Steel Toe

Firstly, I apologize for not updating in more than a week. Most of what has been on my mind has been too personal for this particular vehicle. In any case, my transition is getting a little easier day by day, and I’m getting work done. I finished a new short story, and I’ve made daily progress on my new novel. Angela and I collaborated on a couple of new songs, and I’ve come up with some other song ideas that I still need to flesh out. Gigs are on the horizon, but nothing is concrete. Everything is in limbo.

I’ve been giving a lot more thought to my idea for a new literary arts magazine. I hope to start soon setting up a website and an infrastructure, though it may be a couple more months before I have the funding to get a unique URL and start really promoting it. I would like to start with mostly local support and then start branching outward. The tentative name for this project is Steel Toe Review. It will be mostly online, but I hope to do a print version as well, which may end up including a CD or DVD. The online version will have fiction and poetry, as well as multimedia content, collaborations between visual, literary, and sound artists. I’d like to take advantage of the unique resources that Birmingham has to offer, including the amazing improvisational music scene, young energetic writers and artists from various universities in the area, and the unique characters that have been around Birmingham forever and have not gotten their due recognition outside the area.

But I also want participation from all over, so I want to talk to all the best writers I know and have them talk to all the best writers they know to get submissions to get this thing off the ground. Once it starts, it can be a vehicle for staging readings and other performances locally, and it can be affiliated with my so-far theoretical creative writing workshop. I have resources to get the print edition into the hands of literary agents in New York and San Francisco, and of course the website itself can be promoted nationally or even internationally.

The Adventures of Yesterday

I haven’t updated in a few days, so here is just a travelogue of my day yesterday.

First–a recap of previous yesterdays which I utterly failed to write about at all:

Tuesday, nothing interesting happened, at least that I remember.
Wednesday, I interviewed John Morse from Bhamwiki.com for a possible article. We ate lunch at one of my favorite places in Birmingham, the Garages Cafe, which I’m aware is actually just called the Garage Cafe, no plural, but I think it should be plural anyway, and I refuse to refer to it that way. They should just change the name to fit my belief system.

And now, without further adieu, today’s Adventures of Yesterday…

My automobile-challenged friend Brent called me yesterday to see if I could pick him up to run a couple of errands. As it happened, I was already out running my own errands and was nearby, so I went to get him. In New York, I was virtually the only one of my friends who had a car, so I’m used to doing things like this anyway. I call it New York car karma. If you have a car there, you have to give people rides because it brings good luck.

After the errands were done, Brent said, “Well, what do you want to do now?”

So I said, “Here’s an idea. How about instead of hanging out in a bar where creepy old guys like us hang out, let’s go to a bar where cute girls hang out?”

He said he knew just the place and directed me to the Parkside Cafe in Avondale. It’s a sleepy neighborhood just a little east of where I live, and it was a lovely bar with a high A-frame ceiling and eclectically decorated by local artists. We ordered a delicious snack of goat cheese and edamame spread and some refreshing beverages (which I paid for because Brent is not only automobile-challenged but also money-challenged). There’s a vast patio out back and what looks like an old cabana with a dart board and free pool table (all the pool cues, however, had been stolen or broken). In the cabana, we played some darts, and I plugged my blackberry into the stereo to play Brent some of the songs we hope to do in one of the bands we plan to start. We also hoped this would attract girls in our direction. It did not.

And as soon as I walked in, I ran into a couple of guys I knew. These guys were friends of the band that was about to play, which was an an additional bonus because we didn’t even know there was going to be live music there. Between the two of us, Brent and I, we ran into another half dozen or so people we knew, so it was all very pleasant and homey. AND it turned out that this very cool bar is owned by Michael Dykes, who went to the same high school as me, so it was fun to catch up with him as well.

The band was Jypsy, from Nashville, one of those nouveau bluegrass acts with sexy girl fiddle players that are all the rage these days. They were all exceptionally good musicians though, and I enjoyed listening to them, especially since I hadn’t expected to hear a band at all. Incidentally, there were also a number of cute girls there, but Brent and I failed miserably at talking to any of them.

We left about midnight, and when I got home the elevator in my building was full of puke. This elevator, by the way, smells different every time I’m in it, and it’s never a pleasant smell, but this was the worst yet, especially because there was evidence of what was causing it. Upon reaching the tenth floor, where I live, I had to step over a guy sleeping in the hallway. I asked him if he was okay, and he said, “Yeah, I’m just charging my cell phone (which he was actually doing, I noticed). I probably should have called the cops, but I decided to hope for the best that this is an isolated incident.

