COMIC Sommer Browning POETRY Bohinc, Fieled, Gardner, Kangalee, Lang PRINTED MATTER R.A. Dickey SMALL PRESS Mondo Bummer’s Amy Berkowitz BOOG CITY URBAN FOLK No Mo’ No-No’s, Exit Randi Russo A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FROM A GROUP OF ARTISTS AND WRITERS BASED IN AND AROUND ’S EAST VILLAGE ISSUE 71 FREE Farewell Dashan Coram

Dashan Coram at Bushwick’s Goodbye Blue Monday in May 2007. Deenah Vollmer photo The world lost a small visionary with the passing of BY NEIL KELLY could write a song about anything. We wrote ashan and I met during our sophomore collaboratively and competitively. If I came Dashan Coram last month. Founder of numerous bands year at The High School of Art over to his place with two new songs, he and Design. We were sitting in the would have three, plus we’d write four more (a partial list includes Huggabroomstik, Urban Barnyard, D together. bleachers, not watching whichever sport was Secret Salamander, A New Lease on Life, and Friends being played that day. He approved of my After only a couple of weekends as a band, Smashing Pumpkins “Zero” T-shirt; it didn’t we played our first show at a friend’s birthday with Benefits), label chief at Luv-A-Lot Records, producer bother him when I told him that I was a bigger party. I can’t imagine what the people at that fan of the shirt than the band. party were thinking while watching Dashan of dozens of artists, Coram left a huge impact in the Dashan was still grieving the death of his banging on pots and pans and a traffic cone, musical communities to which he belonged. mother. He cut class a lot. He and I would as I played my guitar badly and our friend hang out in the lunch Tevon mouth-bassed. Harlem. Remember how when you got off the room talking about I can’t imagine what the The magician we BY DEENAH VOLLMER opened for was pretty emember when you met Dashan on your subway lighting broke up the sky above Times music. We would skip people at that party were Square? out of school to wait on good, though. second night visiting New York City, on thinking while watching It was only a few a mid-March day in 2005, at the Lit Remember how surprised you were that line for concert tickets R New York felt not only so comfortable, but and go CD shopping Dashan banging on pots short months before Lounge on Second Avenue because you had also like the real deal. Remember how worried in The Village. and pans and a traffic cone, Dashan decided we met Dibs earlier that night somewhat randomly were ready to play because his college adviser was your high you were that New York would not feel He would work at as I played my guitar badly like the real deal, but then you met Dashan Brigade on Houston a real venue. I didn’t school friend’s guitar teacher and he told you and our friend Tevon mouth- think that there was any to go see Dibs’ band Cheese on Bread play and you thought, “Hey, maybe this is the Street almost every day real deal.” Remember and on the weekends. bassed. legitimate place that at Lit Lounge in just a would have us play, few hours. how if you hadn’t I would always stop by Remember the night ventured to Lit Lounge whenever I could. (He’d tell me which CDs to but since he booked shows for us at Acme Remember you Underground and Lion’s Den, I just went along stayed until the very end he asked you to join that night as the hail buy and then give me a couple for free.) His blew sideways and dedication to that job resulted in him getting with it. We played the open mic at Orange of the show and wound Bear and audition night at CBGB’s. Dashan up with Dashan in the Huggabroomstik and you had to hold your kicked out of Art and Design during our senior umbrella horizontally, year. But though we were at different schools, would give his all every time. He believed van that belonged to that even if there was only one person in the the drummer of The you weren’t sure you you probably wouldn’t Dashan and I just kept getting closer. have moved to New Dashan was living in his family’s old audience, that one person deserved to see an Jeffrey Lewis Band. had ever been so interesting show. Remember how you York City. apartment on West 110th Street during my Remember how first years of college. I would come down from Once, I came down from Purchase so went to Jeff and Jack’s flattered. Dashan and I could play at what he told parents’ house to drop you and Dibs emailed Purchase College almost every weekend and that late spring and stay at his place. We would party, play video me was the craziest open mic in NYC: the off a Wurlitzer keyboard and then picked Monday night Antihoot, hosted by Lach at up Betsy from a train station (you think it early summer and he mailed you a mix CD. games, eat junk food, and listen to music. Remember how your favorite song on the Music was always on, even long after we had the Sidewalk Cafe. The room was packed, was the Delancey stop) because she was but we got seats close to the front. We got a vomiting. Remember how you and Dashan CD was “The Whale Room Whale’s Big passed out. It was one of those weekends that Vacation” by Urban Barnyard and you had no Dashan and I started Huggabroomstik. late number, and our number didn�t come up were dropped off at a different train station before I left, around midnight. I was probably and rode uptown together. Remember how idea that Dashan was in the band or wrote the Starting a band was Dashan’s idea. I song. Remember, months later, when you went wasn’t very good at guitar and Dashan didn’t a little relieved; I still didn�t think we were that you asked about his friend “Diggs” and good back then. Dashan stayed at Sidewalk he said, “Who’s Diggs?” and you meant to see Urban Barnyard play without Dashan, play anything. Those facts were irrelevant to you would request that song, until one day Dashan. He convinced me that we could write that night and quickly became a regular. He Dibs. Remember you got off at 42nd Street loved being around so many other musicians because your mom, who was on a red eye you were told they couldn’t perform that song our own songs, and we started immediately. without him. We recorded a couple of songs before we who loved music the way he did. from California, had reserved a hotel room. It was around this time Dashan started Remember how Dashan stayed on the train to Remember when Dashan asked you to even settled on a band name. Please see VOLLMER page 8 Writing with Dashan was effortless. We Please see KELLY page 8 PRINTED MATTER Mets’ R.A. Dickey’s a Survivor, All Over BY ARLO QUINT that provides shelter and services to AIDS for it, and he becomes consumed by suicidal I finish getting dressed and walk Wherever I Wind Up orphans and victims of human trafficking. He’s thoughts. He makes a (suicidal) attempt to swim to school. A block into the walk, an interesting and undeniably good guy, and, across the Missouri River while his Oklahoma My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the my legs start getting chafed by Perfect Knuckleball in Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Redhawks teammates look on. by R.A. Dickey with Wayne Coffey Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball (written His fellow Redhawks pull him from the river the wet pants. Blue Rider Press with N.Y. Daily News sports writer Wayne a changed man. He experiences time and ‘What am I doing? Why Coffey), Dickey gives a great narrative account consciousness differently after having nearly of how he came to be the person he is. His drowned. He has a new mastery of the didn’t I just change my pants? story is compelling and goes like this: knuckleball and decides to talk, for the first … Do I really care so little about R.A. Dickey was born in Nashville in 1974 time, about being raped. Talking about it myself?’ to working poor parents married at ages sets him free. In the final chapters of the book Yes, it was that bad. He was a middle school 19 and 22 because of the pregnancy. They Dickey learns to have hope and becomes a kid who cared so little about himself that he would were divorced five years later and Dickey very good major league pitcher. just piss his pants. And if you feel like watching Mark Tucker Mark photo Tucker was raised by his alcoholic mom. When Wherever I Wind Up is an inspiring story YouTube and crying I suggest the R.A. Dickey

