RALPH. Coffee Jazz and Poetry

Ralph Alfonso - Punk Walk Tour Of Queen Street (Inside the Crash'n'Burn)

2012-01-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

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Recently, Ralph Alfonso did a Punk Walk Tour of Queen St in celebration of The Diodes return to The Horseshoe, Toronto, for their Nov 27, 2011, Concert (with special guests Dentata, and Dildoniks).

This turned out to be a lot of fun. We started at the Ontario College of Art and Design and ended up at The Peter Pan for soup and coffees and more conversation.

Although this was a one-off event (it was completely free and for fun); Ralph has no problem doing it again or making it
a regular event if there is enough demand. As Ralph lives in Montreal, and most people are working, it has been suggested future walks take place on a Saturday. Just get a bunch of friends together and contact Ralph Alfonso at ralph@bongobeat.com and we'll see if we can find a suitable date for your Punk Walk. Donations for Ralph's gas would be appreciated, of course, and if there's enough lead time, we will try to invite some special guests from the 77 scene to come along and share stories and memories.

Here's a write up in The Grid:
http://www.thegridto.com/culture/music/the-toronto-punk-walking-tour/

Video Note: this is a quickie video on my phone of us walking towards the Crash'n'Burn building

When You Were Burning All The Photographs, Was There One That Made You Laugh?

2011-11-21T20:14:00.000-08:00

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When You Were Burning All The Photographs,
Was There One That Made You Laugh?

by Ralph Alfonso

Whatever roads we took
You know, we finally made it here
A little older, a little wiser
We like to think that, anyway,
you look great
I'm not just saying that
Why would I?
There's nothing to gain
I missed that train
I spent too much time looking at
the schedule
not realizing
time had run out
Doors shut
the whistle blows
Where you went
The conductor knows
Those railway tracks
Never looking back
When you were burning all the photographs,
was there one that made you laugh?
The secret sign
The secret joke
The time and place to our favourite song
We knew all the words
Sometimes I try to sing along
But now my heart
gets it all wrong
That's how it is
I know i'm just passing through
Wanted to say hi
Nothing happens unless you try

(c) 2011

The Diodes On Tour. 2011. The Original 1977 Line Up.

2011-10-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Bongo Beat Records & Film Pop presents the Vancouver Punk Movie: Pop Montreal

2011-09-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

Bongo Beat Records & Film Pop presents the Montreal premieres of two important films

2011-08-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

Bongo Beat Records in association with Film Pop is proud to present two important film documentaries as part of the Pop Montreal festival for 2011.

First is the Montreal premiere of Bloodied But Unbowed, The Birth of Vancouver Punk Rock 1977-82

Ralph Alfonso designed all the Zulu Records punk re-issues when he was part of the Vancouver music scene in the 90s and is one of the few original 1977 pioneers who has contributed both to the 77 Toronto scene (as manager of The Diodes, The Crash'n'Burn Club and journalist for Bomp, Cheap Thrills, and New York Rocker) and the 77 Vancouver scene through associations with Zulu Records, Sudden Death/Joe Keithley and the individual band members.

This film means a lot to us and we are very proud to be involved with Pop Montreal and Blue Sunshine in presenting it.

BLOODIED BUT UNBOWED
Susanne Tabata | Canada 2011 | 74min. | Quebec Premiere
http://www.blue-sunshine.com/music-scene-reader/events/filmpop-bloodied-but-unbowed.html

Thursday, September 22, 2011 - 19:30 - 21:00

additional matinee screening Sunday Sept. 25 at 1:30pm!

Bloodied But Unbowed is the first in-depth chronicle of Vancouver's original punk scene. Distinct from London, New York and L.A., Vancouver punk was eclectic, raw, politically charged, relentless and at times comedic. Bands like DOA, Subhumans, Young Canadians, Pointed Sticks, Modernettes, UJ3RK5 and the Dishrags, helped forge the city's reputation as an alternative mecca, attracting and influencing the likes of Kurt Cobain, former Guns N' Roses' bassist Duff McKagan and Henry Rollins.

Leather, spit, beer, drugs, sex and a righteously enraged music terrified the mainstream in Vancouver in the 70s and Bloodied But Unbowed captures the raw essence of the kids who barely lived through it, as well as those who did not. Drugs wreaked havoc in the punk scene, snuffing short the lives of some of the scene's luminaries. But despite the harsh toll, many of Vancouver's most infamous sons (to wit: Joe Shithead and eternal bad boy Randy Rampage) are still on the road, playing gigs, pissing on squares and generally causing an uproar. Narrated by Billy Hopeless and packed with stories of love and loss, rebellion and regret, Bloodied But Unbowed captures the rise and fall of an epic era.

http://thepunkmovie.com/

The next film is a long overdue look at the life of Phil Ochs, one of the great heroes of the 60s musical revolution and an inspiration for many (including myself). Again, this is the Montreal premiere.

