Mad Swirl Open Mic'in It Into 2010!

0n 01.06.10, starting at 8:00-ish, Mad Swirl continues doing the open mic voodoo that what we do do on into and thru 2010! Join host Johnny O along with the musically magical trio Swirve, as they do their darndest to both blow and open our minds. We will be callin' all you mystically mad poets, musicians, dancers, actors, singers, performers & any other miscellaneous mad ones in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to come & strut your mad stuff!

Come one, come all! Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to be a part of the madness!

Where's all this madness take place? Why it takes place at Absinthe Lounge, located in the SouthSide on Lamar building.

1409 South Lamar Street • Dallas, TX 75215 (google map)

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake." - Marie Beyon Ray

Mad Swirlin' Grats to the Open Mic'n Mad Ones on 07.01.09!

::: Notes of Gratitude to the ALL the Mad Ones! :::


On 07.01.09 Mad Swirl continued the swirling up of our open mic...this time with a twist and a grind! We featured the Dallas slam poets from The Poetry Grind and they brought some slammin' madness to the open mic! These grinders brought their slam to the Mad Swirl stage and along with Tidbits (2/3), served us a heaping plate of flowing, glowing, poetry! Sincere gratitude to the following mad ones from The Poetry Grind...

"Konnichiwa" Zach Schrotter (feature host)
Eric Breland
Victory
Trayce
Jason Carney
Amy Weaver
Bob "Whoopeecat" Stephenson

Then it was on to the usual unusual open mic madness as Johnny O & co-host Konnichiwa called all the mad poets, musicians, singers, comedians & performers to come & strut their mad stuff! They came. They saw. And well...we all went mad!

Mad Swirlin' thanks to the following mad one's that made this past 1st Wednesday open mic yet anotha' to rememba': (pics and audio coming sooner then later!)

Johnny O (host)
Lisa O
M.H. Clay
Opalina Salas
Chris Hamilton
Joel Pipkin
Gordon Hilgers
Cabe Lindsay
Hammer
Bear Rodehaver
Desmene Statum
Devorah Titunik
Chris Zimmerly
Cricket Taylor
Poet Echo
Masked Camouflage Guy
Brig

A very special swirlin’ thanks to Tidbit's (2/3) amazin' mad man G-Man Gerard Bendix on skins and Kenny Withrow on wailin' guitar for keeping us movin', groovin' and steppin' all night long! And an extra special thanks to special musical guest Cricket Taylor for sharing her AMAZINGLY beautiful voice and chords with us.

And HUGE thanks to Absinthe Lounge owner Kevin for allowing us mad ones to go with our flow for well over 4 years now. And a shout-out to the fine Lounge staffers My and John for keeping the mad spirits fillin' and swillin' for us mad ones.

And finally we would like to thank ALL the appreciators who freely shared their hand claps, finger-snaps, hoots and howls with all the mad ones who got up on this sacred mad swirlin' mic.

::: Mad Swirl Open Mic Night :::

Mad Swirl kicks off each 1st Wednesday open mic night with a special opening "swirling it up" set that showcases a medley of featured mad ones.

Join us on the next 1st Wednesday as we swirl it up when some of the mad ones from DFW Open Mics present the Mochalux Experience! Don’t wish you were there, JUST BE THERE on the next 1st Wednesday...

08.05.09 : Absinthe Lounge : 8:00

Swirve will kick off the mad swirlin' festivities with some tunes to get us movin', groovin' and steppin' leading us into the Mochalux Experience from 8:15 - 9:15.

Then it's on to the open mic madness where Johnny O & guest co-host Paul Sexton, will be callin' all you mad poets, musicians, dancers, actors, singers, performers & any other miscellaneous mad ones in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to come & strut your mad stuff!

::: Where's this madness take place? :::


Absinthe Lounge is located in the SouthSide on Lamar building at 1409 South Lamar Street • Dallas, TX 75215 (google map)

Mad Swirl Open Mic's Grinding It Up on 07.01.09!

Mad Swirl kicks off each 1st Wednesday open mic night with a special "Swirlin' It Up!" opening set that showcases a medley of featured mad ones.

Join us this month as we swirl it up with a twist of slam with the Dallas slam poets from The Poetry Grind!

At 8:00 Swirve will kick off the mad swirlin' festivities with some tunes to get us movin', groovin' and steppin'. From 8:15 - 9:15 the mic belongs to The Poetry Grind!

Then it's on to the open mic madness where Johnny O will be callin' all you mad poets, musicians, dancers, actors, singers, performers & any other miscellaneous mad ones in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to come & strut your mad stuff!

Don't wish you were there, JUST BE THERE THIS 1st Wednesday!

Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to support your fellow mad ones.

Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge: The best thing since the invent of electroshock therapy!

