A Brenda Changed My Life by JON BERGER Brenda Changed My Life, Once
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Issue 11 November 2003 BOOG CITY Free A Brenda Changed My Life BY JON BERGER Brenda changed my life, once. I was still living in my old college town, when Alex suggested that we see the “All A Strung Out” show at a nearby school. I had nothing better to do, so I agreed to see these three major label acts doing solo acoustic shows. First up was Brenda Kahn. ‘Mint Juleps and Needles,’ has the memorably slutty line, ‘You’re cracked, you’ve gone mad. It’s hopelessly sad, but I like you better than most of the men I’ve had.’ She was gorgeous, she was diminutive, she was a raven- haired Jew, and she approached the mic to say, “Is Chaz here? I was playing pool with Chaz before, and I told him to come to the show. Chaz, you out there?” Brenda Kahn was featured on this bill of Columbia acts with other important songwriters, playing at this prestigious school, Brenda Lee in concert and she was asking about some schnook she’d just met. This BLP, Inc. photo semi-celebrity before my eyes had already personalized her performance, as if she were in some coffeehouse. That was so cool. after, I saw she played one week at artist were vital in my development. days, Ms. Kahn doesn’t play many Her set was cool, too. She played songs from her recent the historic CBGB’s and the next at the Who would I be without Brenda shows. After releasing five full-length Columbia debut, Epiphany in Brooklyn, the cover of which unknown Sidewalk Café. Kahn? I can only answer the opposite. albums, Brenda Kahn has begun to featured a photo of her bangy knees trying to remain in frame. That’s where I learned about Anti- Probably, I wouldn’t have become such devote herself to other projects. She’s That cover was like her voice, which ranged from squealing and folk and other hidden musical genres. I a proponent of independent music. It’s the brains behind www.womanrock. shouting to moaning. (I liked the moaning best.) The other acts on discovered that behind every corner you unlikely I would have started a fanzine. I com, a webzine devoted to independent the bill were good, but, well, they weren’t Brenda Kahn. can find a thousand hidden prizes, if you never would have become a poet, or a women artists. “We can change the I was exceedingly taken with Ms. Kahn and got her album knew how to look—a lot of times, even if bandleader, or met most of the people way music is heard, film is seen, and right away. Probably the strongest cut was “Mint Juleps and you didn’t. I know now, or gotten that neat job art is experienced,” she says in her Needles,” which Brenda produced, and included the memorably My infatuation with Brenda’s music desktop publishing, or gone to Brazil or womanrock.com editor’s message. slutty line, “You’re cracked, you’ve gone mad. It’s hopelessly sad, didn’t last at quite that fevered pitch. No Hong Kong. And it all started with a girl It’s a pretty big vision for such a small but I like you better than most of the men I’ve had.” There was a album amazed me as much as Epiphany, named Brenda. person, but I figure she’ll do it. After all, New York feel to the album. When I moved to New York soon and how could it? That album and that I don’t see her much now. These Brenda Kahn changed my life. NANCY SEEWALD Not Your Average Mexican Food i s not less than, two entrees. Speaking from a purely economic determination to develop an appreciation for the more subtle standpoint, the entrees would probably make better leftovers. flavors that Itzocan uses in its cooking. The cactus leaf burrito In addition to the fondue, my friend and I chose the crispy awaits my return. FYI, Itzocan Café does not accept credit Eating Well on a Lousy goat cheese ravioli, tortilla with shredded chicken in tomato- cards. chipotle sauce, and a soufflé made with sweet corn and huitlacoche mushrooms. All of the appetizers were $6, except But Steady Income for the tortilla, which was given in quite a generous portion, and for only $4.50. Brenda Bordofsky wanted to try Itzocan Café (438 E. 9th St.) for a while The fondue was the best, because underneath the cheesy Fort Greene, Brooklyn because I had heard a lot of buzz about the place from exterior was a spicy red sauce thick with mushrooms, poblano I friends. It’s small, the staff is friendly, and they serve Sangria. peppers, and