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In addition to being a writer and editor, I am a songwriter.  I have two bands that are currently active:  Teen Getaway and Delicate Cutters.  I have been writing songs since I was about ten.  I had my first garage band when I was fourteen, my first band that actually played shows and recorded albums at fifteen.  I have found that wherever I am in life, music has been what keeps me sane. 

I guess, in keeping with the theme of this issue, that I could sort of describe music as my sanctuary, huh?  I mean, I never feel more MYSELF than when I am playing a show.  That is a very deep and abstract self.  I am connected to myself through writing, learning, walking, baking, and being with my loved ones, but that ineffible, abstract self that is constant and singular is performer Janet.  Read more...

Last night, as a much needed break from deadline day, I attended ASO's Devolution: Concerto for Orchestra and DJ.  Because I was a music major and grew up in classical piano training, normally when I attend a symphony the repertoire is familiar and I'm the youngest person in the crowd.   (Although, less so I suppose, as each year passes.)  The January 13th performance was an exception to every rule of my experience.  The audience was a wide spectrum of ages, colors, and classes.  I felt that all of us were enthralled in our collective exposure to something new. Read more...

When Deidre Lloyd asked candidates to name three, in bullet points, "Do NOT explain," she pleaded the long-winded candidates, THREE things they loved about Birmingham, well...  not only did they no honor her request to not explain their choices (oh, the rambling) but they didn't make it to three!  Bell said the people and UAB, and Cooper eagerly agreed how much he loved UAB and took his entire 30 seconds doing so. 

Um, let's see... The Civil Rights Institute, Carver Theatre, Birmingham Museum of Art, great restaurants and culinary traditions, Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, the symphony, Sloss Furnaces, the MYRIAD of art galleries and artists in town, the zeal of the non-profit sector, parks and green spaces galore, Birmingham Children's Theatre, Rickwood Fields (Will someone please help them?)... I could really go on forever.  Couldn't You? Read more...

A packed gallery is a great thing at an art opening.  It means that publicity has gone well, the curator has chosen wisely and there is plenty of food and wine.  Today, Edge of Winter, curated by Kate Merritt Davis and featuring fourteen Birmingham artists, opened to the public at 4 p.m.  By 4:10, the gallery was filling.  At 5:00 when I arrived, it was full.  At 8:15 when I was leaving, it was brimming.  Read more...

Pavo launched on September 15, 2009, as many of you readers know.  However, we started way, way before that.  We were an idea in September of 2008. We gave the idea a name several weeks later.  Another baby step -- we participated in a zine fair that November.  We put the zine together in a matter of a couple of days, xeroxed a peacock feather at Kinko's, tied each zine together with string... 

In the weeks between actions, we spent long periods in discernment.  What would our magazine be?  What voice was speaking most loudly?  We became an LLC.  Who would read our magazine?  We listened closely to our friends when they talked about Birmingham.  We drove around our city and looked closely.  We watched as ideas took shape and faithfully followed them through darkness into the light.  It took courage and faith.  It also took time.  Read more...

My first confession:

I have journal upon journal on my bookshelves, all about one-tenth full of journal entries.  You will see that pages have been torn out of each one.  Most of the time, it's because I've used the paper to make a list. 

I have attempted over the last year to make each journal intentional - one for poetry, one for wine & food, one for meditation practices, one for dreams...  It still doesn't stick as well as I'd like.

For most of my life, I've been a list maker.  I love lists.  It's what I do instead of journaling, in a way.  If there were a forum for it, it would be more natural for me to blog lists than blog about my life and thoughts.  Frankly, I get can get bored with the one-sided monologue that is blogging.   I prefer conversations - emails back and forth - commenting, even, above this practice that feels more like I'm talking to myself.

My second confession: Read more...

I was nineteen the first time I met him.  I'd just gotten a copy of About to Choke, was just beginning to fall in love with Vic Chesnutt's southern-cerebral storytelling.  My friend Liz, whom I met in fourth grade during a spazzy softball practice, is Vic's niece, and though we'd known each other and grown up in the same town, Liz and I had become fast friends again like we'd only just met when we were reunited one summer when we were eighteen. 

Liz had a gig in Athens opening for Vic and I was to accompany her on stage at the 40 Watt.  It was like my big debut.  Even though I was just singing some harmonies and playing some guitar fills, I was opening up for a man who was fast becoming my hero.  Not only that, I was staying at his house.  I was going to be hanging out with him!  Practicing in his garage.  Read more...

You know when you get in the business of creative work and become the Editor in Chief of a publication, you're going to confront this issue sooner or later.  This morning, we posted a piece by one of our writers that used the F word in its final salutation.  Almost immediately, we had one response, then another, and a full blown discussion between readers on our Facebook page.  (How come you guys didn't use our handy comments feature?) Read more...

I'm tired and I haven't even eaten dinner... and it's after midnight, so I won't say much.  But I just had to write and tell you what pride I feel going to a show like the show I went to tonight at Bottletree.  I have seen and played with many national acts over the years, and folks, we have amazing talent in this city. 

Ferocious Bubbles played their first show (with a new lineup) in over a year.  Sunny So Brite had a new (ish) lineup (I hadn't seen before) and both opened for Imaginary Planes, who released their first full-length album this week. 

It was so great.  So great.  So much energy.  Perfectly executed vocal harmonies.  Gorgeous guitars.  And, it was said by many, Birmingham has some Stellar Bass Players!  And JM Cifonie did some incredible switch hitting on drums, guitar and keys tonight. 

All around, it was a great night to know that I am a part of this city and this scene.  I will sleep soundly tonight.

are we handcuffed to an "insider" mayoral candidate when we vote on Tuesday? 

The reason I'm asking is that while recording the podcast on Wednesday night, the general sense I got from our guest panelists was that City Council would shut down and refuse to work with the mayor if it turned out to be Patrick Cooper, Scott Douglas or Emory Anthony.  My first reaction to this is, did we elect children into office?  Do we have a city council that is so wrapped up in its own agenda that they won't play ball?  Well, history may paint a more clear picture of this.  We can certainly all remember some examples... Read more...