(DON'T) BE AFRAID -- IT'S (ONLY) POETRY

Coordinated by Dave Worrell and hosted by Mike Cohen at the Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Mt. Airy (Phila.), Poetry Aloud & Alive presents Paul Siegell, with OPEN MIC to follow. More info here. The horror.

SIEGE LLAMA LOT TEES | huge sale on these!

Siege Llama Lot Tees: Minimalist, concrete poetry t-shirts, lot lyric shirts and more from the books of Paul Siegell. Quality, customizable items for men, women, children, the office and bedroom - all at kind prices! (Hit me up if you have any requests!)

"LIKE" THE FACEBOOK PAGE & LOOK GOOD DOING IT. "Taboot."

PHiSH on HALLOWEEN | ME on WINGSUIT

I like this. I don’t like that. We’re all so quick to judge and criticize. A friend of mine said, “You’re not a Phish fan unless you’re critical.” He has a point, but eff it! It was an amazing night. I’ve never seen a band be so vulnerable. Truly incredible to play an UNPROVEN raft of songs to, what, the most critical fanbase out there. BALLS on these guys. Yes, of course, it would have been sick-twisted-nasty to hear them rage a cover, but, you know: "Never trust a prankster."

I’d gone to PHI8H, so I saw Exile on Main Street. I’d gone to 10/31/10, so I fell in love with Waiting for Columbus. Was I let down when twitter told me I was walking into Wingsuit? Was 100% WTF. Did I let that go and keep an open mind? We are talking about Phish here after all, right? My goodness, they must have been so nervous.

WINGSUIT
Lyrics-wise, it’s something you’ve really gotta be prepared to listen to, and on a night like 10/31 when I’d high Halloween hopes for my brain to disintegrate, I wasn’t prepared. The melody, however, is fantastic. Dreamy, dramatic, almost ominous. That “and it feels good” bit (really gotta sing that twice, fellas?) was super corny hearing it live for the first time, but I think I understand why they’re doing it. It’s just a bit too much. Once they get past that, though, the song takes off and turns into a burner. Cleverly, I LOVE how they let Trey’s guitar complete lines 3 and 4 of the “steal away/paint the sky” (3:32) couplet. And then as Page fades out with “Put your wing. suit. on.” (3:57), that business right there is simply smart Phish magic. The Gordo drill at the end is nuts. Cool to finally see him use it.

FUEGO
Best new song. INCREDIBLE. I was raging so hard hearing it for the first time. Full band insanity. Notice that silent moment (0:25) in the beginning. Such a great tension/release. It’s like it announces – in silence – that this song is about to destroy the world. Huge, dope lyrics. Again with the fade away of “Vlad the Impaler” into the big OOOHHHHH. These guys are brilliant. “Inside you’re fuego/We keep it rolling.” I mean, there isn’t a better couplet like that anywhere out there right now. And then to follow it up with “I asked Diego if it was stolen,” man, that cracks me up. Ballsy lyric right there. Wonder what the answer is. Great song. Rollin’... Rollin’... These guys.

THE LINE
Lifty, lighty Phish. A fun time. Always interesting when they try to be meaningful, but thankfully, this one isn’t a ballad. Trey can lose us to the bathroom line on “meaningful” ballads, but this time the music is more dance-oriented. Huge thanks to Page and Fishman at the top of this song. Really dig the “And you step to the line” refrain. Nice song. “A hero’s what I’m not.” Could become a solid jam vehicle. Has an uplifting, pop-song feel, but wouldn’t mind if the jam went dark. We’ll see... A nice piece of topical discourse here, too. I’m certain EPSN will be hearing about this one. We’ll see...

MONICA

Jim and I were sitting up off of Mike’s side, so we could see activity behind the stage. Dudes and drums and gear. Was great to see them set up a small, intimate vibe of instruments. Gordo on upright, Trey acoustic, Fish standing up to drum, Page on whatever that keyboard’s called. Fun shake of an intro. Slightly corny yet still kinda funny wordplay lyrics at the top, but as they get past the first verses of easily make-funable lines, the Fishman “Sing Monica” work is bright and fun. I love his voice. So underrated. He decays quickly, but it has so much texture to it. Melodically a great song. No idea how they’ll perform this in the future. The setup and vibe would/might break any built-up rage momentum. Great echoic, round ending. Smiles all around.

WAITING ALL NIGHT
Again, the music is so good. Hearing it for the first time live, I was like, uuuuhhhhh. But after a few listens, it’s not the worst song in the world. Tryna ride us through a meaningful love-type song. It’s somewhat a challenge for them, but they can and do pull it off. I dunno. I like it better when they just bend sanity and get weird, loose and absurd and astronomical. Hahahaha. Love Page’s keys on this song.