I was a little keyed up and didn’t fall asleep until after two, but I can’t seem to sleep past 6:30 these days no matter how late I stay up. So today I’m feeling great, as you can imagine.

Stay tuned for another Adventures of Yesterday soon, unless I have something better to write about, which for your sake, I hope will happen.

Three Week Assessment

Birmingham is a quiet city, and it’s quieter still in my mostly empty studio apartment. The view is pretty stunning though.

I’m still trying to find my footing here, but I’m not waiting for some magical moment of inspiration to hit me. It’s imperative that I move forward even if I am doing so half blind. I’ve been talking to some folks about starting a literary arts journal. I have ideas about what I want to do with it, but I don’t know how viable these ideas are. The writing workshop that I wanted to start is going to have to be on hold for a bit, and I am going to have to move to a one-on-one tutoring model instead of a classroom model. I don’t have enough of a public presence yet to properly advertise it and scour up interest. So it goes.

My own writing continues. I could be getting more done day by day, but progress is happening, if slowly. I’m a little more than 100 pages into writing my new novel. I have a few short stories I’ve started but not managed to finish yet, and if I can’t finish them, I’ll just start new ones.

Tym Cornell helped me get some good recordings of a few of my old songs, so I can start sending a demo around to try and get gigs. I’ve spoken to several people about getting a band together, and I have a clear idea of what the band is going to sound like. The next step is just to get together and play. I need band name suggestions.

Weird Music

When I was in college at UAB was the first time I was really exposed to improvisational music, free jazz, and other “weird” music of that ilk. It was the first time I heard Sun Ra, a Birmingham native who has since relocated to outer space, and his presence still lingers over the city. Because of him, I sometimes think of Birmingham itself as a space ship that will eventually leave earth to return to whatever faroff planet it initially came from. George Mostoller, a bandmate of mine at the time, was responsible for my Sun Ra education.

Through George, I also met Davey Williams and LaDonna Smith, who to this day have no idea how much they influenced me as a young musician. Later I became familiar with New York improvisers like John Zorn, but there is something about Southern weirdo musicians that will always hold a special place in my heart. Where New York music of this genre hits you in the face again and again, there is something about the Southern variety that grows on you like, well like kudzu, I guess.

Friday night, I got to see Davey and LaDonna, and a host of other incredible musicians, as part of the Improvisor Festival. I arrived just in time to see Andrea Centazzo do an AMAZING solo percussion piece. And then he was joined by Davey and Ladonna themselves, followed by an all-star “meltdown” performance by about a dozen of the best musicians this town has ever seen.

The festival goes throughout this week. I’ll definitely be attending more shows.

VISIT LIVE FEED BROADCASTS “THE PHONE IMPROV SHOW” AUGUST 1-31
LISTEN TO the improvisor festival, and more…
RADIO RADIO RADIO To hear the show August 1, at the Stone: A.M.I.C.A. Bunker Reunion,
and other improv phone shows, go to…
http://www.jeweltone16.org/PhoneImprov

UPCOMING EVENTS HIGHLIGHTED

Fri July 30 7:00 BARE HANDS “Mastering the Art of Improv”
Festival preview and art opening featuring Howayada Klann: Larry Hoagland, Brad Davis,
Walker Yancey, and Jess Marie Walker,a collaborative group exploring interactive noise installation
and performance work using assemblage and electronics along with occasional language
manipulation and playful game exercises.

Sat July 31 7:30 BARE HANDS “Corpus Euphonium” (Birmingham) freejazz noise with dance!
Stella Nystrom, Rhea Speights, Rebecca Harris w/Stephen McClurg, Dave Ault (sax), Eric Jenkins (Sax),
Adam LeBerte(dr).

Sun AUG 1 8:00 THE STONE (NYC) the improvisor festival opens in New York City! THE STONE is located at the corner of avenue C and 2nd street, New York City http://www.thestonenyc.com/ The A.M.I.C.A. Bunker Reunion Concert featuring
LaDonna Smith, Jack Wright, Chris Cochrane, Reubin Radding, Andrea Parkins, Blaize Siwula,
Sean Meehan, Judy Dunaway, Matt Ostrowski, David First, Andrew DeWar and others… more
hear this broadcast on the phone internet radio show!

