National Poetry Award winner Truth B. Told, aka Christopher Owens, will release his new spoken word album, Lyrical Therapy Volume 2: The Death and Rebirth of Christopher Owens, Part 1 and 2, on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at Jazzyblu Cafe & Lounge (815 W. Market St.).
Owens has been releasing a song from the new album every week via his ReverbNation homepage, www.reverbnation.com/truthbtoldpoet, but this will be the first time you’ll be able to buy it in full.
His style incorporates elements of hip-hop, neo-soul and inspirational music, in addition to straightforward poetry. So far, the alchemy seems to be working: “My Testimony,” which appears on Lyrical Therapy, earned him the 2010 National Poetry Award for Poem of the Year, and he will tour the country next year as part of Black Entertainment Television’s Black College Tour.
He appeared in the film “How You Look to Me” with Frank Langella (of “Frost/Nixon”), opened for Chrisette Michele, and has a collaboration with Maestro J. titled “Word/Play” now in production. Owens is hoping his Kickstarter campaign will raise enough money for him to complete Lyrical Therapy Volume 3.
Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 (adv.), $15 (door), $50 (VIP). Call Owens directly at 544-8438 to buy them.
Party Mack
Louisville Is for Lovers recently released a split 7-inch from The Mack (aka Jeff Shelton) and King Kong drummer Pete Townsend, and The Party Girls, which included Shelton, brother John Shelton, Ben Herning and the late drummer Tony Bailey (Dead Child, Crain, Rude Weirdo). The Mack songs “Love Habit” and “Free No More” were recorded in Nashville by Townsend and engineer Logan Buerlein. Tony Downs (Starman Jones) and Will Hancock (Wolverine Brass) recorded The Party Girls’ “In the White House” and “Checks Cashed.” More info at www.louisvilleisforlovers.com.
Music Cast
Smooth jazz saxophonist Rick DeBow (www.myspace.com/safesax57) joins us in the offices to talk about his recently released album, Weak in the Knees. Listen at Bluegrass Catastrophe, bluecat.leoweekly.com.
