<Deleted User> (7164)
The Howcroft- January, 2010.
The first poetry event of the year at Bolton's Howcroft and the only one i've personally attended in a few months.
It looked as though it was going to be a really quiet one too. I arrived to find a few people playing cards on one table and one lady sitting in a corner alone. However, within twenty minutes some of the regulars wandered in shortly followed by the stalwarts and some who haven't been for some time.
It turned out to be a very informal, enjoyable and entertaining evening with twenty people, inclusive of seventeen readers/poets/performers.
Julian started the night with a poem about rrelationships, not least concerning relationship 'standards'. I'll leave you to decide for yourself what stood up and what didn't. He performed it sitting down.
Later, he gave a lovely sentimental poem about being the man about the house at the tender age of about fourteen in 1963, apparently sparked by the recent harsh weather conditions. Well done Julian.
Eric Tomlinson- well, one only needs to see his friendly face and you just know he's going to rhyme. Sure enough, he read a poem ''If you want rhyme.'' Written in tetrameter no less.
Later he gave us an epitaph poem. I hope he he's ordered a very tall stone to etch it all on if he really does intend to use it. ;-)
Don Parry performed a poem which was very cleverly and discreetly disguised, based around a common and quite sad demise of many people.
'Little miss Muffet gets drunk' may seem on the surface to be funny yet a strong message was portrayed below the surface.
Later he followed in Eric's footsteps and gave us rhyme.
Jane Wilcock performed a poem you can read in the blogs section on this site. Entitled- January 2010- I anybody.
It's an interesting portrayal of trying to make a difference in the world around us, knowing we have little actual power to do anything about world issues. Clever.
Jennie is Jane's daughter and often reads her mums poetry. Tonight she read one which looks through the eyes of a nine year old and sweets. It is a delightful poem with, i think some original twists and imaginative lines.
Later she read one, i say read, she actually performed without reading a poem called 'Kids in Buckets.' She was brilliant.
Jefferama, resting after his manic performances around the North West on his Buskin' for beer tour read his poem about sight seeing in Napoli. A very observational poem, not only picking up on the delights but the gritty side too.
Later he was walking a lonely road on a lonely planet which was quite sad really as he says it's about those moments spent contemplating why we are here. I have to say, Jeff seemed a little subdued to his usual self styled rants but his poetry was no less enjoyable.
Graham. Introduced as Graham Pigeon by Julian, i didn't get to ask his real surname but apparently he's famous for a poem called 'Racing pigeons at war.' Tonight he gave us a Phil Spectre poem which included many lines from songs by, you guessed it. Phil Spectre. It was good though for all that.
Later he actually admitted to being an embittered Burnley fan. He's braver than i am i can tell you.
He then gave us a long intro telling us about Brent Peters who was the inspiration for his next poem. Well done Graham. I've never met him before but he seems like a nice guy.
Robert was another new poet to me. He read a poem about 'Tuscan Bean soup.' It's a pity he wasn't there when i last attended because his poem would have been most 'soupable' to match my review of that night.
Later he read a fun poem about the comfort zone at the bottom of the sea. Limpets talking to crustasians, prawns and the like. It was a good little story line, thoroughly enjoyed.
Tony Ryan is another poet who hasn't been to recent events and new to me. His 'Flowers Fading truth' was quite poignant in my opinion. Later on he read a short poem about being mugged on the spot. This had a twist as it corresponded with a spot on his face. You know the kind. Always come just when you least expect or need it.
Nicely read and relaxed.
Allan Gray decided he was going to be romantic tonight. It didn't last long. He performed one about the celebrity dvd's, normally to do with slimming. I this case it was how to stay fat. Eat, drink and spew is not recommended in the real world but in Allan Gray's it is hysterically funny and catchy.
Later he gave us a song which was so easy to join in with even if you've never heard it before. Goes something like 'Ding dang donging with a ten gallon hat. Yahoo? Wha-hoo!
Then just so he wasn't telling us any lies he read a romantic poem too. Aaaaagh. Or should that be Awwww.
Scott Devon was his usual brilliant performer self. His poetry is so deep it is impossible to relay everything in it. Facets galore, this one called ''Shot Gun'' went along the lines of mother nature's a whore for shot guns...and waiting for the past to die amongst other things. Extremely powerful stuff. Fantastic.
Later he gave us a song too. Now that's a first for me again. Never heard Scott sing before. Take it home, he sung. I said no thanks.(just joking of course)
He finished with a little ditty, ''If you're lyin', don't start cryin' 'cos the tears go in your ears.'' Hm. I haven't quite worked that one out yet but i'm working on it.
