Category Archives: Music

Sea Wolf’s “Frank O’Hara,” a Tribute to the Poet of Indie Rock

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Andrew Epstein

  Indie rock’s love affair with Frank O’Hara continues apace.  As I’ve noted before on this blog, O’Hara seems to haunt the history and present of popular music, leading one observer to ask: ‘When did Frank O’Hara become the poet … Continue reading →

Posted in Allen Ginsberg, Federico Garcia Lorca, Frank O'Hara, Music, NY School Influence, Walt Whitman | Leave a comment

David Berman, Poet Among Musicians (1967-2019)

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Andrew Epstein

Last week, tragic news hit the worlds of indie rock and contemporary poetry simultaneously.  The musician and poet David Berman, leader of the acclaimed indie band Silver Jews, had passed away at the age of 52, after a long struggle … Continue reading →

Posted in David Berman, In Memoriam, James Tate, John Ashbery, Kenneth Koch, Music, NY School Influence | 1 Comment

Frank O’Hara and Indie Punk (Having a Coke with Martha)

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Andrew Epstein

Longtime readers of this blog probably know I’m always on the lookout for moments when Frank O’Hara or other poets of the New York School pop up in the world of music.  O’Hara, especially, continues to haunt the history and … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank O'Hara, Grace Hartigan, Lou Reed, Music, NY School Influence, Patti Smith, Thurston Moore, Visual Art | 1 Comment

Roundup of Recent “New York School of Poetry” News and Links (8/23/18)

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Andrew Epstein

Here’s the latest roundup of recent links, new publications, and news related to the New York School of poets.  (For my most recent roundup, see here). — The indie band Deerhunter released an album titled Double Dream of Spring, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alice Notley, Anne Waldman, Bernadette Mayer, Bill Berkson, Bobbie Louise Hawkins, Criticism, David Lehman, Douglas Crase, Douglas Oliver, Eileen Myles, Fairfield Porter, Frank O'Hara, Geoffrey O'Brien, Irving Sandler, Jane Freilicher, Joan Mitchell, Joe Brainard, John Ashbery, John Yau, Kenneth Koch, Kevin Young, Larry Rivers, Music, NY School Influence, Robert Creeley, Robert Dash, Ron Padgett, Roundup, Thomas Devaney, Vincent Katz, Vincent Warren, Visual Art | 2 Comments

Cecil Taylor (1929-2018), Frank O’Hara, Amiri Baraka

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Andrew Epstein

When the groundbreaking avant-garde jazz pianist and composer Cecil Taylor died last month, there was an outpouring of obituaries and tributes to his genius and influence.  But there was less attention paid to Taylor’s connections to the literary world, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Allen Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones), Beats, Billie Holiday, Bob Kaufman, Cecil Taylor, Charles Olson, Frank O'Hara, Franz Kline, Gilbert Sorrentino, In Memoriam, Influences on the NY School, Jack Kerouac, Jazz, Kenneth Koch, Larry Rivers, Michael McClure, Morton Feldman, Music, Norman Mailer, NY School Influence, Ornette Coleman, Paul Blackburn, Robert Creeley, Robert Duncan, Thelonious Monk | 1 Comment

Roundup of Recent “New York School of Poetry” News and Links (4/2/18)

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Andrew Epstein

Here’s the latest roundup of recent links, new publications, and news related to the New York School of poets.  (For my most recent roundup, see here). — Jeremy Noel-Tod reviews Karin Roffman’s biography of John Ashbery’s early years and reflects … Continue reading →

Posted in Aime Cesaire, Allen Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones), Book Review, Charles North, Criticism, Douglas Crase, Eileen Myles, Elizabeth BIshop, Interview, Jack Spicer, James Schuyler, Joe Brainard, John Ashbery, John Koethe, John Yau, Kenward Elmslie, Kevin Killian, Music, NY School Influence, Patti Smith, Peter Gizzi, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Roundup, Ted Berrigan, Uncategorized, Visual Art, Wallace Stevens, William Carlos Williams | 3 Comments

Roundup of Recent “New York School” News and Links (2/20/18)

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Andrew Epstein

Ever since I started doing this blog (back in 2013), it’s been a challenge for me to just keep up with the steady stream of New York School-related news and happenings. (It doesn’t help that this doesn’t actually count as … Continue reading →

Posted in Alice Notley, Book Review, Charles Bernstein, Criticism, Eileen Myles, Frank O'Hara, Harry Mathews, Jasper Johns, Joe Brainard, John Ashbery, John LaTouche, Lou Reed, Mark Ford, Music, Ron Padgett, Roundup, Ted Berrigan, Velvet Underground | 1 Comment

Michael Jackson, the Frank O’Hara Fan?

Posted on November 11, 2017 by Andrew Epstein

                              I know these days it can seem as if everyone is a Frank O’Hara fan and his name gets dropped in far-flung places all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank O'Hara, Music | 2 Comments

“On Rachmaninoff’s Birthday”: Frank O’Hara and the Russian Composer

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Andrew Epstein

Today is the birthday of the Russian composer and virtuousic pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) — a date which held special significance for Frank O’Hara. Across the course of his life, O’Hara wrote seven different poems titled “On Rachmaninoff’s Birthday” — … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank O'Hara, Joe LeSueur, Music, Poems, Sergei Rachmaninoff | 2 Comments

Leonard Cohen (1934-2016), Kenneth Koch, and the Island of Hydra

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Andrew Epstein

                    Very sad news broke last night that the legendary songwriter, singer, and writer Leonard Cohen had passed away at 82.  Cohen began his career as a daring young Canadian poet … Continue reading →

Posted in In Memoriam, Kenneth Koch, Leonard Cohen, Music, Uncategorized | 4 Comments