Mad Swirl's Swirlin' It Up!

T'was one year ago to the 1st Wednesday that we recorded the live CD version of the sixth print issue of Mad Swirl live at Absinthe Lounge!

Ah, memories... the wonderful energy of hoots, howls, claps & finger snaps, the zing in the air as poetry swirled with music while the "whole mad swirl of everything to come" came! It rocked AND it rolled. It rocked and rolled so much that we thought we should try it again. So...

Starting this month, Mad Swirl Open Mic will kick off each Open Mic night with a special opening set that will showcase a medley of featured mad ones.

This month, we will be bringing the Blue Note crew back to the mic and swirling up Mad Swirl Six.

The "Swirl It Up" set will feature all of the pieces from Mad Swirl Six, but performed by other poets, bringing their own unique energy and vibe to the collective swirl. It's a twist of a swirl of a mix... don't miss it!

Swirve opens the madness musically at 8:00 & the special Mad Swirl "Swirl it Up" set begins at 8:15. Be there as...

Cheyenne Gallion performs Blue Notes by Johnny Olson
Desmene Statum performs God Likes It When I'm Humble by Cheyenne Gallion
Opalina Salas performs When She Dances by Lisa Olson
Chris Zimmerly performs What Am I Supposed to Do Now by Paul Sexton
Lisa Olson performs An Invitation to the Truth by Opalina Salas
Johnny Olson performs Interview by M.H. Clay
Roderick Richardson performs Blistered Guitar Fingers & Broken Note Blues by Desmene Statum
M.H. Clay performs My Blood is Like Piss & Battery Acid/The Greatest Poet by Josh Weir
Paul Sexton performs Ginsberg & Friends by Roderick Richardson
Chris Hamilton performs Note Broke Blue by Chris Zimmerly

This is one 1st Wednesday you will not want to miss.

Then it's on to the open mic madness where Johnny O & co-host M.H. Clay will be callin' all you mad poets, musicians, dancers, actors, singers, performers & any other miscellaneous mad ones in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to come & strut your mad stuff! Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come for madness sake!

For more info about Mad Swirl go to www.MadSwirl.com

For more info about Absinthe Lounge go to www.AbsintheLounge.net

And by all means, feel free to pass this info to any & all Beatniks, hipsters & ca-razy cats that you know.

A Mad Swirl Open Mic Night Broadcast

This is NOT a test of the Mad Swirl Open Mic Broadcast System. This is NOT a test...

...::: BEEEEEEEEEEEP :::...

The mad ones in your area in voluntary cooperation with the Federal, State and Loco Open Mic-ers have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an open mic event. Since this is actual announcement, the Open Mic BEEP you just heard should be followed by official information, news or instructions, something like this:

On 04:01:09 Mad Swirl is calling all you mad poets, musicians, actors, singers & performers to come and strut your stuff. Come one, come all...to participate, to appreciate and to support the local DFW mad ones. Join your host Johnny O and the mad musical trio Swirve as we open the mic up at Absinthe Lounge 'round 8:00-ish and close the mic when there's no one left standing...which is pretty dang late.

For more information about Mad Swirl go to www.MadSwirl.com

For more information about Absinthe Lounge go to www.AbsintheLounge.net

Mad Swirl Open Mic serves the DFW area. This concludes this NOT a test of the Mad Swirl Open Mic Broadcast System.

...::: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP :::...

(p.s. beep - RSVP now to get your spot on the list! - beep)

notes of gratitude to the ALL the mad ones!

Look deep into our swirly eyes. Deeper. Deeper. Ex-cellent. Now open your minds and hear what we've gots'ta say...

Mad Swirl called all you beatniks, hipsters & ca-razy cats out there to open the mic at Absinthe Lounge this past 1st Wednesday. And open it we did! T'was the mostest as all the mad ones came gatherin' 'round to wail away on the mad, mad mic.

With the most sincerest of praises and respect, we would like to thank ALL the mad participators and appreciators for making 1st Wednesday's what they are and what they will be as the whole Mad Swirl of everything to come keeps on twirlin' and turnin' and swirlin'. We would like to thank and recognize the mad ones who glowed and flowed on the mic on 03.04.09, in order of appearance...(pics coming sooner then later)

::: Round One :::

Johnny O
(host)
Opalina Salas
(co-host)
Josh Weir
Roderick Richardson
Devorah
John Kelley
Konnichiwa Zach
Max Earl Blair
Paul Sexton
Cabe Lindsay
Bob Whoopeecat
MH Clay

::: Round Two :::

James Hargrave
Jason
Tim
Alison
Burn
Poet Echo
Blackman

A very special Swirlin’ thanks to Swirve's amazin' trumpeter Chris Curiel, mad man G-Man Gerard Bendix on skins and special guest Kenny Withrow on wailin' guitar for keeping us movin', groovin' and steppin' all night long!