WOMBAT
I meannnnnnnnnn, THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!! FISHMAN RAPPING!!! YYYYYYYYYYYYYESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! “Cuddly, but muscular.” This song is the shit. And all that centrifuge work they do to the lyrics. This song is amazing. AMAZING. The dancers were fun, and 92-year-old Abe Vigoda. HUGE!!! Super funky. Effin brilliant.

SNOW
CK5 set the scene, and Mike sang falsetto. Interesting song. Hard to hear what Mike was actually saying. Made me miss the days of “Talk.”

DEVOTION TO A DREAM
For me, the set started losing some of its power. Lyrics were what they were. The jam was nothing new, nothing funky. Do Something Different!!!! What’s next?

555
GREAT, GREAT SONG. THANK GOODNESS. MIIIIIKEEEEEE!!! Strong, driving lyrics. AND THE JAM out of it is what “Devotion to a Dream” is SERIOUSLY lacking. 555 is power. Will go for 20 minutes in the futures. Can’t wait.

WINTERQUEEN
I’m sorry, I just can’t deal. Melody/music/vibe is sweet/great. Lyrics are Hahahahaha--NO. Trey’s getting too influenced by Game of Thrones or something. I just can’t. Best, best part of the whole song is the lyric: “The music trapped inside his head / resounds and fills the space instead” and then they jam. Great work right there.

AMIDST THE PEALS OF LAUGHTER
Nice Page and Trey moment. Has a "You'll Know My Name" feel at the top. But when they started singing the nursery rhyme, Jim and I looked at each other like, Really? I understand it's use in the song, but... Really? And then, “Your brain is in pain and your fate has been sealed. The liquid inside of your eyes has congealed.” YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. Sorry, Tom. Hahaha. I do love how they end it with the cut-off. That’s the kinda quirk I love when they do it, but the song, well, it’s a good thing it’s short. Needs some work. I dunno. Everyone’s a critic.

YOU NEVER KNOW
Funny song. “Maybe that bird needed a cage after all.” I love Phish.

And, well, SET THREE THAT NIGHT was worth the price of admission alone. GREATNESS.

Remind me to tell you about how I completely freaked out when I realized there was a woman doing Sign Language at the corner of the stage--all night. Dancing the lyrics with her hands for someone who couldn't hear a note, let alone a lyric. Whhhhaaaatttt? Phish rules.

THE LAKESIDE STRIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL + "THE TICKETMASTER SONG" + INSANITY +

So, during the launch of my ~18-minute set in front of ~800 people, this happened...

I haven't experienced a weekend as special as Denver, Colorado's Lakeside Stride Bluegrass Festival in a long time.

On Friday, October 18 (Lakeside Stride Eve), I read to a super rowdy crowd at the West End Tap House. K-Law & The Bandito Burrito Bros. headlined, & during setbreak I ran my mouth off with: "05.05.07 - Jonathan Freilich, Skerik, Stanton Moore, Todd Sickafoose & Mike Dillon - Chickie Wah Wah, NOLA," "06.25.00 - PHiSH - Alltel Pavilion, NC," & "The Lakeside Stride Song." Catch the insanity here.

Then, on October 19, I'd the ridiculous opportunity to not only watch the Highland Ramblers, Old Town Pickers & Dead Winter Carpenters TEAR UP the stage--I got to TAKE the stage. Short a few hot minutes in the beginning, here is my glowstick-flinging performance. After I also flung copies of wild life rifle fire into the crowd & finally shut the hell up, Hot Buttered Rum ft. Allie Kral destroyed Tennyson Street.

I'm sayin' DEE-STROY'd.

Unimaginable amounts of THANKS to Ariel Rosemberg, the Chateau de Rage, & the entire Lakeside Stride audience & family!

Ladies & gentlemen, it's the "Lakeside Stride Song"

Lakeside Stride in Headlines: E-Verse Radio | Painted Bride Quarterly | PhanArt | North Denver Tribune | Relix.com

The Lakeside Stride Bluegrass Festival, 5K Run and Chili Cook-off in Denver on Saturday, October 19th: Hot Buttered Rum ft. Allie Kral, Dead Winter Carpenters, Old Town Pickers, Highland Ramblers, and Paul Siegell. Add your madness to the facebook invite here. Shake it!

"Paul introduced me to an appreciation of counterculture," said Rosemberg.

Big thanks to the North Denver Tribune for their feature on the Lakeside Stride Bluegrass Festival that I, along with Hot Buttered Rum, will be performing at on October 19 in Denver! + GIGANTIC THANKS to Ariel Rosemberg for his hilarious shout-out! Damn hippies.

"You can skip to video in 5..."

Many thanks to Larry Robin + Ernest Hilbert + Fergie's Pub + the rest of the 09.18.13 E-Verse Equinox audience!

