

Last, but not least, I'll be reading at Quimby's, 1854 W. North Avenue, April 29th at 7 PM.

Hope you can make it out to one (or more) of these festivities!

Oppen's "The Building of the Skyscraper"

George Oppen's "The Building of the Skyscraper" was the focus of my residencies last week. Read all about it, and peruse student work from Pilgrim and Solomon. Hope you enjoy!

June Jordan's Unlowly "Peanut"

At Solomon Elementary last week, we read June Jordan's hilarious "Notes on the Peanut," and students responded with their own hyperbolic poems.

WCW's "Poem"

This week, Pilgrim and Solomon students learned more about stanza breaks and lineation by reading William Carlos Williams' sublime "Poem." Afterward, they wrote their own movement poems, closely modeled on Williams. Check 'em out!

Philip Larkin's "Coming"

Last week, during my residency at Pilgrim school, 4th and 5th graders read and discussed Philip Larkin's poem, "Coming," and wrote seasonal poems in response. Check them out here.

Kate Daniels review

Check out my review of Kate Daniels' latest book, A Walk in Victoria's Secret in this month's New Pages!

Sylvia Plath's "Mirror"

My most recent residencies focused on Sylvia Plath's amazing poem, "Mirror," where we continued our previous conversation regarding personification and apostrophe. Please read some of the terrific work from students at Pilgrim and Solomon schools. Hope you enjoy!

De-coding Lee

Last week in my residencies we read Li-Young Lee's "Falling: The Code," a poem that can be approached a number of ways. Since we hadn't yet focused on onomatopoeia, I asked my students to write poems using sound-words.

Here is work by 4th and 5th graders at Pilgrim, and 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Solomon. Enjoy!

Lee's work is being celebrated this year by all the Hands on Stanzas poets-in-residence, so check out other lessons developed around his poetry. Scroll down for all things Lee, as well as the amazing work being done around other poets by my teaching artist peers in this program.

About the Author out now!

One of two new releases from me this spring is now available from Mindmade Books, About the Author. Order your copy today!

Wendell Berry's "How to Be a Poet"

Last week in my residencies, we read Wendell Berry's "how to" poem and students responded with their own efforts. Check out work by 4th and 5th graders at Pilgrim (a brand new classroom for me), as well as 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at Solomon. Hope you enjoy!

Poem in Dinosaur Bees

Check out my poem, "The Sound Effects Bible" in the latest issue of Dinosaur Bees!

Injured Parties residency continues

The Injured Parties are back at The Horseshoe for our residency March 5th. Here's the poster:

Hope to see you there!

"Lutherans" reading at AWP

Video of my reading of "Lutherans" during AWP.

About the Author available soon

Mindmade Books has announced the roster for its fifteenth year of publishing, leading off with About the Author in March. Order now, with my thanks in advance for doing so!

If anyone is interested in reviewing it, please contact Mindmade Books directly.

AWP Reading

I'm pleased as punch to be reading during AWP -- all threats of paralytic blizzarding aside -- this Friday, February 4th, at 8 PM, celebrating Salmon Poetry's 30th Anniversary and the publication of Dogs Singing.

Hope to see you at this gala event! Wear galoshes.

New Poem in dispatch litareview

I have a new poem -- actually an excerpt from a longer poem, "Heart's Desire" -- in the latest issue of dispatch litareview (3.1), which is available as a free download.

Check it out, and hope you enjoy!

"Inside Out"

Last week my elementary students read Diane Wakoski's "Inside Out" and wrote their own 'inside' poems.

Peruse work from Pilgrim and Solomon students at each school's blog.

Hope you enjoy!

About the Author

2011 is shaping up to be a banner year for LOD book releases. In March, Mindmade Books will publish my chapbook, About the Author; and at a date TBD, Beard of Bees will publish my e-chap, abbrev. I am also hoping to have my full-length collection, Brief Nudity out this year as well.

