I WENT TO ALABAMA AND ALL I GOT WAS SLASHED

Since I am the last of the group to post about this trip, what can I say much original? NOTHING. Here is a list of really cool things I remember from the student exchange trip to Alabama and the Slash Pine Festival:

Some seriousgood reading time in the van: all of When All Our Days Are Numbered Marching Bands Will Fill The Streets & We Will Not Hear Them Because We Will Be Upstairs In The Clouds by Sasha Fletcher and Smiles of the Unstoppable by Jason Bredle, as well as parts of books by Tim O'Brien, Chuck Klosterman, Bob Hicok, and the April issue of Poetry Magazine.

Something like 6 (OKAY OKAY I SKIPPED ONE) readings featuring 50+ readers in two days. People say, MAN I WOULD HATE POETRY and I shook in my poetry shoes (boating loafers?), but smooth execution Slash Pine people. Nice work.

Meeting and seeing my online pal Brandi Wells read. We had matching black tank tops and we didn't plan it. She apparently doesn't like dudes in tank tops. I'm a dude in a tank top. We didn't fight. She was like, I WAS NERVOUS and I'm like, YOU RULED.

Seeing cool people like Oliver de la Paz (his new book was sold out :( ), Christopher DeWeese (THIS GUY IS FUNNY IN A GOOD I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING WAY), Brian Barker (PERSONA POEM WITH GORBACHEV), and Amber Nelson (NICE FEELING OF THE WEEKEND: She is the Alice Blue editor and said, You're Tyler Gobble, and I said, I guess I am. She said, I liked your submission. I said, thank you.) read.

Watching my fellow trippers rip it up and stuff. Jeremy brought THE BEERS in a way I can't rip it off the page. Elysia said something silly about wearing cowboy boots because she's in the south, and people liked her poem that started, I WANNA FORCE FEED YOU A PIGEON or something like that. Layne was loud and people want to be here when they grow up. The cursing/vulgarity score was like BSU 19 Others 0.

Meeting some sweet new people like Parker, Shea, and Stacy.

Seeing the always awesome Brian Oliu. This guy does the robot to Salsa music, writes awesome lyric essays, has a voice like I SUPPORT YOU, and was woahelpful in getting us to the fun and goodness of the town.

BREAKFAST. FREE AT THE HOTEL. First day: turkey sausage and cheese omelets. And they didn't suck. Also, donuts and apple juice. Also, mints. Last day: french toast and sausage patties. THANX HAMPTON IN. Oh yeah: Cookies and milk FOR FREE every night.

My reading was a little jumbled. I got nervous and the cool outside air shook up my contacts. But I recovered when I read On Friendship and people didn't go GROSSSSSSSS. Nice folks wanted to know me or say good job or just hug me drunkenly in a bar. Sounds good to me. I said, TYLER GOBBLE, a lot.

TANK TOPS. Beautiful weather/beautiful campus. Layne was good company lotz. We have similar goals in life and on the trip and with each other and with poetry and etc. etc. etc. WE ARE ADVENTUROUS.

DANCIN' was pretty awesome. One of the readers on Friday dj'ed at this nice little bar called The Green Bar, so Layne and I boogied down with Oliu, Parker, and others. YES.

Tuscaloosa's disc golf course whooped me, smacking my disc into creeks and shrubbery and snakepits. I hit more trees than chains. Cool seeing Lovelace tear it up and hearing his stories about his early days as a golfer there.

Overall, I'm so stoked to have these memories wiggling in my brain. Thanks people who helped like donating money like dancing with me like asking me to go like keeping me from being lonely down south like setting me next to booze like clapping and laughing at my poems like saying GOOD JOB and YOU MATTER A LITTLE. That's all I can ask for and you ruled it.

Read Lovelace, Elysia, Layne, and Jeremy's accounts of the trip.

National Poetry Month

I started National Poetry Month off by reading at and attending the Slash Pine Fest in Alabama this weekend (more on this soon).

I'm organizing a reading at the end of the month for here in Muncie for NPM.

In between, I'm gonna post a quick post each day including a poem I dig lotz.

Since, I just thought this up a few minutes ago, I'll catch up with three:

April 1st: Day by Jeremy Bauer Jeremy was on the trip with me and read this poem at the reading. I'm happy to see this poem with such a good home, so everyone can see the wicked beauty in here.

April 2nd: Poem (Lana Turner Has Collapsed by Frank O'Hara Discussing my less-than-stellar literary criticism paper for my American Literature class with my great professor Dr. Mix, I was reminded of this poem by O'Hara, a truly enjoyable little thing. AND IT USES CAPS.

