The San Francisco Cacophony Society had regular meetings in the upstairs front room for a couple of years in the early 90s. Tommy's Joint in the back room and Café Picaro on 16th were two other places we would have regular meetings over the years.
I miss it as a venue. I loved the wee theatre upstairs. A firetrap to be sure but absolutely worth the risk of life!!!! Alan Black was the soul of the place. Once he left the vibe left with him. As you said in your other piece, 'San Francisco is adept at fostering the creation of one-of-a-kind cultural landmarks, but not very good at hanging onto them.'
Also, Kathy Acker had an informal workshop she ran out of there. I believe Lynn Breedlove worked on the early version of Godspeed there. Maybe Anna Joy Springer as well?
Perfect use of Substack! I think this is a great place for memories, random essays, and the like. Every time I read there, it was fun. Definitely a different experience being there as Alan Black's guest!
Wonderful story. What a rave that place was! Like everything else in NY, spontaneous readings are mostly dead and lit has become corporate. BTW, Happy Birthday!
The San Francisco Cacophony Society had regular meetings in the upstairs front room for a couple of years in the early 90s. Tommy's Joint in the back room and Café Picaro on 16th were two other places we would have regular meetings over the years.
I miss it as a venue. I loved the wee theatre upstairs. A firetrap to be sure but absolutely worth the risk of life!!!! Alan Black was the soul of the place. Once he left the vibe left with him. As you said in your other piece, 'San Francisco is adept at fostering the creation of one-of-a-kind cultural landmarks, but not very good at hanging onto them.'
Thanks for this vivid and visceral depiction of the place. Delighted to see mention of the late Anne Marino.
Thanks! Anne was a great writer, we once did a writing workshop together at San Quentin.
Also, Kathy Acker had an informal workshop she ran out of there. I believe Lynn Breedlove worked on the early version of Godspeed there. Maybe Anna Joy Springer as well?
Amazing! So much happened there...
Perfect use of Substack! I think this is a great place for memories, random essays, and the like. Every time I read there, it was fun. Definitely a different experience being there as Alan Black's guest!
You represent it well, including the smell :))
Miss that place. ❤️💔❤️
This is so cool. Excited to finally attend some of the litquake events this year
I wish I had been in the City then! By that time I had moved to Oakland as a respectable sober person with an active band, married to the guitarist.
Great recap… change always baffles me!
Jeanie M worked at Listen.com!
she just saw this post on Facebook and is still around - https://mouseangel.com/index.htm
Wonderful story. What a rave that place was! Like everything else in NY, spontaneous readings are mostly dead and lit has become corporate. BTW, Happy Birthday!