And HUGE thanks to Absinthe Lounge owner Kevin for allowing us mad ones to go with our flow for over 4 years now. And a shout-out to the fine Lounge staffers Brian and Triva for keeping the mad spirits fillin' and swillin' for us mad ones.

Mad Swirl's 1st Wednesday Open Mic Night

As you may or may not know, each 1st Wednesday is a unique madness all it's own. You just never know what you'll see when you go to Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge.

Don’t wish you were there, JUST BE THERE on the next 1st Wednesday...

::: 04:01:09 :::

You won't want to miss it. We promise.

Interested in Performing?

Are you a mad poet, musician, actor, singer and/or performer? (circus freaks, Tenacious D rip-offs and Elvis impersonators always welcome) Do you live in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area? Then come-n-strut-yo-stuff.

Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to support your fellow mad ones.

The mic opens up around 8:30 and closes when there's no one left standing.

Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge. It's THE place to be on the first Wednesday of the month! (it's also THE place for 1st Wednesday's $2 drafts/$5 Mad Absinthe's)

Where's This Madness Take Place?

Absinthe Lounge is located in the SouthSide on Lamar building.

1409 South Lamar Street • Dallas, TX 75215

Mad Swirl is Callin' All the Mad Ones to the Mic!

Mad Swirl is callin' all you Beatniks, hipsters & ca-razy cats out there. Dig on this action...

Mad Swirl is openin' the mic this 1st Wednesday (03.04.08) at Absinthe Lounge. It's sure to be the most as all the mad ones come gatherin' 'round to wail away on the mad, mad mic. Don't be a square & miss it!

Pick up on this...Mad Swirl is callin' all you wailin' poets, musicians, dancers, actors, singers, performers & any other miscellaneous mad ones in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to come & turn this mic on!

Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come & dig the scene with your fellow mad ones.

Swirve starts wailin' & playin' 'round 8:00. Your mad host, Johnny O and equally mad guest co-host Opalina Salas s'gonna wake the mic up 'round 8:45-ish & the mic closes when we run out of gas or it's time to cut out.

For more information about Mad Swirl Open Mic go to www.MadSwirl.com

For more information about Absinthe Lounge go to www.AbsintheLounge.net

And by all means, feel free to pass this info to any & all Beatniks, hipsters & ca-razy cats that you know.

Almost forgot, RSVP early to save your spot! (E-mail/MySpace/Facebook).

Mad Swirling Yours,
M. Swirl III

We know you don't want to be a square & miss this action
but if you must, save these 1st Wednesday dates...

04.01.09 / 05.06.09 / 06.03.09 / 07.01.09 / 08.05.09 / 09.02.09 / 10.07.09 / 11.04.09 / 12.02.09

Oh, the Madness Did Flow!

(Mad Swirl would like to thank all the mad participators & appreciators for making this past 1st Wednesday what it was, what it is and what it will be!)



Salutations!
1st Wednesday was the day.
We took off to Mad places,
And got Swirled away!

We had words in our heads.
We had songs in our groove
The mic was wide open
for which ever we choose-d.

We are the Mad Ones.
And we know how to flow.
And WE are the Ones
who make 1st Wednesdays glow.

Indeed, the madness did flow this past 1st Wednesday at Absinthe Lounge as a night of beat-utiful swirling madness unfolded before our very eyes! The mad ones showed what they got and did what they do, spreading poetical mojo with the voo-doo they do. Thank-you, thank-you and thank-you all mad participators and appreciators for making this past 1st Wednesday what it was, what it is and what it will be as the whole Mad Swirl of everything to come keeps on twirlin' and turnin' and swirlin'.

With the most sincerest of praises and respect, Mad Swirl would like to thank and recognize the mad ones who glowed and flowed on 02.04.09, in order of appearance (view pics at our open mic page @ MadSwirl.com)...

::: round one :::

Johnny O
Roderick Richardson
Devorah
BA
Cabe Lindsay
Opalina Salas
Gordon Hilgers
Mark Levine
Victory
Christopher
Noel Tardy
MH Clay

::: round two :::

Konnichiwa Zach
Desmene Statum
Chris Hamilton
Jolee Davis
DP3
Joey Cloudy
Poet Echo
Paul Sexton
D. Anson Brody
Josh Weir
Andrea
Whoopeecat
Max Earl Blair
Lance

A very special Swirlin' thanks to the He Be G.B. Three-O's amazin' bass player Liles, saxophonist Dave and the mad man himself Gerard Bendix on skins for keeping us movin', groovin' and boppin' all night long!

