Tag Archives: Brian Cogan

The RT 20 Podcast: Books, Soundtracks, Vagabonds, and Cogan(s) Part 2

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Songs of Vagabonds, Misfits, and Sinners soundtrackHere is part 2 of the RT20 Podcast featuring host Steve Reynolds, fellow Blacksmith for Literary Progress Brian Cogan, and yours truly discussing music and writing and how the two intertwine. There are more songs from our favorite soundtracks and artists that inspire us to write, as well as further pontificating on how all three of us use that music as part of our writing (including Songs of Vagabonds, Misfits, and Sinners in my case). Herr Reynolds even had the audacity to throw in a Steely Dan song. That’s right a Steely Dan song. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds who art in somewhere, save us.

Click here to check out Part 2. The song playlist for this installment is:

  • Main Theme – John Ottman – Usual Suspects Soundtrack
  • Tocatta – Arvo Pärt – Collage Over B-A-C-H
  • Holiday in Cambodia – The Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
  • Repo Man – Iggy Pop – Repo Man Soundtrack
  • Reel Ten – The Plugz – Repo Man Soundtrack
  • Nemesis – Shreikback – Oil & Gold
  • Aja – Steely Dan – Aja
  • Red Right Hand – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Let Love In

    • The RT 20 Podcast: Books, Soundtracks, Vagabonds, and Cogan(s) Part 1

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    Songs of Vagabonds, Misfits, and Sinners soundtrackThe new episode of the RT20 Podcast is now live and I’m proud to say it centers around two of my favorite topics: books and soundtracks. I joined host Steve Reynolds and fellow Blacksmith for Literary Progress Brian Cogan for a lengthy discussion of music and writing and how the two intertwine. As expected, we talked about my new book, Songs of Vagabonds, Misfits, and Sinners, and the soundtrack I created for it. We also waxed poetic about our favorite soundtrack music and songs that inspired us when we wrote. In between all the jabbering, Steve spun a selection of songs hand picked by Brian and I, including some great stuff by Iggy Pop, Glenn Branca, John Carpenter, Neil Young, The Dead Kennedys, and others.

    Click here to check out Part 1. The song playlist for this installment is:

  • Dead Man, Acoustic Theme – Neil Young – Dead Man (Music from and Inspired By the Motion Picture)
  • Non Ho Tutto Il Giorno – Ken Wohlrob – Songs of Vagabonds, Misfits, and Sinners
  • Structure – Glenn Branca – The Ascension
  • Haunted House – John Carpenter – Halloween

    • Part 2 of the Podcast coming soon…

    July 15th Reading to Celebrate the Release of Mike Faloon’s New Book

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    I’ll be honored once again to read with superb writer and good friend Mike Faloon, who just released his new book, Hanging Gardens of Split Rock, through Gorsky Press. Also on the bill will be our fellow Blacksmith for Literary Progress, Brian Cogan. If you’ve seen the Blacksmith’s read before, expect more great humor and solid storytelling. If you haven’t, make this one the first, and come out to support Herr Faloon. You won’t be disappointed.

    Here are the full details of where and when:
    Thursday, July 15
    Coco66
    7:00 Pm
    66 Greenpoint Ave., Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 11222

    Blacksmiths for Literary Progress at the 21st Annual Indie & Small Press Book Fair

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    The Blacksmiths for Literary Progress will have our own table at the 21st Annual Indie & Small Press Book Fair. We’ll be featuring new books and zines (and possibly old lamps, used furniture, and rusted cutlery) from Brian Cogan, Mike Faloon, Tim Hall, Karen Lillis, Ben Tanzer, and Ken Wohlrob. We’ll also have some free books to give away. Do stop buy, say hello and take home some damn good independent lit.

    Here are the details:
    Saturday, December 6, 2008, 10 AM to 6 PM
    Sunday, December 7, 2008, 11 AM to 5 PM
    Location: The New York Center for Independent Publishing
    20 West 44th Street (btw 5th and 6th)
    New York, NY 10036

    The Love Book Release Party Recap

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    It was a hell of a time on March 22nd. A nice crowd of people and the rest of the Blacksmiths For Literary Progress joined me at Freebird Books in Brooklyn to officially celebrate the release of my new short story collection, The Love Book. We drank beers, huddled around with friends old and new, and made with the prose like circus performers. We even had a nice sunset coming through the front windows as we read (check the photo). It felt fantabulous to be back at Freebird Books, where we always feel at home and the readings have never failed turn out great. Many thanks to Rachel and Peter for making it all happen. And of course it made me proud to do the gig with my fellow Blacksmiths — Brian Cogan, Tim Hall, and Mike Faloon — as it was the first time we could all be in the same room in over a year-and-a-half. If you were there, I thank you for making the trek out and supporting The Love Book.

    And for those of you who missed it, here is a video of me reading an excerpt from “Taking the Happy Bus on Home,” the last story in the collection (and apparently the hands down favorite amongst fans). Also below, are a few pics from the evening. Enjoy.


    The Love Book Reading/Release Party

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    What more could you ask for: booze, used books, and four bastardos a-readin’. I’ll be celebrating the release of my new short story collection, The Love Book, by hosting a reading at Freebird Books. Joining me will be fellow Blacksmiths for Literary Progress, Brian Cogan, Mike Faloon, and (flying all the way in from Chicago) Tim Hall.

