The Tragically Unhip

a blog with three fingers on the pulse of uncoolness.

Words Are Meaningless March 9, 2009

Filed under: Culture & Society,Language,Neighbourhood,Performance — MP*erron @ 12:56 pm

This weekend I finally left my new NDG home for something that wasn’t work or grocery shopping. That’s right. I’ve a) relocated to the depths of NDG, b) been a recluse all winter, and c) finally participated in a social activity. What could it possibly be that would draw a hermetic literary blogger with a comfort food addiction (and belly) out into the world? Why poetry, of course. And not just any poetry. Zen poetry.

 

This weekend I volunteered to assist at Centre Zen de la Main’s second biannual Zen Poetry Festival, right here in our lovely city. The theme of this year’s festival was Forget the Words, a reminder that only when the poet can transcend semantics can poetry really happen; in the Zen world at least – call your egoistic, affected ramblings poetry if you must.

 

The weekend-long festival began with a pre-festival poetry reading by Sina Queyras, Oana Avasilichioaei, David O’Meara. Erín Moure and Ian Orti, at which the host got deliriously tipsy and showed that even Zen practitioners know how to have fun. Following that were workshops, discussion panels, poetry readings, a literary brunch, and even Zazen, for those keen to participate.

 

I stood guard at the book table, had my idea of poetry challenged, and even made a couple of new friends! Imagine that. Overall a very pleasant affair. Hopefully the festival will be held again in 2011, as planned.

 

Forget the Words! November 19, 2008

Filed under: Books & Mags,Music,Nightlife,Performance — MP*erron @ 10:57 pm

 

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Montreal’s Centre Zen de la Main over on Vallières Street (yes, that’s Leonard Cohen’s old place) presents it’s second Zen Poetry Festival from March 6-8 2009. The 2007 festival was an exciting weekend full of rich ideas, great poetry, and more than a few interesting guests. Among those speaking or hosting events were Chinese and Sanskrit scholar and translator Red Pine, and famous Beat poet Joanne Kyger. I was lucky enough to get into Kyger’s poetry workshop, where I got to write about how much I hate coming across used condoms on the sidewalk. Ick. 

 

This Sunday the centre will host “The Friends of the Festival Fundraiser” at Casa del Popolo in order to raise much needed dough for the second round. And guess who’s a friend of the festival? That’s right, moi. Readers are encouraged to come out and support the festival (et moi) and enjoy an evening of poetry, music, and spoken word. My first book of poetry, Slip Limbed, will be available that evening with all profits going towards the Zen Centre.

 

Soliloquies November 10, 2008

Filed under: Books & Mags,Nightlife,Performance — MP*erron @ 2:13 pm

Concordia’s student-run anthology, Soliloquies, launches issue 12.1 this Friday night. While I can’t make promises about the type of talent that will be on display that night, I can guarantee the proximity of good beer—the better to drown your sorrows in, my dear. Seriously though, past launches have been fun (and sometimes noisy) showcases of real talent, humor poetry, and music. The anthologies are usually cheap enough not to eat into your beer money, the ladies still in that sexually experimental stage of development, and the sets short and sweet. Oh, and prepare to be blown away by my own reading.

 

Here are the deets:

WHEN: Friday, November 14, 2008, 
7-11 p.m.



WHERE: Centre St. Ambroise, 
5080-A rue St-Ambroise



HOW TO GET THERE:


-Place St-Henri Metro station (About 15 minutes walking distance)


- Bus: 36 or 191 (on Notre-Dame W.) from Place St-Henri Metro
. Exit: St-Rémi St./Notre-Dame


OR
 From the Lionel-Groulx Metro, take Bus 78. 
Exit: St-Rémi, corner St-Ambroise, turn right


OR From Vendome Metro, take Bus 37. 
Exit: Côte St-Paul, corner St-Ambroise, turn left



Have a bike? It’s on the Montreal bike path, alongside the Lachine Canal.

 

Pilot Light September 29, 2008

Filed under: Nightlife,Performance — MP*erron @ 11:04 am

Last night was the first Pilot of the new school season. The Pilot, for those not in the know, is a Montreal reading series hosted by the folks at Matrix magazine. The series runs monthly, taking the summer off, and is usually held at Blizzarts on Sunday evenings. Readers give the crowd a taste of the poetry and fiction in their newly released books, make jokes about their published works lists, and, sometimes, get kinda drunk. 

 

This is a great series for those wishing to look literary and cool, or break into the Montreal poetry scene. It’s actually quite a small community, and while it appears daunting at first, most writers are happy to share a drink with an aspiring nobody, give tips about how to score grant money, and trade quips about obscure literature. 

 

Those skeptical about poetry readings will be reassured to know that nobody ever wears berets, sound poets are few and far between, and the Beat generation is pretty much buried. Instead, today’s poets are a breed influenced by the folks at McSweeney’s. They tend to use the word fuck a lot, have eclectic and razor-sharp knowledge of all things hip, and prefer tough language to floral. Of course, not everyone falls into this category, and The Pilot does an excellent job of gathering writers of different styles and stripes, so there’s bound to be something that appeals to all.