Category Archives: Stories

100 posts

Amurica, Art, June 2015, Memphis Punk Festival, Murphy's, Quick Thoughts, Reasons for Things, Stories

I’m dedicating my 100th post to the Memphis Punk Festival. I just showed up for the opening show at Murphy’s. The crowd is high energy and ready to go. I’m here early because at 7pm I need to go visit Amurica for the Spillit slam. The theme is music, so I feel like it’s a respectable detour from the festival. Not to mention I can’t wait to tell a story. After that, all music all the time. Or something.

I’m terrified.  Of the stage, not the story.  I don’t have all my details hammered down but I’ve gone over the idea for almost a month.  I just need to go up there and not stumble on my words.  I even wore sexy underwear for luck.

The band just started up and everyone came alive.  It’s superb metal.  I think Spit is playing.  I wanted to stay for the Cheerbleeders especially but it doesn’t look like I’ll get the chance.  There’s something about scream-singing that comforts me.  I want to believe I could find that thick mix of honey and gravel deep down in my own chest but I would probably giggle when I try.

And now I have a crush on the bass player.  He looks like a handsome version of my 9th grade boyfriend.

Heads nodding
In approval
Bodies jitter
To the beat
Noise wavesCrashing against
Faces and walls
Excitement mixed
with body odor
and heat.

Indigo

Art, Daily Life, Future Plans, June 2015, Places, Quick Thoughts, Reasons for Things, Stories, Venues, Yoga

The blue part of my throat
starts in my chest. I move through
the waves
of
thestartofsomething….

What I mean to say is I have trouble separating my throat from my chest. So much of what I feel is centered between my lungs. So much of what I say is drawn from that well of emotion sometimes I know I just shouldn’t speak.

I’m rarely speechless.

I remember a time when I was too young to know any better. I was told one lie and that changed everything. I’d been in a nest of integrity for so much longer … I didn’t know what being in a group feels like, but this was when I started to find my groups.

 

*Ahem*

I brought it back to the yoga today.  The trine of time, energy and intention conjoined an hour before work.  I did the 4 poses I need to ground myself.  My feet haven’t left the earth since.  The 15 minute savasana clicked everything in place.  I need that type of grounding with the moon getting all big and shiny like that.  I caught myself just in time.  The way I avoid trouble is making my own on a much smaller scale.  It’s entertaining and I’m remembering things that are important.  Like the yoga.  See, it works.

Punk Fest 2015

Buccaneer, Daily Life, Future Plans, Hi Tone, Murphy's, P & H Cafe, Places, Reasons for Things, Stories, The Lamplighter

At age 14, I was a punk.  I don’t remember all the details, but the major signs were there.  I frequented the Coffee Cellar, read zines and put RAPE stickers on stop signs all over East Memphis.  I got my ear cartilage pierced at a mall kiosk on a 9th grade field trip and I threw a punk-tacular fit when my parents held me down to rip it out.  According to the millenial punk rating system, the music I like from that era qualifies me as a fifth level punk.  So you can trust me when I say the 3rd annual Memphis Punk Festival is worth your attention.  Continue reading Punk Fest 2015 →