And HUGE thanks to Absinthe Lounge owner Kevin for allowing us mad ones to go with our flow for over 4 years now. And a shout-out to the fine Lounge staffers Brian and John for keeping the mad spirits fillin' and swillin' for us mad ones.

As you may or may not know, each 1st Wednesday is a unique madness all it's own. You just never know what you'll see when you go to Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge.

Don’t wish you were there, JUST BE THERE on the next 1st Wednesday...

::: 03:04:09 :::

You won't want to miss it. We promise.

For more information about Mad Swirl and our Open Mic please visit www.MadSwirl.com

Oh the Mad Swirl Open Mic Madness Will Flow! (02.04.09)

Salutations!
1st Wednesday's the day.
Take off to Mad places,
and Swirl away!

You have words in your head.
You have songs in your groove
The mic is wide open
for which ever you choose.
You are a Mad One.
And you know how to flow.
And YOU are the One
who'll make it all glow.

We call all you mad
poets, musicians and singers
miscellaneous mad ones,
even Elvis dead-ringers!
Come show what you got
and come do what you do
we'll be ready and waiting
this mic's open for you.

You say to yourself
"I'm not a participator."
We welcome you too
you mad swirlin' appreciators!
Come get you a drink
($2 drafts/$5 wells)
and dig on this scene
it's always quite swell

Swirve opens the show
sometime around 8-ish
Then we get starting to roll
don't be too late-ish.

Mad Swirl Open Mic
is the place you should be
every 1st Wednesday
where insanity is free.

Oh! The Madness Will Flow!

(for more information
about this mic of Mad Swirl's
type madswirl.com
and the answer unfurls!)

Mad Swirl Open Mic'n'Into 2009!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

No, no, no, auld acquaintance should not be forgot...dangit! And definitely, no way no how, should we ever, EV-ER forget auld lang syne! What'cho thinkin' 'bout?

We here at Mad Swirl are so adamant about this auld lang syne business that we just have to keep on doing the Mad Swirlin' voodoo that we do into 2009!

That's right our fellow mad ones, Mad Swirl Open Mic will continue to whirl thru Absinthe Lounge every 1st Wednesday thru double-aught nine starting on 01.07! So, here's how it goes...

Mad Swirl is calling ALL you mad poets, musicians, actors, singers, performers and any other miscellaneous mad ones in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to come and strut-yo-stuff.

Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to support your fellow mad ones.

Swirve opens the mad festivities 'round 8:00-ish. Johnny O will wake the mic up 'round 8:45-ish and the mic closes when there's no one left standing.

For more information about Mad Swirl Open Mic go to MadSwirl.com

For more information about Absinthe Lounge go to AbsintheLounge.net

And please please please, by all means means means, feel free free free to forward this to any and all mad ones that you know.

Syne-cerely,
Mad Swirl

P.S. Whether you make it this time or not, mark your brand-new 2009 calendars now with EVERY 1st Wednesday date...

01.07.09 / 02.04.09 / 03.04.09 / 04.01.09 / 05.06.09 / 06.03.09 / 07.01.09 / 08.05.09 / 09.02.09 / 10.07.09 / 11.04.09 / 12.02.09

Thanks to the Mad Ones of 12.04.08

There was something going on this past 1st Wednesday...something out of our control...out of anyone's control. Like the moths attraction to the light, we were drawn to Mad Swirl's Open Mic Night at Absinthe Lounge. The mad mic was opened and thru it came swirling words and sounds from poets & musicians & miscellaneous mad ones from all around this mad, mad Metroplex.

Together we unlocked the door of imagination and beyond it found another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. We crossed the line between here and there, lurid and lucid, sane and insane. We moved into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. We went head first into the Mad Swirl Zone.

Mad thanks to those who crossed the line on 12.03.08...
(this months open mic pics coming sooner then later!)

in order of appearance:

Johnny O
Lisa Ohhh
Chris Zimmerly
Gayle Bell
Gordon Hilgers
Devorah
BA
Claude Barret
Max Earl Blair
Shay
Cabe Lindsay
Wanda Su
Christopher
Chris Hamilton
Josh Weir
Jimmy
Justin
Andy Sanchez
Kate

A very special Swirlin’ thanks to Swirve's amazin' trumpeter Chris Curiel, mad man G-Man Gerard Bendix on skins and special guest Kenny Withrow on wailin' guitar for keeping us movin', groovin' and steppin' all night long!

And HUGE thanks to Absinthe Lounge owner Kevin & the Lounge staffers Jennifer and Brian for keeping the mad spirits fillin' and swillin' for us mad ones.

::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: :::

As you may or may not know, each 1st Wednesday is a unique madness all it's own.

You just never know what you'll see when you go to Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge.

Don’t wish you were there, JUST BE THERE on 01:07:09

You won't want to miss it. We promise.