(l.) : Eli, R.A., Van, Gabriel, he was eight years old, he was repeatedly about overcoming abuse. The story is easy to 700 Club appearance in which he describes his molested by his babysitter, the daughter of describe but the book is not simple—it’s well- certainty that he was “less than human” and his one of his mother’s friends, over the course of written. The chapter on Dickey’s swim in the fear that if he told anyone he had been raped one summer. And then in the fall, while visiting Missouri River, for instance, is an interesting that they would “run the other way.” family outside of Nashville, he was raped by a study of self-delusion, group psychology, and But there are anecdotes and photographs 17-year-old boy. what it means to hit rock bottom. It’s also as from the pleasant situation of Dickey’s more R.A. told no one and suffered with exciting as a good action movie—not an easy recent life interspersed throughout the book shame and self-loathing until he was able to trick to manage in the space of 13 pages. And (beginning after chapter two) so not to depress compartmentalize his secret and put all his he is particularly good at including the insightful, the reader completely in the early going. And his energy into the escape of sports. He earns heartbreaking details that reveal so much about writing has plenty of charm, even when it’s about Anne, and Lila. Closer to home, at Alexandria, Tenn., June 2011. the DeKalb County Fairgrounds, entrance into an elite prep school, becomes the psychological effects of abuse: suffering. Here are nine of my favorite lines: a born-again Christian, and excels in football, ‘In the span of four years, I go “Start after start, I pitch glorified batting It turns out that R.A. basketball, and baseball. He spends nights from Glencliff Elementary to St. practice, doing wonderful things to opponents’ in vacant buildings. He receives scholarship batting averages.” Dickey has no ulnar offers for all three sports, chooses baseball, Edward School to Wright Middle “I have parents who smuggle flatware from and is an All-American in his freshman year School. Whatever my address I Western Sizzlin.” collateral ligament. at The University of Tennessee. Then he’s keep finding my way into tangles “We’re deep in our diamond-shaped an Olympic bronze medalist and the Texas He is an ‘orthopedic and still don’t care about pain. I cocoon.” Rangers’ first-round draft pick in 1996. “I’ve seen it at Joe’s Village Inn and the oddity for the ages, a Dickey’s about to sign a contract with an don’t care about lots of things. At Amber III and now I’ve seen it at Granddaddy $810,000-signing bonus when an X-ray reveals St. Edwards my uniform consists and MeeMaw’s house.” an elbow problem. It turns out that R.A. Dickey physiological freak.’ of dark green chino slacks and a “You don’t win against cockroaches.” has no ulnar collateral ligament. He says he’s “The grouchy pitcher kicks my shoes, then Jeff s of June 14, Mets knuckleballer R.A. perceived as an “orthopedic oddity for the collared shirt. I wake up late one Brantley buys me shoes, and a whole lot more.” Dickey is 13 starts into his season with ages, a physiological freak.” The Rangers, day and dress in a hurry. I really “The sofa is comfortable but I am not.” a record of 10-1, a 2.20 ERA, and 90 having rescinded their initial offer, sign him for “I like to throw 80-mile-an-hour knucklers.” A $75,000, much less than first-round money, have to go to the bathroom, which strikeouts. If he continues to pitch this well for a is downstairs, and I really don’t “It would be awesome to wear red cleats, few more weeks he should, and probably will, and $735,000 less than his original offer. I think.” be a first-time all-star at the age of 37. Dickey spends most of 14 seasons in feel like going downstairs. It will Arlo Quint is author of the forthcoming Dickey spent this past offseason climbing the minor leagues. He loses his fastball take too much time, so I just go Death To Explosions (Skysill Press) and an and becomes a knuckleball pitcher out of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise support for Bombay ahead and pee right in my pants, editor of The Recluse and Brawling Pigeon. Teen Challenge, a Mumbai based group desperation. He is miserable, in financial R.A. Dickey is a valuable member of Otis trouble, he cheats on his wife and hates himself which are now just a little darker. Nixons, Quint’s fantasy baseball team. Advertise in BOOG CITY thanks [email protected] 212-842-BOOG (2664)

______BOOG CITY poetry editor First published, June 2012. Paper is copyright Boog City. All rights revert to BOOG CITY Buck Downs Issue 71 free contributors upon publication. [email protected] Boog always reads work for Boog 330 W. 28th St., Suite 6H urban folk editor ______editor/publisher City or other consideration. (Send SASE N.Y., N.Y. 10001-4754 Jonathan Berger with up to five poems or pages of any David A. Kirschenbaum [email protected] type of art or writing. For email subs, [email protected] www.boogcity.com • @boogcity counsel put Boog City sub in subject line and ______then email to [email protected] or Ian S. Wilder T: (212) 842-BOOG (2664) applicable editor.)

