h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Effers,

Apologies if you take this as an intrusion, as it's not meant as one. I've been reading a lot by a performance poet called Gerry Potter and I think you'd appreciate his latest work.

He's released a book called "The Men Pomes" (because 'real' men don't say poems) which is a study on how men behave, interact and live. It's all about the conflict between men as creatures of song, art and love, and then men as violent, angry souls raging at the world.

It chimes with some of the things you say (not a criticism, I love his work) on here.

His Facebook page is here, with lots of videos of his work. I think you'd appreciate it: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerry-Potter-Poet-Fan-Page/109359305755447

My particular favourite is this one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIHKf3Q-h1A&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'm going to see him in Salford at the end of the month. If you'd like, I can ask to see if he's touring in London any time soon?

Again, I apologise if this is an intrusion - if it is, drop a blank reply (or a blunt off!) and I'll unsubscribe.

No intrusion whatsoever. Sounds really interesting. I have some performance poetry myself in the past...and I was pretty full on with it. I wrote it. Others in our group played music...I can relate as a woman...but I take it as something different for the male maybe...

Artists are often playing different sexes half the time anyway...a bit like shaman.

Yes please let me know if he's touring London.

And I'll take a look at the stuff...and get back to you at some point.

Nice you are here.

Sorry I haven't got round to this yet..I'm quite affected by stuff of late to do with poetry/writing etc...and haven't felt up to looking at it yet. (You know I'm a bit weird ) But if it's good stuff I want to feel able to take it in properly.

Just letting you know I'm not ignoring. I always like to discover new art stuff.

Sooner or later I will watch it.

Hope you enjoyed the meet.

No worries Effers - there's no rush. The longer you leave it, the more videos and things Gerry will have put up - so you can't lose!

The meet was a cracker.

Okay had a look at the YouTube..(I generally avoid Facebook if I can possibly help it).

It doesn't appeal to me as it's so full on literalist and to be honest too aggressive in a macho way for me...I found it hard to take. But that's just my personal prefernce for poetry including performance that I like.

Do you know the work of Billy Childish? He's very working class from North Kent...and a lot of his stuff is very raw...and then he does some really tender stuff about his child. He also paints pretty raw stuff.

I have a book of his poems. I do actually like a lot of them. He used to be the partner of Tracey Emin but they had the most almighty falling out and she left a message on his a/p saying he was 'stuck, stuck, stuck'.

He became part of a group that called themselves the 'Stuckists'

He can be a bit full on, yeah. He's worse in person after a drink, at which point he turns into a proper sarcastic Scouser.

I'll take a look at Billy Childish, and see if I can recommend anyone more to your tastes.