Sun AUG 1 8:00 The North Midtown Arts Center, Jackson, Mississippi Satellite Concert
121 Millsaps Avenue Bruce Golden, Evan Gallagher, Jeb Stuart and others will perform In the spirit of this 30 year anniversary, old friends and 80’s-era Ars Supernova ensemble-mates reconvene in improvisation to ruminate on their past and the surprising future they now find themselves in.
read more

THURS     5 4:30 p.m.“the improvisor parade” Birmingham AL to be broadcast
the phone internet radio show!
a “progressive parade….” from Forest Park to Five Points South, then Crestwood!
Come in costume, or bring an axe (instrument of your choice), toys, battery operated tools
& household items, dogs, signs & streamers. Join us at any point.
4:30 Forest Park Shopping District (Meet at V. Richards Parking Lot on Clairmont) 5:30 Five Points South, around the fountain & shopping district
7:00 Crestwood Coffee: parade concludes: Alice Faye Love Art Opening

THURS     5         7:00 p.m. Satellite Concert GREY GABLES in Montevallo, Alabama.   Performers
include: Pony Bones (Atlanta, GA) free-form death blues; Yakuza Dance Mob (Bham)
party noise;   Jefferson Mayday (Columbia, SC) free jazz drumming; Gashy
(Atl) unconscious balladeer; Cedro Danado (Montevallo) southern gothicetry, minimalism;
Karst (Montevallo) quiet one-woman fiddle and found object percussions;
HoWaYaDa Klann + surprise special guests (Bham & Montevallo) transdio noiseaumitions

FRI AUG 6 WORKPLAY (Birmingham) “Magic City Meltdown!“
the improvisor festival
doors open 6:30
7:00 “August Us Melt” musicians, dancers, puppets and wheelchair dance
featuring Jill Burton, Claire Elizabeth Barratt, Celeste LaBorde, Clifford McPeek, Juliet
Eastlick, Stella Nystrom, Some Grets..Rhea Speights, Mary Foshee, Stephen McClurg,
Gino Robair, Alice Faye Love, Sycamore, Hunter Bell, Si Reasoning, Deborah Mauldin,
American Tribal Style Bellydancers(ATS) – Robin, Liz, Heather and DeAnna,
Out of the Darj-(Mark Freeman),Ryan Carlson, Rich Miller, Robert Stewart, and Kevin Barrett

7:30 Killick & DeWar

8:00 Henry Kaiser & Davey Williams

8:30 Gino Robair and you …
9:00 Ut Gret Rio styled alt-classical improvisation, elder bros.

10:00 Andrea Centazzo + LaDonna Smith + Davey Williams
USA CONCERTS Reunion

11:00 “Magic City Melt-down“
Chris Cochrane, Davey Williams, Oteil Burbridge,
Matt Kimbrell, Gino Robair,
Rick Nance, Cliff McPeek, Andrew DeWar

SAT 7 9:00 a.m. Pepper Place “Farmers Market” “Morning Improv Parade”

10:00-12:00 “Stomp Kitchen” Children’s Improv Workshop Pepper Place at
Cantley & Company Kitchen Design Shop just behind the Farmer’s Market Square.
“Exploring the sonic potential of the kitchen” for kids, designed by Reynolds Shook
with Mary Foshee, Charlotte & Spencer Leffel, Jasper Justice, and Si Reasoning. FREE

7:00-10:00 p.m. ~Night of Mini-Performances~ Pepper Place “The Listening Room”
featuring Craig Hultgren, Phantom Limb-Cardew , Tea Time With Flaura
Katherine Young,

SAT 7 8:00 p.m. Barking Leggs (Chattanooga), the improvisor festival tour
features Gino Robair & Ann Law, Killick, Jill Burton, Stella Nystrom & Claire Barratt
Andrea Centazzo, LaDonna Smith, Chris Cochrane, Terry Fugate

SUN 8 4:00 p.m. Pepper Place, “The Listening Room” Raj Kumar Singh,
from Ujjian, India: “Devotional Music, from India ”

8:00 p.m. EYEDRUM (Atlanta) the improvisor festival tour Atlanta
features Andrea Centazzo, Killick, Jill Burton, Claire Barratt,
Gino Robair , Chris Cochrane, Skryxl Pony Payroll Bones, Karst, Cedro Danada
Duet for Theremin & Lap Steel, Pocketfull of Claptonite, Them Natives

MON 9 8:00 p.m. CINE’ (Athens) the improvisor festival tour Athens
Pocketful of Claptonite, Pony Payroll Bones, Karst, Cedro Danada, Them Natives,
Heather McIntosh, Skryxl, Chris Cochrane, Gino Robair, Andrea Centazzo,
Jill Burton, Claire Barratt

TUES 10 7:00 p.m. CINE’ (Athens) “I-NORTON” Gino Robair conducts his Creative
Opera, a collective workshop-musicians, dancers, singers: experienced and non-
experienced collaborative improvisational orchestra.

