The Return of the House Band Reading Series

On Thursday, December 15 the House Band Reading Series (HBRS) returns to Raw Sugar Café with a seasonal show that includes special guests Cameron Anstee and Dave Currie. This installment of the series will feature Brendan McNally and DJ Komsomol in the House Band.

HBRS mashes music and prose, featuring a DJ spinning a score alongside McNally reading, with guests rounding out the evening showcasing their different styles and genres of writing. Cameron Anstee publishes handmade books in limited editions with Apt. 9 Press, while Dave Currie is fiction editor for In/Words Magazine.

Originally conceived as a venue to serially launch each chapter of his novel Up the Ottawa, without despair, McNally decided to keep the format, post book launch. “I really enjoyed the format and development of a reading,” says McNally. “You know, rehearsing before hand with a DJ to figure out a score for each piece and bringing in other people who added their voice talents as we built the pieces up. The whole process of working with others, turning something written into something aural, then presenting it publicly, was neat.”

The House Band Reading Series

Thursday December 17th, 9-11

4 readings, starting about 9:20, and every 20 minutes or so after that.

DJ for some of the readings and in between at your friendly neighbourhood

Raw Sugar Café, 692 Somerset West,

here in the 613

$5 or Pay-What-You-Can

For a video example of the HBRS format click here.
Scroll down to see previous Special Guests, House Band members, DJs, photographers and musicians.

Previous Special Guests:

Colin Vincent, Amanda Earl, Jennifer Whiteford, Nichole McGill, Don Fex, Shannon Beahen, Megan Butcher, rob mclennan Dave O’Meara, Sandra Ridley, Zoe Roux, Max Middle, Christine McNair.

Photographers for the House Band Art Show: Scott Fairchild, Arthur Mastson, Eric Schallenburg, Peter Knippel, Megan Butcher, Jeff Hardill, Brendan McNally.

Past or present members of the House Band:
DJ Komsomol, DJ McKean, Zoe Roux, Don Fex, JP Sadek, Amanda Abdelhadi, Brendan McNally.

Other DJs/musicians McNally has worked/recorded with in the past:
Rob Frayne, John Gegge, The Undercats, Rman, Fiftymen, DJ Freakula, DJ Feck, Jim Bryson, Peter Houston Hanlon, Peter Von Althon.

Some of the musicians who performed in earlier versions of what eventually became the House Band Reading Seiries:
the supermegas, Kathleen Edwards, Chris Page, Janice Hall

Other Desdechado Productions/joint ventures:

1999
The One and Me: A Hitchhiker’s Tale (Ottawa Fringe Festival, reprised in 2004)
A Letter to Virginia (CKCU FM)
Twelve Months, Two Weeks and a Day in the Life of a Year (Written word collection)
2000
The Other Face of Ottawa (CBC Radio 2)
Welcome to My CD (Audio Recording)
2002
Ottawa Public Library (Audio and chapbook)
2003
Letters from Away (Ottawa, New World Theatre Project)
2006
Heads or Tails (Ottawa Fringe Festival)
2008
Hey, Bartender! (Ottawa Fringe Festival
2009-
The House Band Reading Series
2010
The House Band Art Show and Book Launch for Up the Ottawa, without despair.

A review of the novel.

The latest issue of in/words  has a review of my novel in it.

The novel looks like this:

And it is now available from me, or at Octopus Books 116 Third Avenue in Ottawa.

And the review reads like this:



Due to a lack of clarity on my part, the location of the e-dition is wrong. But I will right it soon enough.

To read the rest of Volume 10, Issue 1 of in/words, click here.

Coming soon: the book online.

The House Band Art Show

“It all began with some broken teeth.”

With a book launch for Up the Ottawa, without despair

The House Band Art Show

on the walls of Raw Sugar Café during the month of October, 2010

 

Video preview of the show:

The House Band Art Show features the framed photographs and chapter books (in shadow boxes) from the novel Up the Ottawa, without despair. Each chapter of the novel  was launched as part of the House Band Reading Series at Raw Sugar Café, with a different photograph on each cover. 