I’m gonna wear my Arlo Guthrie earmuffs and play my apricot glockenspiel. Yup, you should come.

Get ready for another ridiculous night of poetry at Fergie's
Daisy Fried + Kim Bridgford + Laynie Browne + Paul Siegell

Hosted by Ernest Hilbert of the E-Verse Equinox Reading Series

YUENGLING YAMMERING

Two new poems! Many thanks to Cleaver Magazine, poetry editor Lauren Rile Smith, and the rest of the Cleaver staff: "WE’VE COME FOR YOUR YUENGLING YAMMERING" & "WE’VE COME FOR YOUR BLOOD TEST RESULTS" -- Thwack!

*04.18.09 - the Disco Biscuits - E-Factoy, PA*

Two new poems in Issue #17 of Press 1. Alive! Many thanks to editor Elizabeth Thorpe, Monica & Matt Bookbinder for the hang at the show, and Bisco's Marc Brownstein for the bwaaawwwn ba-dawn ba-dawn ba-daw (blurb for jambandbootleg) bommmm.

Also, video (01:02) of the poem: *My Prostitute is Cheating on Me*

That time I said, "Mmm... drop!" during a really inappropriate poem, but everyone smiled and/or laughed, so all was cool, because testicles

Many thanks to David Kirschenbaum, Unnameable Books, Thomas Devaney for the introduction, Kimberly Ann Southwick for the slot,
and the rest of the "Welcome to Boog City" Fest audience and crew!

Philly poets poem Brooklyn for to BOOG: Sunday, Aug 4th at Unnameable Books

Sun, Aug 4th @ Unnameable Books: Amelia Bentley, Kimberly Ann Southwick, Paul Siegell, Melanie Neilson, Thomas Devaney, Phoebe Novak, Christophe Casamassima, S.M. Stone, Tony Mancus, Toby Altman, Bianca Stone, & others! Fb invite here: Starts @ 11AM.

Click here for David Kirschenbaum's full, four-day Boog Fest schedule.

That time I sang a song about a t-shirt, then called G. Emil Reutter "my lover"

+ Apiary: “WE ALL GOTTA LIVE HERE / GOTTA LIVE ONE HERE”

"You put the SIEGELL in the [NEW] COCONUT and call the doctor, woke him up... I said Doctor! Is there nothing I can take / I said Doctor! To relieve this bellyache" ~~~~~~~~ FOUR NEW POEMS!

Many thanks to
Coconut
editors
Bruce
Covey
+ Gina
Myers!

The Fox Chase Reading Series presents: Poets on the Porch 2013

Sat, July 13: 17 poets read on the porch of Ryerss Museum & Library:

Frank Sherlock + g emil reutter + Diane Guarnieri + Ryan Eckes + Jack Veasey + Paul Siegell + Kimmika Williams Witherspoon + Christine O’Leary Rockey + Tamara Oakman + Dave Worrell + Lisa Sewell + Noah Cutler + Marty Esworthy + Alice Wootson + Steve Delia + Suzán Jiván + Mel Brake + (Hosts Bruce Kramer + Rodger Lowenthal) facebo

I'm reading poems @ THE LAKESIDE STRIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL in DENVER, CO (10/19)

Brought to you by Planned Pethood Plus, it's the LAKESIDE STRIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, with a 5K RUN & Chili Cook Off.

*HOT BUTTERED RUM ft. Allie Kral of CORNMEAL

*OLD TOWN PICKERS

*HIGHLAND RAMBLERS

*And, if you can believe it, PAUL SIEGELL

The Lakeside Stride’s mission is to create a culmination of community united by music and historic preservation: facebook.com/lakesidestride.

Recently Acquired: Statement of Accomplishment! "Crafting an Effective Writer: Tools of the Trade"

Many thanks to Lorrie Ross, Lawrence (Larry) Barkley, Ted Blake and the rest of the "Crafting an Effective Writer: Tools of the Trade" staff!

From Monday, May 13 through Sunday, June 16, I, along with tens of thousands of others worldwide, devoured the knowledge of Coursera's five-week long CRAFTING AN EFFECTIVE WRITER: TOOLS OF THE TRADE course that was taught online out of Mt. San Jacinto College, California (#MOOC).

Dove deep into parts of speech
and sentence structure, plus wrote assignments for peer review and took quizzes. Final grade: 100.2%!

"POETRY SHOULD MAKE YOU SWEAT"

Many thanks to Leslie Burnette, Elizabeth Spencer, Red Hook Coffee & Tea, Apiary Magazine, and the rest of the Palabras Reading Series!

MORE POEMS: [05.19.13] video + [06.04.13] info: Woohoo! It's the NEW Palabras Reading Series!

