Kevin Pocock

For eight years now, I’ve owned at least one guitar. For six I’ve owned two. For five I’ve owned three. But I’ve not been able to properly play any of them for eight. Absolutely appalling that is, so I’ve been hammering them a lot lately. I desperately want to stride into the decade doing more of the things I wish I could do, and to actively play – if not produce – music is one of those things. The other main thing I wan t do is to write more. It occurred to me today that the decade of 2010 – 2020 will be the decade that will, theoretically at least, see me hit my physical peak. If that happens, and my creative abilities follow suit (as I consider physical and mental states closely related), I want to be ready.

And as I want to write more, I’ve been doing a lot more reading – fuel for the fire etc. Ron Hogan, Den of Geek contributor, blogger extraordinaire, has an interesting point at his blog, Subtle Bluntness, about how the writer is dead, and that idea strikes me right between the eyes. Having wanted to be a writer since I was a very wee man, I see his fatal point, and I want to adjust for the future of my career and my creativity, wherever each may take me. Music might not ever be my bread-winner I understand,  but it can’t hurt to light another creative fuse in the battle to blow the paths open…if you get my rather convoluted meaning. Besides which, 2010 has been declared The Year Of The Poet by Poejazzi.

Now, as fantastic as it would be for me to be declared the winner of the National Poetry Competition in the year named that by some, I have to consider that it might not happen (I hope it does though), and pile my free time into showing the London poetry/spoken word scene what I have to offer in the lyrical department. Avec guitar or non, I’m sure the enthusiastic learning of it will enliven me to all kinds of rhythmic influence and inspiration. ”Big things“ has Poet, Author, Poejazzi founder and Benin City vocalist, Musa Okwonga said of 2010. Indeed, sir. I want to be a part of whatever big things will be happening in some capacity, and I also want to conjure ’big things’ of my own. So, though it’s a day before New Year’s Eve, I’m preparing for 2010 already. In fact I’ve been preparing for some days now; fail to prepare and all that.

So, if you weren’t at Poejazzi at Camden’s Proud Galleries last night, you missed out big time. It was the best damn Monday night I’ve had in a loong while, let me tell you. But ‘what did I miss?’ I hear you ask. Well let me tell and show you.

You missed (as ordered on the bill),

Tim Clare

Louise Golbey

Kasai Masai (http://www.kasaimasai.com/)

Benin City

…and 12 Tone Brass Band (clip quality not great).

All of who were fantastic.  But if you weren’t there then you missed out a bit. Which is a shame. However, tomorrow I’ll let you know about another grand happening in London town this Sunday. So don’t forget to check back then.

Cheers! Kev

So tonight I’m off to Poejazzi to watch some of the finest lyrical, musical, and generally scintillating acts around. If you’re in London you should really consider getting along to the next one (you can try this one, but it might be fully booked such is the popularity. No certainties though). I’m hoping to see a few friends, a few new acts, as well as some known, good acts performing new material and generally get some inspiration…for I have ordered my USB Condenser mic. Oh yes, I’m excited about that – new material to follow from yours truly certainly, heading straight to MySpace (and linked to here) *rubs hands gleefully*.

Anyway, thought I’d share that with you. Hope whatever your doing this evening is appealing in some aspect. K