I will let everyone know when these titles are officially available.

I am also working on setting up a series of readings supporting all these publications. Later this month, I'll be returning to Woodland Pattern Book Center in Milwaukee to read at their 17th Annual Poetry Marathon & Benefit, and in April I will be featuring at the long-running series at The Cafe. As more dates are confirmed, I will pass on that information.

This is a very busy yet exciting time for me. I hope you can make it out to some of these events, and of course I hope you pick up all these forthcoming titles as they are published.

Thanks for your support!

"Linda Fiorentino"

The second of two recent Zenith Beast single releases is now available on iTunes: an early version of my ode to kick-ass actress, "Linda Fiorentino." Credits for this take match those for the "If You're Gonna Break My Heart" single, below.

Hope you enjoy!

And This Just In...

Last week my public school students read a poem by journalist David Tucker and were asked to write about silence. Please peruse these terrific responses by Pilgrim and Solomon elementary-schoolers, and hope you enjoy!

"If You're Gonna Break My Heart"

Before The Injured Parties became a full-time concern, I recorded an early interpretation of this song, which appeared in a slightly different version on the IPs' debut, Fun with a Purpose.

The original take is now available on iTunes. It features backing vocals by the late, and extremely talented Stephanie Morris, Fussbudgets and Malcontent bassist Ned Doherty, and Me Decade and sometime Folk You! cohort, Derek Walvoord on viola.

Check it out -- hope you enjoy!

Vulgar Boatmen Show and Documentary

My band, The Injured Parties is excited to be opening for The Vulgar Boatmen this weekend at Schubas. (Here's a nice preview from the Reader, and our poster, left.)

This special show includes a screening of Drive Somewhere: The Ballad of The Vulgar Boatmen, a movie about the band's successes and travails, which shouldn't be missed.

It's recommended that tickets be purchased in advance, which you can do here.

Hope to see you there!

Folk You! Facebook Page

I have finally created a Facebook page for my long-running (10 years come December!) songwriter showcase. Please like it, if indeed you do.

"Coda" to Coda

My first class back after the break was today at Pilgrim. Here are 5th and 6th grade students' music poems, inspired by Basil Bunting's "Coda" (with a nod to Paul Auster).

Alex Chilton Birthday Bash and Radio One

I'll be appearing tonight at 7:30 (CST) on WLUW 88.7 FM's Radio One program, promoting the 6th Annual Alex Chilton Birthday Bash next week at The Empty Bottle. (Here are blurbs about the bash from the Reader, Flavorpill, and Time Out.) Admission to the bash is free if you send an email to RSVP@emptybottle.com with 'chilton' in the subject line. (Note that All RSVPs must be received by midnight the day before the event in question. All RSVPs honored will receive an “All set!” response. If you haven’t received an “All set!” response email, you are NOT on the RSVP list. Feel free to bring your confirmation response to the door. All RSVPs must be received individually and all emails should have the night’s show in the subject line and attendees full name in the email body.)

You can listen to WLUW's feed via the web. Hope to see you at the bash on Tuesday!

Basil Bunting's "Coda"

One of my favorite poetry ideas is my own variation on the music poem. Click here to read all about it, and to peruse the last student poems of the year from my Solomon residency, inspired by Basil Bunting's "Coda."

Ron Padgett's "Morning"

For the sixth week of my residency I had students read Ron Padgett's poem, "Morning." There were some amazing (and deep) discussions over this poem, and some great student responses in their own poems.

Read more about Pilgrim and Solomon at the blog for each school.

Hope you enjoy! These are the last posts until January.

Poem of the Week

Yesterday my poem, "Lutherans" was Poem of the Week at Salmon Poetry! "Lutherans" also appears in Dogs Singing, Salmon's just-published anthology of canine poems.

Schwartz at Pilgrim

Today I was back at Pilgrim after the Thanksgiving break. Here are the 5th and 6th graders' poems inspired by Delmore Schwartz's "The Foggy, Foggy Blue."

Zenith Beast page on Facebook

Continuing my Facebook onslaught, Zenith Beast now has its own page as well. Please like if you do!

"The Foggy, Foggy Blue"

This week at Solomon Elementary, we read Delmore Schwartz's "The Foggy, Foggy Blue." I have used Schwartz in classes in the past, but for some reason this particular poem has slipped under the radar until now. It's amazing how poems strike us (or fail to) over time; perhaps the accumulation of personal experience has something to do with it. Regardless, I was happy to introduce this poet and his work to my students.

As I normally do, I created a rather sophisticated lesson plan (or cheat sheet) for discussing the poem, but midway through the 3rd grade class I realized that simply getting to the heart of it would work best, not just for the littlest kids but for other grades as well. I took that same approach for the 4th and 5th graders, and let their own questions and comments spark discussions in the classrooms. It was a smart move on my part.

Here are Solomon student poems. A bit more on the poem and process is also included.

The Eyes Have It

Take a look (pun intended) at these poems, written today by 5th and 6th graders at Pilgrim Lutheran School in response to David Ignatow's "I Close My Eyes."

The Me Decade group page on Facebook

The Me Decade now has a Facebook page.

Please 'like' The Me Decade, and pass on the word!

Post Office now on Facebook

Another of my early Chicago-era bands is now on Facebook -- Post Office. Check out our group page and don't hesitate to like what you hear!

Folk You! 9th Anniversary

As some of you may know, I've been hosting a singer-songwriter round robin (guitar pull, showcase, or whatever) since December 2001 called Folk You! We've been in residence at a few places in the city, such as Beat Kitchen and The Hideout, but for the past three-plus years we've been happily ensconced at The Horseshoe. (Thank you, 'shoe!)

I've made efforts to more aggressively promote Folk You! over the years, but more or less we get along just swell on word-of-mouth from both guests and audience members. Still, even considering my reading engagements and band shows, Folk You! in many ways remains my most constant pleasure, whether performing to an intimate handful of attendees or a boisterous throng. As befitting my character, I've tried to make the experience low-key and loose, and while it gives me a chance to try out new material, or fumble through unearthed chestnuts from my troubadourial vault (cheat sheet required), my favorite part of each show is inevitably when I can lean back in my chair and watch the other performers. It's quite a vantage point, and enviably the best seat in the house.

So while our milestone-y 10th anniversary is still a year off, big, big thanks to Mike Felten and Chicago City Buzz for this post from yesterday -- and hope you can make it to this month's edition of Folk You!, November 19th at The Horseshoe.

Malcontent now on Facebook

Please 'like' Malcontent, and pass on to any interested parties!

Fussbudgets group page on Facebook

Phase two in an ongoing attempt to migrate information previously available only on My Space to Facebook: a Fussbudgets page, about my San Francisco-era "savant pop" band. This is in anticipation of digitization of the Fussbudgets oeuvre, finally making it available via iTunes and other digital providers, as well as (hopefully) hard copy as well.

Friend The Fussbudgets!!

Eyes Unshut

Here are Solomon students' poems written in response to David Ignatow's elegiac, "I Close My Eyes."

Injured Parties group page on Facebook

Check out this new page dedicated to my band, The Injured Parties.

Seriously Funny review

Check out my review of Seriously Funny, a recent anthology of poetry edited by Barbara Hamby and David Kirby.

Contents of "Table"

Last week the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at Solomon read and discussed Turkish Modernist poet, Edip Cansever's "Table." Here are their 'household object' poems, written in reaction to it, as well as Pilgrim Lutheran School's 5th and 6th graders' work from this week.

Poems from Pilgrim

This week's student poems from Pilgrim 5th and 6th graders, in response to Jane Kenyon's achingly gorgeous "Let Evening Come."

