Shonen Knife

Here is the Shonen Knife shirt mentioned in these comments. It is probably not an authorized shirt, but they signed it anyway. The picture of Michie is oddly unflattering. Do I wear it with pride? Yes and no. While waiting for it to be signed, I missed what was probably the last performance of Prunella at CBGB's. My main feeling about wearing it is wondering how many washings before the signatures disappear.
I first became interested in Shonen Knife as a big fan of Babes in Toyland. Asked Kat Bjelland about everything they recorded (before they went on at Wetlands) (almost whining "there's got to be more than Spanking Machine") she mentioned they were on the Shonen Knife tribute. Well, yes, but not on the CD or 1 LP album, but only the 2 LP album (1 pink, 1 white, soft looking). They covered "Watching Girl". As a bonus, this one has the Lunachicks doing "Antonio Baka Guy" and some other cool stuff, for example by the Angels of Epistemology (on which their singing was OK. After years with Fairscape, I can't tolerate the bad singing on their other stuff, in spite of the good songwriting, etc.).
So then I got some of the Knife's own stuff. Back then the sweetish vocals & slightly punkish instrumentals was refreshing. (No more. All genres are clearly fated to be mixed--¿what was that popular song 10 years ago with disco-style rhythm section, heavy metal guitar part, and punk vocals plus rapping?) You have to admire the courage, or whatever it is, of Japanese people learning English who write and sing "Blast, blast, parallel woman, Destroy, destroy, parallel woman" in the middle of a song in their own language--I like the part about office automation leading to a mass suicide.
"Twist Barbie" is fun. "Dali's Sunflower" is great purely as music. "Insect Collector" is worthwhile just for the ending.
Other favorites: "Gomi Day", "Flying Jelly Attack", "Public Bath", "Lazybones", "Cannibal Papaya" (although it's a bit condescending to third world farmers).

---

Anyway, I haven't worn the shirt yet this year. Maybe the September open reading at BJ Spoke, or some multiple event day.

Homeostasis

after Dan Giancola's "The Watchman"

From hurricane to luminous stand-still,

emigrant-to-all jumps isobars,

finds a halcyon of pleasure beyond pleasure,

hollow axis firm and supple.

Falling away from death

makes mind a roller-coaster.

Charmed screams and favorite car soften;

thrill, then route, flatten,

setting mind outside, buoy

tattooed on a swelling cosmic breast.

Long Island Events - my choices for a few weeks

July

• 06 Fri 7:30pm Chamber Music+Opera Night. St Paul's Methodist Church, Main St, Northport
• 07 Sat 8:30pm Tabou Combo Heckscher Park, Huntington
• 08 Sun 12-5pm NAC Sundays in the Park, Northport-Park at the end of Main St.
• 09 Mon 7pm Poetry at Cool Beanz, St James. 25a just East of Lake
• 12 Thu 3-5pm, 6-8pm Assembly & Opening reception of sculpture by Thea Lanzisero. Heckscher Park, Huntington
• 12 Thu 8pm Meridian Anthology Poetry Reading, Book Revue, Huntington. Hosted by Marci Geller.
• 13 Fri 8pm `Poets Aloud' BJ Spoke Gallery, 299 Main St., Huntington
• 14 Sat 5:30-8pm Lake Ronkonkoma Poets at Walt Whitman Birthplace
• 14 Sat 8pm Jim Frazzitta, Nylon & Steel + Open, @ St Lawrence of Canterbury Church, 655 Old Country Rd, Dix Hills.
• 18 Wed 7pm NAC Encore, Northport Library, Laurel Ave & Scudder Ave.
• 19 Thu 7pm LI Poetry Collective workshop, Huntington Library
  
• 20 Fri 8pm Poetry at Conklin Barn, New York Ave just South of High St, Huntington
• 21 Sat 7pm North Sea Poetry Scene at Walt Whitman Birthplace
• 25 Wed 6pm Hamlet at Caumsett Park
• 26 Thu 5:30pm Exhibit Opening with pianist-Huntington Arts Council, Main St.
• 26 Thu 7pm LI Poetry Collective workshop, Huntington Library
  
• 27 Fri 8:30pm Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance. Heckscher Park, Huntington
• 31 Tue 7:30pm Brave Combo. Heckscher Park, Huntington

August

• 01 Wed 7-8:30pm poetry: Susan Pilewski+open Smithtown Library 111 & 25A
• 02 Thu 7pm LI Poetry Collective workshop, Huntington Library
• 03 Fri 7:30pm Chamber Music+Opera Night. St Paul's Methodist Church, Main St, Northport. Starts promptly--arrive early!
  
• 10 Fri 8pm `Poets Aloud' BJ Spoke Gallery, 299 Main St., Huntington
• 11 Sat 10am-10pm Paumanake Powwow, Tanner Park, Copiague
• 12 Sun 10am-5pm Paumanake Powwow, Tanner Park, Copiague
• 12 Sun 2pm Toby Walker at Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale
• 12 Sun 5pm Folk Music Society of Huntington, Hecksher Park, Huntington
• 13 Mon 7pm Poetry at Cool Beanz, St James. 25a just East of Lake
• 14 Tue 7pm Andean & Argentinian Music, Heckscher Park, Huntington
• 16 Thu 7pm LI Poetry Collective workshop, Huntington Library