A Press Release about me

[furrylitldevil]

Pretty cool stuff, it makes me seem 10 feet tall and impervious to conventional weapons.

-------------------------
AURORA POET TO
PERFORM WITH ROLE MODELS:
THE CHICANO MESSENGERS



Last time the Chicano Messengers of the Spoken Word
were in town, Eddie Eifler heard them loud and clear.

Their message: Your voice matters.

Eifler's been writing and speaking ever since - and
his voice is carrying. He has become one of Denver's
hottest spoken-word artists, earning weekly raves at
the Mercury Café's Sunday-night poetry slam.

This Friday the Chicano Messengers return to town for
an 8 p.m. performance at the Community College of
Aurora (CCA). And they'll be sharing the stage with
Eddie Eifler.

He'll step up to the mic just ahead of the poets who
inspired him to launch his career.

The Messengers - Paul Flores, Marc David Pinate, and
Amalia Ortiz - are three of the nation's best-known
"performance poets." All onetime national champions,
they tour nationally and make regular appearances on
HBO's "Def Poetry Jam."

During their last trip to Denver, in April 2004,
Flores spent an afternoon with Eifler's
creative-writing class at CCA. That night Eifler
attended the Barrio Slam at El Centro Su Teatro, which
culminated with an hour-long performance by the
Messengers.

"I never knew there was such a thing as a 'poetry
slam' until then," says Eifler. "I was just blown away
by what I saw."

"It was a flashpoint," agrees CCA English professor
Wayne Gilbert, Eifler's former teacher and the faculty
sponsor for the Messengers' campus visit. "It was
really amazing."

Thus inspired, the Aurora-born Eifler began writing
long, rhythmic word-paintings about everything from
9/11 to abusive parents to the shootings at Columbine
High. He became a Sunday-night fixture at the Mercury
Cafe, joining fellow CCA alumnus (and Gilbert protégé)
Ken Arkind.

Arkind won the Barrio Slam in April and went on to
compete in last month's National Poetry Slam in St.
Louis - a feat Eifler would like to duplicate.

"I'm definitely going to try to get to the Nationals
next year," he says.

Seems like Eddie Eifler has gotten the message,
alright.

# # # #

The Chicano Messengers of the Spoken Word perform
Friday, September 24, at 8 p.m., on the campus of the
Community College of Aurora, 16000 East Centre Tech
Parkway. Admission is free and open to the public.

[Book Lover]

1. Hey, bully for you

Always nice to get good press :-)

[furrylitldevil]

2. Thanks

I'm excited, it's my first unsolicited ink.

[classof56]

3. Congratulations--this is great!

And in my old stompin' grounds--Denver/Aurora where I grew up.

Best wishes--you have a wonderful future before you.

Classof56

[furrylitldevil]

4. Really?

Whereabouts did you used to stomp around?

[classof56]

5. North of Denver

Graduated from a high school called Adams City. I think it's now on the way to the Denver Airport. It was Stapleton Field, way back then, near Aurora, and I clearly recall FitzSimmons Hospital, where Kerry was born. It was a lo-o-o-n-g time ago--I'm probably your grandparents' contemporary! Used to go to coffee houses in downtown Denver to hear music and poetry readings. I was in Denver last year to visit friends who were there for awhile--things have changed, of course, but I still have lots of good memories from my many years there. Your post brought back some, too. I no longer have family or friends there, so expect I won't pass that way again. Rockies still gorgeous in the distance...wow, I'd best stop now! Take care and again, best wishes!

[furrylitldevil]

6. Thanks again

I used to work out near Stapleton, and I live not too far from DIA out here in Saudi Aurora. I also was born at Fitzsimmons, though it was probably 30 years after Kerry, and I go to coffee houses to hear music and poetry as well. For a generation gap, we sound a lot alike. Well, you take care as well and hopefully we'll see you back in the Rocky Mountain state before too long.

[classof56]

7. Bless you!

DU is lucky to have you on board! I've been contemplating coming to Denver for the 50th high school reunion in a few years. Depends on how the election goes, I guess. I may be opting for Canada--I'm not too far from there.

Take good care. BTW--Saudi Aurora. I like that!

[LynzM]

8. Congrats!

On both the good press, and the excellent-sounding event! :bounce: