RTP-area local music and culture

[thegav AT hotmail.com]

I wrote these a few years ago while at the Outer Banks--thought I'd
share.

Cheers,
GAVIN




Ode to nine North Carolina bandnames from a bygone era



ARCHERS OF LOAF

In the afternoons they took their tea
   on the porch
And read magazines until the shadows
Stretched like taffy
   across the yard

They would scratch kitty-cats
   under their chins
Then rise to mix a cocktail
   of dusk


POLVO

A boy named Ash
Would spread some magic powder
   on the people nearby
And their minds would fly open
   like the door
   in a Jimmy Stewart movie

But when the boy named Ash
Would spread the magic powder
   on inanimate objects
They would lose a letter

I remember one time he spread some
   on the nose of a morning 'ove
   then on the frame of a 'hotograph
And finally, much to the owner's surprise,
   on the hood of a shiny new 'olvo


PIPE

Here it comes!


PICASSO TRIGGER

They'd prepped him for weeks:

"You can mention any underground neo-cubist
   any post-modern surrealist
   mention any of the masters
   But Jesus! God!
   DO NOT MENTION PABLO PICASSO!"

So what does he do?


EMPERORS OF ICE CREAM

We rounded the corner of 53rd Street and Madison
   just in time
   to see it

A most ornate carriage with
   golden columns and
   immaculate carvings and
   porcelain landscapes and
      sprinkles


METAL FLAKE MOTHER

It couldn't have felt very good for her
   when the shavings began
   to rain down
I mean, she'd only just had the baby

But there she was
   like a kid in a
   candystorm
Arms outstretched
Everything agape
Drinking it all in
   like it was
   making her stronger


GEEZER LAKE

The paddleboats were nice
   on Geezer Lake
The staff said everything twice
   on Geezer Lake

Who did?


NIKKI MEETS THE HIBACHI

She'd been flipping burgers
   all afternoon and
Chatting up the guests
   while draining ungodly amounts
   of Coors Light

Her lovely hair had grown
   so long
I reckon ironic is what you call it
   when someone's trademark
   becomes their undoing


ZEN FRISBEE

Sometimes
   it flew through the air
   with sexed-up psychic beatnik grace

But sometimes
   it wobbled in the headwind
   veered far off-course and
   rolled rolled rolled until
      a car


July 25, 2004
Nags Head, North Carolina