Skip to main content

The Chris Chandler Show

    • The Muse and Whirled Retort 2026

    September 2026 MUSE and WHIRLED RETORT

    T.H.E. .M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.

    T.H.E. .M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.
    September 01, 2026 - Austin, TX

    Hey everybody,

    It’s that time again!

    Sorry it has taken me a minute to get one of these newsletters out.

    I am still moving a little slower than I used to, but I am working on it!!!

    First I want to say THANK YOU! For all of the support you have given me during this ongoing recovery! I would not have gotten as far as I have without you.

    Early on I set as a goal to be able to re-memorize poetry and get back on the stage! I have been working my ass of to get there.

    And let me tell you, setting that goal has done more for me in my recovery than any institution, doctor, or therapist!!!

    So, I am going to be doing just that! Getting back up on the stage for the first time in my hometown of Austin, Texas!

    Many of the people that have been hands on here in Austin will be joining me.

    Anne Feeney’s daughter Amy Sue Berlin has unquestionably been the corner stone in this recovery here in Austin. When I asked her about it, she made a request of which song she wanted to sing! I cried.

    Grace Rowland who came to the hospital and sang songs when I was barely cognizant encouraged me to read poetry anyway while she sang.
    Jesse Otis Dalton, who has been a long time collaborator will be backing me up musically.
    Jena Kirkpatrick was the chief instigator to get me to write again.
    Irina Astra - fellow poet and dear friend has given me her valued feedback on every poem I have written since the accident and countless ones before.
    Jeff Knight came to my apartment twice a week as a performance coach to get me to re-memorize poetry, get me up on my feet, and taught me how to not stutter better than any speech therapist. He will MC the whole evening.
    Obo Martin grabbed me by the lapels and got me to read for his audience whether I was still stuttering or not.
    Helyn Rain never stops inspiring me, conjuring a creative community while insisting I contribute.
    Raina Leigh Krause and I swap paintings for stories and bolognaise sauce for burlesque.
    Fiz Gig Bates is a fellow stage hand and Union member that can crank a mean crescent wrench while wearing a clown nose.

    Together we will be celebrating the road to recovery by returning to the Stage in Austin - Radio East - Sunday September 20th - 7pm (doors at 6).

    It is all our way of saying thank you to all of you that have done so much to support me and with an eighteen wheeler full of hard work, it can be done. A celebration of the road to recovery, that leads to the stage.

    Hope to see you for the show! If you - or anyone you know - are in the Austin area it would mean a pick-up truck to both me and our creative community to come out for this special and important event.

    **************

    PLAY VIDEO

    Between Twilight and First Light

    For obvious reasons my poetry series in the puppet show has become the 2026 occasional poetry series. This is #3 - I am proud of this one! It is the first poem that I have written since the accident.

    **************

    Infinity in the Corner Pocket!

    At the first show that I did on this summers brief mini tour (starting with the Oregon Country Faire) I only had the one new poem. By the end of the mini-tour the bulk of our repertoire was new music!

    I decided right then and there that I MUST keep moving forward so Paul and I decided we were going to start a new album of all new material!

    I’ve got no deets on that yet but I wanted to let you know it was happening!

    *****************

    PLAY VIDEO

    Stranger in This Land

    A month or so ago my good friend George Mann asked me if I could create a new video for our mutual friend Si Kahn. I was both flattered and honored. I am a life long fan of Si Kahn and we were even both proud lable-mates on Flying Fish Records.

    It took me much longer to do than it used to but just working on a creative project like this inspired me! Here is a link to what I created for his incredible song, “Stranger in This Land”. It will be on thier upcoming album called May Day - ironically being released on, yes, Labor Day.

    *************

    I will soon be putting out a new video for Paul’s new solo album

    **************

    If you would like to support me, or this news letter

    *********

    ENOUGH ENOUGH of the crass commercial announcements!

    It is time for your

    M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.

    Infinity in the corner Pocket.
    By Chris Chandler and Jena Kirkpatrick
    Yes, it’s true.
    I had an accident
    and my recovery has been at times
    precarious.
    ~
    If there were truth to that old trope,
    “No Pain, No Gain,”
    I’d be in great shape by now.
    ~
    But, just because I'm out here on thin ice,
    doesn't mean I want you to come out here and save me.
    I mean, It is thin ice
    and we’ll both go down.
    ~
    Though, I would prefer you do not toss me an anvil.
    ~
    We all find ourselves once in a while
    behind the eight ball.
    But when that’s shot you need to make,
    the only way you’re definitely NOT gonna make that shot
    is to ignore the eight ball.
    ~
    That’s why when I’m playing pool,
    and the 8 ball is on her side
    I say, “Infinity in the corner pocket!”
    ~
    But our friendship is not just the winning ball
    sitting at the mouth of the corner pocket.
    ~
    It’s more like a boulder sitting on the edge of a cliff,
    and the ground is rumbling,
    and that boulder could roll either way.
    And I know which way I don’t want it to roll
    ~
    Because, we all know that bolder
    is gonna land slap dab on top of the coyote.
    And I know I don’t turn into no accordion like the coyote.
    And I never wanted to catch me no roadrunner.
    ~
    Because I used to be a roadrunner.
    And I will be again.
    Because they don’t mention it in those cartoons,
    that roadrunner can actually fly.
    ~
    I ran the roads for years with a woman named Anne Feeney.
    I remember being with her in a bar in Pittsburgh.
    ~
    There was a big screen TV.
    And on the news they were showing
    an entire city bus sitting up at a 45° angle.
    Nose up.
    Inside a giant sink hole.
    ~
    We got up to leave -
    I am not making this up -
    that bus was right outside the bar we were in!
    ~
    Outside the bar,
    there was one guy
    still stuck down in that hole,
    who was shouting up for help.
    ~
    A doctor walked by and he yelled up
    “Hey Doc, I’m stuck down on this hole, can you help?”
    ~
    The doctor pulled out his pad and wrote up a prescription
    for Prozac,
    threw it down in the hole and walked
    on down the road.
    ~
    Then, this priest walked by and he yelled up
    “Hey Padre, I’m stuck down in this hole can you help?”
    ~
    The priest wrote out a prayer for salvation, redemption and deliverance,
    tossed it down in the hole,
    and walked towards Providence.
    ~
    Then his friend walked by and the guy yelled up,
    “Hey Jack, I’m stuck down in this hole can you help?”
    ~
    And I am not making this up!
    ~
    Jack just jumped
    right down in the hole with him!
    ~
    The guy said,
    “Hey Jack, what’d you do that for?
    Now there’s two of us down here.“
    ~
    Jack said,
    “Yeah I know,
    but I’ve been down here before,
    and I know the way out.”
    ~
    Yes, I am out here on thin ice,
    but I wanted to take a moment
    to thank you
    for not tossing me an anvil.
    ~
    Because I don’t know about you, but
    ~
    I want infinity in the corner pocket!
    ~
    2026 EVENTS

    September 20th Sunday 2026 - 6PM to 9:30P

    Returning to the stage for the first time in Austin!!!
    Radio / East - 3504 Montopolis Drive Austin, TX