Kinda like this one of Chapter 5, featuring Megan Butcher's photograph: 

I organized the show as a thank you to, and to promote, the photographers who allowed their work to grace each of the eight chapter covers. The show features the photography of Scott Fairchild, Eric Schallenberg, Megan Butcher, Jeff Hardill, Peter Knippel and Arthur Matson.

Speaking of Peter and Arthur:

The show runs until October 31^st, 2010 at Raw Sugar Cafe.

So I organized the show and was wondering about when and where I would do the launch of the complete version of Up the Ottawa, without despair.

Being a big, fat, dumb-dumb head it had to be pointed out to me that I should do it during the art show.

d'oh 

So, as well as featuring local photographers, the art show will also have the book launch for the completed edition of Up the Ottawa, without despair, bound in chapterbook format. As a bonus, the book will include a compact disc featuring the guests of the House Band Reading Series. Again, as a thank you and to help promote local writers. 

Here's what the CD should look like, barring a power failure between now and the launch:

The CD includes Amanda Earl, Colin Vincent, Jennifer Whiteford, Nichole McGill, Don Fex, Shannon Beahen, rob mclennan, Megan Butcher, Sandra Ridley, Max Middle, Zoe Roux and Christine McNair.

 Here's Zoe reading:

Also included with the book will be a bonus DVD with material from the House Band Reading Series, which featured DJs who scored the pieces read/performed, and who played along while different voices read/acted out scenes from the novel. 

Some longer ones are over on the right, but to get a sense of it, here's the preview for the fourth reading, with Amanda, me, and DJ Komsomol:

The House Band line up changed, depending on availability, and featured Andrew McKean, DJ Komsomol, Amanda Abdelhadi, Don Fex, Zoe Roux, JP Sadek and Brendan McNally.

And here's the House Band, this version featuring Andrew, Amanda and myself:

This is a very short piece, a self-portrait. In blood. 

Immediately followed by a crafty re-enactment of how I go that way.

Book launch for 
Up the Ottawa, without despair: 
Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 7-10 pm

Reading: 8:30 pm

It's magic, here's the rough cut from the launch:

A free e-version of the book will be launched in the next while.

I fell down. But fortunately I could get up.

The end of the House Band Reading Series

Long live the House Band Art Show!

A little late, given that the last reading was more than two months ago (Chapter 8, July 3, 2010), but I've been very busy. So it's only now that I can write:

I’m pleased to announce that the House Band Reading Series (HBRS) is over! Pleased because, as you are no doubt well aware, coming up with an idea (artistic or otherwise), starting it, and then actually completing it are three different kettles of fish. And with it’s finish I can now say that, with a lot of help from my friends, I was able to accomplish what I originally set out to do, which was:

1. Publish the novel I wrote while at the Humber School for Writers, but do it serially, in chapter installments presented as chapbooks.
2. Have a dental plan jar present so that I could raise money to fix the teeth I broke slipping on some ice on the first morning of spring, 2009.

3. Have fun.


Check, check and check. With thank yous to all who came out, participated, donated, helped edit, design, produce and print the chapbooks. And thank you to those who took photos and drew pictures, some of which are online, here and here and here, amongst other places. Thanks!

To recap briefly:

The readings themselves featured performances from my novel Up the Ottawa, without despair, with different voices joining me to give it life, and musical stylings from djs who scored the pieces and accompanied us, live. We even brought in a percussionist (hi-hat and snare, not bongo, thank you very much) on occasion to provide a back beat. And cowbell. Cuz, well, you know.

It went a little bit like this:

 

And the chapters look a lot like this, but with a different photo for the cover of each one. And a different number. Clever, no?

That's chapter two, obviously, designed by Eric Schallenberg, using the photo by Scott Fairchild, which is below.

