Seattle Music: Syked Out – Jake Uitti
Thursday, November 17, 2011 13:50 — 14 Comments
Response to City Arts article by Jesse Sykes Jesse Sykes is a wonderful musician, a wonderful singer. Somehow, someway she learned the art of music and how to project it and share it with others. That education, however, seems to have not been applied to all aspects of her artist-life.
Critique vs. Negativity – Evan Flory-Barnes
Friday, November 11, 2011 14:01 — 1 Comment
On my mind of late has been a series of exchanges I have had with a rather well known musician who lives in Seattle, a gentleman named Cuong Vu. I admire him in many ways, from the energetic output and creativity of his music and the positive effect he has had on developing a cohesive and creative musical scene in this city. It is inspiring. His energy and intentions are aligned with many of the ideas and ideals I have held in my heart for Seattle for a long time now, having been born and raised in this city of […]
Monarch in Glorious Physicality
Sunday, November 6, 2011 23:23 — 2 Comments
We are delighted to announce the arrival of our debut print edition! Soon it will be available in bookstores all across Seattle, but for now you can order through our home page. If you want the full physical effect (free from digital mediation of any sort), please join us for our release party, November 20th, 8:00-11:00pm at The Pub at 3rd Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. NE (on the corner of 65th and 20th). We’ll have plenty of copies waiting (sans shipping charges). Jim Brantingham, Rebecca Hoogs, Rebecca Bridge, Jed Myers, Zac Hill, Jason Whitmarsh and Julie Larios will read their inspiring […]
The N Word: Engagement Toward Understanding – Evan Flory-Barnes
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 13:46 — 0 Comments
In light of recent violence over seas (not to mention continued violence here in the States)—further examples of sad economic and cultural conflict—I wanted to write about something I have always wanted to express: my thoughts on the N word. Whether you say it nigga or nigger, the N word is likely the most emotionally loaded word in the collective American psyche. The word brings up all kinds of feelings within people. I, myself, have experienced anger, confusion, laughter, sadness and comfort when hearing this word. The N word can be a stamp of inhumanity on another human being and […]
Laughter, Lobsters and Marriage – George Spohr
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 12:54 — 1 Comment
“Wanna write a piece on gay marriage?†my editor asked me. I bit my tongue before replying: “Sure, what’s involved?†“Basically, I know nothing about it,†he said. I cringed. What’s to know? Marriage is … well, marriage. It’s the union of two people who love each other enough to commit their lives to being together. Perks include hospital-visitation rights and all sorts of fun tax breaks. (Therein lies the reason “marriage†is so important. The whole notion that marriage is a religious institution and that homosexuals should be content with civil unions is rubbish. Rightly or wrongly, marriage is […]
Phantom Fraternity – Nick Koveshnikov
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 15:29 — 2 Comments
Workers pulled heavy chains around the façade of a massive three-story building. Sweat stained their colorless shirts and dampened their ill-fitting overalls. Shapeless felt hats obscured men’s crevassed faces that resembled characters from the Great Depression-era photographs. They used carabineers to clip the chain links to worn-out horse harnesses. Their horses, both tired and underfed, pounded their hoofs steadily against the cobblestone. Earlier in the day, the same workers dismantled the white Corinthian columns from the building’s front entrance and removed the streetcar wires to clear the way for the transfer of the structure three blocks north. Finally, when all […]
The Convergence – Evan Flory-Barnes
Friday, June 17, 2011 17:35 — 0 Comments
I have been back from my travels now for a couple of weeks and a wealth of feelings, thoughts and aspirations have surfaced. Seattle is home and it is good to be home. The travels in Africa put me in touch with an overwhelming feeling of abundance: creative visions and intentions and also the hesitancies that accompany such visions. Performing is a powerful experience even when you are less than present during. It offers an immediacy of relief to your creative visions and hesitancies. Yet at the same time one’s creative visions and hesitancies must fuel what one does. Performing […]
Called Back – Andrew Bartels
Friday, June 3, 2011 18:15 — 2 Comments
The Monarch Review’s own Todd Jannausch installed Gallery 206 in Occidental Park in Seattle, Washington on May 31st 2011. The Gallery is a re-fabricated phone booth exhibiting original work by Seattle artists on its 19 panels. There is also a phonebook that contains the work of 206 Seattle Artists. When the receiver is lifted to the ear, Dave Abramson‘s music comes through the line. Andrew Bartel’s “Erasures” and poems, titled “Called Back”, appear on one of the 19 panels. I had a chance to see the panel before the installation, and asked him to write the following essay. As both […]
Offer What You Have – Evan Flory-Barnes
Friday, May 27, 2011 12:53 — 0 Comments
Sitting on a train going across the country is a perfect way to settle back into being in the states. It feels good to be back home. I love America and I always have. The trip to Ethiopia and Kenya gives me a profound sense of gratitude for every aspect of my life here, particularly my relationships and the acknowledgment of the abundances within and outside. I know love and I am loved by some remarkable and beautiful people. I love my city of Seattle, and I love the world around me. Rooting in this, like rooting in the Self, […]
In The Thick Of It – Evan Flory-Barnes
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 14:36 — 0 Comments
Here we are, nearing the end of the Ethiopia part of this journey. Today we play a private party at the Sheraton Hotel here in Addis owned by one of the richest men in the world. Tomorrow we leave for Nairobi, Kenya to play. On the 23rd we head back to Addis for a quick day then back stateside. This trip, I have been a sponge. So many experiences, so many subtleties. I feel the fruits of it will surface stateside and I can feel them in this moment. As far as The Monarch Review music project is concerned we […]
The answer isn't poetry, but rather language
- Richard Kenney