READING: Join us at 7PM on June 4th as the Palabras Reading Series celebrates Apiary contributors: Spencer Silverthorne + Alina Macneal + Paul Siegell + OPEN MIC TO FOLLOW. Beer, wine, all the tasty offerings of Red Hook Coffee & Tea (765 S 4th St). [Facebook event invite here]!

What sort of geek would you describe yourself as?

Phish freak. Word nerd. Flyers fan. Shows I dig on: Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, and the Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Appa, yip yip!

Before our Q&A, Geekadelphia's Chris Urie generously writes: "To me, all of Siegell’s work rings true to that of his jam band punk personality. And although his poems are heavily visual, to get the full effect, you’ll need to see him give a live reading. It’s as electrifying as going to see your favorite band in concert."

Many thanks to Chris & Geekadelphia.com! Tremendously honored!

"Head is a 1968 psychedelic adventure comedy film starring television rock group The Monkees"

Poetry + Science Fiction! Hosted by Anne-Adele Wight! Facebooook!

+ SPRUNG FORMAL #8: Click through to page 50, and right next to, lord-a-mighty, Miles Fermin's "Big Booty Chick with Bean Bag," you'll find my poem: *WE'VE COME FOR YOUR SUBURBAN URGES*

"There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact it's all dark."

Woohoo! *06/02/07 - Roger Waters - Wachovia Center, PA*
Many thanks to all at Apiary! To read the poem, just click the image.

PITT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2013 | BOOKSHELF

I graduated from a university with two degrees and then 13 years later they wrote a feature about me in the alumni magazine = me happy!

Click image to read article. Many thanks to Camiele White + Erv Dyer!

Also, poetry at Fergie’s Pub on Saturday night of St. Patty’s weekend? Yeah, that went well. [BE SURE TO WATCH TILL THE END.] Viewer discretion advised. Also, here's what happens when I read with a band.

LET'S SPEND T-SHIRT WEATHER TOGETHER

FREE SHIPPING until MARCH 22 with Coupon Code: "EASTER2013"

WAIT... FERGIE'S ON ST. PADDY'S DAY WKND? SAT MAR 16: ALBUM + BOOK RELEASE PARTY

About Ernie's album (on which I appear) here | Facebook invite here!

Q: "What is your impression of Atlantic City?"

If YOU are IN or NEAR SOUTH JERSEY, I am reading in ATLANTIC CITY & SO CAN YOU! South Jersey Poets Collective presents "World Above: Paul Siegell" at Richard Stockton College's Dante Hall Theater (14 N Mississippi Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401). Facebook invite here!

A: In advance of the reading, Aubrey Gerhardt of the South Jersey Poets Collective asked me about how poetry has influenced my life, my thots on poetry & capitalism, my impression of Atlantic City, & more!

V Vi Vid Vide Video of Paul S Si Sie Sieg Siege Siegel Siegell at Penn Book Center on 02.16.13

Over on E-Verse Radio, Ernest Hilbert writes: “I stopped by the Penn Book Center this past Saturday to check out Paul Siegell and Laura Spagnoli read poems old and new. Kristy Pucci took this video of the local poet Paul Siegell reading. He's a highly amusing entertainer and an intelligent, sensitive poet as well. Check it out.” Many thx, E-man!

eye any eye and many eyes will eye you back

[02.16.13]: Penn Book Center’s Random Name poetry series presents Laura SPAGNOLI + Paul SIEGELL = Saturday, February 16 @ 2pm. Hosted by David Hancock. Facebook invite here. Come come! Aye aye!

I wrote a "dizzyingly excellent manuscript"

How do I know? Because 1913 Press said so. Viva Jacques Lipchitz!

Sundog Lit #2 | Scorched-Earth Literature

Issue Two of Sundog Lit is live! Many thanks to editor Amy Pajewski! My work's on pages 26 & 27 (images at left).

PLUS, I'M ON AN ALBUM!
ERNEST HILBERT has added music to his Sixty Sonnets (Red Hen Press).

Along with full musical accompaniment, introducing the spoken-word album, Elegies & Laments. Sixteen poems from the book, 13 read by Ernest, the other three read by guests. And one of them is your old pal Paul! WHAT? PRE- ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!

BOOG + E·RATIO + SURRENDER TO THE FLOW = A SWEET NEW STASH OF P|O|E|M|S

Many thanks to Gregory Vincent St. Thomasino, Christy Articola, Kimberly Ann Southwick, Michelle Taransky and David Kirschenbaum:

+ E·ratio Poetry Journal: *WE'VE COME FOR YOUR MIRRORED MOSAIC*

+ Surrender To The Flow: *Poem to Page McConnell’s “Squirming Coil” Piano Solo*

+ Portable Boog Reader #6: Eight poems (pdf) from Take Out Delivery