PHIL OCHS: THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE
Kenneth Bowser | USA 2010 | 96min. | Quebec Premiere

http://www.blue-sunshine.com/music-scene-reader/events/filmpop-phil-ochs-there-but-for-fortune.html

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 19:00 - 20:50

NOTE: Michael Ochs will NOT be at this screening due to unforseen circumstances.

From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. In this biographical documentary, veteran director Kenneth Bowser shows how Phil's music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation. Even as his contemporaries moved into folk-rock and pop music, Phil followed his own vision, challenging himself and his listeners. Not one to pull punches, Ochs never achieved the commercial success he desperately desired. But his music remains relevant, reaching new audiences in a generation that finds his themes all too familiar.

Guest Bio: Michael Ochs
Michael Ochs is an American photographic archivist best known for his extensive collection of pictures related to rock music dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. The Michael Ochs Archive contains 3 million vintage prints, proof sheets and negatives which are licensed daily for use in CD reissues, books, films and documentaries. The Los Angeles Times called Ochs "America's preeminent rock 'n' roll photo archivist" and The New York Times called his archive "the premier source of musician photography in the world".

As a special treat, we are happy to offer a free download of a tribute song that I wrote for Phil Ochs a few years ago and by the powers of kismet, manages to tie in both Phil Ochs and the Vancouver punk scene as it features myself on vocals with Gord Nicholl (Pointed Sticks) on keyboards who also recorded and mixed it with Buck Cherry (Modernettes) at their Vancouver studios, Paramount Recorders. On electric guitar is Michael Rummen (Four Horsemen, Bruno Gerussi's Medallion, Ralph) and on acoustic guitar is Dave Rave (Teenage Head). They are all featured on the "electric" version. There is also an acoustic version which is just Dave and myself. I have only ever performed this song once or twice live and it always garners an appreciative response. Phil Ochs and his music touched a lot of people.

Ralph Alfonso on tour. I am coming to your town & having a coffee. Seriously.

2011-05-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

Hi folks.

The snow has cleared. The rains have swept away the debris and once again, yours truly, Ralph Alfonso, is on tour; taking Bongo Beat Records directly to music fans - be it at record shows, book fairs, flea markets, church basement bazaars and basically anywhere we can plant our flag and and let the Bongo Beat banner fly.

We've already hit Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Kingston; meeting lots of old and new friends.

Join us on our upcoming adventures.

Get Bongo Beat cds, Bongo Beat books, punk photo prints, and collector vinyl (from Ralph's collection) where applicable.

Some shows will have free cds (a cool Bongo Beat selection), so come early and say hi.

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Sunday, May 15

Toronto, Ontario

Flipside DJ & Collectors Vintage Record Sale

10am-4pm

http://www.ducktape.ca/soundz/flipside2011.gif

Gladstone Hotel, 1213 Queen St. W, Toronto

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Sunday, May 22

St. Catharines, Ontario

Musicians Open, 2011 Golf Tournament

https://www.niagaramusicawards.com/important

Ralph is one of the industry judges at this year's 2011 Niagara Music Awards, and, as such, will be participating at this special event.

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Sunday, May 29

Toronto, Ontario

Toronto Mid-Town Collectibles Show

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180491951969926

10am - 3:30pm

Greenwood College School

443 Mount Pleasant Road

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Sunday, June 19

Toronto, Ontario

Small Press of Toronto Spring Book Fair

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149029488497183

Hart House (Univ of Toronto Campus)

7 Hart House Circle

11am - 5pm

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Saturday, June 25

Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa Small Press Book Fair

http://robmclennan.blogspot.com/2011/02/ottawa-small-press-book-fair-spring.html

Jack Purcell Community Centre

Room 203 (upstairs)

320 Jack Purcell Lane (off Elgin, Starbucks on the corner)

Noon - 5pm

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FRIDAY, AUG 12

Montreal, Quebec

Semaine Italienne de Montreal / Montreal Italian Week

http://www.semaineitaliennedemontreal.com/en/main-events/literary-events

8:00PM to 10:00PM

The Writers Tent, corner St-Laurent and Mozart

MEET THE WRITERS. Members of the Association of Italian Canadian Writers will be in Little Italy to present their works, discuss their books, and answer questions about writing. The presentations and discussions will be in English, French, and Italian.