WED 11 7:00 p.m. “The Listening Room” (Birmingham) Pepper Place CONCERT
Doug Carroll “Animal Sounds” (S.F.)
“Street Lingo” Craig Hultgren, Rick Nance, Lindsay Motlow
Rich O’Donnell & Anna Lum (St. Louis)
Andrew DeWar & Gino Robair duo

THURS 12 7:00 Pepper Place “The Listening Room” CONCERT
“LaDonna Smith, Andrea Centazzo, Claire Barratt” & friends
“Bluff Duo” (Nashville, Tn) Brady Sharp (g) + David Maddox (sx)
Rich Curtis & Andrew DeWar
“CREATIVE Opera I-NORTON” Gino Robair, (improv opera for the experienced & non-
experienced alike, please participate!)

FRI          13 7:00 p.m. BOTTLETREE MUSIC CAFÉ
“DIXIE FRIED”   ~ “ OLD SCHOOL SOUTHERN WEIRDNESS”
7:00 “Pico Dorado” (FILM & MUSIC GAME w/animations)
Ben Matthews(g), Matt Atatat (b), Wayne Anderson (d), Charles Pagano
(vib),Jason George( b), Louis Perry (e), Scott Bazar video conduction (45 min)
8:00 “Doug Carroll (SF), Jill Burton (FL)-, LaDonna Smith-, Andrea Centazzo (20 min)
Claire Barratt, Jim Willett
9:00    Wally Shoup (Seattle), Davey Williams(BHAM), Terry Fugate (TN),
Bruce Golden (Jackson, MS) of Curlew.
10:00 Col. Bruce Hampton (GA) & the Shaking Ray Levis (TN)

SAT 14 10:00 a.m. Pepper Place, “Farmer’s Market” Guerilla Dancers….
“John Scalici Get Rhythm! Percussion Workshop”
Bruce Hampton-Davey Williams-Terry Fugate- Bruce Golden
Wally Shoup, Clifford McPeek

1:00 -3:00 p.m. CDF “Dance This Mess Around”
[Improvisation for Dancers] by David Appel.
Dance improvisation can be closely ordered, totally unruly,and everything in-between.
And there are as many ways of approaching it as there are people playing and thinking about the
dancing body in this context. Our tack will be to engage some structures through which we can
develop a greater sensitivity within ourselves and to each other, garner skills to organize and shape
our dancing from moment to moment and over time, and foster a more acute awareness of the
space we’re moving in and enlivening. Plus we’ll give a shout-out to the music of the body in
motion, and to bodies engaging the sound that surrounds us.

“Spaceship Saturn: A Tribute to Sun Ra.”
Outdoor Stage behind the Winery at Pepper Place
2801 2nd Ave. South

7:00 Them Natives accoustic improv from the Hinterlands (inside)
8:00   Portal Dementia Hunter Bell (mainstage)
8:30   Brad Davis with LaDonna Smith (inside)
9:00   Juka Tribe, John Scalici- d, Karen Bentley-Pollick v, Randy Crow-Hammer
dulcimer, Shariff Simmons-spoken word, Cody Mclain-percussion
with EryniasTribe –Raven Thrasher, Brooke Schwarz, Denise Wiggington
fusion belly dance and fire!
9:30 RTD3 Doug Carroll, Ron Heglin, Tom Nunn (inside)
10:00 “Spaceship Saturn” SUN RA TRIBUTE ~ RA STAGE (mainstage)
Hunter Bell-synth-conduction,
Sharriff Simmons-spoken word, Jill Burton-v, Wally Shoup -s, Andrea Centazzo, Jim
Willet-pw, Juliet Eastlick-fl, Cliff McPeek-tp, Rick Nance tp, Tom Nunn-tb, Ron
Heglin-tb, Ben Matthews, Matt Atatat(b), Wayne Anderson(d), Charles Pagano
(vib), Jason George- b, Louis Perry-e, Randy Crow-hd, Andrew DeWar-s, Cody Mclain-
p, Zac-dr John Scalici-dr , Karen Bentley Pollick-v, LaDonna Smith-v, Doug Carroll-c,
Claire Barratt-c/mvt, David Appel, Celeste LaBourd, Stella Nystrom-dance.
Portal Dementia-synths & drums, Erynias Tribe, musicians & dancers welcome!

