by Angela Williams and Kenn Rodriguez
Daily Lobo
Buddy Wakefield always plays Albuquerque on the perfect note.
A performance poet and slam champion from Seattle, Wakefield is on the last leg of his personal road tour and every time he swings by New Mexico, the Buddy groupies swarm to see his intense, emotional performances.
He knocked out the audience at January's Poetry and Beer as the feature for the city's oldest monthly slam and open mic in the state with hosts Danny Solis and Eric Bodwell.
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Recently, the Daily Lobo asked Wakefield some questions via e-mail to get a feel for the Buddy-hype that somehow always precedes him.
Daily Lobo: What was the best part of your time on the road?
Buddy Wakefield: The unexpected daily moments in random places with so many abstract people continuously for two years -- from being flown to L.A. to audition for Norman Lear to dancing on stage at a booby bar in Eaton Rapids, Mich.
DL: How do you prepare for shows?
BW: I clean out my car.
DL: Who are your biggest literary influences?
BW: Hugh Prather, Robert Pirsig, Pooh and Michael Moore.
DL: Who are your biggest performing influences?
BW: Ween, Jane's Addiction, Van Morrison, M. Doughty, Ragan Fox
DL: What attracted you to writing?
BW: I just was. It was never forced. I was an only child and was constantly angry, but was always so non-violent that I found myself scratching everything out on paper.
DL: What attracted you to performance poetry?
BW: My lack of proficient guitar playing in singing; having all the confidence in my words.
DL: Do you use your personal identity as a homosexual man as a source for inspiration and content in your writing?
BW: Sometimes I use homosexuality as a source of inspiration and content in my writing. Most times I'm focused on writing for a universal crowd.
An important thing to note is that much of my intensity and punch on stage is directly related to growing up feeling like there was something wrong with simply being who I am, human -- like I might actually burn in some literal fire forever because I was born a certain way.
It's pretty cruel and has led to other writing not focused on sexuality. It's part of the core of what I do, but my sources of inspiration are far reaching.
You just happened to catch me on a night where I knew some folks in the audience needed to hear those topical experiences; not to mention, that was the first time I was ever introduced as a gay poet.
DL: Do you feel that it's important to retain a balance between the performance aspect of your work and the actual poetic aspect? Why?
BW: Yes. Because of a constant need for perfectionism and desire for quality.
There's a reason poetry isn't the most popular of art forms. It's generally so gotdamned boring without the performance and unless you're an auditory learner, it's dreadfully boring.
There's such self-absorbed, anti-cathartic crap out there about as original as a frat boy with a visor cap that I want to run out of the room most times I hear folks reading poetry.
DL: Are you a gay poet or are you a poet who happens to be gay?
BW: I'm a poet who happens to be gay, not a gay poet.
DL: What kind of advice would you give to aspiring performance poets?
BW: Do not study poetry. Finding your own voice is like finding religion.
Do not trap people into corners and read them your poetry. It's a form of torture. I admittedly did it growing up.
I know you have a voice that needs to be heard and that you're amazing for the things you see, but make sure whomever you're sharing with truly wants to hear you.
Pretend, inside your skin, you've got a friend who's willing to give you everything you ever wanted in exchange for all you've ever been.
For more information on Wakefield, his poetry and upcoming performances visit www.livepoets.com.