Ralph Alfonso will be here from 8pm-10pm. Come by and chat in Italian, French, or English. Ralph will have all his books and cds for sale.

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Saturday, Aug 13
Montreal, Quebec
Semaine Italienne de Montreal / Montreal Italian Week

1:30PM to 3:00PM
The Gazebo, corner St-Laurent and St-Zotique
http://www.semaineitaliennedemontreal.com/en/main-events/literary-events

An afternoon of readings by Italian Canadian authors in English, French, and Italian.
Ralph will be reading two short poems in Italian (all authors only have 6mins ea to read).
We don't have a schedule of the reading order so please be there early to avoid any
disappointment.

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Sept tba

Montreal, Quebec

Pop Montreal Record Show

details tba

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Sunday, Sept 25

Toronto, Ontario

Word on The Street

http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca

Queen's Park Crescent

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Sunday, Oct 2

Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa Record Show

http://www.offthebeatentrackradio.com/

St Anthony's Hall

523 St Anthony St

10am-4pm

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Sunday, Oct 16

Toronto, Ontario

Musical Collectables Record & CD Sale

http://www.musicalcollectables.com/

Capitol Banquet Centre

6435 Dixie Rd

10am-4pm

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Saturday, Nov 5
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax Record Fair

http://halifaxrecordfair.ca/

Halifax Forum, Maritime Hall
2901 Windsor Street, Halifax
http://www.halifaxforum.ca/location
$5 early bird (8-9am! get out of that box, I'm still pricing...)
$2 (9am-6pm)

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Nov 26-27

Montreal, Quebec

Expozine

http://www.expozine.ca/en/

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Saturday, Dec 10
Toronto
The Small Press Winter Book Fair
http://smallpressoftoronto.wordpress.com/

last chance for books, punk photo prints (12x18 unframed),
books, weird xmas vinyl, cds, and lots more affordable
stocking stuffers and christmas gifts

Hart House, UofT
(same building as CIUT Radio)

Ralph Makes Top 50 Indie List. Broken Pencil Loves Ralph :)

2011-03-03T22:31:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note that the latest issue of Broken Pencil magazine (#50), Canada's magazine of the independent arts, has named me one of their "50 People We Love". I am listed #4 on the list.

Broken Pencil is available in the USA/Canada and also internationally at selected outlets.

I have attached a scan of the write-up.

The write up is a very brief (and selective) overview of my almost 40 years in the independent community and I am very proud to read that I am "setting new standards for an art form that's threatening to disappear as music increasingly goes all-digital."

I have been publishing since 1969 and running Bongo Beat Records since 1995.

This is a great honour and congratulations to everyone on the list, including many colleagues and artistic collaborators; most notably Ian Ferrier who has released a solo cd on Bongo Beat and also the group project, Pharmakon MTL, which came out last month.

Ralph - Unreleased Songs (Phil Ochs Tribute)

2011-02-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

The songs "April Say" and "Stars That Are Silver" can be downloaded for free.

"April Say" was recorded in Toronto with Kevin Quain on piano and accordian. That is Kevin on keyboards also for "Goodbye Jack. Kerouac."

"Stars That Are Silver" was inspired by and dedicated to Phil Ochs. This track was recorded in Vancouver with Dave Rave on guitar and engineered by Buck Cherry (MOdernettes) and Gord Nicholls (POinted Sticks). This is the acoustic version. There is a fuller version with Gord on keyboards.

Just select the song and click the Download button (this button appears only for these two tracks).

Last Year's Valentine

2011-02-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

RALPH. "Last Year's Valentine" from the album, This Is For The Night People.
Directed by Chris Hooper. Starring Sandra Steier as the girl and Graham Howell as the guy.
Vintage Car by Graham Howell.
Produced by Alison E. Rogers for Ladybird Films.
Music by Ralph Alfonso and Michael Rummen.
(c) 2011 by Ralph Alfonso/Bongo Beat Records

Memories of Cannes, Midem, Gangsters, and Croissants

2011-01-07T16:14:00.000-08:00

January is Midem month for many people in the music industry. Midem is a higher-end trade fair where labels and publishers and anything connected with music (video, software, internet, etc) gathers to make deals.

The Midem Conference - a cruel knife to the soul of all who are weak of heart and endeavour. This is where the heavy deals and scramble go down, thousands of industry types clutching demos and press kits, looking for entry points to foreign lands and foreign musical adventure.

My own adventures in Cannes always revolve around what vinyl records or second hand books i've bought at the weekend flea market or what interesting book or cd at the FNAC store which gets sadder and sadder each year with less and less music, more and more dvds and so on.