SAT 14 8:00 p.m. SATELLITE CONCERT: Joe McPhee Wayward Music Series (Seattle, WA)
at “the Chapel” of The Good Shepherd Center, by Non Sequitur.

Sun 15 11:00 a.m. Pepper Place, “The Listening Room” Raj Kumar Singh, from Ujjian, India:
“Contemplative music & practice in the South Indian tradition”

Sun 15 4:00 p.m
“VISIONS” the multi-media-films
CHILDRENS DANCE FOUNDATION 1715 27th Court South, Homewood Andrea Centazzo solo multimedia anthology concert.
See amazing demo previews on UTUBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JYrcdJAC-Y
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=andrea+centazzo&aq=f
with Andrea Centazzo: film, solo percussion & electronics. $10

Sun 15 7:00 p.m. CHILDRENS DANCE FOUNDATION – “Orb. Fade. Trip. Dog.”
David Appel (NYC), Mary Foshee (Birmingham), Ann Law (Chattanooga),
Sycamore (Huntsville). One Hour Performance. Four acclaimed veteran dance improvisers
hit the stage with a probing look at the intricacies of the body in motion, and all manner of
carrying on! As this quartet of dancer/choreographers re-convenes for the first time since
their dynamic October 2009 premiere performance in Chattanooga, Birmingham’s audience
will have a rare chance to see them again push the limits of themselves and their art.
Expect an evening both humorous and thought-provoking, where individual virtuosities
meet razor-sharp sensibilities and sly twists on a moment’s notice.
No bad airport food or clogged highway travel required!

Tues 17 “Odd of Medusa”
7:00 Pepper Place, “The Listening Room, 2801 2nd Ave. South
Voices of the Alarming Female, Neko Linda, Laura Secord, Anne Bailey,
Pamela Plumber, Mimi Latoine, Delores (Dee) Smith, DeJuana McCary & Redemptive
Soul, a women’s jazz band.

Wed      18        7:00 Pepper Place “The Listening Room”
Jill Burton & “The Sisters” vocal workshop (community)
8:00   Indian devotional vocalist/harmonium Raj Kumbar Singh

Thurs     19
CAFE CONCERT: “Extended Play“ The Red Cat
2901 2nd Ave. South at Pepper Place
7:00    KARST – Kathleen Hairston (Montevallo) vln, tape loops, g, bjo, vocals
7:30    “Ultra Hip Review” Improv Sensational
8:00 Cedro Danado (Montevallo)   ukelin, fiddle, vocals
8:30    Charlie Rauh (Nashville) solo style gtr in the style of Hildegarde von Bingen
9:15    “Them Natives” (Montevallo)

Fri 20 7:00 CHILDREN’S DANCE FOUNDATION “Laura Knox Dedication”
slides, film & stories (wine & cheese) reservations suggested

8:00 “Just Move It” CDF Dancers, Movers & Shaker’s improvisor Showcase
featuring: David Appel (NY), Sycamore, Juanita Suarez & Mark Olivieri (NY)
Susan Hefner & Michael Evans (NY), Claire Barratt (NC), Rhea Speights (CDF),
Mary Foshee (CDF), Doug Carroll, Stella Nystrom, Chris Helleke (suitcase),
Deborah Mauldin, Ashley Muth, Si Reasoning (Butoh), Davey Williams,
LaDonna Smith, Ginger Wyatt, Jill Burton, Alice Faye Love, Jim Willett

SAT 21 9:00-11:00 a.m. Pepper Place The LiteBox Gallery Children’s Improv Orchestra
with Si Reasoning

“Sudden Death” poets & spoken words
ROJO at 2921 Highland Ave. S.
7:30 Rich Curtis
8:30 “Sudden Death” 20 poets- curated by Hunter Bell & Lori Lassetter

SUN 22-28 “ODD PLACES WEEK” Claire Elizabeth Barratt
improv happenings in odd places, some known and some unknown, Moundville, Sloss Furnace, Naked Art, Black Belt-Folk Roots Festival, and elsewhere…tbs..surprise!