2 BOOG CITY WWW.BOOGCITY.COM SMALL PRESS It’s Not a Mondo Bummer

Emily Fishman Emily Editor Amy Berkowitz

photo from One of S.F.’s Best Exports INTERVIEW BY He has a weird Florida surfer accent and a unique vocabulary. the idea. So, I’ve been really happy with how many books we’ve DAVID A. KIRSCHENBAUM After spending time with him, it was completely natural for me published and how popular it’s gotten. The books are carried by to say things like “mondo bummer.” And “mondo bummer” was five bookstores in three cities, and we get orders from all over oog City recently hosted San Francisco’s Mondo Bummer. just the phrase that came to mind when I wrote that message the world. As for things I’d like to improve, I’d love to see more in our d.a. levy lives: celebrating the renegade press to the poet. female poets submit their work to Mondo Bummer and to other series. We asked its founder and editor Amy Berkowitz B publishing venues, too. Women aren’t taught how to self-promote how she got here, Mondo Bummer so far, and what’s next. How does Mondo Bummer operate? Who does the the way men are. We have to remind ourselves to do it. editing and production work? How does the process of How’d you first become interested in poetry? selecting manuscripts occur? Do you see this as something you hope to do for the I was always interested in poetry. I liked the Frank O’Hara I handle the editing and production work and select rest of your life? poems we read in English class. I was lucky enough to go to a manuscripts for publication. Some manuscripts are submitted, Definitely. I figure if I’m having an especially busy year, I can high school where we read Frank O’Hara in English class (Hunter and sometimes I solicit work from poets. just reduce the number of books I’m publishing that year. As College High School). My dad had all of Richard Brautigan’s pocket paperbacks and I read them until they fell apart. How do you decide on the size and layout of the No time is spent considering design. I went to college, I moved back home to N.Y.C. I wrote and books? read poems a lot. I wanted to get out of New York and get out I think there is also something intimate The size and layout of the books is simple: They’re printed of market research, so I applied to M.F.A. programs. I wound about a book that doesn’t try to be book- out and stapled at the corner, and folded in thirds like a letter. I up at the University of Michigan. (Note: If winter makes you sad, write the publication information, title, and author name on each like, that isn’t center-stapled or sewn or I recommend not moving to Michigan.) My favorite thing about book by hand. The books are very utilitarian; they completely the experience was forming the Washtenaw County Women’s decorated with a cover. prioritize getting work out into the world. No time is spent Poetry Collective & Casserole Society (WCWPCCS) with considering design. I think there is also something intimate about presses go, I think Mondo Bummer is fairly simple to operate, four fellow students (Elisabeth Divis, Emma Gorenberg, Elisa a book that doesn’t try to be book-like, that isn’t center-stapled and it’s definitely been a fulfilling project. McCool, and Jessica Young) and writing collaborative poems. or sewn or decorated with a cover. My friend Kendall Grady is one of my favorite poets. She hasn’t published a book, but early What are your hopes for the coming years of the And how about becoming involved in the small press on in our friendship, she emailed me some of her poems, and I press? world? printed them out so I could enjoy them, and they are still on my I hope to keep publishing amazing poems and distributing them After we’d written a year’s worth of psychic sonnets together, bookshelf, under “G,” next to the actual books. Her “book” is to people who might not have come across them otherwise. WCWPCCS chose the best ones, edited them, and collected one of my favorite books, and it only exists because I printed it. David A. Kirschenbaum is the editor and publisher of Boog them in a book called The Feeling Is Mutual. The experience I wanted to share that feeling of intimacy with others. City, a New York City-based community newspaper and small of making the book—from sorting the poems, to editing them, to press of the same name now in its 21st year. laying out the pages, to the physical process of screen-printing How do you afford to run the press? the covers, folding the paper, and sewing the spines—was Because I’m using pretty basic materials and working on a inspiring to me. This didn’t introduce me to the small press Mondo Bummer Bibliography relatively small scale, it’s not world, exactly, but it did show me how easy it could be to do super expensive to print the something as important as publishing a book. books. People buy books via Thurston Moore, mail, and the price includes When did you know you wanted to start a press? By The Lightswitch postage. But because I This is a funny story. When I was in grad school, I volunteered Diana Hamilton, always wind up giving away as a reader for a poetry press associated with the university. copies and because I accept The Crying Library During a round of readings, there was one manuscript that stood barter for payment, I’m pretty Jedidiah Clarke, out to me as really strong and engaging and bravely different sure I’m barely breaking even. from the others in the pile. When I found out that it wasn’t chosen The Time I Busted My Ear I haven’t done any precise for publication, I felt disappointed. Zack Tuck, Linty Love calculations. I try not to worry On a whim, I sent a Facebook message to the poet. It said: “I about it too much. Ryan W. Bradley, was really into your manuscript. I rated it highly, and I was really Love and Rod McKuen Is there a certain kind Lauren Ireland, Olga & Fritz of ms you would say is a Brenda Iijima, from Untimely Death is Driven Out Beyond The Horizon Mondo Bummer book? Mondo Bummer publishes Jackqueline Frost, The Soft Appeal work that is sincere, irreverent, Sparrow, Crumbs from My Cabana and fun to read. Poems with Thom Donovan, She’s Lost Control Again a sense of humor and/or Sarah Fontaine, Sunday Is Waiting colloquial language tend to be a good fit. Collaborations Adam Tobin, Any Group Can Claim Responsibility and Other Poems are especially welcome. Feng Sun Chen, The Jam Jar One criterion that is always Nate Pritts, Sentimental Spectacular considered is: If I gave this bummed that the editors didn’t choose it. I would like to offer to Claire Becker, We Know in 2010, We Survive poem to a friend of mine publish the manuscript myself. The press (which I’ve just invented) is who’s not a poet, would Nate Logan, Arby’s Combo Roundup called Mondo Bummer books. The edition will be printed on printer she get it? Would she enjoy John Sakkis, You Can’t Ignore My Techno paper and stapled at the corner. I’m only half kidding, Amy.” reading it without feeling The poet never wrote back, and I’m not sure if the message Leigh Stein, Summer in Paris alienated or bored? ever got to him. Meanwhile, I realized that I loved the idea Matthew Savoca, Thousands and Thousands of Years anyway, and decided to move forward with it. After three years, how Lily Ladewig, You Are My Favorite Person of The Year do you feel the press Seth Landman and Lewis Freedman, Osagee Icarus How’d you go about starting Mondo Bummer? has lived up to your I started by emailing a handful of poets I was friends Anna Vitale, Breaststa expectations? What have with, who I thought might appreciate the irreverent spirit and Kendra Grant Malone, Laura you been most pleased deadpan aesthetic of the project. Some of them wrote back with? most want to do a Brandon Brown, From The Poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus with submissions and enthusiasm. I was especially grateful for little better? Adam Moorad, Herbal Essence CAConrad’s support. I don’t think I had any CAConrad, Touch Yourself for Art expectations when I started What was the naming process? Katherine Valentine Jaeger, A Museum of American Tools the press, I really was half For many years, I dated a really great person from Florida. joking when I came up with WWW.BOOGCITY.COM BOOG CITY 3 URBAN FOLK Sweet Home Chicago: Longtime NYC Songwriter Randi Russo Exits in Style BY JONATHAN BERGER rhythmically, perhaps playing the on the AntiFolk scene, began a few minutes t was a dark night at The Sidewalk Cafe. part of a city that has not shown after Russo left the stage, singing to the skeletal Not just because the gathered crowd was her the appreciation she had crew that remained over the drone of people saddened by the inevitable departure of sought, “Come on, I want you talking at the bar. It took a song, but soon, I to stay.” Draper gained the audience’s attention. Randi Russo, old school AntiFolker (also called by the evening’s MC, Ben Folstein, “a longtime The song ended with an Sidewalk-head,” and, near the night’s close, extended mantra along the lines Between songs, Russo one of the “hardcore motherfuckers”), but of: “I want you to stay with me chatted about the windy because of a distinct lack of electricity in the even though I keep pushing you East Village back room performance space. away,” closing to exuberant elephant in the room: On May 20, during one of the Sidewalk’s applause of an entire room, Chicago. ‘I’m looking recent Sunday Blackout Nights, the crowd decidedly less ambiguous in its came to bid farewell to Russo with no light but appreciation. forward to it; I’m also the liberally placed candles—and the glow of Russo followed with scared.