Not so obviously, this is the poster for Chapter 3:

I found that one of the good things about keeping the HBRS edition of the novel “live” was that I could make changes, if need be, to the copy, after the fact.

Most of them are small, like:

When Patch finishes reading The Catcher in the Rye on Lebreton Flats in the middle of chapter 4 he tosses the book into the grass and stretches out in the sun, thinking that Holden Caufield is a bit of a dweeb. Of course, I realized after I printed it that Patch should really think that Caufield is a phoney, which is obvious if you're familiar with Salinger's novel.

But I’ll save that kind of editing stuff for another blog.

Now, on to the House Band Art Show. As well as having the House Band feature the talents of different voices and djs, and the series feature the talents of various Ottawa writers appearing as guests, each of the chapbooks that make up the novel has a cover photo, as I mentioned, taken by talented local photographers.

Sooooo….the House Band Art Show will feature those photos, framed, on the walls of Raw Sugar Café, during the month of October. Plus a little something else, but you’ll have to head down to 692 Somerset West to see what that is.

As well as myself, the show will feature, in the order which their photos appeared on the chapbook covers:

Scott Fairchild, Eric Schallenberg, Megan Butcher, Jeff Hardill, Peter Knippel and Arthur Matson.

And round about the third week of October I’ll be having another little soiree where I’ll have the book launch for the whole of Up the Ottawa, without despair, wrapped in a nice cover with a unique binding and audio and video discs from the series.

I’ll also be doing an online launch for a free digital version of the novel.

And the reading on the night of the launch in late October will be a little different from what I’ve done before. But more detail on that, and the date and time of the launch, later.

Later, dudes,


b

House Band Reading Series: Old Montreal

"Y'a-t'il perdu connaissance ou fait une overdose?"

 photos: M. Pearson

Old Montreal kicked off the first edition of the House Band Reading Series. The show was also the occasion for the launch of Chapter One of Up the Ottawa, without despair.

rehearsal screen shots

At first rehearsals, the House Band usually does a read through of possible selections for the next show.

And we smoke a lot of crack. Just to keep it real. Whatever it is.

Then different voices and music ideas are tried out while we figure out how much cowbell to use.

 

rehearsal screen shots

Along with the musical arrangement, rehearsals are where the words are also arranged, to take into account that the show is an aural presentation of written text.

Which is why the beginning of Chapter 7 was called Old Montreal. Likewise with Tick Tock from the beginning of Chapter 3, performed at the launch of Chapter 2,  Raceway Tavern from the start of Chapter 4 at the launch of Chapter 3, and so on.

You know, back to the crack and keeping it real.

rehearsal screen shots

After that, the next rehearsals are where we cut and trim, while working on tone and pace. And beer.

Then we're ready to hit the stage.

photo: L. Ripley

Or at least, block the toilets at Raw Sugar Cafe.

design by E. Schallenberg

The short set up for Old Montreal is that Patch, the main character, is on the bus out of town to see the Dead Kennedy's. And because he got into a punch up on Preston Street.

I made a short preview video for the first show:

The back cover blurb for the novel is:

And this is the video for Old Montreal.

I managed to edit it down to fit into the 10 minute You Tube limit. With one second to spare.

The special guests for the first installment of the House Band Reading Series were Amanda Earl and Colin Vincent. The House Band was made up of Amanda Abdelhadi, DJ Andrew McKean and Brendan McNally.

Oh yeah, and Chapter 5 was launched in December 2009.

 

Happy New Year.

More video on my You Tube channel

 

I ain't ever pulling a grocery heist on acid with you again. No way!

Behind a written scene: "Loeb."

But first, the poster for the next installment of the House Band Reading Series.

With special guests Sandra Ridley and David O'Meara.

The December House Band will feature Dj Eric Komsomol, Amanda Abdelhadi, and myself.

