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.

Step Right Up to Mad Swirl Open Mic Night!

Ladies and Gentlemen...
Hipsters and Squares...
Loose-Women and Pickpockets...
All the Mad Ones...

Step right up! Mad Swirl is once again going live! That's right, L-I-V-E.

Come and see the show that is sure to mesmerize and tantalize your twisted minds. Mad Swirl Open Mic features some of the maddest and baddest mo'fo's we know! Dare we call this "The Most Maddest Open Mic on Earth"?

Oh yes, we dare...

And while we're feelin' all dare-y, we dare ALL OF YOU mad poets, musicians, actors, singers, performers and all you miscellaneous mad ones (fire-eaters, Elvis impersonators, circus freaks, Tenacious D rip-offs) in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area to come and strut yo' stuff. Come one, come all! Step right up and participate, appreciate, and support your local Mad Ones.

This 1st Wednesday at Dallas' Absinthe Lounge, the Swirve trio will step up and open things 'round 8:00. Johnny O will be waking the mic up 'round 8:30-ish. And the mic closes when there's no one left standing.

And please, by all means, FEEL FREE TO SPREAD THE MAD WORD! Forward this to any and all Mad Ones you know who are ready and willing to step up.

Mad Swirl Open Mic at Absinthe Lounge. It's THE place to be on the 1st Wednesday of the month!

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

Go to AbsintheLounge.net for more info on Absinthe Lounge.

Notes of Gratitude to the ALL the Mad Ones!

And the Lord Swirl Spoketh..."You must spread the MADNESS to the MASSES. You must beseech ALL the MAD ONES and the 'AWWW'-ers to open their hearts. Ye shall tell them to give of their poems, songs, stories, monologues, dance & their sacrificial love offerings of applause and finger-snaps to the ministry of the MAD Swirl OPEN MIC"

And Lord Swirl saw every MAD thing that we had done, and, BEHOLD, it was very good.

So brothers and sisters, we thank those that fell on their knees and Listened to the dear Lord Swirl who came on 09.03.08 to witness the madness... (pics coming sooner then later)

1st Round:
Johnny O (host)
Opalina Salas (co-host)
Joey Cloudy
Jolee Davis-Cloudy
Chris Zimmerly
Devorah
Desmene Statum
Christopher
Shay
Gordon Hilgers
Max Earl Blair
M.H. Clay

2nd Round:
Justin
Cabe Lindsay
James Hargrave
Romie
Poet Echo
Jimmy
Josh Weir
Frankie Joe Machicek

A very special Swirlin’ AMEN 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 Testifyin' all night long!

And a HUGE Hallelujah! to Absinthe Lounge owner Kevin & the Lounge staffers Joey and Tracy 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 oneth. Come alleth. Come to participateth. Come to appreciateth. Come to supporteth 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's this madness take place? Absinthe Lounge is located in the SouthSide on Lamar building. 1409 South Lamar Street • Dallas, TX • 75215

Go to MadSwirl.com for all your Mad Swirl information!

Come Testify at Mad Swirl Open Mic!

The MAD Swirl God has moved ME to share with YOU this powerful MAD MESSAGE. As I was sleeping early in the WEE hours of the night, I was awakened by a strange & POWERFUL sense. I felt shaking in my Bones, Dear brethren, & KNEW deep within MY heart & soul that this was the one, the only, the MAD Swirl God stirring me from SLUMBER. As I awoke, I SLID to my knees in a humble & receptive prayer:

"Yes, MAD Swirl" I whispered, wiping sleep from mine MAD eyes.

"My child," The Swirl spoke. "You have done MAD things in my name. You printed MAD Zines. You WOVEN a MAD web in the WWW. You have swirled the madness WHEREever you can. It is time for more MAD work."

"Just tell me MAD Swirl, What will you have me to do?" I said.

"My child," Lord Swirl spoke. "You must spread the MADNESS to the MASSES. You must beseech ALL the MAD ONES and the 'AWWW'-ers to open their hearts once more. This time, ye shall tell them to give of their poems, songs, stories, monologues, dance & their sacrificial love offerings of applause and finger-snaps to the ministry of the MAD Swirl OPEN MIC"

"MAD Swirl OPEN MIC Lord Swirl?"

"The trinity of MAD Swirl" God said. "The Lord Swirl, thy YOUR God has spoken."

So brothers and sisters, I ask you this day, to fall on your knees and Listen to the dear Lord Swirl would have you to do on this FIRST Wednesday...

"ALL ye MAD Poets, Musicians, Actors, Singers and/or Performers WHO Live in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, come-YE-n-strut-yo-stuff.

Come Oneth. Come Alleth. Come to Participateth. Come to Appreciateth. Come to Supporteth your fellow MAD ONES.

Cometh and JOIN host Brother JOHNNY O and co-host Sister OPALINA SALAS, and the Musical MAD ones SWIRVE as The MIC Opens up AROUND 8:00 and CLOSES when I SAYETH So. GO FORTH to MADSwirl.COM for MORE Information."

Whatever Lord Swirl tells you, you mustn't question. Do not, I repeat, do not let the LYING DEVIL try to tell you otherwise. Lord Swirl is serious about this. If you love MAD Swirl, you will COME.

Hallelujah!
Reverend Brother Elder Swirl the 7th

P.S.eth...RSVP early for a spot on the LIST!

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.