Of course, the wonderful pastry shops where I sneak off to during breaks; croissants and baguettes and hand-made chocolates. I can only take so much sometimes - you need a capuccino break.

For business, I have always managed to come out with a distribution deal or sub-publishing or new contact - sometimes it may take years before you actually do business with a contact but the important thing is that you're on the radar. Lately, the exhibit floor has seen less and less attendees with everyone selling and no one buying. On the surface, anyway. There's always a deal to be made if you play your cards right.

Cannes itself can be an overpriced playland since all the hotel rates double for any convention coming to town but there's always a cool spot that's not TOO overpriced. It is a funny old town where rich and not so rich stake out their turfs; where both crowd into the shops for the January sales.

January is usually mostly cold, sometimes rainy. During the day, it might be sunny and you can stroll along the beach.

I've printed a few things on my myspace blog over the years and I've rounded them all up here plus a few other things I just found from my notebooks; stuff written in the hotel at night or on the plane coming in or bus to Nice or sitting in a cafe after some guy from some label in Norway has told me "your label is too smart for us"

It's a compliment I guess. Too bad, cause I like Norway.

Nice Tour of Oslo, Norway. Click here.

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SOUVENIR DE CANNES

Gangster's girlfriend

drinking wine

dark hair

Juliette Greco style

all black

long dress turtleneck

laughing

Cote d'azur avec un dur

hard living Riviera

too many secrets between them

I try not to look but

her mouth

black lipstick smile

hard to say no to

the gangster sees me

there's a scar from his ear to

his mouth

his little eye

burrowing a hole in my head

it's understood

i look again

i'm dead

well, now

i know

ralph alfonso

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desole petite fleur

desole

petite fleur

qui attends le vent

qui a faim pour le soleil

c'est moi qui ta quitte

c'est moi qui s'en vole

dans la nuit

vers la plui

d'un futur rien compris

ralph alfonso

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DID I JUMP OR DID YOU PUSH

I'm sitting all alone on the edge of the world

I'm waving hello to

everyone down below

and did I jump or did you push?

Only you and I will ever know

Ralph Alfonso

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PLAGE A PARIS

la plage a paris

un rencontre a minuit

un cigarette entre les deux

j'aime tes cheveaux dans le vent

odeur de

parfum

des gens qui rit

les amants dans la nuit

sous les etoiles

ici

au centre

de notre monde

ralph alfonso

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IT ALL DEPENDS

There's a full moon on

the sand dunes

a cool breeze that will end soon

a sad little poem

sent adrift to find a home

lovers going round the verse

still trying to find the chorus

and this is where we cue the violins

the girl is his, the good guy wins

and I wish that's how the story ends

but in this case, it all depends

Ralph Alfonso

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NO COLOURS LEFT

It's a coffee cold October

All the leaves have

fallen down

There's nowhere

to go to

cause there's no one else around

but there's no mistake

that's the road

I want to take

I guess there's

no colours left

in the world

it's a choice between

brown or brown

I put a call in to somebody

I want to complain

I'm sick of all the

cold walks

I'm sick of

alll the rain

Ralph Alfonso

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BONJOUR TRISTESSE with Juliette Greco

MIDEM MADNESS

SOME CANNES SIGHTS

CHARLES TRENET

CHARLES TRENET - La Romance de Paris

JULIETTE GRECO - St Germain de Pres

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Saturday After - New Year's Day

2011-01-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas week adventures through our emotional back pages end with a toast to a new year, a hope that this is the year when things will right themselves, when the compass holds steady as our life's sails go forward into the unknown. You can be on deck sucking in the fresh air or hiding in the cabin - either way, the journey has started. See you somewhere.

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happy new year

the bells are all ringing

happy new year

the backslaps and

handshakes

and all of the cheer

the pop of the bottles

the champagne is here

and backwards all misty eyed

the last year's parade

but forward now march

into nowhere known yet

my flag will be first

let no one forget

ralph alfonso

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DEC 29: cigarettes and ashtrays

cigarettes and ashtrays

scheming through

the haze

of red wine bravado

this is the plan

the world

our oyster

and

cheese

our bullion

crackers the fortress

to climb

and here....

bright green grapes

nectar

careful with the bread

not too thin a slice

not too thick

victory

your name

is Spanish Red

you have conquered all

your peers lie at your feet

empty

now is the hour

of triumph

a twist of the cap

the prize is here

aha...

dig deep the fork

jubilation

ah

yes!

antipasto for all

raise high the crackers

the crunch of victory

sweet

ralph alfonso

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Ohbijou, "New Years"

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Friday After - New Year's Eve Toronto Airport

2010-12-31T09:17:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve. How many of us have spent a good part of the day sitting at an airport.... mostly deserted except for the few of us tethered by circumstance.... occasionally walking around... cursing at the vending machines and their ridiculous prices... making do with the last cup of coffee from the aiport cafe, just before they shut down so the employees can go home... just like we're going home...