‘ the legally mandated Exit sign. “Wonderland,” another track Russo’s website curtly detailed the reason from Solar Bipolar ”which came Draper has been releasing albums for Derek Richmond Derek for her departure: “I’m going to CHICAGO! out a while ago. I don’t even over a decade, the last several on Planting “… After many years of having the desire to want to say how long ago.” Seeds Records, touring and making her leave N.Y., I’ve finally been called by another “Wonderland” deals with presence known far beyond this fair city. city.” travel, movement, departures, She entertained with charm and warm, stylish While Russo painted it as a positive transition, and returns. The song dates back storytelling. sorrow seemed to permeate the proceedings. blackout. “I can’t see what I’m doing,” he at least 10 years; who knows how Choice lines from her lovely set: “When you After Hunter and Wolfe’s un-amplified piano explained at one point, “so I gotta take the long this move has been anticipated? have nothing left to lose, I’ll be there to comfort and guitar set, a succession of older AntiFolk solo again.” Though Molotov never referred Between songs, she chatted about the you. That’s all I really wanted to do.” acts hit the stage to perform and give testimony to Russo directly in his set, his song choices windy elephant in the room: Chicago. “You are the shipwreck, I am the sea. You’re of their love and respect for one another. continued to suggest thematic intent. “I’m looking forward to it; I’m also scared. sinking into me. I hope you are happy now.” The first scheduled act was Lenny Molotov, “This song is about the last days of a man “I felt a true connection to the city the last “Take me away from you. I’m not the one Russo’s former guitarist and paramour, as well called Jelly Roll Morton,” Molotov intoned time I visited. There’s this strong pull telling me they want, my dear, even though everyone I as a former Sidewalk employee. Early on in before singing about age, decrepitude, and that I need to be there. I haven’t felt this right know keeps telling me hold on, maybe it would his set, he admitted, “I realized all my songs past glories: “Don’t give me that look, boy. I about something in a long time, and we all be better if I let go.” are melancholy. People may not want that.” ain’t one of those moldy figs … Now I’m empty, know that these moments don’t come often, so Draper’s singing resonates emotion, but Nevertheless, he proceeded to perform blues- discarded, with the faded label blues.” we must seize them when they do come.” also her speaking voice, so when she told the informed originals, as well as the occasional Set transitions during blackout nights go She reminded the crowd that, before assembled, “It’s been such a pleasure to share cover. quicker. There is no need to verify levels, or leaving, they could get their own physical “old- Randi’s special night with her. I did not write this “This song is about heading for the wild,” ensuring the monitors are working to everyone’s fashioned CDs.” Further hawking goods in fine song for Randi—but I guess we can dedicate it said Molotov. “It’s called ‘Wilderness Bound.’” satisfaction. It’s just a matter of getting up, huckster form, she yelled “Everything must go!” to her.” He went on to sing the story of a narrator getting into position, making sure you’re in Most of the material in Russo’s set was The number that followed sounded like it heading out west, alluding, intentionally or not, tune, and you can begin your set. During what older, leaning less on the new Fragile Animals would be explosive with a band, lead guitars, to Russo’s imminent departure. breaks there were, the and more on the turn and a heavy beat shuddering within every ear. of the millennium’s The lyrics? “I hear you’re leaving town and you There were love songs, too. Considering talk was about little Russo’s song ended with Molotov and Russo’s historic and multi-tiered but Russo. Overheard Solar Bipolar, so this won’t be back around. Turn it up turn it down. relationship, it’s easy to presume that some of between acts: “I think an extended mantra along show served less as a Turn it back around again. Everywhere that I’ve the songs could have been originally composed she’s done with this retrospective of her time been keeps reminding me of the places that we with Russo in mind. Whether or not any songs town; she’s gotten all the lines of: ‘I want you to in New York, and more used to go.” were actually written for Russo, Molotov’s tune she can from New of a time capsule as her Erin Regan followed, with her elegant “Vida Blue,” detailing the southpaw’s decline York, and it would stay with me even though I time at Sidewalk. Even originals that sound like they’ve existed for the insistent presence generations. after a strong start, had a strong romantic behoove her to move.” keep pushing you away.’ resonance that seemed to fit the evening like Before leaving the of candles on every Darkness, sadness, fits the lilting ballads of a glove. city, though, Russo had table was a callback the inestimable Ms. Regan. When she sings Molotov included two covers. First was to perform, one final time, at the first venue she to earlier days of AntiFolk. of a last-time tryst in the perfect “Your Mom’s “Sixteen Tons,” performed closer to the Merle ever played in N.Y.C. “Parasitic People” had a driving, Velvet Car,” every note sounds perfect. Travis original than any subsequent cover. Randi Russo quietly sat down, picked up Underground intensity, sounding like a single “You’ll touch my body with your calloused Molotov went on to do “Another cover, for her strangely strung, upside-down guitar, and player seeking to clone the soul of “Sister hands and I forget who I am … and you’ll go the occasion,” immediately going into Robert played. Ray.” home to your girlfriend, and I’ll go home to Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago,” which “The world is not made up of simple Nearing the end of the set, Russo admitted, my dead end … street, where you and I never clearly alluded to Russo and her immediate patterns,” Russo sang, “she ain’t leaving Saturn “I’ll be honest: I didn’t want to do this. I just meet, please.” future. soon.” wanted to start my new life. I don’t have to do Every word in a Regan song is carefully Molotov regularly joked about the lack of “I guess Saturn isn’t New York,” she laughed another show in New York. It’s just such a treat selected and perfectly executed. light and his limited functionality in the enforced at song’s end, then introduced a familiar to hear everyone, all these great songwriters, “Best of luck, Randi I’m going to miss you,” f a v o r i t e . one last time. said Regan, who spoke softly between songs. “This is an “So many people here have been so The last word was given by the last act of old one that supportive,” said Russo. “I’m just so happy to the evening, Thomas Patrick Maguire, who people have see so many familiar faces; people that have has frequently been much covered by local told me they been around for years. Words can’t describe singer/songwriters. Between Maguire’s stylish liked.” how much I appreciate it.” Cobainesque acoustic numbers, he said directly Theme: FACSIMILE “Ceiling Fire” from 2006’s Shout Like a to Russo: “I’ve always liked your music,” then Deadline: 8/ 1/ 2012 S h e went into an Lady, closed her set, speaking of redemption turned to the audience, “and Randi’s a great Send up to three pages through loss: “I am feeling higher since the person, she didn’t have to be.” of poetry (maximum early track, “Push-Pull,” ceiling burned down in the fire … feeling like The audience laughed along with Russo one poem per page) I’m ready to go. And I’m going home, ‘cause and Maguire, who returned his attention to to nodearmagazine@ i n c l u d i n g the refrain, everything’s all right.” Russo: “You have good taste.” gmail.com as doc or After an extended instrumental ending, Then back to the crowd: “People are talking pdf attachments. In- “So I push / pull / push Russo’s time was done, the audience stood, like she’s dying: ‘moving on’ and all that. She’ll clude a brief bio and thundered applause, and, for the most part, be back, and we’ll go out to visit her.” your neighborhood of you away from me,” emptied out of the room. Of course, there were Then he sang “Divorce Man,” which included residence. acts and acts to come, all prepared to wish the moaning refrain “I-I-I cannot escape,” which *NYC based poets only. she sang, repeatedly, one of their own a grand voyage. probably speaks less for Maguire than it does Linda Draper, a quiet but sturdy presence for Russo, regarding her New York fans.

