Long Beach: the August 4th Lightbulb Mouth Radio Hour.

My first stop in the grand ol' United States of America was Long Beach, California, to visit Heather, who was interning at Write Bloody Publishing, an independent press that does mostly poetry but also dabbles in kids' books and more. One of the many fun things they do is host the weekly Lightbulb Mouth Radio Hour, a kind of variety show that features a musician, an informationist [someone they interview about something], and an author [usually a poet, but not always].

The first time I went promised to be a good time, since there was a - wow! - celebrity involved [as I found out for myself the next time I went, it's actually also a good time - maybe even a better time - when there are no celebrities involved]. Since I got there early to help set up, I nabbed a front-row seat.

The show always opens with an open mic. I had no idea what this darling old man was saying most of the time, but he was adorable and gave all the girls marshmallows after the show.

Champagne in a can with a bendy straw. So much class in such a small package.

Hosted by Derrick C. Brown. So much class in such a poetic package.

Also hosted, this time, by Jeremy Radin.

[Note: all videos in this post not by me.]

Musical guest: Jason Whitton.

Additionally hosted by Jeremy Radin with a napkin mustache.

Informationist: David Cross. Yeah, that guy. The microphone was very annoyingly positioned. What's up with microphones actually having to be somewhat near people's mouths?

Communicating with Edith Piaf the only way he knows how.

Reading from his not-particularly-funny book.

Also with Jason Bowe.

Author: G. Murray Thomas, a big player in the Southern California poetry scene.