Two shows left before P. Fanatics is dead forever. Go to both!
Poster by Joe Myers:
Shit To Do (STD)
Dan Shapiro’s Rigged Open Mic: Role Models
Sunday, May 13th
7:30 pm (open mic sign-up)
Cole’s Bar
2338 N. Milwaukee
hosted by Dan Shapiro (obviously) and Mason Johnson
Hey Bucko, you’re required to attend Dan Shapiro’s Rigged Open Mic, with featured readers Ben Lyon and Janna Sobel.
Dan Shapiro is a piece a work. One weird motherfucker. Everything in his world is backwards. You know how some men hold doors open for women? Well, women hold doors open for Dan.
Dan Shapiro gives burritos diarrhea.
Point in case: you can’t be as awesome as Dan. Sorry. You don’t deserve to smell his farts.
But you can certainly try. Bring your stories, poems, skits—anything with words—and sign up for the goddamn open mic. Try to out-Dan all the other readers. Read something insanely awesome, make a legend of yourself, and, if you’re lucky, people just might like you.
Oh yeah, the weirdest asshole at the open mic will win a prize. Possibly one of them talkin’ fish people hang on their wall. We’re not sure yet. It’ll be pretty awesome though.
Once the open mic is over, we’ll enjoy the writings of Ben Lyon and Janna Sobel, our featured readers. They’re going to give us a nice, thorough, and guaranteed-to-be-awesome lesson on “Role Models.” In other words, they’ll make you feel better about yourself after witnessing the open mic.
Open Mic Details:
MAX TIME OF FIVE MINUTES. You go over and Matt Rowan will manhandle your manhood (or womanhood) off the stage.
Sign-up ends at 7:30. Show up beforehand and find Mason, the man in the cream-colored women’s coat, to sign up.
Your piece does not need to fit the theme of “Role Models,” but it would probably help you win if it did.
The open mic will feature five readers, chosen at random from a hat.
SEE YA THERE
P. Fanatics/Two Cookie April 3rd & 8th
This month, P. Fanatics is teaming up with Two Cookie Minimum to bring you not one, but two shows. Double the fun! Doublemint gum! Can you guys handle the collective sarcasm that is Mason Johnson and Johnny Misift?
PROBABLY.
Two Cookie Minimum/P. Fanatics
April 3rd
The Hungry Brain, 2319 W Belmont
@ 9:00 pm
Readers include Maggie Ritchie, Laura Szumowski (zoo mouse key press), Dave Snyder, Kieth Rosson (avow zine from Milwaukee), Jill Summers, and Adam Drent. It will be hosted by Johnny and Mason (I like to refer to myself in the third person!), with Dan Shapiro loosening things up at the beginning. Nothing like a tall glass of Shapiro.
No. Really. There’s nothing like it.
P. Fanatics/Two Cookie Minimum
April 8th
Cole’s Bar, 2338 N. Milwaukee
@ 7:30 pm SHARP WE START ON TIME HERE KIDDOS
Performers include Lindsay Hunter, Matt Rowan, the father son duo of Fred Sasaki and Fred Sasaki, and musical comedy by Rich Salamander. Mason and Johnny are hosting this shitshow too! Dan will, as always, be opening things up at the beginning. So don’t be late. Oh, Hawaiian Death Folk Presents will be… present… too!
Questions?
SHIT TO DO!!! (remember that?)
So it’s been awhile since I’ve posted any events. Sue me! I don’t care. Who cares. Let’s do this.
Write Club is in thirty-five minutes. So, uh, get to the Hideout. I did Write Club last month and beat my opponent, but only because my girlfriend was a judge. I am an avid supporter of cheating. Take that Ali Weiss. Maybe you shoulda cheated if you wanted to win.
Wednesday, May 18th
Trilling Magazine Launch Party Simone’s Bar 960 w. 18th street at 7:00 pm facebook event
What is Trilling Magazine, you might be asking. Well I do not know. A new magazine apparently. I do know that they have some good people reading at their launch party though, so it must be good.
It features a reading by Patricia McNair, a music performance by Derek Nelson, and short stories by Matt Martin, Leah Tallon, Lauryn Lewis, Chris Terry, and Ben Kumming.
As I said, good people reading.
Black & White Night Hollywood Lounge 3301 W. Bryn Mawr at 9:00 pm facebook event
Not a reading, but a multi-faceted art event. Every other week B&W highlights a different visual artist, also including live bands, DJs, and the occasional reading when we’re lucky. This one features work by Ryan Narikawa, live art by Darius Dennis, a set by DJ Kendotronic, and performance by Soft Candy.
Friday, May 20th
Revolutions presented by Brinksman Press The Hidden Shamrock 2723 N. Halsted St. at 7:00 facebook event
According to the press they’ve let out, Revolutions is “CHICAGO’S FRESHEST EXPERIMENTAL LITERARY READING.” This means you should probably wear a hard hat or something if you go. Personally, I’m gonna wear a cup, but I usually do anyways. Seriously though, if this reading is half as “eXtreme” as it sounds in the description, it’ll be a good time.