Sarah Crowther was death personified. She threatened us with all kinds of nasty things which have a tendency to kill us. This was a great poem. Just imagine yourself saying, ''I am Death.'' and it should give you some idea of how great a poem can be.
She also read us her CV. Well three or four actually depending on who you want to see it. Catch my drift?
Her Turning Invisible poem about living on the edge, fading into the background is really good too. If you look her up in Poets Showcase, some of these might be there for you to read. I certainly hope she'll post the death one if it's not already there.
Sarah is a pleasure to watch and gives great performances.
Paul Blackburn performed a poem which was recently posted in the blogs section based on a trip on the last train from Manchester to Bolton, or was that Shitsville? Well not tonight it wasn't! In part due to Paul and others attendance at the Howcroft.
But we're not finished yet because i can't end this review without mentioning Rachel Bond who also read her death poems. One of which she wrote at the age of seven. Apparently obsessed by death even at that age, she gave us a lively performance then went round taking photos which hopeully will be up in the galleries soon.
Also an old favourite of the Howcroft and a welcome return was given to Bill Brierley. His poem was based around Writeoutloud and the early days and connections with poetry and the music scene. Very nicely done. It was a pleasure to hear.
and finally... thank God i hear you all say.
Well you'd be wrong because tonight we had Buddha to thank for Nat Clairs poem which he wrote tonight about a fly which was happily sitting on Bill's head. It went something along the lines of 'The fly- happy to die, before the poem's end.' Sorry to say someone flattened it.
I didn't know Nat was into predictions as well as Buddhism.
Nat and Paul did a kind of silly and hilarious sketch piece where Paul had to write a short poem in response to what Nat had written. Totally silly, completely hilarious and super duper.
Oh! and i nearly forgot! If you got this far down the page you can congratulate me too on a brilliant performance of my two latest poems posted on the website in my real/own name.
As well as winning the raffle prize of a bottle of whisky which i couldn't drink if it was the last spirit on earth. I hate the stuff.
But i knew i was going to win it! :-)
Tatty bye- until next showing. Maybe.
It looked as though it was going to be a really quiet one too. I arrived to find a few people playing cards on one table and one lady sitting in a corner alone. However, within twenty minutes some of the regulars wandered in shortly followed by the stalwarts and some who haven't been for some time.
It turned out to be a very informal, enjoyable and entertaining evening with twenty people, inclusive of seventeen readers/poets/performers.
Julian started the night with a poem about rrelationships, not least concerning relationship 'standards'. I'll leave you to decide for yourself what stood up and what didn't. He performed it sitting down.
Later, he gave a lovely sentimental poem about being the man about the house at the tender age of about fourteen in 1963, apparently sparked by the recent harsh weather conditions. Well done Julian.
Eric Tomlinson- well, one only needs to see his friendly face and you just know he's going to rhyme. Sure enough, he read a poem ''If you want rhyme.'' Written in tetrameter no less.
Later he gave us an epitaph poem. I hope he he's ordered a very tall stone to etch it all on if he really does intend to use it. ;-)
Don Parry performed a poem which was very cleverly and discreetly disguised, based around a common and quite sad demise of many people.
'Little miss Muffet gets drunk' may seem on the surface to be funny yet a strong message was portrayed below the surface.
Later he followed in Eric's footsteps and gave us rhyme.
Jane Wilcock performed a poem you can read in the blogs section on this site. Entitled- January 2010- I anybody.
It's an interesting portrayal of trying to make a difference in the world around us, knowing we have little actual power to do anything about world issues. Clever.
Jennie is Jane's daughter and often reads her mums poetry. Tonight she read one which looks through the eyes of a nine year old and sweets. It is a delightful poem with, i think some original twists and imaginative lines.
Later she read one, i say read, she actually performed without reading a poem called 'Kids in Buckets.' She was brilliant.
Jefferama, resting after his manic performances around the North West on his Buskin' for beer tour read his poem about sight seeing in Napoli. A very observational poem, not only picking up on the delights but the gritty side too.
Later he was walking a lonely road on a lonely planet which was quite sad really as he says it's about those moments spent contemplating why we are here. I have to say, Jeff seemed a little subdued to his usual self styled rants but his poetry was no less enjoyable.
Graham. Introduced as Graham Pigeon by Julian, i didn't get to ask his real surname but apparently he's famous for a poem called 'Racing pigeons at war.' Tonight he gave us a Phil Spectre poem which included many lines from songs by, you guessed it. Phil Spectre. It was good though for all that.
Later he actually admitted to being an embittered Burnley fan. He's braver than i am i can tell you.
