Culture Watch

Vanishing Hopes

There are few local projects I’ve found myself as conflicted about covering as local author Randy Moser’s forthcoming book, The Vanished Messenger (1195 Press). On the one hand, the book seems to be a rambling, semi-mystical, extraordinarily vague pseudo memoir and coming-of-age story that refers to itself in a press release as “invoking Cobain, Leary, Godzilla and Holden Caulfield.” In other words, it smacks of highbrow, self-referential pretension with a dash of 20th-century irony, which is kind of hard to get behind. On the other hand, however, Moser and company seem to have their hearts in the right place. According to the book’s Web site, it’s Moser’s goal to spread the message that “the courage to share stories through artistic communication erodes cynicism and enriches lives.” Sure, it sounds like a well-meaning mission that will in all likelihood translate into a thundering belly flop in terms of book sales. Why? Because, having read most of Moser’s promotional e-mails—not to mention having furiously scrounged around on his Web site, blog and MySpace account—I still have only the vaguest idea as to what the book will actually be about. A post-1960s ghost story? A Gen-X diary? No clue. On Thursday, March 1, The Grey Eagle will host a free launch party for The Vanished Messenger, featuring readings by Moser, spoken work by Glo DeAngelis, a variety of visual artists and music by local rock groups Dice Fly High, Lewis and Bandazian. The book is also available through vanishedmessenger.com and Amazon.com.

Where The Moon Don’t Rise

Speaking of well-meaning things that will be unleashed upon the world in March, local composer Richard Shulman and collaborator Amy Rae Stupka will release their first collaborative album. As Sure as the Moon Will Rise appears to blend Shulman’s signature “healing” sound (or, as I’d describe it, “Things I Learned from Yanni”) with Stupka’s jazzy blues talents. While I doubt the album will ever make it into my personal CD collection, the bar-jazz-meets-New Age fusion could very well find an audience among the spiritually inclined booty-dancing crowd (a demographic that appears just out of John Tesh’s reach). They’ll be having a release party Friday, March 16, at Karmasonics (14 Haywood St.), with an $8 admission.

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