FRI 27
““Improv Roulette”
THE LISTENING ROOM at Pepper Place 2801 2nd Ave. South

7:00 Stella & Rhea “In Silence”
7:30    Johnny Coley, Jimmy Griffin, Davey Williams
8:00   Bearing Light Butoh, Deborah Mauldin & Ashley Muth
8:30    “Stringtrek” LaDonna Smith & Misha Feigin
9:00   “Improv Roulette” (curated by Si Reasoning) Deborah Mauldin, Ashley, Andrew,
Jennifer Caputo, Celeste LaBorde, Rhea Speights, Stella Nystrom, Juliet Eastlick,
LaDonna Smith, Alice Faye Love, Claire Barratt, Stephen McClurg,
Davey Williams, Johnny Coley, Jimmy Griffin, Cliff McPeek, Misha Feigin,

SAT 28 9:00-11:00 FARMERS MARKET “Childrens Improv Workshop” 10:00 – 12:00
Improvise with Charlotte and Spencer Leffel of the PINK HOUSE with
sonic musical explorations for kids of all ages in movement, rhythm and song.
Kids of all ages! FREE.

10:00 a.m. “BLACK-BELT FOLK ROOTS FESTIVAL” (EUTAW, AL) Davey Williams

“Sounding Off” the-improvisor festival Closing Party-
7::00-10:00 p.m. “The Red Cat” 2901 2nd Ave. South at Pepper Place
Dana Moore,“Aura Hoops”, Celeste LaBorde & Sharrif Simmons,
RX LeBelle, James R. Hood, THEM NATIVES. “Sounding Off” Finale Community Jam
(bring a horn, string, voice or other hand-held musical contribution)

SUN 29 WHEREVER YOU ARE Day of Rest, Gratitude & Meditation (improvised of course!)
11:00 a.m. Pepper Place, “The Listening Room” Raj Kumar Singh, from Ujjian, India:
“Contemplative music & practice in the South Indian tradition”

4:00 p.m. “Artburst” Unitarian Universalist Church micro-tonal works by Monroe Golden

You’re In High School Again

I wasn’t going to write about this, but this morning Nirvana’s song “School” has been stuck in my head. Cobain was a genius at taking a simple idea and turning it into a haunting mantra that invades your psyche — the bridge where Kurt mutters over and over “You’re in high school again,” leading to the screaming chorus of “No recess!” I have nightmares that are like this song.

Which brings me back to the reunion last weekend. It’s pretty pedestrian to say, but it really is remarkable how much being in that room made me actually feel as if I was in high school again. And high school was not a fun time for me. Everybody I talked to was nice to me and all, but I just didn’t feel comfortable, in much the same way that I never really felt comfortable 20 years ago. It was a strange and sort of sickening sensation that I still haven’t quite finished processing.

Being back in Alabama has its ups and downs that way, but even the downsides are things that I think are important for me to get through and think about. They are a part of this homecoming experience that is just as important as reconnecting with my family and friends here and being able to eat breakfast for less than $8.

Hitting the Ground Crawling

Last week I said I was ready to “hit the ground running” now that I’d landed back in Birmingham, but that’s easier said than done (how many cliches did I just use in that sentence? Three? Yeesh. Anyway…). Rounding up like-minded musicians is going a little slowly, and I will probably delay the start of the writing workshop if I don’t get a little more interest soon. And even what I should be mostly doing, just writing–working on new stories and on my next book–is harder to focus in on than I expected. I’ve gotten some work done, but it’s not coming easily at all. I guess I’m still settling in, figuring out what my routine is going to be.

And establishing myself with whatever literary/music/arts community there is here is obviously going to take more than just showing up and saying, “Hey look at me. I lived in New York and I wrote two books.” Generally, I’ve found that people here have a low tolerance for bullshitting, not that that’s what I’m trying to get away with, but I feel like I have to do something a little more public and a little more spectacular than anything I’ve done so far. The right idea is still germinating.

I also haven’t found my hang out spot. Bottletree is perfectly fine for seeing bands and even for brunch, but I don’t get the sense that this is a place where the revolution is being planned. I need more friends with a lot of energy and too much time on their hands. So things are off to a slower start than I’d like, and I’m impatient. And I’m open to suggestions.