chorizo. The fondue was really the only dish Happy Go early to be seated immediately, otherwise plan to wait. that had that spicy kick I associate with Mexican food. The Though they serve burritos and quesadillas for lunch, dinner fare ravioli speaks for itself—it was fried and filled with cheese. My is more interesting, with offerings you won’t see at your average friend was unimpressed by both the soufflé and tortilla. I liked I ran, I walked in the free public who is curvy and intelligent burrito joint. the soufflé because I never eat it, and the tortilla because relax, it’s relief The first time I went, my friend and I ordered two entrees to its tomato-based sauce and black beans helped cut the happy is relief sometimes split—chicken stuffed with goat cheese and vegetables ($12.50), egginess of the former. it sits in your neck, waiting and the flank steak with semolina dumplings ($13.95). Both I made the mistake of ordering too many cheese-based for pacific oceans were good, but neither had a real kick. I thought the dumplings appetizers. There were other options, including a green were interesting, but bland. As a New Yorker, I’m admittedly not salad, guacamole, soup of the day, or one of the specials. too familiar with Mexican cooking, and it’s quite possible that Asparagus with mango and a Mexican cheese was a special leave the grovel of cities the jalapeno-laden red sauces I’m accustomed to were actually on both of the nights I ate at Itzocan. For dessert, the waitress and lot’s wife for mist in the morning created in the U.S.A. suggested that special, the pumpkin crème brulée. It was a child body surfs in America I went back another time, however, because I couldn’t stop made perfectly, but after all that dairy at dinner, I probably among past, resistance and deed thinking about the appetizers I hadn’t tried. Who can resist would have enjoyed another option, like the mole chocolate and recently I’ve figured out deed Mexican-style cheese fondue? I also realized I could afford cake with hazelnut sauce. four appetizers, which would be about the same price as, if As I write this review, I feel within myself a growing BOOG CITY Elliott Smith, Issue 11, November 2003, free EDIT editor/publisher 1969-2003 stumbled upon Elliott Smith because I went to a Mary David A. Kirschenbaum Lou Lord show and he was on the bill. It was a quick [email protected] Brendamania I sell, hearing him sing about his troubles with junk, adies and gentlemen—Welcome to the Brenda love, really just life in general. copy editor issue. Why a Brenda issue, you might ask? Why After that I saw him play whenever I could—the Lnot I say. It started like this. There are three poets since-closed Tramps on West 22nd Street here in NYC; Corina Copp who I know in the scene that revolves around the Poetry opening for Beck and Ben Folds Five at Jones Beach, Project at St. Mark’s Church who have the first name where he had his sometimes backing band, Quasi’s music editor Brenda—Bordofsky, Coultas, and Iijima. And I’d hear Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss, she also of Sleater- people mentioning Brenda said this, and I’d be, which Kinney; and New Year’s Eve 1999 at the Knitting Jon Berger Brenda. Factory, when he yelled out at two minutes to 2000, “I I thought wouldn’t it be fun if we had a Brenda need a two minute song,” and I yelled out “Say Yes,” my poetry editor issue and gathered work on and by a whole bunch of favorite song of his, and he played it before bringing his Stephanie Young Brendas. And so, that is what we have done. girlfriend on stage, counting off from 10, yelling happy I must, however, address a Brenda we neglected to new year, and swigging from a just-popped bottle of write upon, a Miss Brenda Walsh. She may have just champagne before passing it to us to swig from. small press editor been a character on Beverly Hills 90210 portrayed If you don’t know his music, pick something up, with Jane Sprague by Shannen Doherty, but she was always more than my choices being either/or or Elliott Smith if you want fictional to me. something sparse. If you want something harder and a bit fuller and faster, his work with the band Heatmiser, columnist-at-large which also featured Coomes, is great. There I’d pick Greg Fuchs Mic City Sons. Letters to the Editor: It’s a sad time on this end, even sadder than Cobain poetry calendar editor [email protected] really.