Monkey Vortex Radio Theater

PLAY: Holding On
snippet: “I cursed her too as she kissed away my frown.”
time: 2:14; specs: 2 MB mp3
written and produced by: Tony Jonick
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This is something unusual. Something you may have never encountered before. Disco poetry. And I think yes. The world needs more. Beautifully honest, carefully crafted, heartfelt disco poetry. I’ve been a big fan of this particular poem for a while now and asked local poet and MVRT stalwart Tony Jonick to record it for us. What he did with it in his studio was entirely unexpected. And that’s a great thing. Enjoy. And watch the skies, -CV

PLAY: Poem with Its Second Line by Nada Gordon
snippet: “…here is an opportunity to rest your head among the green blaze of mountains…”
time: 1:15; specs: 1.1 MB mp3
words by: Rodney K.; music by: Yaniv Soha
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After an extended, hard drive-induced hiatus, MVRT is back with our most rockin’-est transcontinental Poet Makes a House Call yet. Some say Soha and Koeneke are like the Scylla and Charybdis of our time. Me, I’m not even sure what that means. But I do know this: my four-year-old asked me to play this week’s number some twenty-odd times in a row. And you just can’t beat a review like that. Enjoy. And now more than ever: watch the dang skies, -CV

PLAY: Eerie Wampum
snippet: “…like Casper the Friendly Ghost, teamed up to solve the mystery of Camp Wampum with Richie Rich, the sad little rich boy…”
time: 1:42; specs: 1.6 MB mp3
words by: Rodney K.; music by: Yaniv Soha
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Regulars visitors to this site are already well versed in the the work of Rodney K. Suffice it to say, if Monkey Vortex had a Poet Laureate, Rodney K. would be the poet our Poet Laureate would plagiarize. He’s that good.
This week, Rodney teams up transcontinentally with Yaniv Soha. (Incidentally, Yaniv is frequently and incorrectly credited as the inventor of the light bulb. In fact, the inventor of the light bulb was Thomas Alva Edison.) Eerie Wampum is a powerful, evocative poem, set to swank, swinging guitar. In short, it’s just the sort of headphone-friendly sonic brain transfusion today’s hep cats demand.
But wait! As an extra special bonus this week, for you and just for you: a remix of a Rodney K. poem we originally posted last October. Inspired by Yaniv’s Egyptian Reggae, it’s the same great poem, now refortified with a tad more funkngroove. Et voila: Welcome to the City of Wetumpka, the Funknfortified Edition. Enjoy, and watch the skies, -CV

PLAY: Me Down
snippet: “Me down she did in her book.”
time: 44 seconds; specs: 690K mp3
written and performed by: Lee Kaye; featuring the voices of: Eileen Dahl and Shonny Vortex; plus beats by: Shoeless Adams; sliced and diced by: Cecil Vortex
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“Poet Makes a House Call” returns with a chunk of dense-packed, multi-layered, pocket-sized verse, featuring two MVRT debuts — east coast poet Lee Kaye and west coast drummer Shoeless Adams.
It’s like there’s this stream, see? And you’re floating in it. About forty yards down you spot a large, metallic alien-tripod-thing by the shore — half in the water, half out. It’s doing a shimmy, splashing around. It’s making a rhythmic noise. And it’s headed your way fast. One word of advice: play twice. Cuz it slips right past. Enjoy. And watch the skies, -CV

PLAY: Welcome to the City of Wetumpka
time: 1:45; specs: 1.6 MB mp3
written and performed by: Rodney K.; music: Cecil Vortex
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Once in a very long while, a poem comes along that completely changes your opinion of Wetumpka. The way you think about Wetumpka. What you picture when you picture Wetumpka. This is such a poem.
Wetumpka, no ordinary city. “Christmas on the Coosa. ‘Rumble Days.’ Replica of Stonehenge.” Replica of Stonehenge? Yes. Replica of Stonehenge.
Next stop: Wetumpka. Poke around. Tap your toes. Enjoy. And as ever: watch the skies, -CV

PLAY: The Lotus Eaters
time: 1:40; specs: 1.5 MB mp3
written and performed by: Dan Mummert; music: Cecil Vortex
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Excuse me — is that the bell? Why, I think it is! Someone’s at the door, making a “house call.” Could it be? Yes! Huzzah! A poet! And not just any poet — it’s Dan Mummert, dropping by (back-up band in tow, no less) to take you deep into a lettuce-free salad, surrounded by Greeks in languid recline. “Relax it meant. Here, sit.” And enjoy. -CV

PLAY: Four Poems in the Japanese Mode
time: 1:01; specs: (just shy of!) 1 MB mp3
written and performed by: Tony Jonick
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Because you demanded it, Poet Makes a House Call is back! At your house! With poetry!
Today’s selection: Four Poems in the Japanese Mode, a quartet of quiet moments, offered up by East Bay poet and international raconteur, Tony Jonick. Enjoy, -CV.

PLAY: The World Is Loud
snippet: “Ask for Wally at Sleep Train.”
time: 1:09; specs: 1.11 MB mp3
written and performed by: Rodney K.
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Another entry, another category launch. This time out it’s “Poet Makes a House Call” — living poetry, read aloud by living poets, then broken into a million billion digital pieces and transmitted into your brain. Using electricity.
PMaHC is delighted to debut with The World Is Loud, by Rodney K. If the sleepy town of Monkey Vortex had a gun-toting sheriff-with-no-name, except he actually did have a name, but not a complete name, just a first name and an initial where a last name might otherwise be. And he wasn’t all that partial to firearms or even crime-stopping, but — and here’s the key point — if he was one hell of a rockin’ poet with the ability to rewire the cosmos using words. Well: that fella would be Rodney K. Enjoy! And watch the skies, -CV