Mad Swirling Yours,
Mad Swirl

To get you some Mad Swirl visit www.madswirl.com!

The Mad Swirl Zone

There is something going on here...something out of your control...out of anyone's control. Like the moths attraction to the light, you are drawn to this 1st Wednesday night. The mad mic will once again be opened. Thru it, swirling words and sounds from poets, musicians, storytellers, comedians & miscellaneous mad ones from all around this mad, mad Metroplex.

Mad Swirl will be your host, your guide if you will, as we unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. The crossing of the line between here and there, lurid and lucid, sane and insane. We'll be moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas as we - cross - over - into - the - Mad - Swirl - Zone.

doo-dee-doo-doo...doo-dee-doo-doo...doo-dee-doo-doo

Swirve cracks open the door to this mad dimension 'round 8:00. Host Johnny O kicks open the door completely with madness on the mic 'round 8:45-ish and the mic closes when the credits roll.

For more Mad Swirl Zone info visit www.madswirl.com

(pssst...e-mail crazy@madswirl.com to get an early spot on the list)

Declaration to the Mad Ones of 11.05.08!

Dearest Joe and Jane Mad One’s...

On this day after 1st Wednesday, Mad Swirl dedicates this to those who gave their mad spirits so that madness might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we do this declaration

Thank-you to the insane nation, under-ground, that swirled together in madness – on the open mic of the mad ones, by the mad ones, for the mad ones.

The truth was self-evident - that all poets, musicians, singers, storytellers, comedians, and performers are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are their poems, songs and the collective pursuit of madness!

Monumental thanks to the mad one’s of 11.05.08 (in order of appearance)...

Johnny O
(host)
Opalina Salas
Max Earl Blair
Devorah
Brandon
Shay
John Kelley
Christopher
Roderick Richardson
Janice
Cabe Lindsay
Joey Cloudy
Jolee Davis-Cloudy
Wanda

A very special Swirlin’ thanks to Swirve's amazin' wailin' trumpeter Chris Curiel & mad man G-Man Gerard Bendix on skins for keeping us movin' groovin' and steppin' all night long!

And HUGE thanks to Absinthe Lounge owner Kevin & the Lounge staffers Jennifer and John for keeping the mad spirits fillin' and swillin' for us mad ones.

Interested in Performing?

Are you a mad poet, musician, actor, singer and/or performer? (circus freaks, Tenacious D rip-offs and Elvis impersonators always welcome) Do you live in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area? Then come-n-strut-yo-stuff.

Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to support your fellow mad ones.

Swirve opens things up around 8:00 and we close the mic when there's no one left standing.

Interested in performing? e-mail us at openmic@madswirl.com for more information.

And please, by all means, FEEL FREE TO SPREAD THE WORD!

Where's this Madness Take Place?

Every 1st Wednesday Mad Swirl swirls thru Absinthe Lounge which is located in the SouthSide on Lamar building.

1409 South Lamar Street • Dallas, TX 75215

Mad Swirl Open Mic Ranting & Raving Insane Campaign '08

Dearest Joe and Jane Six-Pack's...

Forty-eight months and a couple-few days ago, Absinthe Lounge and Mad Swirl brought forth on this mad, mad blue marble of ours a new open mic, conceived in Swirling Madness and dedicated to the declaration that ALL mad ones are created equal.

We have come to dedicate a day, the 1st Wednesday of the month, for those who give their mad spirits so that this madness might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we do this declaration each month.

Just what is our declaration? Lend us your ear and we'll tell you...

This insane nation, under-ground, swirled together in madness - and this open mic of the mad ones, by the mad ones, for the mad ones, shall not perish from this big beautiful blue marble.

So we do declare...

That these truths to be self-evident - that all poets, musicians, singers, storytellers, comedians, and performers are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are poems, songs and the pursuit of madness.

Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to support your fellow mad ones.

And this we pledge to you...if you pick us this 1st Wednesday. Can we count on your support?

If so, then come join us this 1st Wednesday, November 5th, at Absinthe Lounge located at 1409 South Lamar Street in beautiful downtown Dallas. Swirve opens things up at 8:00-ish. The mic goes live 'round 8:45-ish.

For more information on this Ranting & Raving Campaign please visit www.MadSwirl.com

RSVP crazy@madswirl.com to get on the pre-list.

Mad Swirl Ranting & Raving Insane Campaign 08

Our Fellow Mad Ones...

One half score and a couple-few days ago, Mad Swirl brought forth on this mad, mad blue marble, a new creation, conceived in Swirling Madness, and dedicated to the declaration that all mad ones are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great creative war, testing whether the mad ones, any of the mad ones so conceived and so dedicated to madness, can long endure. We have come to dedicate a portion of the web, as a final posting place for those who here gave their mad spirits so that this madness might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

Just what's our agenda? Lend us your ear and we'll tell you.

