The Words to the Songs of Michael Hurley
Byron Coley – reading from C’est la guerre (early writings 1978-1983)
Jeff Ladouceur – Holy Moly (amazing drawings)
Bringing together Montreal publisher l’Oie de Cravan, NY poet/critic Byron Coley and a group of acclaimed Toronto musicians in celebration of a triple book launch : a bilingual book of Michael Hurley's lyrics, an anthology of Byron Coley's early articles (with an introduction by Mike Watt) and the sweetest book of the great artist Jeff Ladouceur.
Two sets of music pay homage to Michael Hurley, the eccentric songwriter also known as Doc Snock, whose 40 years of songs have been seeping into the folk unconscious (including covers by Cat Power and other fans). Hurley’s melodies and words take flight into a world of plenty, inspiring wonder and humour, sin and slowness, laziness and longing. Characters include werewolves, sign-painters, tea and whiskey-drinkers, pork chops and hot dogs, wild geese, intoxicated lovers and blue navigators. The Words to the Songs of Michael Hurley is the first publication of Snock’s lyrics.
Along with Byron Coley, Jeff Ladouceur and translator extraordinaire Marie Frankland (who did the french translation of Hurley's and Coley's books) will also be present.
“Whether weaving a yarn about a mysterious hog or comparing the human heart to a mechanic’s toolbox, Mr. Hurley creates elaborate vistas in a musical version of outsider art” – Ann Powers, New York Times
“Hurley remains one of the elusive masters of American folk” – Chris Morris, Billboard
“…I don’t know what else to say about what he writes and sings, other than that it is gosh-darned great. What kind of music is it? Hell, what kind of weeds does God grow? Let’s just shut up and listen and go to where Michael Hurley is. After all, we can always turn around and come back. He can’t.” – Nick Tosches
"Byron Coley is the greatest rock writer that ever lived (okay, top 10)" - Blastitude
"With a finely pointed pen in black ink and a meticulous touch, [Jeff Ladouceur] draws cartoons about a bald, long-nosed, sad sack of a character called "Schmo." Our hero's struggles with ordinary existence and surrealistic encounters with cloud-creatures, tiny elephants, octopuses and an abominable snowman are funny, weird and touching." - Ken Johnson, New York Times.
(The book covers can be seen right down here, in the previous post)
Next launch for Hurley - Ladouceur - Coley: Montreal, Sala Rossa, may 6th
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire