poetry, y’all October 21, 2008

I’m often tempted to fall into the safety of the late night.  The security of a packed house, the promise of people.  But last night I adventured from my norm, took a risk at the unknown, and struck out early to see the Junkyard Ghost Revival, Poets Tackle America, stop in at Mercy Lounge.  Derrick Brown, poet and frontman for the cult dance classic Spring Hill Spider Party, came back to his Nashville roots, joined by fellow poets Buddy Wakefield and Anis Mojgani for an evening of poetic respite.  

What I would call less a “poetry reading” but more a “poetry show” incorporated the collabrative and individual efforts of these three accomplished poets.  A mesh of spoken word, reading and song, these boys hosted a tour of the comedic, tender and grotesque.  I needed my sense of humor as much as a tissue. 

I was exceedingly happy to see every table cluttered with people, Nashville ears exposed to what was the Mercy Lounge’s first go at a poetry evening and what I would assess a great success.  Nashville’s sedated poetry scene was for one night invigorated, the parched stage quenched, and on a sunday night no less. 

Derrick Brown was in golden form, clad in a Basement t-shirt, he performed numerous requests, many from his latest work, I Love You is Back.  He relished in the memory of his Nashville past and performed in a range of mediums touching on love, sex and war.    

Anis Mojgani was the opening performer, his lyrical style a smooth flow paired with jarring provocation. Anis performed his final poem tapping the keys of a baby white grand piano propped on a ragged stool; he played to tune with the words of his final act. 

Buddy Wakefield came to the floor gnashing a piece of gum between his teeth, which he stuck to the mic before railing off an opening series of short poems.  Buddy’s first visit to Nashville, he described himself as “Minnie Pearl with balls hanging off my hat.”  His quirky collection of musings included a peculiar story about baptism in the pool of Royal Arms to various poems about death, youth and experience.    

All three authors are published by Write Bloody, the press brainchild of Derrick Brown.   Derrick mentioned the publication of new book in December, so keep your eyes peeled. 

Finally, I got to give Nashville props for such a great turnout. It was a wild Sunday night, keeping true to style with the return of the Spring Hill Spider Party with special guests the Worsties shorty following the Junkyard Ghost Revival.  

Rage with poetry Nashville.