Some Fundamental Madnesses

:: Of, By & For the Artists...
:: Read our Lips, No Old Poetry...
:: Change We Can Believe In...

Of the Artists, by the Artists, for the Artists...Mad Gallery's Promise to You!

The Mad Gallery is a beautiful space where we proudly display the many facets of the visual arts. From the furthest reaches of this mad, mad world we have gathered together just a few of the most maddest painters, sculptors, photographers & illustrators that we could and swirled them all together here.

Currently featured in the Gallery is painter Jimmy Ovadia. Jimmy's art "leads us on a transformative psychedelic odyssey full of unique and creative dreamlike portholes. It takes the mind through twists and turns perceived through levels of consciousness and mysticism. Jimmy's quest is toward an abstract surrealistic art that visually unites the body, mind, soul and spirit. It elucidates and enlightens the individual and the world around them."

Also in the gallery since our last virtual meeting are new works from David Arthur-Simons, Tom Harding, Peter Schwartz, Shelly Pinder and Greg Lamer.

Read Our Lips, No Old Poetry...Always Swirling New Poets in Mad Swirl's Poetry Forum!

Now with over 80 poets (and growing everyday), Mad Swirl's Poetry Forum is truly a poetic voice to be reckoned with. This massive online collection features some of the maddest poets from all over this big blue marble of ours. Now tell us, would we lie to you?

The Forum is truly a living and breathing entity, growing and flowing every day...so it's best to come by often to view the latest. Here is just a morsel, an excerpt if you will, from one of our featured poets Glen Still:

A True Liberator

A tribe of innocents
Lead to the pulpit
Believing in the ghost
To rise up

But a metal sword
Comes dancing through the fire
Cuts them all...
Blood Red Bleeds
The first step to amortize one self
Into the system

I imagined a freer world
I imagined her by my side
I see no one here now
I must go off to fight a war
Try to find a way to defeat this common god
The one that doesn't keep his promises
The one that vexes me against my neighbor
Therefore I refuse to raise the gun

(click here to read and hear the complete poem "A True Liberator")

Here are some of the poets we've added to the Forum lately...

Staff Writers: Johnny Olson · Lisa Olson

Featured Writers: Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal · M. H. Clay · Justin Hyde · Paul Sexton · Glen Still · Mel Waldman

Contributors: Robert Louis Henry · Gayle Bell · Nicole Kuwik · Tom Harding · Bernard Alain · Paul Sexton · Kat Dixon · Claude Barret · Cabe Lindsay · Colin James · Raffi Kiureghian · Ray Succre · Jessamyn Cuneo · Kirsten Reinking · Anne Ransom · Dan Provost · Joe Quinn · Gary Beck · Scott Larson · Nick Orf · Max Earl Blair · Melanie Brown · Connor O'Brien · George Harding · Clive Matson · Kenneth P Gurney · Larry Anderson · Moctezuma Johnson · Gene Barry · Changming Yuan · Jonathan Hayes · Jack Henry · Joseph Reich

and many more...

Change We Can Believe In...Mad Swirl Open Mic Night!

This is the official and unanimous Declaration of Mad Swirl Open Mic Night at Absinthe Lounge every 1st Wednesday of the month.

When in the course of Mad Swirl Open Mic events it becomes necessary for us mad ones to dissolve the mental and physical miles between us and gather together for the madness, which connects us with one another. And to assume among the powers of the host of this madness, the separate and equal time in front of the mic to which the Laws of Booze and of Nature's Tea entitle us. Fortunately, this sometimes enables they that would declare these causes to impel them to poetic revolution. Soooo...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all poets, musicians, singers, storytellers, comedians, and performers are mostly created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are poems, songs and the pursuit of madness.

And for your support of Mad Swirl Open Mic, with a firm reliance on the intoxication from Absinthe Lounge, we mutually pledge to you our words, our tunes and our sacred madness.

Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to support your fellow mad ones.

Absinthe Lounge · 1409 South Lamar Street · Dallas, 75215

"So, come on iconoclasts, forward! Already the foreboding sky grows dark and silent!" Renzo Novatore Arcola


Make Your Picks...Mad Swirl Issue Six!

Time is running out to get your hands on Mad Swirl Six: The Blue Note Issue, a 28 full-color-page, 23-track collection of beat-utiful collaborations between poetry and music.

This Blue Note Issue is Mad Swirl's ode to the insanity that is Mad Swirl Open Mic Night. In this issue, you'll find the poetry and music of some of the most maddest of the mad ones...