4 BOOG CITY WWW.BOOGCITY.COM COMICS

URBAN FOLK Farewell, Elastic No-No Band Black No-No’s Marks the End of an Elastic Era BY JONATHAN BERGER Fustercluck, which included lots of styles, lots of variety, and So what does it mean that Remer has chosen to shut down fter eight years and an enormous amount of product, LOTS of songs. the Elastic No-No brand? Is this Elastic abolishment just one Elastic No-No Band has decided to call it quits. When Since then, Remer’s own personal record label Weemayk of those strange alleged retirements, à la Jay Z or Cher, one speaks of Elastic No-No Band, of course, it’s usually Music has produced records simply stoking interest until the A for Joe Crow Ryan and Thomas Among the tracks on Black No-No’s inevitable upcoming album? a reference to the musical explorations of Justin Remer, who has been gracing New York’s smaller stages since 2004. Patrick Maguire, as well as are live versions of some of Fustercluck’s A recent house party at When Remer started performing in town, he was a solo each successive Elastic album, collaborations, including Nan Turner and Weemayk Music’s base acoustic act, using the Ono-referenced name Elastic No-No including the just-released of operations to release the farewell document, Black No- Toby Goodshank reprising their roles album, along with continuing No’s. as cover interpreters with Remer, while video footage coming out of the An Odds & Sods-style Major Matt Mason USA trades vocals Weemayk camp, suggests that rarities album, Black No-No’s Remer isn’t out of the business of collects live tracks, demos, with Remer on Mason’s own ‘Goodbye creativity. In fact, with upcoming alternate versions, and covers, Southern Death Swing.’ releases from other acts on with a smattering of new tracks, the Weemayk roster, it seems to boot. Like the last ENB release, Black No-No’s has a kitchen that Elastic No-No Band may be gone simply because the sink approach, which is suitable both for a swan song (swan identity didn’t stretch far enough for Remer’s latest fancies. His album?) and for the leftover nature of this release. collaborative sensibilities, after Fustercluck and Black No-No’s, Among the tracks are live versions of some of Fustercluck’s seem boundless, so why limit them with this singular band identity? collaborations, including Nan Turner and Toby Goodshank Remer’s influence grows like a virus, a mutated monster whose reprising their roles as cover interpreters with Remer. Major tendrils extend into more and more parts of this artistic universe. Matt Mason USA, the producer of many of these tracks, trades Who knows when Remer, or Weemayk, or a returned ENB may vocals with Remer on Mason’s own “Goodbye Southern Death collaborate with YOU? Swing.” There are guests aplenty on the album, and a host of new cover songs, from acts local and international (even Ron Sexsmith, a Canadian songwriter, is covered). “I think it might Want to write a review (or be reviewed) be our best album,” says Justin Remer—and he should know. in Boog’s Urban Folk music Band for his musical output, which included simply played, New tracks appear, courtesy of Remer’s involvement with the or printed matter sections? geeky joke folk beside an assortment of covers. Bushwick Book Club (“Quails,” “A Good Man,” and “Quincunx”), his need to cover more great acts (The Beatles, George Jones, and contact By 2005, Remer coerced other songwriters to join him UF editor Jonathan Berger, [email protected] under the ENB banner, and then found a growing number of The Clash get the treatment this time around), and old tracks are players to help him fulfill whatever fancy he considered. There revisited due to Remer’s desperate insistence that joke folk not go printed matter to Boog City editor were numerous fancies, including the themed collection My down without a fight (“Manboobs” and “Cheese Fries” both return). David Kirschenbaum, [email protected] 3 Addictions and the smorgasbord more-is-more collection With some notable exceptions, it is, indeed, a good album.

WWW.BOOGCITY.COM BOOG CITY 5 Adam Fieled Philadelphia POETRY from Cheltenham (and other Apparition Poems) Katy Bohinc #421 Huddled in the back of a red Washington, D.C. Jetta, I thought we were in a Springsteen song. But there are Post-Medieval no backstreets in Cheltenham. Strawberries and fresh pasta It’s only the strip-mall to house Laid out on the year and back circuit. Anyone could’ve Table of time planks seen us. It wasn’t a full consummation— Heavy medieval knots for want of a graceful phrase, we As long as the sea were too smart to fuck. There was I walked along the edge no playing hero for me. Nor did I Hunting for truffles force you to confess. What could you say? & bits of sage Cheltenham was soft, and all too infested. Some candles dripped Hot wax and flicker flame A shadow birthed a ghost #415 Chaired at the head In a ruby necklace There’s something sweet and sickly It was mostly dark about teenagers fucking. Even laid And I tread on a molting map down by the jagged rocks that bordered An old friend Tookany Creek. I think of them there, Struck the xylophone and know he’s getting wasted. What’s Against the gong draining out of him is the will to live. To gnaw my teeth She always gets him off somehow. Then And raise my feet they would walk over to the Little League From the sticky blood field and huddle in the dugout. He didn’t Of borderlines even wind up graduating from Cheltenham It was mostly dark on time. I can’t get over thinking who he And everywhere could’ve been. Am I the only one? Parables tickled the air #418

