Monthly Archives: July 2016

Show Poem: July 8, 2016 Hot Springs, AR @ Maxine’s #poetry 


Multiple licks of a dog’s tongue
Can wipe out many problems

Dancing friends, soft sheets
Try waking with love
Try staring at a rock for 10 seconds 

Deconstructing the wisdom of road signs
Camouflaging nature
If you stare long enough
Everything goes away 

Be careful with that fishing pole
You could poke your eye out

People are still hungry
They make cat litter out of corn 

The early bird catches the donut
All the donut shops are closed 

In 10 million years we
Will all be Cronuts 

Beautiful beautiful tree
Thank you for not being
A donut in my mind 

Hanging scarves on the wall
What are you trying to tell me 

The shiny rocks hold some special value
It’s not about money
There’s something in there
A beauty hidden within the earth
Or some dark cave
Cracking it open
Like an egg
It’s what we do

There is no reason before
The cave is part of the crack
The light reveals this to us
The cave is part of the beauty 

Show Poem: July 7, 2016 Fayetteville,AR @ Backspace #poetry 


Hey, Fayetvteille
Let’s let this one go 

Things stick out from the ground
Round things spin in the wind

Let’s risk an awkward silence

Pick a patch of grass by the road side
Wait until after  dark
Watch the souls leave all the dead things

Let’s not ponder our double chins…
Who’s ancestors were closest
To the mud snails 

We have no daughter to torture
No use for a house in the air 

Let’s darken ourselves with the sun
We pass through gates into
Empty fields
There are no fences
No lines to cross or step over 

DQ grill and chill
1000 paper cranes
Destroying mountains for the roads
Destroying roads for the music
Listening and rebuilding 

DRUMS DRUMS

Hello, this is Nan. Kansas City Star did a nice write up of a bunch of us female drummers in KC! It was a really fun afternoon hopping around in The Brick with a lot of drummers I admire. I say hopping around as I danced and hollered for all of their drum solos. I couldn’t help it. When it was my turn at the kit, I sang and drummed a mini version of Swamp Thing. Because the KC Star had to edit the written interview a little for space, I am posting my full interview answers here. ALSO, I forgot to mention in “Bands I’ve been in”, that I drummed with Kelley Deal + Mike Mongomery’s  band R. Ring on their tour this spring! Well I’m telling you all now. Chances are if you’re reading this, you already know that….but what the hell.

KC STAR VIDEO AND ARTICLE.

Here are my full interview answers:


Bands you are in/have been in:
Currently in Schwervon!, Nan + the One Nite Stands. I’ve been in Pantsuit, Bionic Finger, Dream Bitches, She’s so Pretty (a Twilight-themed Vampire Band with two drummers), Toilet Mouth (featuring John S. Hall of King Missile).

How old were you when you started playing drums?
25. I wrote songs on guitar for a few years before I played drums.Then I learned I could write songs on drums and I was off to the races.

Who has had the most influence on how you play drums?
Songwriters and friends in NYC (especially pals in the “antifolk” scene) definitely influenced and supported me when I began drumming. There was a kind of shared philosophy that writing good songs was the most important thing, and that your technical ability would develop over time- from the sheer act of doing it! This has proven to be true for me. I also studied with a wonderful drum teacher named Paula Spiro. She has been a mentor for me over the years. Also Matt (my partner and bandmate in Schwervon!) is a big influence on my playing…..he hears inventive beats in his head and has really inspired me to want to approach drumming like a dance – to be specific and problem solve what each song wants to be, using the drums to clarify and guide the song.

Name a favorite drummer or two and what you like about them

Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi):
She is a powerhouse. So solid. I am in awe of how she plays the toms.
Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo):
I love her diversity- sometimes upbeat, sometimes very soft and syncopated. Also she sings so effortlessly while she plays the drums!

What for you is the most important rule about drumming?
Serve the song. It’s a dance. Keep it simple. And don’t forget to breathe!