The Orange Spotlight

Hosho McCreesh & Caleb Puckett Next Exit: Eight (Kendra Steiner Edition, March 2008)

"Gumballs spark against the street with the thud of a bass drum" from "Washington, Oklahoma"

Oklahoma and New Mexico, two states I've never been to, but two states these wonderful writers bring to life in vivid fashion. From carnival life to the death of a horse, to the day before the big game, Next Exit: Eight takes the reader on a rural journey through dusty American life. Switching states with the turn of a page, the trademark of the Next Exit series is the lack of names, it is up the reader to determine who is the author of each poem. However, the absence of names removes the need know who wrote what, it allows the reader to simply enjoy the words and thoughts.

Fourteen months ago, Caleb Puckett, became only the third writer featured on Orange Alert. His use of language is incredibly fascinating. He is able to fit more on a page then most writer's fit in an entire chapbook. I won't tell you what state he is from, but I will tell you he is an incredible writer.

Hosho McCreesh is one of the founding members of the Guerilla Poetics Project, and a legend in the small press. His poems are sharp, they cut straight to the heart of whatever issue or scene he chooses to focus on. He was featured on Orange Alert back in October, and recorded a poem called "Van Gogh only sold 1 Painting" for the upcoming Orange Alert Mixtape.

El Perro Del Mar From The Valley to the Stars (The Control Group, 4/22/08)

As the tiniest of green sprouts begin to appear, and rain fills even the sunny days, and all of the dark and dingy mounds of solid snow finally melt away, there is a certain melody in the air. The birds have returned, they add to the melody but still it is something fuller that you hear. Something delicate but haunting, lush but sensitive and unassuming, something joyful and full of renewal. What you hear is the sweet soprano of Sarah Assbring (aka El Perro Del Mar). Her soft vocals float above your senses and radiate like the first breathe of warm spring air.

Over the last four years Sarah has released her music in various formats on various labels, but the formula remains the same. Her music comes from a completely different era, perhaps the past and quite possible the future. Organs, flutes, slightly off harmonies, love, gifts, stars and jubilee, these are the elements and beauty of El Perro Del Mar.

Jubilee/Glory to the World (mp3)/You Can't Steal a Gift/How Did We Forget?/Inside the Golden Egg/To Give Love/Inner Island/Do Not Despair/Somebody's Baby/The Sun Is an Old Friend/Happiness Won Me Over/From the Valley to the Stars/You Belong to the Sky Now/Into the Sunshine/Someday I'll Understand (Love Will Be My Mirror)/Your Name is Neverending

El Perro Del Mar will be playing in Chicago on May 12th @ Shuba's, and for all of her concert date visit her myspace.