He then gave us a long intro telling us about Brent Peters who was the inspiration for his next poem. Well done Graham. I've never met him before but he seems like a nice guy.
Robert was another new poet to me. He read a poem about 'Tuscan Bean soup.' It's a pity he wasn't there when i last attended because his poem would have been most 'soupable' to match my review of that night.
Later he read a fun poem about the comfort zone at the bottom of the sea. Limpets talking to crustasians, prawns and the like. It was a good little story line, thoroughly enjoyed.
Tony Ryan is another poet who hasn't been to recent events and new to me. His 'Flowers Fading truth' was quite poignant in my opinion. Later on he read a short poem about being mugged on the spot. This had a twist as it corresponded with a spot on his face. You know the kind. Always come just when you least expect or need it.
Nicely read and relaxed.
Allan Gray decided he was going to be romantic tonight. It didn't last long. He performed one about the celebrity dvd's, normally to do with slimming. I this case it was how to stay fat. Eat, drink and spew is not recommended in the real world but in Allan Gray's it is hysterically funny and catchy.
Later he gave us a song which was so easy to join in with even if you've never heard it before. Goes something like 'Ding dang donging with a ten gallon hat. Yahoo? Wha-hoo!
Then just so he wasn't telling us any lies he read a romantic poem too. Aaaaagh. Or should that be Awwww.
Scott Devon was his usual brilliant performer self. His poetry is so deep it is impossible to relay everything in it. Facets galore, this one called ''Shot Gun'' went along the lines of mother nature's a whore for shot guns...and waiting for the past to die amongst other things. Extremely powerful stuff. Fantastic.
Later he gave us a song too. Now that's a first for me again. Never heard Scott sing before. Take it home, he sung. I said no thanks.(just joking of course)
He finished with a little ditty, ''If you're lyin', don't start cryin' 'cos the tears go in your ears.'' Hm. I haven't quite worked that one out yet but i'm working on it.
Sarah Crowther was death personified. She threatened us with all kinds of nasty things which have a tendency to kill us. This was a great poem. Just imagine yourself saying, ''I am Death.'' and it should give you some idea of how great a poem can be.
She also read us her CV. Well three or four actually depending on who you want to see it. Catch my drift?
Her Turning Invisible poem about living on the edge, fading into the background is really good too. If you look her up in Poets Showcase, some of these might be there for you to read. I certainly hope she'll post the death one if it's not already there.
Sarah is a pleasure to watch and gives great performances.
Paul Blackburn performed a poem which was recently posted in the blogs section based on a trip on the last train from Manchester to Bolton, or was that Shitsville? Well not tonight it wasn't! In part due to Paul and others attendance at the Howcroft.
But we're not finished yet because i can't end this review without mentioning Rachel Bond who also read her death poems. One of which she wrote at the age of seven. Apparently obsessed by death even at that age, she gave us a lively performance then went round taking photos which hopeully will be up in the galleries soon.
Also an old favourite of the Howcroft and a welcome return was given to Bill Brierley. His poem was based around Writeoutloud and the early days and connections with poetry and the music scene. Very nicely done. It was a pleasure to hear.
and finally... thank God i hear you all say.
Well you'd be wrong because tonight we had Buddha to thank for Nat Clairs poem which he wrote tonight about a fly which was happily sitting on Bill's head. It went something along the lines of 'The fly- happy to die, before the poem's end.' Sorry to say someone flattened it.
I didn't know Nat was into predictions as well as Buddhism.
Nat and Paul did a kind of silly and hilarious sketch piece where Paul had to write a short poem in response to what Nat had written. Totally silly, completely hilarious and super duper.
Oh! and i nearly forgot! If you got this far down the page you can congratulate me too on a brilliant performance of my two latest poems posted on the website in my real/own name.
As well as winning the raffle prize of a bottle of whisky which i couldn't drink if it was the last spirit on earth. I hate the stuff.
But i knew i was going to win it! :-)
Tatty bye- until next showing. Maybe.
Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:47 am
Hi Janet, this is a really good write up, I think you've remembered everything! It was great fun, full of variety and talent, the muscial interludes were really good and the subject matter amazingly diverse. There's quite a bit of experiment with form going on which I really like.Really enjoyable.
Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:51 pm
<Deleted User> (7164)
Hi Jane,
thanks. I did make a few notes though. I'm afraid there's no way i could have remembered all that.
It was a good night. I'm glad i made the effort to go.xx
thanks. I did make a few notes though. I'm afraid there's no way i could have remembered all that.
It was a good night. I'm glad i made the effort to go.xx
Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:28 pm