Brian Cogan Archive

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

Published: December 2, 2008Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary Progress, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , ,

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

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All Hail the Encyclopedia of Punk

Published: November 13, 2008Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary ProgressTags: , , , , ,

It was with great pride that I was able to witness fellow Blacksmith for Literary Progress Brian Cogan host a reading and Q&A in honor of the release of his new book, The Encyclopedia of Punk

A big crowd of people showed up at the Barnes & Noble in Park Slope, where Brian fielded questions, read a few select chunks of the book, and signed copies.

The Encyclopedia of Punk has been a labor of love for Brian, who released the first version of the book as an academic title a year or two ago. This new version is stunning, with due credit going to designer Phil Yarnall who did an amazing job on the layout. It is also quite comprehensive, covering all the usual suspects, but also digging very deep into obscure bands and scenes that most of us had forgotten about. On the way home, I ticked off about twenty more bands that I had yet to discover.

If you have any interest at all in punk’s impact on the world, do go pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.

Here are a few shots for your ocular amusement.

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The Love Book Release Party Recap

Published: March 27, 2008Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary Progress, The Love BookTags: , , , , , , ,

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.


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The Love Book Reading/Release Party

Published: February 28, 2008Posted in: The Love Book, eventsTags: , , , , , ,

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

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A Video Reading of “The Odor of Belfast”

Published: March 21, 2007Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary Progress, short storiesTags: , , , , ,

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

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A Post-St. Patrick’s Day Reading

Published: March 14, 2007Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary Progress, eventsTags: , , ,

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!

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Go Metric Reading Recap

Published: November 5, 2006Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary Progress, eventsTags: , , , , , ,

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

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A Gig and A Reading

Published: October 20, 2006Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary Progress, Uncategorized, eventsTags: , , , , , ,

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.

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Freebird Books Reading Recap and Audio

Published: September 5, 2006Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary Progress, eventsTags: , , , , ,

A great time was had by all who showed up at Freebird Books in Redhook to hear myself, Mike Faloon, Tim Hall, and Brian Cogan (aka the Blacksmiths for Literary Progress) throwdown with a series of great stories. A nice large crowd came out to support all four of us and celebrate the release of Brian’s new book, “The Punk Rock Encyclopedia.” Extra special thanks goes out to Sam and Rachel from Freebird Books who were extremely gracious to us and kept the beers cold. Do pay them a visit sometime as it’s a great little book store and definitely worth the trip out to Red Hook.

For those of you that missed the Blacksmiths For Literary Progress reading at Freebird Books on August 27th, I’ve posted audio of the evening’s festivities below. Just click on the links to hear/download the mp3 files.

Mike Faloon
Tim Hall
Ken Wohlrob
Brian Cogan

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A Reading and Other Mayhem

Published: August 22, 2006Posted in: Blacksmiths For Literary Progress, The Love Book, eventsTags: , , , , , , , ,

Been a long while since I posted anything, but for once I actually have some news to report.

First: A Reading!
Sunday August 27th @ 6:00
Freebirdbooks (Red Hook, Brooklyn)

Come on down and watch myself, Brian Cogan, Mike Faloon, and Tim Hall read, wretch, yell, stutter, belch, and on occasion pontificate. The reading will be at Freebirdbooks in Red Hook and as an added incentive they’ll even be selling beer and wine. What more do you need: liquor, good stories, and four loons performing for your amusements.

Here is a map and directions for getting to Freebirdbooks.

Second: Music!
I have officially joined the mighty Dawn of Mechanized Farming, a helluva band led by John Hovorka of the 2×4’s and the Turbines. The scary part: I’m playing drums (so much for the hours practicing guitar riffs). I haven’t sat down behind a drum kit in well over six years, but I guess the bike riding analogy holds true. Gigs to come very soon and you won’t want to miss this band. A live show to be reckoned with I promise.

In the meantime, you can check some music from the past DOMF album and listen to Hovorka’s Brooklyn Bands Podcast here.

Finally: The Writing Continues! (sung to the tune of a Discharge song)
Still hard at work shopping around the manuscript for THE LOVE BOOK. In addition, I’ve already started on the stories for the next installment, THE LIFE BOOK. I’m very proud of this stuff, some of the best writing I’ve ever done. The first new story, “The Look” — a cute tale about a little girl, her stripper mom, heroin, and a dog named dog — is being sent to litmags as we speak. Maybe I’ll post a bit of it here sometime soon.

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