April 3rd: Information Kiosk by Jason BredleI finished Smiles of the Unstoppable by Jason Bredle today, so this poem seems appropriate. The energy woven into the listing and repeating is astounding. This is definitely a book I'm gonna do some thinking and writing about in the next week or two.

The Jackalope Wars: The E-book

I'm really happy to have said that the limited edition print run of Jeremy Bauer's The Jackalope Wars from Stoked Press has sold out, but I'm also stoked to announce that it is now available in a free e-book, hosted by Issuu. Jeremy did most of the design for this thing, so big thanks to him for that. Also, thanks to everyone who bought the chapbook. Be sure to add it on Goodreads.

ALABAMA

Along with three good friends and fellow BSU undergraduate writers, I'm going to Alabama at the end of March for a student exchange. As part of this experience, we will be reading at The Slash Pine Poetry Festival and visiting the university. To help promote and raise funds for this trip, we have decided to hold a fundraiser on Kickstarter. Here is the page. For this, we will be creating chapbooks, broadsides, and eventually videos. Any support, whether it be promotional or financial, is greatly appreciated. Feel free to message me with any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for your support of my education.

Sincerely,

Tyler

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOME THINGS SO I HAVE A BLOG

- Just got back from the reading with Jeremy and Lindsey. Layne hosted. What a killer trio of pals right there. Layne did funny intros, like mine was about Mac from It's Always Sunny... and people think I look like him (OKAY I CONCEDE THAT I DO), and people cracked up, like YEAH HE DOES TOTALLY. It was Lindsey's first reading, and she did a nice job, with a couple truly well-written stories. I think this was probably my best reading, definitely in terms of pieces, also my longest, also my Mom's first time to see me read. My mom knows I curse and has a vague idea of how I talk in my poems, but I was worried about her seeing me do that in public. She was a sport and took me to Greek's and it was good (GRILLED CHICKEN PIZZA SHELL). Jeremy ruled too, with some stuff I haven't read or don't remember and some cool new stuff and some fun stuff from the chapbook. Sold some books which is always nice. Village Green Records (TRAVIS SERIOUSLY RULES) was so sweet to host us, and I saw a few people buy things which is awesome. The crowd was not huge, but tidy and sweet and comfy and beautiful and friends. When people who don't "do" poetry come, it's a nice feeling. When professors get babysitters to come, it's a nice feeling. When friends keep coming to these events, it's a nice feeling. Overall, I think it was a radical time, though I wish there was an after-party.

- If I were still 16 year old Tyler, I would be rockin' out to this stuff right now. Taking Back Sunday TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS LINEUP OMG DUDEZ. 22 year old Tyler listened once.

- Todd and I were talking about Steve Orlen today, poet and teacher, and then I find out he died. It's got me shakyweird because Todd just introduced me to him. Tony Hoagland, Orlen's former student, had a nice essay over at H_NGM_N about Orlen.

- I'm making a Christmas list, per my two sets of parents' instructions. Orlen's Selected Poems is definitely on the list now. Also, Matt Hart's Wolf Face, some more Dean Young books, and Stevens' Collected on high on the book list. Also, I'd like a subscription to Pank I think. They do good work. I'm also really wanting some new jeans. I have like three pairs that I dig and they are wearing out. Also, my awesome comfy warm socks have holes, so they are on the list. I don't think this matters.

- What do you want me to blog about?

VGR VGR VGR

Tomorrow night, I'm reading for The Jackalope Wars Chapbook Release Reading with Jeremy Bauer and Lindsey P LaVal at Village Green Records, Muncie's coolawesome indie record store. I've seen a lot of cool bands there over the past what six years, and I'm pretty nervous of reading there (I read outside there at the end of last school year). OH YEAH MY MOM IS COMING ISN'T THAT SWEET?

Here are some awesome bands I've been exposed to because of VGR:

State Champion: Oh I might have passed up seeing them again last night in Indy, but yes, they are great. Start and stop southern rock n' roll fun. One of the best live sets I've seen inside VGR.

Sleeping Bag: Saw these dudes play inside VGR last night, instead of the State Champion show in Indy. Real fun, energetic set.

No Age: Obviously didn't see them at VGR, but I have bought both No Age albums there. GOOD GOOD STUFF.

In The Face Of War: I didn't see them first at VGR, but the best shows I've ever seen them play have been outside on the VGR lawn: darkness, loudness, shoutness.

