Influence

Ric Caddel, 1949-2003

Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of the death of the British poet Richard Caddel. I've written a little bit about him here and a little bit more in the introduction to Uncertain Time, the first US edition of one of his books, which Pressed Wafer will be bringing out later this year. So for now all I'll say is that Ric had a very big influence on me as a writer, reader, and maker of poems, and even though I never knew him I miss him.

Here's one from Uncertain Time which has been particularly with me this past year:


GRACKLES


Words, words.

The tumult
to live where
you would be
loved.

The waters
rising.

Poguespoguespogues

Just got home from the Pogues show. Amazed that Shane still has it. Or has it again. Any of it. Whatever. It was pretty amazing. I meant to write down the setlist, but forgot. Suffice to say that if you wanted to hear it, they probably played it. My Top 5 Pogues songs, kind of:

1. Transmetropolitan
2. Dark Streets of London
3. Turkish Song of the Damned
4. If I Should Fall From Grace With God
5. Everything else off the first three albums.

#1 is the only one on that list they didn't play. "Streams of Whiskey" was first followed by "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" and after that it's a big blur. Phil Chevron completely rocked "Thousands Are Sailing." Spider Stacy (the baddest tin whistler alive) sang a few. Virtually everything Shane said in between songs was nigh incomprehensible. The encores were "Sally Maclennane," "Rainy Night in Soho," a couple other songs (including "The Irish Rover" and some other trad tune sung by Andrew Rankin) and finally "Fiesta" which featured Spider and Shane smashing drinks trays into their heads repeatedly.

I am continually amazed and reassured to see older bands rocking out. For example, James Fearnley. Dropping to your knees can be a dodgy act; jumping off a drum riser and landing on your knees, even more so. Doing that at the age of 53 while carrying an accordion is absolutely ridiculous, and brilliant.

Only minor bummer, other than the show having to end? I saw it billed somewhere as featuring "all original members," however the badass Cait O'Riorden was not there. I mean, I knew she wouldn't be, but still. (I only thought of it at that line in "Fiesta" though).

Otherwise, I'm quite happy, head ringing, drizzle drizzling, work in the morning.

Pogues

And speaking of Shane & The Pogues - who are coming to town in March, and who I am going to be seeing when they do - my two favorite songs in one badly-recored video:

More Nick Cave

with Shane MacGowan, of course.

Why I do not fear getting older

Nick Cave is 50.

Boys Next Door

Nick Zinner, we've found you out.

making fun

An easy target but I did chuckle.

Naked

and inspired by Mike Leigh's Naked:

Tim Eriksen, "Amazing Grace"

From the vault

This originally appeared in the email zine WHEN AARONS ATTACK!, now archived athttp://whenaaronsattack.blogspot.com.

A DAY IN THE LIFE, v. 1.0
written by Correspondent Aaron T
no code


COMMON, near the gazebo.

You are standing in the rain on the Common at the beginning of your lunch break. Before you is a large white gazebo. To the west is your office. To the east a grassy hill covered in leaves leads to a statue of mysterious origin. The Common sprawls indiscriminately in all other directions.

>in

GAZEBO

You are standing in the middle of the gazebo on Boston Common. There is some graffiti on one of the posts.

>read post

"Geo lived here two years - no one cares in Boston - going south for winter - maybe Califas."

You notice some other graffiti nearby.

>read graffiti
(other)

"what about life"

You are hungry.

>i

You are carrying:

a lightweight parka (being worn)
a can of ginger ale
a can of mountain dew
a Drake's Apple pie.

>eat pie.

Are you sure?

>y.

You have eaten the pie. You feel slightly better, except for a toothache.

>drink can

You can't do that!

>open can. drink ginger.

Yum.

>l rain

The rain is wet and falls down like mist on the empty Common.

>l common

You're looking pretty common already!

>l at common

The Common is empty. Even the homeless seem to have largely fled the drizzle. Days like this make you feel as though you are in the world of some text-adventure game, where everything is ancient and beautiful and abandoned. It is a good feeling.

>diagnose

You are no longer hungry or thirsty. You have a small toothache. Your spirit is subdued but pleasant. You are very tired.

Revelation