Topics

16

General Discussion / Paging EVERYBODY!

« on: May 10, 2007, 06:22:34 PM »

Slam Family -

Hope this finds y'all trading blessings with the days like crazy.

I'm honored (and feelin' alotta gratitude) to be opening for Sage Francis' Human the Death Dance tour in the coming months. Am also pretty relentless about making sure I put on the best possible show I can, using pieces and approaches that've worked best live over the years.

The impact of having accompaniment on "Convenience Stores" and "Pretend" is completely worth the logistical effort to make this happen.
www.buddywakefield.com (click AUDIO/VIDEO page) has proper examples of both pieces as I want to perform them live:
- "Convenience Stores" begs to have a keyboardist play along ever since Aaron Trumm blessed the piece with his music.
- For "Pretend", a beatboxer (albino monkey) and back-up diva (race/gender of no concern) also make a huge positive difference when the right people and skills accompany.

In organizing accompaniment I'm still inviting specific talent for the following venues
(NOTE: You'll be expected to arrive for sound check earlier that day, then return for show. NO FLAKES!!! Do not contact anyone in Sage's camp for details or questions. I'm your only contact, buddy@buddywakefield.com):

Proficient Keyboardist (MUST HAVE OWN GEAR) wanted for:
- May 25 AND 26 at Bowery Ballroom in NYC
- June 1 at Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, NC
- June 8 at Granada in Dallas, TX
- June 19 AND 20 at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA
- July 5 at First Ave in Minneapolis, MN
- July 9 at Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI
- July 10 at Magic Stick in Detroit, MI

Beatboxer (can hang with the best of'm):
- May 27 at Crazy Donkey in Long Island, NY
- May 29 at Trocadero in Philadelphia, PA
- May 30 at Ottobar in Baltimore, MD
- May 31 at Rock and Roll Hotel Theater in Washington D.C.
- June 1 at Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, NC
- June 4 at Firestone in Orlando
- June 8 at Granada in Dallas, TX
- June 17 at Soma in San Diego, CA
- July 5 at First Ave in Minneapolis, MN
- July 9 at Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI
- July 10 at Magic Stick in Detroit, MI

Back-up singer (must be able to take'm to church):
- June 8 at Granada in Dallas, TX
- July 5 at First Ave in Minneapolis, MN
- July 9 at Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI
- July 10 at Magic Stick in Detroit, MI

If interested or you know someone who is, please have them contact me at buddy@buddywakefield.com.

Thanks for lookin' out.
Buddy Wakefield

17

General Discussion / Cleveland

« on: May 01, 2007, 03:36:43 PM »

Talking in superlatives is something I consciously make an effort to stop doing:

"That was the coolest thing I've ever seen in the history of the universe."
"That's the #1 movie of all time."
"That poet is the best writer who ever lived."

It's thoughtless disregard for the rest of the world
doing its part to contribute to the greatness.

But I gotta tell ya, thoughtfully and respectfully,
having been on the road for 7 years and in poetry venues for 9
that my recent visit to Cleveland, Ohio
(through Tom Noy, One Truth and Chief Rocka Entertainment)
just raised the bar, exceeded all expectations, and showed (not told)
how to fill a poetry house
and a person
with a positive experience.

It was the finest treatment any traveling poet could (but shouldn't) expect.

I told them on the phone to just pick me up at the curb
because I had no checked bags and the flight was on time.
But they were glowing inside the airport, waiting.
They took me to dinner at an incredible organic foods restaurant.
They asked me if I could choose any song to be brought to the stage with
that night what would it be.
I said "Paragraph Paralyzer" by Blackalicious; Track 8, off Blazing Arrow.
They got on the phone and told the DJ to download it.
They took me to my over-the-top beautiful hotel room
overlooking the city, with an angle on the sunset,
to let me rest up before the show.
The bed was already turned down,
the radio was set to smoov jazz,
and there was fresh fruit and bottled water waiting.

The venue, Kamikaze, is perfect for a poetry reading
and if you know what Sunday night at a gospel church looks like
with open arms and genuinely welcoming eyes
you might have a sense of the community I walked into.

A friend of mine drove down from New York for the show.
She had been waiting for over an hour before I got there.
When I stepped out of the car she danced her way across the parking lot
to the beat of the drummers outside
shining
and said, "This place is fuckin' awesome!
Wait till you feel the energy these people give!"

I don't wanna sit here and make them out to be more than human
because the experience was simply an an even flow of tact, kindness,
professionalism, good vibration, very well orchestrated, purposeful action,
and seamless use of my time there.
I had a proper intro,
an escort to and from the stage,
photographer,
someone helping with merch (who took the time
to sell it away from the table and in the crowd),
the venue's bouncer seated next to me
(who let me give him a hug for being my bodyguard in yet another violent poetry house),
someone checking in every 5-10 minutes to see if I needed anything
while I was seated in the back at my reserved couch
in the incredible, clean space with great stage.

To open the show
the stage is blessed
with readings of other people's work,
and drums.

There was a newspaper interview in the beginning
and a video interview at the end.
Both interviewers actually had thoughtful questions.
One of the interviewers was Q-Nice from the early days of Slam
(on the team with Da Boogie Man in '95 and '96 if I remember right,
and maybe Sara Holbrook).

The paramedics even came...
while on duty...
read...
watched...
and loved
until they were called out for an elderly woman who peed on herself
and dropped a glass.
But they came back.

One Truth asked me to step outside before the open mic got started
so I could join the slammers and the Chief Rocka Entertainment crew in prayer
and give thanks for the opportunity to share in the night and the moment.
When I walked outside there was clapping in-progress, energy building,
affirmation being exchanged
and glowing eyes and smiles...
MY PEOPLE!!!
I felt like the little bee girl from the Blind Melon video "No Rain"
when she finally finds the kingdom of other bee spazz's
dancing and running about.

