This past 1st Wednesday of May (aka 05.01.19) Mad Swirl whirled up our open mic madness at the Regal Room! Sadly, the Regal Room is no more so we fondly bid our latest stomping ground farewell & look forward to where we will land next! (stay tuned)

We also said farewell to a near and dear friend of the Swirl and the soul behind the lens of thousands of mad snaps, Dan “the man” Rodriguez. Wherever you’re at Dan, we know you’re capturing our good side…

This month, another dear friend of the Swirl, Rob Dyer and his friend David Parham, captured the scenes for us this month…

This month, Mad Swirl Press officially launched, “The Best of Mad Swirl: v2018” And what a launch it was! We poets and writers whose works appeared in this collection. Both local Mad ones and long distant Mad ones read their poems to a packed Room’o’Regal:

Johnny Olson
Rob Dyer
Harry McNabb
Polly Richardson (Ireland)
Chigger Matthews (Missouri)
PW Covington (New Mexico)
Tyler Malone (Colorado)
Mike Fiorito (NYC)
Madelyn Olson (Austin)

If you didn’t scoop you up a copy of this annual collection & curious, here’s the official tease for this 112-page poetry collection:

Our anthology features 52 poets, 12 short fiction writers, and four artists whose works were presented on MadSwirl.com throughout 2018. We editors reviewed the entire year’s output to ensure this collection is truly “the best of Mad Swirl.” The works represent diverse voices and vantages which speak to all aspects of this crazy swirl we call “life on earth.”

If that got your want going, visit Amazon NOW and get yourself your very own copy for the real-deal of $25! (for a limited time, 2 for $50;)

After the feature set we opened the mic up! HUGE GRATS to the mad poets, performers, artists and musicians who helped swirl us up a mighty fine & celebratory night by sharing their words, songs & divine madness…

Hosts:

Johnny O
MH Clay

Swirve:

Chris Curiel
Monte Espina

Mad Mic Cast:

MH Clay
Opalina Salas
Carlos Salas
Brett “BA” Ardoin
Devorah Titunik
James “Bear” Rodehaver
Christopher Calle
DCR
Trey
Colten
Amy
Laurie Lynn Lindemeier

HUGE thanks to the patron saint of the local loco Mad ones, Josh Florence, for providing us a home these past few years. Fingers crossed we stay in the family! Stay tuned…

And lastly, but never leastly, thanks to ALL WHO CAME to support the launch of our creative collaborative love-child & share in this loving, laughing, lasting night of poetry and music!

May the madness swirl your way! ’til next 1st Wednesday… wherever that might be.

Johnny O

P.S. In case you missed the LIVE feeds, your eye can spy on the Swirl’n scenes that was right here…

The Best of Mad Swirl: v2018 Book Launch

Mad Swirl Open Mic