Greg Goodsell talks about stirring up the Bakersfield poetry beat - By N.L. Belardes

I have no idea what Greg is doing in this unrelated photo.
(Unknown photographer)

I wasn't able to make a recent poetry gig, but poet/author Greg Goodsell attended and gave a poetry reading. Here's his two cents on the evening.

By Greg Goodsell:

The poetry reading held at the Youth League on 19th Street on the evening of May 18th only drew about 20 audience members. The people who elected to sweat it out at the tired ol’ Street Faire a few blocks away that night missed out. There was gourmet cheese, fruit and wine for days in a beautiful, air-conditioned building, and all of it for free! Their loss …and the 20 people who did show up were the right 20 people!

I was asked to open at the behest of Lisa LoBasso, who has been hosting these readings every couple of months this year. It was my first time in front of a microphone in quite awhile. I opened up with a funny piece (most of my stuff is comedic) called "Sir Alec Guinness," which is a heartfelt bit about the expectations and limitations placed upon by the artist by his audience. I then did an edgy piece called "Inga Barks’ Number One Fan," a satirical number about a stalker pursuing KERN Newstalk Radio Talk Show Hostess Inga Barks. In real life, Inga and I get along famously. The skit is not a put-down of her, but rather how people can misinterpret her and form the "wrong" opinions. I then finished up with a reading for Morbid Curiosity magazine, on how there is an audience for every conceivable type of art.

Lisa then read selections from her poetry book, "In the Swollen," which is now in its second printing! Go Lisa! The evening ended with the headliner, Frances O’Connell, who has served as LoBasso’s mentor. Her poems were strong, tough and full of imagery, capable of wringing tears or laughter. It was a most entertaining evening and c’mon gang! Show support to our local poets!

This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on Tuesday, May 23, 2006. You can leave your response.