Johnny Olson · Lisa Olson · Cheyenne Gallion · Paul Sexton · Opalina Salas · MH Clay · Desmene Statum · Josh Weir · Roderick Richardson · Chris Zimmerly · Swirve · Tim Thomaston

For this very limited time we are offering Mad Swirl Six: The Blue Note Issue for the low, low price of $5!

How do you get your hands on this amazing collection of madness? You have 3 options...

PayPal! It's safe! It's easy! It's instant!

OR

Visit us at Mad Swirl's Open Mic Night and buy an issue direct from Johnny O.

OR

Send us an e-mail and we can discuss payment options.

It just doesn't get any easier then that! Get your Mad Swirl Six fix as fast as you can!

Our Price: $5.00
S & H: $2.00

All the Hip Kids Are Doing It, Why Not You?

VOTE. We're not going to get all preachy, try to sway you in sOme suBtle wAy to MAke you vote for who we like best. We just want to do our public service by saying GO VOTE! Did we say that loud enough? GO VOTE!! A tad louder? GO VOTE!!! Not registered? Need more info? Visit RockTheVote.com

"The stakes are too high for government to be a spectator sport." Barbara Jordan

So, our Fellow Mad Ones, to include Joe's Six-Pack & Plumber...

This insane nation, under-ground, shall swirl together a new kind of madness -- and this zine of the mad ones, by the mad ones, for the mad ones, shall not perish from this big beautiful blue marble.

Stayed tuned to Mad Swirl for even more in the coming days, weeks, months and years as we continue to weave this mad web and print this mad page and set this mad stage whether we get voted in or not. So there.

Sincerely?
Johnny O
Madman-in-Chief of Mad Swirl

The whole Mad Swirl of everything to come begins...now!

Mad Props to ALL the Mad Ones of 10:01:08!

Mad props to all the Ladies and Gentlemen, Hipsters and Squares, Loose-Women and Pickpockets and ALL the Mad Ones that stepped right up to the open mic as Mad Swirl once again went L-I-V-E.

This past 1st Wednesday's show sure mesmerized and tantalized the twisted mad minds of all the participators and appreciators present at Absinthe Lounge.

Swirling thanks to ALL OF YOU mad poets and musicians who came to strut their stuff on 10.01.08...



1st Round:
Johnny O
Roderick Richardson
Opalina Salas
Gordon Hilgers
Christopher
B.A.
Joey Cloudy
Devorah
Cabe Lindsay
Max Earl Blair
Paul Sexton
D'Anson Brody
M.H. Clay

2nd Round:
James Hargrave
Audacious
Josh Weir
Jade
Duke McBoggin

3rd Round:
The Third Round Troubadours!

A very special Swirlin’ thanks to Swirve's amazin' wailin' trumpeter Chris Curiel, anachronistic vocalist Tamitha Curiel & mad man G-Man Gerard Bendix on skins for keeping us movin' groovin' and steppin' all night long!



And HUGE thanks to Absinthe Lounge owner Kevin & the Lounge staffers Jennifer and Brian for keeping the mad spirits fillin' and swillin' for us mad ones.

As you may or may not know, each 1st Wednesday is a unique madness all it's own.

You just never know what you'll see when you go to Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge.

Don’t wish you were there, JUST BE THERE on 11:05:08

You won't want to miss it.

We promise.

Go to MadSwirl.com for more info on stepping up to the mic.

It's a Beautiful Night for an Open Mic!

Hello Neighbors...it's me again, here to share with you one of my favorite rip-off renditions of "Won't You Be My Neighbor"by my dearest friends at Mad Swirl...bless their hearts.

It's a beautiful night in this neighborhood,
A beautiful night for some madness.
Will you be coming?
Could you be coming?...

It's the 1st Wednesday of this month,
A swirling day for some madness and fun.
Will you be coming?
Could you be coming?...

We've always wanted to hang
with mad ones just like you.
We've always wanted to swirl
in this open mic madness with you.

So...

Let's make the most of this 1st Wednesday.
And when we're together we might as well say:
Will you be coming?
Could you be coming?
Won't you be at Mad Swirl?
Won't you please,
Won't you please?
Please won't you be at Mad Swirl?

Jump on the trolley as host Johnny O and guest co-host, Chris "Zimm" Zimmerly...along with Swirve and the most maddest mad ones...as we stroll thru the Land of Make-Believe!

For more information about Mad Swirl go to...madswirl.com

For more information about Absinthe Lounge go to...absinthelounge.net

e-RSVP now to get on the list and/or to get you a copy or two of Mad Swirl Six.

Declaration of Gratitude to the All the Mad Ones!

NOTES OF GRATITUDE

This is the unanimous Declaration of Praises to all the Mad Ones that came to Mad Swirl Open Mic as well as helped us give Birth to Mad Swirl Six: The Blue Note Issue Release this past 1st Wednesday of this month of July.