Caddywhompus: For such an experimental, exciting band, they play together so well and with the BSU campus as a backdrop, it was a really cool thing seeing this two-piece jam.

I'm missing lots and lots of cool bands.

I hope I can do this history justice a little bit please.

LOTS OF THINGS GET ME STOKED

Like my first Vouched Satellite post at Smalldoggies Magazine. I get to talk to and about one of my favorite indie writers, Mike Young. Also, he let me post a piece of his work that I'm all about lovin'.

Like the Matt Hart/Michael Meyerhofer reading next Tuesday. I love Matt Hart's Who's Who Vivid and am shaking to get his new book. I've heard nothing but good stuff about his reading style. Meyerhofer is a sweet poet and reader, so will be nice to see him again. Also, a soon-soon-soon-to-be-determined Writers Community member will be opening this event.

Like the State Champion/Learner Dancer show on November 14th in Indy. I've been itching to see State Champion again and sing along and pick up their record. I've also been wanting to see my old pals Mitch and Landon in their new band, Learner Dancer. THIS IS PERFECT FOR THAT. TWO BIRDS ONE CAR RIDE.

Like the Jackalope Wars Release Party/Reading on November 17th. This is to get pumped more and more about Jeremy Bauer's chapbook. Jeremy asked my new friend Lindsey and I to read. SWEET.

Like Stoked Press. In addition to Jeremy's chapbook, the reading, and the great response thus far, we have a blog now, a gmail account, and some super secret future plans, which may or may not include recipes or my voice or LOTSA LOVE.

THEY'RE ON THE LOOSE

GIVE THE WARS A CHANCE
THESE POEMS SHRIEK IN MY EAR
I'M NOT ENOUGH MAN TO HANDLE THESE ALONE
I'M NOT ENOUGH HUMAN TO LIVE LIKE THIS
JEREMY BAUER PUT OODLES AND NOODLES AND POODLES
OF EFFORT INTO THIS CHAPBOOK
AND YOU PUT TEARS AND YEARS AND BEERS
INTO BEING ALIVE
SEEMS LIKE AN AWESOME COMBO TO ME
FOUR BUCKS AND A GLORY UNITING
EIGHT POEMS AND A HANDFUL OF PAPER
WANT IT? I'M STOKED SO LET ME KNOW

The Jackalope Wars by Jeremy Bauer

I am stoked to announce the completion of a project I spent the summer working on: the debut chapbook of Jeremy Bauer.

This chapbook is the first release for Stoked Press. Jeremy Bauer has captured the words that were fighting their wars in space. Now, here they are in poem form, contained but still fighting, alive and kicking. CHECK IT OUT ON GOODREADS.

Some cool poet dudes wrote blurbs:

The poems in The Jackalope Wars are sort of violent, sort of sweet, and completely kick ass. I like Jermey Bauer’s words a lot. He presents a little corner of Hope in a big room of Hell. I want to quote a line from the book, but I keep getting distracted by other lines. Like how he writes: “Oh Baby, we are The Murder!” And I feel like, "Yeah, I hear you."

-Peter Davis, author of Poetry! Poetry! Poetry! and Hitler’s Mustache

In Jeremy Bauer's The Jackalope Wars, creation is an event that is still happening all over us. And as the Gods continue shifting our atoms, the only response is war. William Carlos Williams said that "a poem is a small (or large) machine made of words." Well, these poems are robots that have turned on the master in the sky. There is fire and blood and now my eyes contain lasers like swirling multitudes. These poems are large and they will eat you.

-Daniel Bailey, author of The Drunk Sonnets

Jeremy is a good friend of mine, and I'm real stoked to see his poems see the world on paper this way. I've been wanting to put out a chapbook for awhile, and to have Jeremy's be my first, DAG YES.

The official release is next Tuesday, and they will be selling for four bucks. If anyone is interested in purchasing one, let me know.

Here is a poem to convince you:

Divine Dog Heads

My hurricane is naked
dripping with birds
soggy with birds
Teaming with white-as-angel’s-blood
gulls

Crying ‘cause they’re hungry
Hungry for french-fried dreams
and salted maritime varietals

They’re dipshits
Their hobbled calls for the true gleam
that envelops with radiant, slobbering
energy but hovers beyond
any manner of vision or scope
or material real

They fly with the dog heads
Heads of wisdom and divine luminescence
But they’re all bleeding and old
Wrinkled, tired muzzles
Tinged with gray and white and lost love

Their beaks hardly open, they creak
like decrepit doors ready to
fall from the hinges