I remember thinking: boy do I feel Wild at Heart New from Pond Road Press tonight. What a joke— this horrible Cheltenham bitch with a huge nose tries to generate an orgy in www.pondroadpress.com her basement. The pot was alright, at least. But Elkins Park gave us the creeps, and we agreed afterwards never to go back. The fucked up thing Messages: Poems & Interview about that night for me in particular was knowing by Piotr Gwiazda we would have fun talking about it forever. And we have, so I guess it’s not a complete dead loss. The girl I was with pretended I was fucking her, too. “Gwiazda demonstrates a mythopoetic instinct capable of shattering isolation, and an ability to play with language that may create worlds as yet unimagined.” —Pleiades About the Poets Katy Bohinc edits COYDUP Zine, a poetry pamphlet dedicated to hand-to-hand distribution at and around Occupy events. Adam Fieled’s most “Through rich imagery, complex metaphors, and vigorous recent book is Equations (blue & yellow dog press), while Cheltenham (and other Apparition wording, Gwiazda achieves a Poems) is forthcoming from Blazevox [Books]. Susana Gardner publishes work in print striking lyrical force and comes and online as part of the Dusie Kollektive (www.dusie.org). Her most recent book is HERSO close to creating a vital lan- (Black Radish Books). Dennis Leroy Kangalee is the author of Lying Meat (Savage Paw Press). His performance piece Gentrified Minds premiered last spring as part of the 9th guage of his own.”—Jacket Annual Downtown Urban Theater Festival. Doug Lang’s collected poems, In the Works, is forthcoming from Edge Books. $16/paperback ISBN 978-0-9719741-2-8 Available from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and through Pond Road Press: [email protected] YOUR BoogWork debut reading/workshop/music series AD Tues. June 26, 6:30 p.m., $5 suggested Greg Fuchs Clear Plastic Masks HERE Our new BoogWork series kicks off with poet Fuchs reading, Clear Plastic Masks playing, and then Fuchs leading a poetry workshop. [email protected] Sidewalk Cafe 94 (@ E. 6th St.), East Village For information call 212-842-BOOG (2664) • [email protected] 212-842-BOOG (2664)

6 BOOG CITY WWW.BOOGCITY.COM Doug Lang Susana Gardner Washington, D.C. Zurich, Switzerland Artless Adores her itinerant Confucius Lives sonnet Quivering Sea of voices for Sandra

Painted If Casey, then Zachary Image legible When Jenn, so Jess Iridescent rich& lush Where Confucius lives there is Scrabble and Freedom from historical maladaptations embedded Binding December alone in the childhood script, which is required in order to become free of Eat your early paradox: inappropriate, inauthentic and displaced emotions Dirty Cloak Industry Yo temo que Raquelita no venga She can transform herself into herself Artless is How does one dissimulate oneself, one? Radiant exultant Her lifescript favors co-dependents Contractions of little mugs Avec the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet When I see you Heaving& rising I am over the moon Incident me: Come, Come, Come!

Answer mechanically Thoughts persist Ampersand sonnet Alcohol tedious thereafter Mary was the software Inward damp imbecilic Who interfaced with God Dress half undone Jesus was the virus Evident atrocity The brain’s dark energy controls

Ought I leave? Your sexual harassment panda His harlot artfulness Under the flickering diversions of the spectacle Wanton carmine-tinted menacing Aphrodite’s abundance (don’t lose your mind) If Casey, then Zachary Ardent Wakefulness desiring When Jenn, so Jess Luscious lips diminish I dreamed this in my dream of Portugal’s fabulous beaches and a little pot Half-ships You know what I’m talking about & I know & I remember Idempotent perfidy Apogeic maxims Hope & Cherish & Amy & Moudy & Minami & Will & Tim & Annie & Eleanor & Nina & Derek & Izzy Gizmodo sonnet for Ray DiPalma

It is all about the distance and zone focus Dennis Leroy Kangalee Although the sensitivity of the organism is unchanged In this case, a clear, circular “halo” Astoria, Queens With downloadable freeware to simulate effects Comes from the popular tech website, Gizmodo A Loser Can Surely Find Time For Love Scraps of movie posters scavenged from the streets of New York by A loser can surely find time for love. Low Life author Luc Sante, the bagel burned by actor Christopher Walken, moonlighting as a short-order cook Before that I thought I was just another waking asphalt animal perched on his shaky The abstract provenance graph can therefore be used as a data-oriented brick-limb trying to do what it is that rats do to stay alive. view of the ... daily actions… Thoreau’s, no The rats are the true underground. Emerson’s moral botany: corn seeds produce corn Make the road by walking They’ve pulled apart the letters of alphabet city. Pessoan heteronymity of a potato queen (π function) Don’t mind me- Biomes are collapsing everywhere -it’s just my feet are getting wet and I never realized I could swim. The Mets Are Citibank pets Spicer Radio sonnet In steel cages. for David Berrigan They’re sending me to the outbacks, The caves in the dunes where books meet man The bus stops briefly when someone cries, and no one gets off, And clean hands are an ideal to achieve. No one gets on, and everything stops forever like there Are two kinds of places in the world, something that comes Losers From the outside as a wire reaches the afterlife of the poem Like Loners Make the (Or, everything comes: a system of metasexual metaphor) Best The clothes wherein he walks naked Lovers. The Sonnets engaged the possibility of understanding Joe Brainard They have so much to give. Falling on the floor in a room with no bed, the fact of 14 lines

They don’t need me here. Give me my apocalypse and ship me out soon. As a site for messing around. So, do I care whether or not God exists? No. I do care that Larry Fagin exists. I am not sure how long I can carry this battery. Hats off the Larry, he broke your heart Just like you broke mine when you said we must part

This is just, you know, something I learned over in England. Did you think I was showing off?