Hands on Stanzas begins

I've had one class apiece for my two residencies now this year. Check out blog entries for Pilgrim (a new school for me) and Solomon. The students are off to a terrific start!

Dogs Singing

I have three poems appearing in the anthology, Dogs Singing, forthcoming in October from Salmon Poetry. Get your copy now!

Upcoming Gigs

It's still a bit early in the semester/year for me to begin musing fully on my classes, so instead I'll add some pretty posters regarding two upcoming gigs (one of which is tonight).

More to come...hope to see you at an upcoming show!

Crab Orchard Series Semifinalist

Just learned I was a semifinalist in the 2010 Crab Orchard Series in Poetry competition for my manuscript, Brief Nudity.

Charles Bernstein Review

Check out my review of Charles Bernstein's selected poems, All the Whiskey in Heaven in this month's New Pages.

draconian measures: The Origin

Some people have asked about the title of this blog. (I guess any measures taken here to date don't seem quite so draconian!) The origin goes back to a temp job I worked in San Francisco. One day the underlings in the law office where I was placed received a memo regarding non-adherence to the firm's dress code, stating that "draconian measures" would be undertaken if people didn't comply. The severity of the memo was underscored by the sheer absurdity of the so-called 'dress code,' which seemed to focus specifically on shoes. My own at the time had been purchased at a local thrift store (specifically for said job) and ironically passed muster despite being a little worse for the wear. In other respects, I thought I was pushing the parameters clothes-wise but since I was a lowly temp I was that much more unconcerned.

Coincidentally, I had been considering starting my own literary zine at the same time, and since no title had yet been decided upon "draconian measures" seemed not only appropriate, but the perfect excuse for me to stop thinking about doing it and acting on the idea instead. Therefore, draconian measures was born!

To commemorate the magazine's genesis, I copied the pertinent portion of the memo and blew up the rather mundane font so that it had a cruddier look. Not just a title, but a logo as well -- perfect for my self-described "litter-ary" magazine.

draconian measures didn't last very long. Despite working many years as a freelance journalist, and being all-too-familiar with looming deadlines, it was tough for me to maintain a regular schedule for releasing issues -- and even tougher for me to decide on material to publish. I declined much more than I accepted, and after a few years it became a chore.

I recently made it out to my storage space (an essential component for the urbanite with limited living quarters who holds onto as much material as I do), and among the items I was seeking were back issues of dm. I found two, and just published them on Scribd. Check out issues #2 and #3 for a glimpse into my nascent editorial tastes, as well as some very fine poetry, fiction, interviews and art by names familiar and unknown that I think largely holds up well today.

So when I started this blog, thinking it would mostly focus on my writing and teaching, the name returned to me as the right choice. I like how it owes something to my editorial past, and carries on into the present. I hope that makes sense, or enough anyway.

Hands on Stanzas

Check out the just-published 2009-2010 Anthology of Student Verse, featuring my 5th grade students from Shields Elementary, and my 3rd, 4th and 5th graders from Solomon Elementary!

Two shows this week

Two gigs this week. Check images for full details. The Injured Parties play 9-ish at The Mutiny, while Folk You! begins at 8 PM sharp at The Horseshoe. Hope you can make it out to either/or/both.

Srečko Kosovel Review

Check out my review of Srečko Kosove's Look Back, Look Ahead in this month's New Pages.

Upcoming Shows

Selected upcoming musical performances...a glimpse into the fall and beyond. Hope to see you at these events!

Cafe Press

Cafe Press now features an online store for Zenith Beast, featuring official merchandise from my various enterprises: solo music and books, as well as music-related material from The Injured Parties, The Fussbudgets, Post Office, The Me Decade, and the annual Alex Chilton Birthday Bash. Check it out! Be the first on your block to be gloriously betogged, and/or to quaff a beverage from an I Am Spam mug!

Tunecore

Your one-stop shopping for LOD music: