Chris Chandler's M.u.s.e. .a.n.d. .W.h.i.r.l.e.d. .R.e.t.o.r.t. July 2011

Chico, CA
Vol. XII issue vi

Paul and I have been having a tremendous tour – looking forward to returning to the great NW!  and well…. The Great  South West (of Canada)
****************************
Join me on face book:  by clicking www.facebook/chrischandler.org
**************************
To subscribe to this news letter by clicking:
or pasting https://chrischandler.org/index.php?page=signup
***************************

T.H.E. .M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.
Friday July 1, 2011
Chico, CA
Vol. XII issue vi

Matadors
By Chris Chandler
Flyer Girl by Paul Benoit

Understand that this entire poem takes place in a split second.
Which is to some an eternity.

Such as the split second between the flight of a trapeze artist and the moment she grasps the hand of her catcher.

flyer girl, you whistle in the morning
and you start to twirl
to deal with the yearning
and you found a pearl,
with the whole town burning

"Ladies and Gentlemen"

I thought to myself but the words just wouldn't come out – not this time.

One hundred thousand times before the words have flown freely – but not this time…

I fumbled in the front pocket of my red velvet jacket and pulled out my notes… yep that's what it says alright – "Ladies and Gentle…"  

What was I to do?  It wouldn't come… Panic over came me –

this city of bridges
could leave you in stitches
and ridin on two wheels
could drive you to ditches
you're better in the air then
behind the switches

I peaked through the closed curtains and peered into a sea of dull faces waiting to be entertained.

The words would not come.

Their empty eyes glinting like the lights of a ship viewed from beneath the water. I found myself swimming in their sea, hungry.

Fish can not see above the water – occasionally they can make out movements gestures – even danger above the water… sometimes… on a clear day… they will gather in a school to watch…for  there is a thin line between the water and the air and it is only in the middle of that thin line one knows there is another world out there.  

A fire juggler can not see beyond his own ring of fire, but he knows there is another world out there.  

For as Einstein pointed out: "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

Perhaps that thin line between them is a red velvet curtain.

your red hair glows
like a late night ember
and everybody knows
but sometimes they don't remember
you're waitin for the show,
you're waitin for the show

A performer on a bright stage can not see into the darkened audience but he knows there is another world out there. The audience does too.

Like a school of fish… It is why they came.

Only the curtain exists between us.

And that curtain must go up.

and everyday's a stage
and everyone's a player
so girl just turn the page
your stunts are your prayers
you're waitin for the show,
you're waitin for the show

It is the performer and the audience together that can lift the veil between the worlds known and unknown.

But only if someone dives in.

And we must dive in.

To go freely – not knowing your own weight.

The house lights go to half – but I realize…

I can not swim.

But still I dive in…

The school swims together in perfect unison like aerial fliers knowing no gravity except that of their comradory and their desire for spectacle.

Flips and turns and loopty loops and unpredictable pirouettes. .

and if you go freely you won't feel your own weight
if you go freely you won't feel your won weight
if you go freely you won't feel your own weight

But it is my turn to fly freely – to add my component to the presentation –
But the words would not come.

The stage manager is back stage with a hook.

In Terror. I break from the school. Swimming. Alone.  Hungry. Eyeing a  silver spinner – I am thinking it's dinner time – but as soon as I bite -- out of the blue -- a magic string sucks me from the known universe…  

Suddenly, I am lieng on the deck of a boat floundering. Their are aliens wearing bright orange vests and baseball hats and butterfly nets.

I am unable to breath in the alien's atmosphere.  All seems lost.   The lights continue to fade.  

The red velvet curtain rises

you wake up in the evening
wondering what the day was for
you learned about gravity
and that less was more
you're movin your body,
you're movin your body

The sea of empty faces disappears as a large follow spot hits me center stage as the Audience looks to me to tell them what to feel - for me to give them permission to go freely and not feel their own weight.

But all I feel is heavy.  I can not fly.  Or swim.

everyday you're thrown
and everyday you tumble
like a flower grown
it leaves you feelin humble
you're waitin for the show,
you're waitin for the show

The applause sputters and dies out leaving me with an uncomfortable silence…

a full five minutes passes – the silence turns to heckles as Fruit flies freely – not knowing its own weight –

I am floundering.

I remove my jacket to use it as a shield to dodge the fruit but a Bull sees it as a signal to charge.  There is a large swelling of applause from the empty ocean. It gives me confidence.  

"Ladies and…"

Perhaps it is applause that allows one to defy gravity.

"Gentleman!"

They are cheering loudly… and then I realize they are rooting for the bull.

if you go freely you won't feel your own weight 3 x

But I don't care that they are rooting for the bull.  At least they are cheering… I  am unaware of my own weight.

For tonight… I must be Myro the Magnificent: the heralded undisputed – undefeated Greatest Matador of all time…

Then I have the sinking revelation that the bull really is charging and all LIVING matadors are undefeated.

you fly through the air,
with a soft breeze blowin
and you don't even care,
what the people think they're knowin
and the ones that you thrill,
they're all standin still

The Stage manager has set down her hook and replaced it with a butterfly net.  

I am floundering on the deck.  The aliens scoop me into a net and toss me back into the water.

Where I witness the tiniest of tiny minnows performing a beatific ballet for an audience of much larger fish in an effort to convince it that they are indeed enormous – which is not unlike the reason that insecure performers emolliate themselves for approval.

I try to join them – but now I am an old guy with a hook in my mouth trying to convince the school that there is life beyond what you can see in this universe.  

Naturally, they don't believe me – they put me on a reality TV and I find myself trying to convince Jerry Springer that I was abducted by aliens.

I am a laughing stock – but at least – they are laughing…

At last, I can fly.