I was asked to step to the center of the circle,
and into their gospel.
If you've got religious hang-ups
do not bring them with you to this moment when you visit.
You are accepted as is.
They only wish to love you the way they know best.
And last Sunday night
it really was the best.

I wouldn't sit here and brag about this flawless treatment
if it was comin' from high end promoters who have the money streaming in
sucking up to other rich people who expect it.
But I got the certain feeling that these folks thoroughly enjoy
treating their guests with such care.

If I may quote a languaging I once heard from Jared Paul
when he stood up at the end of the Seattle Slam to compliment the vibe in our scene,
"I would be remissed if I didn't take this opportunity to say so."

With Much Love & Respect to Chief Rocka, Tom Noy, One Truth
and to Cleveland for showing up to
Kamikaze, 4360 Warrensville Ctr. Rd., North Randall, OH.

Buddy Wakefield

18

General Discussion / Michigan and Illinois or Iowa

« on: January 19, 2007, 04:53:21 PM »

Hello Good People of the Mid-West/Mid-East/Rust Belt/Corn -

Hope yer all well and rested and fed.
I'll be passing through relatively soon and would love to fill these dates in with work.

In Michigan Sunday February 25 and Mon the 26th

Have Sat-Sun March 3rd and 4th open in Illinois/Iowa.

Jr/high school workshops in the daytime, and college shows/theaters are more than welcome. Please feel comfortable replying to buddy@buddywakefield.com.

Much Lub and Respect,
Buddy Wakefield
www.buddywakefield.com

19

General Discussion / Anthology

« on: December 15, 2006, 11:22:50 PM »

Hi All.

Quick note to say that I hope you're enjoying that cool new anthology from PSI, which probably arrived in the mail today for those who contributed.
Please take note that although I am thoroughly credited in the book
for the piece on pg. 41 called "No Child Left Behind"
there's not a chance in hell I wrote it.
The obsessive compulsive writer inside me needs you to know.
Nothing I wrote - as far as I can tell - is in the anthology.
Thanks for letting me clear that up.
Page 41 = not me.

Now back to your regularly scheduled...
Buddy

20

General Discussion / Filling Holes

« on: October 03, 2006, 07:58:58 PM »

Hey-O!

I'll be anywhere between Pennsylvania and New Hampshire with both December 3rd and December 4th off if you've got a feature slot for me. Sometimes I really like having a destination:

December 2 with Patricia Smith in the Ballroom at West Chester University, West Chester, PA, 8pm

December 3 ... ?

December 4 ... ?

December 5 in The Coffeehouse at New England College, Henniker, NH, 8pm

Thanks for Considerin' it, Bufftard

21

General Discussion / New CD is Done!

« on: August 15, 2006, 08:58:54 PM »

Hi All. Hope this message finds ya clear in the chaos and healthy in the heart/head/orifice.

Strange Famous Records released my new CD ("Run On Anything") and I couldn't be more floored with gratitude by the way it all turned out. I've been working on it for over two years with Jon Berardi, the same guy who produced "A Stretch of Presence".

You can get a copy from the merch page on www.buddywakefield.com or www.strangefamousrecords.com.

Guest appearances and features include:
Sage Francis
Morris Stegosaurus
Jamie DeWolf of The Suicide Kings
Mack Dennis
Oliver Klomp/Oval League
Aaron Trumm
Carlos Andres Gomez
...and the list goes on...

Send me an email backchannel at buddy@buddywakefield.com if you've got any questions or...

Aiming for Ghetto Gold,
Buddy Wakefield

22

General Discussion / Paging... well, the East.

« on: July 27, 2006, 01:01:21 AM »

Hiya. I'm lookin' to fill some tour dates:

October 15th-20th, 22 & 23.

I'll be in Greenville, SC on the 14th
and Geneva, NY on the 21st.
So thems my parameters.

Backchannel me buddy@buddywakefield.com if you wanna, ya know, play.

Big Teeth, Buddy
P.S. The 12th in Pittsburgh, 13th in North or South Carolina could be fun too.

23

General Discussion / Pretty Gosh Darn Proud

« on: May 06, 2006, 10:07:08 PM »

Team Seattle 2006:

Anis Mojgani
Ryler Dustin
Buddy Wakefield (thank you, RAC, for the energy I needed)
Tia Fields

24

General Discussion / Florida?

« on: April 17, 2006, 07:18:57 PM »

Dear Florida -

I'm hoping to round out a solid little tour pass through Florida by filling up a couple open dates on my schedule for:

Sunday May 21st and Monday May 22nd.

It would be an honor to have the opportunity to stop by for a day or night, and play/kick it up a notch/breathe life/share word/dance a little.

I'll consider all poetry opportunities as long as the room has a heartbeat; would especially like to hit some of the high schools for workshops on any of the days I'm around for the week, and am always up for a college show or festival.

Thank you for passing this message along to anyone who might be interested. If we haven't met yet I invite ya to check out my website so I can spare this message board a bio.

I appreciate your time, energy and consideration.

Thankfully,
Buddy Wakefield
www.buddywakefield.com

25

General Discussion / Northeast Tour

« on: August 15, 2005, 01:40:22 PM »

I don't wanna invade this list with personal touring stuff, so please feel free to call me out if it's inappropriate to post here for these kinds of things, but I'm lookin' to fill the following dates most anywhere in the Northeast:

Thursday September 8th-Sunday the 11th, and Sunday the 18th.

Reach out to me at buddy@buddywakefield.com if interested and I'll promise to bring the good stuff if it works out.

I know it's short notice so thank you for considering it, Bud