Culture Shock

Everybody keeps telling me I’m in for “culture shock” after moving back to Birmingham from New York City. That isn’t quite the right phrase though, since I have a pretty good idea of what cultural differences to expect. After all, I’ve spent far more of my life so far in Alabama than in New York. Sure, I will drive my car more, and it will be easier to find parking when I do. Sure, political attitudes tend to be different, and I expect that will challenge me to be more politically active, like I was in high school and college.

Other than those things, I plan to surround myself with the same types of artists and weirdos with whom I surrounded myself in New York, which should keep me a little insulated from this “culture shock” people are talking about. There is a thriving and active creative community here, and if anything, it’s more accessible than such communities in NYC. I don’t expect I will get bored.

On a similar note, there isn’t as much to do on a given night here. In New York, there was so much to do all the time, I often didn’t do anything. There were a lot of things I missed because they were prohibitively expensive or because my time was already spoken for. Here, I’ll have fewer choices, but I think I will probably actually DO a lot more stuff.

What else? The college football worship? Pretty easy for me to ignore, though I continue to find it amusing when dudes wear their Crimson Tide golf shirts to nice restaurants. Hunting and fishing culture never bothered me, and maybe I’ll have some chances to eat fresh venison from time to time. Maybe people are talking about racism. I saw more overt racism playing out on the streets of Manhattan and Brooklyn than I’ve ever experienced in the South. Yes, there are still old school racists here, but it’s rare for me to come across them these days in public.

And need I mention, for the umpteenth time, how delicious Chick-fil-a is?

Day 2: Rambling

On day number two in Birmingham, I’ve mostly been encumbered by day-job responsibilities and other administrative things like figuring out how to get my car registered here, etc. I have already eaten Waffle House and Chick-fil-a in my first 24 hours here. Clearly I can’t keep up those kinds of eating habits regularly, but I wanted to get that shit out of the way so I wouldn’t get obsessed about it (he says as he remembers to take his cholesterol pill).

Through Facebook (to beat a familiar drum), I’m discovering, or rediscovering, that all the social scenes here are inextricably linked and people I know from one part of my life are all connected to people in other parts of my life, and a lot of people in Birmingham are connected to people I know in New York in ways that I never knew or expected. I’m hoping that will make it easier to get people involved in all my various schemes and shenanigans.

Speaking of which, anybody know any really good horn players in Birmingham? I’m ready to start getting Dixieland Space Orchestra 2.0 together.

I Have Arrived

About four and a half hours ago, I arrived at my parents’ house in Birmingham. I’ll be looking for my own apartment here later on this week. I expect to keep this blog more up to date from here on out. I have a LOT of creative projects that I plan to get started on now that I have no excuse not to.

The first thing on the agenda is to get the Southside Fiction Writing Workshop off the ground. I want to use my experience as a writer and workshop leader to help other people in the area to hone their fiction writing skills and also to access the parts of their subconscience that lead to inspiration. I think this is a little like group therapy, and I like that. I believe this is one of the clearest ways that I can use whatever talents I have to actually help people recognize their own potential and be better versions of themselves.

Now if I can just get a few people to sign up…

If you are in the Birmingham area, spread the word.

Other things I’d like to start here, which I’ll talk about in more detail later:

A literary magazine
A 3- or 4-piece indie rock band to do new and old songs a la Eurotoaster
An acoustic band to do new and old songs a la the Abdo Men
A new version of the Dixieland Space Orchestra

Any of my Birmingham friends that want to help out with any of these things, get in touch!

Road Trip Day 13

One of my Birmingham rituals is to eat Indian food with David Clark. It doesn’t always work out that we can get together when I’m in town, but we usually try to arrange it. The last few years, Taj India on Highland Avenue has been our standard destination. The only difference this year was that David brought along his lovely new wife Lira.

David’s brother Adam Clark played bass in one of the first bands I was ever in when I was in 11th grade. In those days, I used to go over to Adam’s house, and David would always be sitting in his room practicing the banjo. Later, when I was at UAB, David was in medical school there, and I got to know him much better. We would sometimes get together to play music, read each other’s short stories, or just to eat dinner. We were both just learning about Indian food then. There was no such thing when we were growing up in Dothan, and the discovery was sort of like opening a portal to a new dimension.

Before dinner, I spent the day just hanging around my parents’ house doing some writing and taking some pictures. My niece and nephew came over for a while. This is Anne Harman.