I CAN fly.

this city of bridges
could leave you ion stitches
and ridin on two wheels could drive you to ditches
you're better in the air then behind the switches

There are many ways to convince an audience that there is another world that exists within this world of dreary theatre seats and boxes of stale greasy pop corn.

For you must remember that this entire poem takes place in a split second.

and if you go freely you won't feel your own weight
if you go freely you won't feel your won weight
if you go freely you won't feel your own weight

Which to some is an eternity.

Such as the split second between the flight of a trapeze artist…

"Ladies and Gentlemen"
… and she grasps the hand of her catcher.

A split second in which we all can fly…

"Come gather round me people!"

One in which fish can walk…

"Yawza Yawza Yawza!"

One in which the bull dons a red cape and trades his horns for a sword.
"Step right up!"

One in which the bird is free from the chains of the sky….

and if you go freely you won't feel your own weight
if you go freely you won't feel your won weight
if you go freely you won't feel your own weight

The curtain is up.

I hear the applause and I realize that I am right… that THIS is the alternative universe….

In he split second between when the trapeze artist flies – and she grasps the hand of her catcher…

Which is the split second between two hands clapping.


**********************
Happy Birthday Anne Feeney!
*********************

There are a few dates out there still longing to be filled – have a look – perhaps you are in the area and would be into having us at your house for a house concert.
********************
T.H.A.N.K. .Y.O.U.
Jen Delyth, Paul Benoit, Frankie Hernandez, Camp CALM, The Kerrville Folk Festival,
Dalis Allen, Tim Mason, Brino, Donna Snyder, Sunita Smith, Steve O"Laughlin, Melisa, Steve Key, Chris Bricker, Kari-Ann, The Mama Buzz, The Oakland Poetry Slam



*************************
H.E.R.E.S. .D.A. .D.A.T.E.S.

Friday, July 1st, 2011 8:00 PM
at the home of Jake and Cassie
House Concert
RSVP: jacoblashbrook@gmail.com
Chico, CA

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 8 PM
chandler and Benoit
Out of the Way Cafe
132 Blodgett
Williams, OR 97339
phone: 541 846 6666
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE: click here

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 8 PM
Talent, OR
This gig has moved from Tease in Ashland to:
the Avalon Bar & Grill
105 W. Valley View Road
Talent, OR
phone: 541.512.8864

Thursday, July 7th, 2011 8 PM
The Pre-Fair Party
Private Party
phone: RSVP 541 942 8596


Friday, July 8th, 2011
Oregon Country Fair
Veneta, OR
website: http://www.oregoncountryfair.org

Saturday, July 9th, 2011
Oregon Country Fair
Shady Grove Stage
1:00 - 2:00 pm, :60 set
Veneta, OR
website: http://www.oregoncountryfair.org

Sunday, July 10th, 2011
Oregon Country Fair
Veneta, OR
Blue Moon Stage
12:00 - 12:50 pm, :50 set
The Library SHow at Dark Thirty
website: http://www.oregoncountryfair.org

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 7:00 PM
With Paul Benoit
The Public Library
825 NW Wade St
Estacada, OR

Thursday, July 14th, 2011 9pm
Peter Wilde Presents
sam bonds garage
407 blair
eugene
phone: 431-6603
website: http://www.sambonds.com

Friday, July 15th, 2011 8 PM
Axe and Fiddle
657 East Main Street
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
phone: 541-942-5942
website: http://axeandfiddle.com/

Saturday, July 16th, 2011 8 pm
at the home of Angela Koning
House Concert
RSVP for directions  Angela Koning 541-760-4084
Corvalis, OR


Looking for work in Northern Oregon southern WA July 18 20 21

Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:30 pm
Portland, or
The Industrial Workers of The World presents With David Rovics
Alberta Rose Theatre
3000 NE Alberta Street
Portland, or 97211
Website: www.albertarosetheatre.com

Friday, July 22nd, 2011 9:00 PM
The Long awaited  return
Sirens
823 Water
Port Townsend
phone: 360.379.1100

Saturday July 23 24
Looking for work in Olympia or there abouts.

THURSDAY JULY 28TH 2011 9:00
Seattle WA
Egan's Jam House
Ballard WA


Friday, July 29th, 2011
with Jen Delyth
Seattle Scottish Highlands Festival
45224 284th Ave SE
Enumclaw, WA
website: http://www.sshga.org/home.htm
65th Annual NW Scottish Highland Games at the formerly known as the King County Fair Grounds showing off Jen's Fabulous Art Work

Saturday, July 30th, 2011
with Jen Delyth
Seattle Scottish Highlands Festival
45224 284th Ave SE
Enumclaw, WA
website: http://www.sshga.org/home.htm
65th Annual NW Scottish Highland Games at the formerly known as the King County Fair Grounds showing off Jen's Fabulous Art Work

Sunday, July 31st, 2011
with Jen Delyth
Seattle Scottish Highlands Festival
45224 284th Ave SE
Enumclaw, WA
website: http://www.sshga.org/home.htm
65th Annual NW Scottish Highland Games at the formerly known as the King County Fair Grounds showing off Jen's Fabulous Art Work

Monday, August 1st, 2011 9 PM
An evening with Chandler and Benoit
Acoustic Green Frog Tavern
900 N. State St.
Bellingham, WA
USA
phone: 360.756.1213
website: http://www.acoustictavern.com/

Tuesday August 2nd
Victoria BC TBA

Wed August 3rd
Vancouver BC  TBA

Friday, August 5th, 2011
shambhala music festival
Salmo, BC
website: http://www.shambhalamusicfestival.com

Saturday, August 6th, 2011
shambhala music festival
Salmo, BC
website: http://www.shambhalamusicfestival.com

Sunday, August 7th, 2011
shambhala music festival
Salmo, BC
website: http://www.shambhalamusicfestival.com