When in the Course of this Mad Swirl event it becomes necessary for all poets, musicians, singers, storytellers, comedians, and performers to dissolve the mental and physical miles between them and gather together for the madness which connected them with one another. We held these truths to be self-evident, that all poets, musicians, singers & storytellers are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Poems, Songs and the pursuit of Happiness. What a Declaration of the Masses to Madness t'was!

Soooo...

Here Ye! Here Ye! Bottomless gratitude and mad love goes out to the following Mad Ones...

1st Round:
Johnny O*
Jolee Davis-Cloudy
Joey Cloudy
Rhie
Vincent Olson
Max Earl Blair
Opalina Salas*
Platinum Status
Roderick Richardson*
Gaila Bell
Paul Sexton*
Desmene Statum*
Mister Natural
Michael Clay*

2nd Round:
Devorah
Chris Zimmerly*
Gordon Hilgers
Trey
Kerseymere
Tarnished Penny
Brett
Todd Buckley
Mason

3rd Round:
Swirve* & the Mad One Hootenanny!

(* also featured in Mad Swirl Six: The Blue Note Issue)

And Mad Swirl's Open Mic just wouldn't be what it is without Swirve. Deepest respect and admiration for the amazin' wailin' trumpeter Chris Curiel, anachronistic vocalist Tamitha Curiel & mad man G-Man Gerard Bendix on skins. Our heads are still ringing from your Mad Declarations!

And, as always, the deepest grats to one of the maddest cats of all, Absinthe Lounge owner Kevin & the Lounge staffers Jose and My for keeping the drinks fillin' and swillin' for us mad ones.

MAD SWIRL OPEN MIC NIGHT

As you may or may not know, each 1st Wednesday is a unique madness all it's own. You just never know what you'll see...or miss...when you go to Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge.

Don’t wish you were there, JUST BE THERE on 08:06:08

interested in performing?

Are you a mad poet, musician, actor, singer and/or performer? (circus freaks, Tenacious D rip-offs and Elvis impersonators always welcome) Do you live in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area? Then come-n-strut-yo-stuff.

Come one. Come all. Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to support your fellow mad ones.

The mic opens up around 8:30 and closes when there's no one left standing.

Interested in performing? e-mail us at openmic@madswirl.com
And please, by all means, FEEL FREE TO SPREAD THE WORD!

Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge. It's THE place to be on the first Wednesday of the month! (it's also THE place for 1st Wednesday's $2 drafts/$5 Mad Absinthe's)

WHERE DOES THIS MADNESS TAKE PLACE?

Absinthe Lounge is located at 1409 South Lamar Street • Dallas, TX 75215 (in the SouthSide on Lamar building)

This is a test of the Mad Swirl Open Mic Broadcast System.

This is a test of the Mad Swirl Open Mic Broadcast System. This is only a test...

...::: BEEEEEEEEEEEP :::...

The mad ones in your area in voluntary cooperation with the Federal, State and Loco Open Mic-ers have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an open mic event. If this had been an actual announcement, the Open Mic test you just heard would have been followed by official information, news or instructions, something like this:

On 03:05:08 we are calling all you mad poets, musicians, actors, singers & performers to come and strut your stuff. Come one, come all...to participate, to appreciate and to support the local DFW mad ones. Your host Johnny O and this month's co-host, the one and only Opalina Salas, will open the mic up at Absinthe Lounge around 8:30-ish and close the mic when there's no one left standing...which is pretty dang late.

For more information about Mad Swirl...www.MadSwirl.com

For more information about Absinthe Lounge...www.AbsintheLounge.net

For more information on other open mics in the DFW area...www.DFWOpenMics.com

This Mad Swirl Open Mic test serves the DFW area. This concludes this test of the Mad Swirl Open Mic Broadcast System.

...::: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP :::...

mad swirl • issue six • spring 2008

issue numero six-o daddy-o is gathered, primped and nearly ready for print. the design of this blue issue of mad swirl pays homage to the hundreds of legendary blue note jazz artists and albums and the genius found in the spontaneity of creativity. we could think of nothing else in our insane lives that embodies that energy more than the infamous 1st wednesday madness that is mad swirl open mic night at absinthe lounge. the collection of voices that will be featured in this issue are quintessential mad ones who have graced our stage, approaching the mic with tongues on fire, epitomizing the raw and unbridled energy of creativity.

featured poets: michael clay, cheyenne gallion, johnny olson, lisa olson, roderick richardson, opalina salas, paul sexton, desmene statum, joshua weir and chris zimmerly

featured band: swirve

featured artist: jon marquette

featured photographer: tim thomaston

stay tuned to madswirl.com for further updates!