    This will be the first all-original member Blacksmiths for Literary Progress reunion since the infamous McLintlock Affair at the Grassroots Tavern that disbanded the group back in ’78.

    C’mon down to scenic Red Hook and join us at the finest little book shop in all of Brooklyn. More info at www.freebirdbooks.com.

    When: Saturday Mar 22, 2008 @ 7:00 PM
    Where: Freebird Books
    123 Columbia Street
    Brooklyn, New York 11231

    A Video Reading of “The Odor of Belfast”

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    I was lucky enough to join the Brothers Cogan at a special post-St. Patrick’s Day bash on 3/18 at Freebird Books in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. Freebird is still my favorite book shop in New York City — I found a collection of poems by Langston Hughes, a hardcover copy of Vonnegut’s Galapagos, and Electric Frankenstein’s How to Make a Monster on CD. So needless to say, I had a hell of a time and even came up with a brand new short story just for the occasion titled “The Odor of Belfast.” Below is video of me reading the story — I apologize for breaking it into two parts but YouTube has a ten minute time limit (which I went over by 30 seconds). Enjoy. Also below, a nice little Irish diddy by the Brothers Cogan. Enjoy.

    “The Odor of Belfast” Part 1

    “The Odor of Belfast” Part 2

    “Johnson’s Motor Car” sung by the Brother’s Cogan

    A Post-St. Patrick’s Day Reading

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    It looks like the Irish have sunk to an all time low by drafting an Italian into their midst. My good friend Brian Cogan is hosting a late St. Patrick’s Day bash at Freebirdbooks out in Red Hook, where the Brothers Cogan will be playing music and several of us will be reading a few short pieces. Freebird Books is my favorite bookshop in all of New York City so if you’ve never been, you should make the jaunt out just for that.

    Considering the fact that it’s gonna be St. Patrick’s day weekend, I’m going to read either a tribute to Phil Lynott or a short story titled “Smelly Colin.” Either way, the Brothers Cogan will be backing me up by playing an endless loop of the main riff from Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak” while I throw down the verbiage. The brothers Cogan have promised to learn the riff and I’m gonna deliver something at least half as entertaining as a John Hovorka band story.

    Here’s the description from the man himself:

    Host: Brian Cogan
    Location: Freebird Books
    123 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY
    When: Sunday, March 18, 4:00pm
    Freebirdbooks

    Come out for a raucous celebration of all things Irish, and a few things Scottish, and maybe even a little bit of Welsh, with the Cogan Brothers and Mark Farley. As always Brian and his brothers promise good songs, hilarious stories and great craic. (The bookstore sells wine and beer, but bring your own bail money.) We’ll start singing promptly at four and will leave when the peelers (cops) come. Extend your St. Patricks weekend and if your head is pounding too much from the night before, we promise to sing a soft song or two just for you!

    Go Metric Reading Recap

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    Another grand time at Freebird Books out in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Myself, Mike Faloon, Brian Cogan, and Steve Reynolds all took part in the celebratory reading for the release of Go Metric Issue #21.

    As expected a great crowd of friends and supporters came down to hear us read. My piece, “Let the Altar Boys Loose,” seemed to go over really well with good hearty laughs from the crowd. You can read a different edit of the piece in Go Metric #21. Of course, extra special thanks goes out to Rachel and the nice folks at Freebird Books for having us down once again and treating us so well. Go visit them in Red Hook and support the shop.

    Here are some shots from the reading (audio to come soon):

    You can get Go Metric at any magazine shop worth its salt, or you can order online at any of these places:

    www.razorcake.com
    www.quimbys.com
    www.atomicbooks.com

    A Gig and A Reading

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    Two Big Events Coming Up In November:

    The Dawn of Mechanized Farming live gig
    Monday, November 6th @ 9 P.M.
    The Pussycat Lounge
    96 Greenwich Street (at Rector Street) in Manhattan

    I’ll be making a return to the drummer’s throne for the first time in over six years as a member of the brand new Dawn of Mechanized Farming. Our first gig is Monday, November 6th at the Pussycat Lounge in Tribeca. We go on at 9 PM and will be followed by local friends the Young Bialys. We’ll be playing a lot of the ‘hits’ but we’re also dusting off some older songs and breathing new life into them. Even if you’ve seen DOMF before, you’ve never heard these songs played like this. We’re packing a hell of punch and I know you’ll dig the show. And of course if you don’t like any of the bands, you can always go downstairs to the strip club. Just remember that it’s a Monday night, so they probably won’t have their ‘A Team’ dancing.

    And while you’re at it, check out the Dawn of the Mechanized Farming web site designed by yours truly where you can find sound samples from the last EP.

    You can get directions to the gig here.

    Go Metric Issue #21 Release Party and Reading
    Saturday, November 4th @ 7 P.M.
    Freebird Books
    123 Columbia, Red Hook, Brooklyn

    Then I’m also really excited to be returning to Freebird Books in Red Hook on Saturday, November 4th for another reading with my fellow Blacksmiths for Literary Progress, Mike Faloon and Brian Cogan. I’ll be reading a piece titled “Let the Altar Boys Loose,” a touching tale from my youth about becoming an altar boy and the mayhem that ensued. This will be part of the Go-Metric Issue #21 release party and will include myself, Mike, Brian, and several other readers. The show starts at 7pm and if you’ve never been to Freebird Books, it’s a great little bookstore run by two fabulous women. They even like Australians who piss and moan about having to go all the way out to Red Hook.

    Directions to the reading.