The March 10 Rumpus

K.Flay is my favorite combination of goofy and hip-2-def

How can I be unique enough to mix it up as well as The Rumpus does every month? And when are we going to get shirts that say I Heart The Rump? These are pretty cool tho.

This past Monday Mar 8 10 and in Stephen Elliott's absence Isaac Fitzgerald hosted The Monthly Rumpus @ The Makeout Room. Maybe it's because Jesse Nathan was there repping McSweeney's, who co--sponsored the special event, Sleeping With Friends, but The Rumpus felt as diverse and especially packed with various nuggets of treasure as the innovative Panorama, which, if you don't know, does things people say can't or shouldn't be done (and does so with, well, colors). It's up to you to fly.

In addition to Nathan, who read his piece about pot growers in Mendocino County—an investigative piece packed with poetry—that is in the current Panorama, we heard comic book maven and cultural commentator and Grotto resident Gerard Jones read afrom his forthcoming book The Undressing of America - How a Bodybuilder, a Swimming Queen and a Magician Created Reality Media about the disappearance of mass publishing (a piece I thought particularly poetic and poignant). Then we were entertained by the comedic stylings of Nato Green, whose "sensibilities were shaped by Jones' comics" and who was so so good I'm unable to post the videos here (sorry. Make it to the Makeout!).

Jami Attenberg read a tender and comic account of love's marriage to self-esteem in which sex has well, sex has well, sex has a role! Check out her new book The Melting Season.

Chicken John period. Are you guys on his mailing list? I like that he and The Rumpus are friends because they are my 2 favorite mailing lists. Actually, Chicken John is performing tonight at the Literary Death Match, which is also always fun; he's made one of the better judges there I've ever seen, but tonight he's a reader! At this past Rumpus he presented a lounge game in which he pulled an attendee out of the crowd, lined up 10 shots of tequila, and had him recite a 10 line poem, line for line (Chad Gadya style, for those of the tribe); every time he made a mistake he had to take a shot, and whatever was left Chicken John had to shoot. This is clearly worth your watch.

Also there was San Francisco Chronicle vet Mark Morford, who read a humorous collection of "fan-mail" concerning why he represents the spreading of all evil as a columnist and then shifted gears to address these people in "Why Are You So Terribly Disappointed?" Also spectacular.

Last but not least, one of my favorite local musical acts K.Flay took the stage and played one of my favorite songs, CRAZYtown off her mix Mashed Potatoes, which 7x7 called one of the best 10 releases of last year and which you should download immediately, for free, I promise! You'll see why in a minute. Kristine is playing on Wednesday the 24th @ Cafe Du Nord. She is 24, knows how to put on a great show, does hilariously quirky video book reviews on her site ... you will love her, I'm certain.

Check out The Death Match tonight! Ali Liebegott, author of The IHop Papers, which I've been thoroughly enjoying, will be one of the readers. The last LDM was the best literary event I've ever been to. Seriously. The last time I was at Elbo Room was memorable too!

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K E E P  M A R C H I N G  F W D !

• Of immediate interest: Can eBooks save long-form journalism? Think about it.
• On Thursday, March 25th, Litquake presents a special one-night-only screening of Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story, with Q&A to follow, featuring Eddie Izzard live in conversation with director Sarah Townsend! More details to follow soon.
• Are you ready for The World's Longest Poetry Reading? It's 4/2-6 ... ! ...
• Get hip to publicity and events of all kinds here.
• Check out The Grotto's classes here.
• Open call for submissions: Bang Out
• Want to give a new literary mag some support? Here's another chance to publish your best.
• Speaking of: check out this sweet deal on all things Instant City.
• Check out Tony DuShane's new novel Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk @ City Lights now!
• Have you your own copy of Ransom Stephens' The God Patent yet? For what doth thou wait?!
• Have you read The Ancient Book of Hip?
• Last, I stumbled upon a great writing group that meets every Friday at noon at Cafe La Boheme. There are one sentence prompts and a timer. Someone reads a prompt and the timed writing begins with that sentence. The time—usually 5-6 minute intervals—is a mystery to everyone but s/he who sets it, and each person is supposed to write what they can. When time's up, each person reads what they have. There is no commentary allowed. A good find! Open to the public.
• CALL FOR APPLICANTS | $2,500 Available for 2010 Butterfield Scholarship Grant | Want to further your education or experience in book marketing, publicity or sales? Deadline: 4/2

5 more days to submit to Quiet Lightning!

Send me info: I will happily add any announcement you wish: calls for subs, reading series, zine parties, etc. Also, I will be happy to film your event for a small fee - that is, if I'm not already on it! Also, I like to write and create fresh and special somethings for readings. Am not camera shy. Like talking and people. Feel free to email me about anything. I heart y0u!