WWW.BOOGCITY.COM BOOG CITY 7 Farewell Dashan Coram anymore. About four months after that tour, Dashan abruptly quit One night soon after he KELLY from page 1 after a show at the Sidewalk. I tried to tell him that he couldn’t moved back here, we were We weren’t taking classes at the Institute for Audio Research. He wanted to quit, but I knew that he had already decided. out drinking and I asked him be able to make more professional-sounding Huggabroomstik He moved to Detroit with his fiancé, Suz, soon after. I kept what he thought of the live trying to play recordings. He spent some of his inheritance from his mom on Huggabroomstik going. We did another tour, then recorded a recording we had done without bigger venues. a 16-track digital recorder. He wanted to record all of the live album of all new songs without him. Dashan and I stayed him, Intimate Huggabroomstik. We weren’t musicians he had met, which is how A Luv-A-Lot Compilation best friends, but he couldn’t stand to hear about the band Dashan told me it sucked. I focused on writing came together. Dashan recorded 46 songs by 46 different that he had left. I think he probably wanted me to disband knew what he meant. While acts, all in his bedroom, and released the definitive collection of Huggabroomstik when he quit. There were a lot of reasons there were many great things new material. N.Y.C. AntiFolk as a double CD. why I didn’t: I really wanted to keep playing with Dibs, Preston, about that recording, it didn’t We were just I was content to continue recording in Dashan’s bedroom Johnny, and Liv. I didn’t really think that I could put together a have the same magic as the having fun and playing some shows in N.Y.C.; Dashan was always pushing new band by myself, since Dashan had recruited everyone who recordings that Dashan and I forward, trying to get us to the next level. After a Knitting Factory ever played with us. I was also stubborn. But the main thing was had done together. I don’t think playing together. show, Dashan introduced me to Sebastian “Sibsi” Hoffman, that I thought if I kept Huggabroomstik going, Dashan would it really does suck, it just sucks Playing music visiting N.Y.C. from Berlin, who that he wasn’t a part of it. for its own sake told us that if we ever wanted One song that we played to come to Germany, he on that album was specifically was really what would help us book a tour. The about how Huggabroomstik Huggabroomstik concept was far-fetched, but to was missing Dashan and Johnny was originally Dashan, it was an attainable Dydo, who had also quit shortly about, because it goal. About a year-and-a-half after Dashan left, and how we later, Dashan and Sibsi made longed for them to return. When made us happy. that dream a reality, not just Dashan rejoined, so did Johnny for Huggabroomstik, but for and the group felt complete the WoWz and Chris Maher, again, even though Dibs and Liv had by then both moved too, creating the transatlantic away. connection between the N.Y.C. Dashan came back from Detroit with a more serious outlook and Berlin AntiFolk scenes. toward his future. He was more in love with Suz than ever After that first tour I started and seemed to have more dedication to his day job. Despite thinking more ambitiously, like the changes, when we got together with Huggabroomstik, for Dashan. Whatever new idea shows, practice, or even just hanging out, it was like he had came up for Huggabroomstik, never left. We played all our old songs again, and it felt right. we would go with it. Record We fell into a pleasant little rut, playing Goodbye Blue Monday an album at the studio of Mark once a month. We weren’t trying to play bigger venues. We Ospovat of Dufus? Of course! weren’t focused on writing new material. We were just having Make it a double album? Why fun playing together. Playing music for its own sake was really not? Put together an outdoor what Huggabroomstik was originally about, because it made summer music festival? Sounds us happy. like fun! Tour Europe again and Huggabroomstik—Dash, Liv Carrow, Neil, and Preston Spurlock—at Goodbye Blue Dashan made friends wherever he went. He could talk to again? Yes and double yes! anybody, and left a strong impression on everyone he met. He On Huggabroomstik’s third Monday in May 2010. Deenah Vollmer photo was pretty good at staying in touch, too. The first summer Dashan European tour Dashan lost his passport before boarding the want to come back eventually. was back from Detroit, he invited two bands from Michigan airplane at JFK, and was denied entry into the E.U. when we When Dashan returned to N.Y.C., I would ask him to just to play the Huggabroomstock festival. The following spring, arrived in Berlin. The rest of us went through with the tour without play one show or join us for a couple of songs. I could tell that Dashan booked a Huggabroomstik tour to the Midwest. him, but it was difficult. When we got back to NYC, Dashan felt he wanted to, but it would have to be on his own terms and That tour, although short and not without some hardship, his role in the band wasn’t the same. It didn’t feel right for him conditions. Please see KELLY page 10

why, but in hindsight it probably had a lot to painted roof. Remember how he’d buy Teddy Remember when he quit music to pursue do with Dashan. Grahams and stay the night. professional skateboarding? Remember when from page 1 VOLLMER Remember in the summer, the countless Remember the crazy parties you threw on he invited his friends over to take his stuff take nude pictures of him with a disposable days you spent walking around the East Village that rooftop. Remember the last one in July of before he was moving away to Detroit. camera? Remember it was the first time you together, drinking whiskey with Coke, whiskey 2007 after you had moved all your things out. Remember you didn’t really want anything, went to visit his recording studio and you with ice tea, or whiskey with Vitamin Water. Remember that was the night he asked you to but took a couple 7 inches and a pink plastic were excited because you loved the Luv- Remember pausing on strangers’ stoops join Huggabroomstik and you weren’t sure you Carebear. Remember when he moved back A-Lot compilation a lot. Remember when or on benches in ? had ever been so flattered. Remember it was so to New York you wondered if you should you got there Dashan had to hunt for a Remember the conversations you had in the hot and you had no furniture so you, Dashan, return the Carebear, and are now glad you toilet paper roll that he kept for when a girl daylight. Remember how everything he said and Austin slept on the rooftop and were held onto it. visited. The rest of the time he used pages was simultaneously so ridiculous and so true. awoken in the morning by the clopping of boots Remember when Dashan and Suz invited from the phone book. Remember how Dibs Remember how much and the jangle of keys you and Toby on a double date, but it never met you there, and when you opened the you looked up to him, and you realized you happened. Remember when you made plans door to greet Dibs, Dashan was completely Remember he left you how cool you thought his were in big trouble to go to the beach last summer, but it never nude and you were dressed in full winter hair was. a seven-second voicemail because you were not happened. Remember when you tried to regalia. Remember how long allowed to even be on hang out so you could give him the CDs that Remember when Dashan invited you to you felt so new and so where he sang ‘Dave the roof, never mind Andre had given to Sibsi who gave them to play with his band Secret Salamander and young? Remember when throw huge parties you to give to him, but it never happened? you had never played with a band before. river, Dave’ and that was Phoebe read your tarot on it. Remember the Remember when Dashan texted you if you Remember how excited you were when cards and you were the guy with the keys and were ever going to hang out again and you Dashan told you that you’d have practice in a the last voicemail you Fool, which was a good the boots said he was said of course, and that was in September of practice space because you had never been thing. Remember, later, would receive from him. calling the police. last year and you didn’t know it at the time, but to one before and had been jealous when when Dashan told you it Remember how you you were lying. your friends had practice in practice spaces? was good that you weren’t as eager as you ran away and felt like the cops were chasing Remember on the night Dashan died you Remember meeting Tina Harris that night and used to be. Remember how embarrassing it you? Remember how Dashan laughed and had a dream that you and he were at a James how you pretended to know what to do and was, years later, to read emails you sent in thought you were so white. Franco music video shoot and Dashan was how to play along to the songs. Remember 2005. You were so eager and Dashan taught Remember when both you and Dashan had alive, but he knew that he was also not alive how Dashan helped you with all the cords you how to be less eager, which meant to be crushes on Diane Cluck and you decided you and you were honored that on his first night he and amps because it was your first time being more cool. would ask her out on a three-way date, but came to visit you and your dream and he was amplified. Remember how you thought you Remember when you went to Coney then you both felt too shy to go through with it. at peace. were faking it, but he thought you were doing Island at night with Neil and Austin and Remember when he taught you to hate the But remember later in the dream, he was a good job. the guard dogs threw themselves at the word “awesome,” and replace it with the word tied up and rolling down the streets in Harlem, Remember when you and Dashan went to chain-linked fences dividing the amusement “key.” Remember when he changed every caked with the sand from sandstone and Dibs’ house to eat HuFu, human flavored tofu? parks. Remember, during the heat wave, word in every song to “Dave.” Remember he spitting dirt. Remember Dashan described the flavor as Dashan and Luke would come around to left you a seven second voicemail where he Deenah Vollmer works for Interview “musky.” Remember how you were kind of a your apartment and take their shirts off and sang “Dave river, Dave” and that was the last Magazine. She’s about to go to Germany on vegan around that time and you didn’t know you would all drink beer on your silver- voicemail you would receive from him. a Fulbright scholarship.