Lots to think about during this nether time...

Year lived. Year lost.
For me personally I have discovered the veneer of friendship is either very thin or very deep...
You always learn at least one thing....

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DEC 31: new year's eve at toronto airport

new year's eve

toronto airport

all of us tired and

sleepy eyed

bundled up

waiting to go home

new year

new life

what will happen now?

who knows?

seats 10-24 are ready for boarding

ralph alfonso

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CHRISTMAS WEEK - Thursday After - God bless the French. God bless their vin.

2010-12-30T22:19:00.000-08:00

Lots of parties going on this week. Lots of new people to meet.

Lots of wine bought. Lots of wine drunk.

Lots of cheese eaten. Next week it'll all be gone, except maybe for the crumbs under the couch cushions - but for now, the gamut of gatherings awaits.... stay calm... use stealth...

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YOU ARE THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
I'M JUST A TOAD IN A SUIT

I paid good money for this jacket

I hope I don't spill anything on it

I know the doorman's giving me the eye

Maybe it's my polka-dot tie

But it's too late now

Cause I'm already in

Popping open the wine bottles

God bless the French. God bless their vin.

I got myself some fancy bacon on a cracker

And maybe a little cheese quiche for after

I know you're trying to talk to me

I'm busy eating, man, can't you see

I'm just another interesting person

Wandering around this party

Ralph Alfonso

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Wednesday After - All Tomorrow's Parties

2010-12-29T19:00:00.000-08:00

You may recognize some people in this faux reminiscence written about 10 years ago and available in my book, This Is For The Night People. One of my favourite little fiction pieces.

It's kind of appropriate at this particular crevice in the year's topography; that consciously or unconsciously as we totter about basking in the glow of holiday lights or holiday spirits, we say yes to our inner roll call of achievements, victories, failures, and the rest. This is that funny twilight week; can't quite say goodbye/can't quite say hello.

Sometimes it's a fine mist and sometimes it's a thick fog, but I always seem to come out of it ok and so will you.

This story is not necessarily true and not necessarily fiction either. I keep printing it at every opportunity because it makes me smile every time I read it. I hope you will, too.

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Famous Poet
Please Give Me A Dollar

by Ralph Alfonso

Sometimes I have to laugh.
I’ve got three dollars in my pocket.
There’s a blinking phone message from my country music pal reminding me his show is tonight. It’s at a smoky joint full of unshaved loudmouths and their giggly girlfriends with too much make-up clutching beer glasses smudged with lipstick all shades of red. This besotted adventure is not possible with my current worth, because three dollars will not get you much in this world. Maybe a plain coffee sitting here with the donut people watching the flashing store sign. I’m wearing clothes ten years, four girlfriends, five jobs, two cities, and a full head of hair ago. I followed my heart (hahaha) here and now the little weasel’s run off, probably with Cupid. The two of them on a pixie booze and sex binge on a Caribbean cloud somewhere. It’s not fair.

I’m walking home, trying hard to be invisible in the bright lights of the main drag. Windows full of clothes and shoes - sometimes I stop to read the restaurant menus and maybe stare at the table of whoever’s sitting by the front door. Hey.

I almost bump over the panhandler squatting in a doorway. Paper cup with a couple of pennies. I get a look at his face. God, I know him. I pull whatever I have in my pockets and throw it in and hope he didn’t see me. I’m busy watching my life fast-forward in my head. Maybe I should scout out a spot for myself. Famous poet. Give me a dollar. It would be a catchy sign.

Life’s pretty finite, after all. Maybe there is re-incarnation. Tell that to this guy I knew; ex-punk drug addict somebody pushed off a rooftop. He always had a big mouth. Me, I don’t want to cause waves, thank you very much. This money thing is dripping acid on my stomach. It’s a tapeworm sucking back green out of every pocket. It’s the cost of living. The price to pay to get a shot at the bottom rung so I can start climbing the ladder to success.

But now, picking out the books and cds I’ll be selling second-hand tomorrow, I wonder if my literary romance has just been a $2 Scratch and Win card. You’re sure this is the sign, you are one pull away on the slot machine... clang clang clang lemon lemon lemon bing bing bing bing five dollars 16 quarters, 20 nickels...