Readers: Frankie Migacz, Behnam Riahi, Sandra Lee Ernsberger, Scott Patrick Barrons, Ian Dick Jones, Justin Bostian, Lauryn Allison Lewis, Maurice Meaway, Michael Meyer, Danyel Logue, and Jon Natzke. There will also be a performance by As Told by Heroes.
That’s a long list of names and, it being a list of writers, long bios. I can vouch for most of the names though, good people, even the ones who are technically, on moral and ethical grounds, are bad. Ian Dick Jones, who you might remember from the Ray’s Tap Reading Series review he wrote in which he insulted me and my bestie Dan Shapiro, is an entertaining person. A jagoff, but entertaining. And Sandra is significantly less of a jagoff, but as entertaining. Then there’s Lauryn, who has been reading everywhere and anywhere these last few months, which must mean something positive, right? (She does make good sugar cookies, which she had at her last reading.)
West Side School for the Desperate End of Semester Poetry Showcase! 3608 W Wrightwood at 7:00 pm facebook event
Jeez, these events could use shorter names. Names be damned, West Side School for the whozits, or whatever, knows how to put on a poetry reading. The kind you’d actually want to attend. And get drunk at. If you’re around Logan Square, you have no reason not to stop by.
Readings by Nick Narbutas, Stephen Dvorak, Chloe Kittle, Jacob Mays, Benicia Blue, Nate Olison, and Stephanie Lane Sutton.
Watch out for that Nick Narbutas those. He’s got some deep eyes, curly locks you wanna put your fingers through, and a way with words.
SHIT TO DO WOOO (okay, assholes, calm down)
Lemme apologize for being MIA on updates lately. It’s not that I have no desire to pump up other reading series, I’ve just been busy. Petting my cat. All day, every day.
Shit to do:
Tuesday, April 5th
SO YOU THINK YOU HAVE NERVES OF STEEL? 2319 W. Belmont | 8:30 Facebook Event
No, I’m not too happy with the results of my arm wrestling match at the last Nerves of Steel. Regardless, it’s still a good series, even if that no good, piece of shit, cheatin’, lyin’ Harold Ray does still host the thing. Thankfully, cool people will be there to even his destructive personality out:
Samantha Irby, Josh Corey, Carter Edwards, and Davis Schneiderman. Music will be provided by Katie Jo Knaub and Save The Clocktower.
See the official announcement at the2ndhand.
Wednesday, April 6th
The Encyclopedia Show: Spices Vittum Theatre 1012 N. Noble St | 7:30 Facebook Event $8.00 ($5 for students)
It’s that time of the month again. Encyclopedia Show time. This time around they tackle the subject of spices, something I’m not too excited about since I’m a sensitive taster. I just can’t handle spices. I am partial to Baby Spice (the spice girl, or a spice made out of babies? I’ll let you decide…), but that’s neither here nor there.
(oooh it’s Baby Spice (who is a girl?), now ya know! Sigh…)
Performers include Gabe Gudding, Cin Salach, David Kodeski, Susie Swanton, Johnny Lange, Jac Jemc, Scott Beal, Malcolm London, Anne Moertel, and an interview with Hot Doug Sohn of Hot Doug’s (which I love, best hot dogs in town, but I get mine plain for the above reasons).
Reading Under the Influence Sheffield’s 3258 N. Sheffield | 7:30 Website $3.00
OH NO! How will you decide between the Encyclopedia Show and RUI? Don’t look at me for answers, they’re both great and I ain’t choosing between the two. One is a raucous and fun time with alcohol, the other is a more family friendly, though weird to the max, gig at a theater. Figure out which suits you best.
Readers: Ben Tanzer, Eric May, Maggie Ritchie, and Byron Hatfield.
I would like to point out that Eric May has one of the most comforting voices in existence. And Maggie Ritchie not only has the best stories I’ve read about both chickens and pinball, but usually doesn’t smell all too bad. Depends what day in the week you catch her on.
Black and White Night Hollywood Lounge 3301 W. Bryn Mawr | 8:30 Facebook Event
Did Wednesday become the cool, hip night to go out? Why didn’t anyone tell me…
The great thing about this wonderful show is that you can probably make it to Encyclopedia Show, or some of RUI, then come and catch some of this goodness too. Black and White night isn’t always a reading, but is entertaining regardless. They tend to showcase some bitchin’ art, and will usually have some cool music playing. Plus booze is usually pretty cheap.
The featured artist is Tim Lewandowski, with live art by Brian Nolan, and DJ Kendotronic will be making sweet love to your ears.
Dj: Kendotronic mixes it up real nice
www.soundcloud.com/kendotronic or www.kendotronic.tumblr.com
Featured Artist: Tim Lewandowski
Live Art: Brian Nolan
Friday, April 8th
Shame That Tune the Hideout 1354 W. Wabansia | 6:30 Facebook Event
Those rapscallions Brian Costello and Abraham Levitan are at it again! Perverting the journals of many fine writers into song. The process is… questionable. At best. This time around they cover the subject of Spring, something that’s taken an awful long time to show up (it always does).