8 BOOG CITY WWW.BOOGCITY.COM 6th Annual Welcome to Boog City Poetry and Music Festival 4 Days of Poetry, Music, Politics, and Theater Thurs. Aug. 2-Sun. Aug. 5 Sidewalk Cafe, East Village and Unnameable Books,

FEATURING Sleater-Kinney’s Dig Me Out Performed Live by 5 Musical Acts

Philadelphia’s Turtleneck Press in d.a. levy lives: celebrating the renegade press series

Boog Poets Theater’s Short Plays

9th Annual small, small press fair

Radio and Political Speakers and Politics Panel

BoogWork Workshop and Poetry from Tyrone Williams

Featuring the below Dawn Lundy Martin SLEATER-KINNEY’S SPEAKERS and more Kristi Maxwell DIG ME OUT Colia Clark Soham Patel Todd Carlstrom is the 2012 Green party senate POETS Guy Pettit Magnetic Island candidate in N.Y. During the Jillian Brall Judah Rubin Christine Murray Civil Rights era, she was a spe- Richard Deming Metta Sáma The Roulettes cial assistant to Medgar Evers, Amanda Deutch Alan Semerdjian Genan Zilkha field secretary for the NAACP. Ted Dodson Sara Jane Stoner Yerra Sugarman Starlee Kine Claire Donato D.A. LEVY LIVES: Thom Donovan Michelle Taransky is a contributor to CELEBRATING THE Sam Donsky Genya Turovskaya This American Life. RENEGADE PRESS Rita Doyle Ken Walker Turtleneck Press Judith Le Blanc Micah Freeman Angela Veronica Wong (Philadelphia) is N.Y. organizer for Peace Ed Friedman Brian Warfield, ed. Action, the longtime peace Drew Gardner BOOGWORK WORKSHOP group that was SANE/FREEZE Jamie Gaughran-Perez AND POETRY POLITICS PANEL David Henderson Tyrone Williams Antonio Serna Curated by Brenda IIjima Barbara Henning helps to facilitate the Occupy Laura Henriksen MUSICAL ACTS Wall Street Arts Cluster POETS THEATER Jeff T. Johnson Todd Carlstrom Curated by Laurie Wen Jamey Jones LJ Murphy Roxanne Hoffman is the executive director of Patricia Spears Jones Tom Orange Physicians for a National Rebecca Keith Rayvon Browne Health Program-New York Krystal Languell St. Lenox Metro chapter. Dorothea Lasky Anya Skidan Bridget Madden artwork by Sommer Browning Farewell Dashan Coram I think he probably wanted me to disband Huggabroomstik when he quit. There were a lot of reasons why I didn’t, but the main thing was that I thought if I kept Huggabroomstik going, Dashan would want Party, where we premiered “You’re So Dave” Dashan and his brother Chris in their backyard in Harlem, 2003. Eric Lippe photo and “Tiger Slickness.” The third was Seth to come back wrote a new song called “You’re So Dave.” Faergoalzia’s Rochester event, Fakesgiving KELLY from page 8 We wrote a new song together called, “Tiger Festimal, featuring performances by his band, eventually. was rejuvenating. It was a throwback to those Slickness.” The 23 Psaeges, The Ladies of Old Hat, Toby first tours of Europe. Dashan’s excitement was Last fall we played a few notable shows. Goodshank, Amos Rose, and a set in which we and had silly conversations. He invited me contagious. We started having ideas for the The first was a two-hour set at the wedding of all collaborated. It was an amazing experience. to go see Radiohead. We talked about the band and we starting making plans again. We Dan Penta and Erin Regan, at which we had Seth had been inviting Huggabroomstik to band. There was so much to do, and now were coming up with new ideas for songs. We Liv Carrow playing bass for the first time in over Rochester for a while, and I am really glad that there isn’t. were discussing plans for recording. a year. The second was a set that Dashan we got to go before the end. I suppose, though, that no matter Almost immediately upon returning, Dashan and I played as a duo at the Brooklyn Tea When Suz called to tell me that Dashan when I lost him, there would always be died, I was shocked. What about all the unfinished business. Dashan was always unfinished business we had? Dashan and I looking at the future and always dreaming up were supposed to get together to do some something else we could do. songwriting, but we kept putting it off. Last year Dashan taught me a lot of things about Dashan and his brother Awan started working music and myself. He was the ultimate friend- on a hip-hop album that I, among many fan. He loved the music his friends made and others, had contributed to. It was sort of on the he wanted to be friends with the people whose back burner while Dashan worked on his new music he loved. So many of my closest friends Secret Salamander album, which thankfully now are people who Dashan introduced me did get finished. We wanted to record a to, whom he had discovered at Sidewalk bunch of short, one-minute Huggabroomstik Cafe or one of his other regular hangouts. songs to release on a 7“. We were going He encouraged many of his friends to make to put together a boy-band routine for this music, regardless of their level of skill. Dashan summer’s Huggabroomstock, which was could just draw the music out of a person. That going to be the only Huggabroomstik show is one of the greatest gifts he gave to me. I will of the year. never be able to play music, or even listen to We were still making plans the last time music, without thinking of Dashan. He was Dashan and I hung out—only six days before absolutely the greatest friend that I have ever he died. Dashan and Suz came to my had, and I am going to miss him every day for apartment. It was typical: We watched a the rest of my life. bad movie, The Return to Oz. We talked Neil Kelly was a founding member of about other bad movies, mostly ones starring Huggabroomstik, and now plays drums in Kung Steve Guttenberg. We drank and smoked Fu Crimewave. He misses his friend. : Latinitas is out!

New poetry by Micah Ballard, Steve Dalachinsky, Mónica de la Torre, Clayton Eshelman, Elaine Equi, Alan Halsey, Derek Henderson, Bob Holman, Ron Horning, Geoffrey Jacques, John Latta, David Lehman, Joel Lewis, Gerard Malanga, David Meltzer, Stephen Ratcliffe, Ariana Reines, Raphael Rubinstein, Hal Sirowitz, Christopher Stackhouse, Tony Towle, John Tranter, Terence Winch, Jeffrey Cyphers Wright, and many more!

Featuring artwork by Juan Uslé and Rafael Ferrer, this issue takes in the spectrum of Latin worlds. Only $10. Order now! Small Press Distribution, www.spdbooks.org or 510-524-1668 www.vanitasmagazine.net

10 BOOG CITY WWW.BOOGCITY.COM