Maybe this is the day the treadmill stops. Maybe nobody really wants to read my books. Maybe nobody really wants to hear my music. It’s days like this I wish I drank more. I could sit with my red-nosed buddies talking about the same thing for days on end... muttering and complaining... longing for the good times... re-living the triumph, that one moment in 1977, or maybe 1982 when the spotlight fell, the reviews were good and hey, I’m not a liar... here’s a clipping I’ve kept in my pocket, see...

That’s why I hate bars. That’s why I hate drunks. Yesterday happened already. I can’t change it. Might as well forget it. I try to, anyway, but time folds into itself like accordion paper... years squished together... all sins equal and simultaneous...

Trouble is, of course, I don’t have any friends I could sit and drink with even if I wanted to... I’ve floated through life in my own private bubble all these years and now that it’s burst, well, here are my demons, clutching tightly at my legs, pulling me down into fear and realization...

You can learn a lot from history, but what will history learn from you?

We had been together years ago. That would never happen now. It was one of those things - an odd notion that a moment’s indiscretion was a future to build on.

“Well, you know, it was fun,“ she raised an eyebrow, bemused at the thought. “But you probably read more into it than you should have, I mean, the premise of our relationship really wasn’t strong enough to grow beyond its natural cycle...”

“Natural cycle?”

“It’s an affair... you know... you get as much as you can and then you get out...”

She slipped a hundred dollars into my hand, “Good luck.”

The first thing I did was buy some gum. It’s one thing to smell bad, it’s another to have bad breath.

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The girl at the talk show asked if I had any more gum. I fished out one of the sticks for her. I guess the make-up looked alright... I don’t know why I couldn’t represent myself as a pasty faced writer, which, after all, is what I am. I didn’t want to look too healthy, people might think I had money.

I knew my window of opportunity was brief. If I wanted any of the food in the Green room, I had to time my assault on the tiny sliced sandwiches and assorted fruit while everyone fawned over the real celebrity; a minor TV actress riding a second wind of infomercial celebrity.

I tried to act relaxed when one of the assistant directors came in. I sensed a slight hesitation in his stride as he reached for one of the grapes... it might have been odd that most of the sandwich platter was gone. The Green room had barely been open five minutes.

My part in the proceedings went well. I read a poem. My pianist ran through a quiet jazz blues. The audience of elderly pensioners and middle-aged women applauded politely. Their treasured has-been actress would soon extol the virtues of indeterminate kitchen utensils.

The host, mostly an impenetrable sort, was always enthusiastic about my appearances. As we faded to a commercial, he leaned over to ask for some gum.

For lunch the next day, I ate the rest of the Green room sandwiches I’d smuggled out in my briefcase.

I had ninety dollars and six days till my next pay cheque.

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I’m sitting backstage in the dressing room of a famous rock group. It’s a beautiful thing when you’re successful. There’s lots of food spread out for those anxious snacking moments before showtime. There’s cheese from countries I’ve never heard of and crackers and kiwis - there’s always lots of kiwi fruit. Kiwi must be a status thing.

The one nice perk about being me is I’ve become a bit of a mascot for some of these rock people ... they like to have me hang around and talk about the good old days that I hardly remember or even care about... the obscure footnote characters and twice-told tales ... I guess the 80s must be like Frontier Times or something with me as a living museum piece ..

“Must have been different when you were on the road, eh?” says the lead singer guy, Bob or Billy or whatever his name is.

“You got that right,“ I answer, “We used to ask for bottled water and they’d get us that distilled stuff for humidifiers or something...”

Bob / Billy almost spits up his bacon quiche, he’s laughing so hard.

His manager comes over; short burly type, no hair, big nose.
We’re old friends. Sharing bunks on dilapidated tour buses, hoisting gear for bands who got maybe a bag of chips and five beers backstage. Old road guys. You can put us in suits but we always got a pocket with a stinky sock in it.

He points a half-eaten carrot stick at me, “You should’ve stayed at the record company. You’d be a VP or something now. You broke the old man’s heart when you left.”

“Hey man, I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my life,” I said, “What’s one more?”

“You looked good on TV. That piano player’s HOT!” He started poking his finger at me. “You should get some better clothes, seriously... that’s the same jacket you had ten years ago. I can get you something out of their wardrobe... these guys wouldn’t miss it...”

We ended up in the catering room, chowing down on some gourmet feast their private chef personally set for us. I smelled a lot of garlic. My pal gave me a wink, Italian style. “There’s a lot of people keeping an eye on you. Don’t let us down.”

On the subway going home, I start to stretch out a little bit in the new jacket he gave me. It fit pretty good. Maybe my luck was going to change after all.

I popped the last stick of gum in my mouth.