And yes, I know it's tonight. But better late than never. Besides which, my stapler broke so it has taken me a little bit longer to do things like, oh I don't know, staple Chapter 5 together for the launch.

And now, much ado about nothing.

The "Loeb" scene (video below) was presented at the May edition of the House Band Reading Series, which featured the launch of Chapter 2.

Even though this isn't a folk song, here is some set up for the video. I have been asked if my novel is "true," to which I have replied, "It's completely true. As it relates to itself."

Which is just to say that fact informs the fiction contained in Up the Ottawa, without despair.

Yes, there is a place called Ottawa. No it's not Chaparral Pro Regular font, 8.75 point

Having said that, I'll just paraphrase a short conversation I had with someone after I wrote this particular scene.

Them: How's the writing coming along, Shakespeare? [Note, I think they were being sarcastic with that comparison]

Me: Good. I just finished a scene where the main characters drop acid and try to shoplift groceries from the Loeb in Vanier.

Them: Wasn't it the IGA in Hunt Club, Poindexter? [Note, again with my suspicions about sarcasm.]

Me: Ummm, I just wrote it and I'm pretty sure I set it in Vanier.

Them: No, Jackass [no sarcasm there, I believe]. Back in the day. Didn't we drop acid and shoplift groceries from the IGA in Hunt Club?

Me: [after a pause] Oh yeah.

*****

Which is just to say that, apparently, the acid flashback I had took a literary form.

Having said that, "Loeb" is a work of fiction and any similarities between it and any persons, typing or not, is entirely conincidental.

Like, totally coincidental, Dude.

h

Me on the internet (not this internet) and Me on the radio

So I was in touch with OttawaTonite.com and spoke with them about doing a series of articles for their brand new Website, dedicated to the various cultural goings on in Ottawa.

I thought the idea for the site was excellent, and now that it is up and running, I think the site is most excellent, and I congratulate them for thinking it up and getting it going. Well done!

But before I could contribute, first I had to come up with an IDEA.

The IDEA I had was to write a series about the people who run reading series. You know, they work hard organizing events for people to come to. Then they introduce the guests and disappear until the end to thank everyone for coming out. Unless they have to adjust a microphone stand halfway through.

I thought it would be interesting to write about them, what motivates them, how they organize things, asking pertinent questions like, "Can you buy me a coffee?"

With that in mind, my very first article for them was about David O'Meara. O'Meara is not only the organizer of the Plan 99 Reading Series that is held at the Manx Pub here in Ottawa, Canadian Notes & Queries reckons he is "...one of the best contemporary poets in Canada."

I reckon they're right.

Part of the article is a video I shot of Dave reading a poem from his latest collection, Noble Gas, Penny Black, published by Brick Books. Read about Dave O'Meara and the Plan 99 Reading Series.

While I was interviewing Dave, he asked if I could fill in for him on the radio. (Dave is a co-host for Literary Landscapes, on CKCU-FM 93.1 FM, Ottawa's Community Radio Station.)

Now, while I have been on the radio many, many times, I have never actually hosted a program. Not being able to do something has never stopped me before, but I was a little bit nervous, nonetheless. So Dave calmed my nerves by drawing me the above basic schematic of "How To Run A Radio Station."

Armed with that piece of invaluable paper, I said, "Yes!"

After all, what could go wrong?

Well, of course, I forgot to bring that very, very important piece of paper with me.

Find out what happened by reading the Bovine Voodoo Magic blog post, by my good friend and guest Amanda Abdelhadi. She even took some video. Which was great because while I had set up my camera, I was hiding under the table looking for Dave's piece of paper. So I forgot to actually turn my camera on.

FYI:  OttawaTonite.com is up and running, obviously. But what is it all about?

Well, suzemuse says it is, a "...VERY ambitious project – we aspire to be the pre-eminent source for what’s happening in the theatre, music, literary, film, comedy, and food and drink scenes in our city."

A most excellent, and ambitious, project. I wish ottawatonite.com the greatest of success.