Mad Swirl Open Mic : 11.03.10

Happy Birthday to us... Happy Birthday to us... Happy Birthday Mad Swirl Open Mic!... Happy Birthday to us!!!


Yep, that's right, Mad Swirl will be celebrating our 6th year of open mic madness! And 0n 11.03.10, starting at 8:00, Mad Swirl will continue into our 7th year of doing what we do! Join host Johnny O and co-host MH Clay, along with the musically magical trio Swirve Wright as we do our darndest to both blow and open your minds. We will be callin' all you swirlingly mad poets, musicians, dancers, actors, singers, performers & any other miscellaneous mad ones in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to come & strut your mad, mad stuff!

Come one, come all! Come to participate. Come to appreciate. Come to celebrate this open mic madness!

Interested in performing? Then show up the night of and get on the list!

Mad Swirl Open Mic: It's THE place to be on the first Wednesday of the month!

Where's this madness take place? Absinthe Lounge is at 1409 South Lamar Street, Dallas, TX 75215 (located in the SouthSide on Lamar building)

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

fo'mo'info' visit www.MadSwirl.com

“It takes a long time to grow young.” Pablo Picasso

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

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!)

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 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.

Lots'o'News from the Eye of the Swirl

::: Summer 2008 :::

"Time, time, time, see what's become of me..."

Sure has been awhile, huh? Sometimes it seems like the days fly into weeks and into months and next thing you know it's summer. The last time you heard from us we had Santa on the header of this message, if that gives you any idea of time passed.

So what exactly has been going since we celebrated the birth of Santa? Boy oh boy and my oh my, a whole lotta madness has been swirling!

Are you ready to take the Swirl for a spin? Well then, LET's GO!

::: Heerrre's...Mad Swirl Six: The Blue Note Issue! :::

The long-awaited, much-anticipated full-color print issue, a 28-page, 23-track collection of poetry and music was officially released at Mad Swirl Open Mic Night to a full-house of mad ones, 07.02.08 at Absinthe Lounge.

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

This beat-utiful collaboration of madness is now available for purchase. Get 'em while they last!!!

Scroll on down to get your fix of Mad Swirl Issue Six...

::: Behold...Mad Swirl's Online Poetry Forum! :::

Now with over 70 poets, the Mad Swirl Poetry Forum is truly a poetic online village featuring some of the maddest poets from all over this big blue marble of ours.

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 are some of the poets we've added lately...

Mel Waldman · Johnny Olson · Robert Louis Henry · M. H. Clay · Gayle Bell · R. Jay Slais · Roderick Richardson · Joseph Reich · Janann Dawkins · Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal · Dennis Wilken · Nathan Tyree · Puma Perl · Justin Hyde · Nicole Kuwik · Victoria Munn · Isaiah Vianese · Ra! Gabriel · John Grey · Tom Harding · Rob Plath · Rafael Andrade Garza · Glen Still · Mary McLaughlin...

...and oh so many more!

::: Take a Stroll thru the Mad Gallery! :::

Welcome to the Mad Gallery. This beautiful space is the place where we proudly display the many mad facets of the visual arts.

Currently featured is painter David Arthur-Simons. David's works depict ideal places of peace, harmony and symmetry where people fly, leap and glide through the air from one dimension to another, constantly defying the accepted illusions of life. This is just the first of many more installments of David's vast collection to be featured in the Mad Gallery. And when you're done being inspired by David's work...

...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. Come by and visit the gallery...

Get your stroll on here...

::: Mad Swirl Open Mic: Where the Mad Ones Are! :::

Every 1st Wednesday night Mad Swirl has its open mic and we make mad mischief of one kind, and another until our mothers call us "Mad Ones!" and send us to Dallas' Absinthe Lounge without our supper.

Come go mad with Mad Swirl's monthly showcase of beat-utiful mad ones as we strive to break the madness barrier! If you are a poet, musician, actor, singer and/or performer and live in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area then come-n-preach-it!

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

Absinthe Lounge · 1409 S Lamar St · Dallas

Get more info, see pics and hear audio from last 1st Wednesday's madness here!

::: Get Your Mad Swirl Issue Six Fix Here! :::

This limited-edition, numbered copy of Mad Swirl is 28 full-color pages of swirling madness that captures some of the most maddest of the mad ones and the insanity that is the Dallas poetry and music scene!

What would you be willing to pay for this limited edition, numbered copy of Mad Swirl? Don't answer yet!

A bonus with this mad zine is a 23-track CD of the whole issue performed and recorded live at Absinthe Lounge, with music by Swirve! Now how much would you pay? $20 would be worth it. $10? That sure would be a great deal!

For this 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! It's right here! Click and get whisked away into PayPal's safe and capable hands.

OR

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

OR

Send us an e-mail (crazy@madswirl.com) or visit us on MySpace and we can discuss payment options.

It just doesn't get any easier then that!

Give me my Mad Swirl Six fix as fast as you can!

We told you there was a lot going on in the Land of Swirling Madness! There's even more in store in the coming days, weeks, months and years as we weave this mad web and print this mad page and set this mad stage.

Keep on swirling madly, our fellow mad ones, because the whole Mad Swirl of everything to come begins...NOW!

Reach out and touch Mad Swirl the electronic-mail kinda way at crazy@madswirl.com

Or visit us on the Wide World of the Web at MadSwirl.com

You Asked Me Why - Johnny Olson

A fellow mad one
once asked me,
Why do you do it?
Sometimes it seems
the efforts you need
in planting this seed
leave you tired and dry.

I didn't answer him.
I knew the answer deep inside
but never put into words
the what's, when's, where's and why's.

This is what I should'a said:

I do it for the payoff.
I do it for this glorious jackpot
that fills me and spills me.
I do it for this giving and taking.
I do it for this showing and growing and flowing
to bounds unknowing
which keeps me going and going and going.

It came in one phrase
during a very fertile phase
read in the pages
of the Beatnik’s bible...

The whole mad swirl
of everything to come
began then.

...it was that recognition
in Jack’s premonition
that the moment was
electrified and synchronized.
In our one collective push
in the right direction
we knew that
the whole mad swirling world
can be changed forever
if only we opened that door,
if only we gave birth to this swirl.

Our creative love child
has never had a house
but has countless homes.

It is this lifeline
which connects us
back to our primal source
and leads us
back into the knowing arms
of our kindred spirits
and carries us
back to our original aboriginal tribe.

I just happened to be the last one
holding the opened door -
to the stage we’re sharing...
to the mic we’re opening...
to the page we’re writing...
to the web we’re weaving...
- and I must keep holding it
‘cos we’re not even close
to closin’ it yet.

It’s the torch
we must keep burning.
It’s the words
we must keep hearing.
It’s the cross
we must keep bearing.
It’s this crown
we must keep wearing.
It’s this moment
we must keep creating.
It’s this love
we must keep making.

We gotta keep moving
every mad day
and we gotta keep building
in every mad way
and we gotta keep preaching
all these things that we say
‘cos we gotta keep being
a piece of this something
because the whole mad swirl of everything
to come is now!

You asked me why do I do it?
I do what I do
because someone has to.
It’s my duty.
It’s my responsibility.
It’s my way of giving back.

Now let me ask you a question -
Wouldn’t you do it too,
if this was handed to you?

- johnny olson

view more of johnny's poetry at MadSwirl.com