What is with these lame rock bands and their garlic?

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Tuesday After - Met You at the Party

2010-12-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

There are lots of parties and gatherings in and around Christmas Week, lots of opportunities for people to meet, for conversations to happen, for glances exchanged across the room, for situations to begin, and sadly, for situations to end...it is a cold and bittersweet time made warm sometimes by human kindness (or a hot drink)....

---------------------------

IT'S TOO BAD WE MET AT THIS PART OF THE BOOK

It's too bad we met at this part of the book

When it's almost at the end

I wish it could have been earlier

Maybe somewhere on Page Ten

When everything was all brand new

And we had no problems then

And so

I bow to the laws of gravity

I am caught by the pull

of your heart

across the provinces

and highways....

the start of this adventure

and wherever the path will bend....

(to be continued)

(c) 2010 Ralph Alfonso

-------------

CHRISTMAS WEEK - New Year's Eve Toronto 1977

2010-12-27T07:07:00.000-08:00

This has been an interesting year for nostalgia. The year 1977 loomed large as a result of the book I published ( Treat Me like Dirt by Liz Worth ) concerning the 1977 Toronto punk explosion. A lot of people I'd mostly forgotten about suddenly were front and center, quibbling over incidents and details, revising facts to accomodate mythology and jockeying for position in an intangible hierarchy of power and, in fact, if I hear the phrase "my legacy" one more time this year, I'll probably explode.

I have discovered through this book experience that memories are both subjective and invective.

My own dilemna in terms of this "legacy" business is that I created a voluminous amount of creative work prior to 1977 (dating back to the late 60s, in fact) and an even more daunting Everest since 1977. I used to try to keep track of it all but the cross-cultural and omni-media (print, TV, radio, live performance, web, etc) representations are just too much and now - I just throw everything in a box to sort out later ("later" meaning sometime in the next 20 years or so).

Knowing that it is all sort of somewhere is somewhat comforting and sometimes it's fun to reach in randomly and pull out a nice memory like this one, from 1977 in fact.....

--------------------------------------

NEW YEAR'S EVE (Queen and Bathurst, Toronto, 1977)

I'd like to say

how crazy you are

but that's kind

of hard

what with your

tongue down my mouth

and all

right here

in the middle of traffic

waiting for a bus

actually, any bus

that'll take us

somewhere away from

all these drivers

waving and giving me

the thumbs-up sign

"yeah, uh, thanks!"

She's really cool,

I know,

that's why I'm here

ralph alfonso

------------

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Christmas Day in Los Angeles

2010-12-26T09:48:00.000-08:00

In the 80s, I spent a fair amount of time in Los Angeles, in Manhattan Beach

It was a good time, a bad time, a lot of hard work for (now through the prism of history)

very little or no reward but a time of many interesting moments and reflections and interventions...

like this one.... text actually written back then....

Christmas Day, Los Angeles, 1988

------------

ONLY TUESDAY IN THE LAND OF AUTUMN

It's windy today.

The waves are being swept high into the air; crashing down on the pock-marked sand - sending gulls

spluttering off in all directions.... the odd feather left spiraling... til I brush it out of the way...

I see that that the little squawkers have settled into the grooves of my footsteps in the sand (one way

of covering my tracks, I smiled)...

Sad little California beach.

Where have all the people gone?

It's not the season for people.

The one I want isn't here. I roam the sand in exile... my kingdom of nothing.

I call upon my subjects... hey! get your beaks out of the garbage cans.... I'm talking to you!

Lift yourselves into the sky.

Do something useful.

It's Christmas.

I throw a rock at them...

they scurry off into the horizon...

Smoking a cigarette at a boardwalk cafe, I could see the empty bodies of the California people...

identical heads... empty of anything useful to anyone; what could they possibly be talking about? My

cynicism thrives in cold weather, doesn't it? The Mexican beer slid down my throat. I hated myself. I

liked it better when I didn't know anything.

The last surfers were straggling up the beach; boards in hand.

Sun's about to set. Time to go home.

Something hits my head and bounces onto the table.

It's an ugly green and silver Christmas tree ball!

Stupid gulls.

Always showing off.

Ralph Alfonso

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

Last day of travel... last day on the road... last chance to reflect...
pretty soon the airplane will touch down... the train will grind to a stop...
the bus will puff and wheeze... and the car waits for the last red light to go green...

almost home

----------------

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

I'm going home for
The holidays so we
Can be together
In our separate ways
There's so much that
Can't be said as we
Sit and count the daya

Ralph Alfonso

---------------------------

ANGELS GOING HOME

Ralph - Angels Going Home

i'm saying goodbye to another

all night truck stop

i throw away my paper cup

and the wind lifts it up

maybe one day i'll wake up

and see some sunlight in my world

but right now

all i got is the glare

of every kind of car

going the wrong way on my highway

i keep eating up gas and donuts

and every kind of candy bag is

lying on my back seats

yeah All Night, Good Eats

anywhere but your world is

good enough for me

i am your friend for this minute

for this hour, for this weekend

i am glad to bless you with

God's kindness, I am happy to

give you knowledge

but somewhere soon, i'm hoping

i can have some of this for me

i've got plenty of time to hurry up

so i can run around here

in the middle of nowhere

smoking my last cigarette on the roof

of this ghost town motel

i try very hard to listen to

these whispers in my heart

telling me

all out flat out

that's what cars are for

you put your foot to the floor

the stars are spinning

maybe jackpot on a lucky streak

well, that would be very nice

two sevens clash on tumbling dice

i am counting every star in heaven tonight

and maybe somebody may be counting on me

i won't let you down

every angel must come around

your smile makes me stronger you know

and your faith is beside me

wherever i go

ralph alfonso

-----------

almost home.

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Thursday Before...

2010-12-22T21:43:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER AT GROUND ZERO

SEPT 11 POEM:

There is really nothing that can prepare you for Ground Zero.

I was there in December of 2002, and I remember that it was cold,

and there was a very strange kind of quiet,

and hundreds of bouquets of flowers

and banners

and people

but nobody spoke really

you just grabbed onto the fence

and stared into the ground

and prayed

silently

and meditated

on the implications of

what was

before you

ralph alfonso

WKRG.com News

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Wednesday Before...

2010-12-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

Montreal Snow

Yeah, there's some

not lots

and it's cold

I forgot how cold

but I'm here this week

oblivious to the world

recharging batteries

fighting an awful flu

I just saw some old family movies

for the first time

capsule moments

from the 60s

the only footage of my late mother

briefly there

smiling at the camera

young and beautiful

and then gone

cut to some airplane flying over

our backyard

and footage of my grandfather

dapper in black

smoking a cigarette

all of them at the grave

of my beloved uncle

who died too young

and who I will now visit tomorrow

he's not too far from

his sister

my mother

peace at last

from a new world

that promised so much

rewarded so little

Ralph Alfonso

-----------------------------------------------

THE DUST OF PLEASANT MEMORIES

You stop to sit

on a child's swing

and

Here is winter everywhere

We walk through the dust

of pleasant memories

of carousels at the Fair

and smells and laughter

and everyone there

children running

after a summer sun

and baskets of flowers

and foods for everyone

and dancers step to

the flutes and the drums

and mandolins

and bangles and things

and tho they are gone

we shall always be there

full of hope

full of light

full of love

everywhere

ralph alfonso

-----------------------

ashes to ashes

Montreal

Cote des Neiges cemetery

all quiet

and white

everyone asleep

cradled in God's arms

forever

there but for the grace of

nothing is fair

really

i think

eternity ends here

ralph alfonso

-------------------------------

CHRISTMAS WEEK - Tuesday Before...

2010-12-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

It's Winter everywhere...
snow stalling airports in Europe
icicles glistening perilously from gargoyle noses
but love clears its own path
tryst for now or something far greater
enjoy it all

----------------------------------------------------------

WALKING THRU THE SLEEPY CITY

The blue neon signs

shed a pale light on the

snow-covered streets

that you and I are walking through

watching the little mists of

cold air float up every time

we speak

And in this wonderful place

At the top of the world

on this empty corner

we stop under a street lamp

and we hold each other tight

we kiss

But it's so cold -

so cold

our lips stick together

ralph alfonso

* memories of stockholm in snow

--------------------------

SAD DAY, LONG NIGHT

Sad day, long night

Big kiss, big fight

The things we do

The things we say

Between me and you

Baby

It'll never be right

The Christmas Bells

Maybe all's well

Our cozy fire

Will always burn bright

When we kiss and make up

Christmas Night

ralph alfonso

---------------------------------------

OK THIS IS CHRISTMAS BUT

And this is my heart and this is

my gift to you.

Yeah, well,

ok, this is Christmas, but

I'm blessed every day that

I'm with you

ralph alfonso

---------

NOEL PARTOUT

c'est Noel dans les rues

dans nos coeurs

et partout

ralph alfonso

* Noel a Paris

------------------

TOMORROW IS A CLOUD

Today is a smile

A cup of coffee

Tomorrow is a cloud

Something uncertain

Love for now

Everything else

Will have to find you

ralph alfonso

-------------

NOEL A PARIS