Henry Miller Memorial Library

Big Sur, California
We do not talk - we bludgeon one another with facts and theories gleaned from cursory readings of newspapers, magazines and digests.

Archive for January, 2011

Levi Strom, Kath Bloom, Melisssa Underwood: Monday night at the Henry Miller Library!

Posted on: by hmmler

I must say, I’m warming up to these indoor winter shows. We have them inside the library, put out 30 or so chairs, make coffee and tea, serve wine, and just relax. No PA. No amps. Total living room-vibe intimacy and magic.  Everything but a fooz (sp?) ball table.

Last week’s Bee Eaters show was captivating. And tomorrow’s looks to be the same.  On Monday, January 31st, we’ll be hosting Melissa Underwood, Kath Bloom, and Levi Strom.

Kath is awesome; she’s been crafting tender folk tunes since the 70s. I mean, for real, “Come Here” is one of the prettiest songs you’ll ever hear:

Meanwhile, Melissa, who lives just down the road in Carmel Valley, plays eerie, gorgeous pop tunes, oftentimes on electric guitar.

And Levi (Riders on the Strom) is, well, what can you say?  Monterey County Herald’s recent profile said it better than I could, that’s for sure.

This show will rule!

Animal Collective sold out in 2 minutes. But all is not lost…

Posted on: by hmmler

So yeah, the Animal Collective show sold out in under two minutes. Man oh man. I mean, it’s only 300 tickets, what can you do?

Thanks for your patience and understanding. All of our “big” shows – AC, Arcade Fire, Catpower, etc – sell out super-fast, you can imagine. Just do the math. But there’s good news: these “big” shows comprise of, like, 15% of our total shows. Most of you know know this, but some of you may not.

In addition to these “big” shows, we have lots of smaller, equally-cool things, like Wednesday open mic (in the summer), our international film fest (Thursdays in the summer), and tons of “mid-size” events. Check out the awful pie graph, entitled “Composition of Cool Stuff at the Henry Miller Memorial Library,” below, if you don’t believe me:Pie graphs don’t lie!!!

Trust us: the yellow stuff is the “big” shows; the pink is all the other stuff.  And those of us who work here will testify: many times, the “mid-size” events are far superior than the super-big show. Frank Black, for example, played to like, 100 people. John Doe, also another intimate affair. In these settings, there’s more room, the lines for the bathroom are shorter, and the wait for coffee is minutes, rather than weeks.

Our point: The Henry Miller Memorial Library is far more than just these blockbuster gigs. In fact, without boring you on the sketchy finances, as a non-profit, it’s these smaller events that help us pay for the bigger events. It’s called “micro-events.”  That’s showbiz baby!

So do keep us in mind for your future plans.  Yes, a lot of the action is from May 15-Oct 15th, but not always.  For example, we got Levi Strom and Kath Bloom this Monday, the 31st, and the brilliant Cache Valley Drifters on March 3rd – two rare, intimate, and amazing winter shows. Be our friend on Facebook, sign our mailing list, and don’t be strangers!

And thanks for not sulking over the sold-out shoot; we consider ourselves blessed to have the most emotionally sophisticated fans in the industry.

Animal Collective tickets go on sale today!

Posted on: by hmmler

Update: It sold out!

–

It’s true.  Today, at noon, go to the Henry Miller Library or Folk Yeah page and follow links to the ticketing page.  The show is April 14th.

The day of the event, there are no in’s & outs (no exceptions for forgotten coats, wallet, phones etc.).  Food and drinks will be sold inside the event using recycled and sustainable products.   You may not bring in food or drink to the venue for this event.

Good luck and godspeed!

The greatest book of the 20th Century. Discuss.

Posted on: by hmmler

That, ahem, would be “Tropic of Cancer.”

A book, first published in France in 1934, that wasn’t published in Miller’s own country until 1961.  Could you imagine?  Not being able to buy your own book in your own country for almost 30 years?  Not cool.  Stupid Puritans.

No matter how you describe it, Tropic of Cancer is as powerful and vital as ever. For those not in the know, the book describes Miller’s wild and heady times as an ex-pat writer in 1930s-France, and ingeniously blends confessional writing with fiction, metaphysical insights, and stream-of-consciousness expositions.  It’s pretty saucy too.  Henry, you devil!

It also contorts our perception of what a book should be.  The narrative arc, well, it doesn’t exist.  Rather than go from Point A to Point B, it goes from Point A to point…Pluto.  And in that sense, it was strikingly post-modern and bad-ass.

So, this is it, kids. The Big One. And we’re stoked to now be able to sell it online on the Henry Miller Library Store.

But don’t take our word for it. Samuel Beckett hailed it as “a momentous event in the history of modern writing.” No small feat!

Animal Collective in Big Sur: Ticket-buying instructions

Posted on: by hmmler

Consider it, like, a fun treasure hunt; your quest for Animal Collective tickets at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, on April 14th.

Well, for those interested, your next set of instructions are found at folkyeah.com.  Basically, tickets go on sale this Friday.

While we can’t say for sure what the instructions will be, they *should* involve: a man in a trench coat with a thick German accent, a mysterious package behind the dumpster at Esalen, and the cryptic ramblings of Cuddles, the middle-aged drifter who lives in his van 10 miles south of Gorda.

That will be your mission.  If you choose to accept it.

Best Year Ever! Summary of sick 2010 shows. Totally sick.

Posted on: by hmmler

2010 was totally sick at the Henry Miller Library.  Yo La Tengo, Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, etc., yada yada yada.  And don’t get us started on Monterey County proper; heck, Dylan played Monterey!

So, recently, the three luminaries behind many of Monterey country’s amazing concerts in 2010 – music promoter Tobin Peregrina, FolkYEAH! mastermind Britt Govea and do-everything Henry Miller Library director Magnus Toren – shared their favorite moments from those shows and other acoustic highlights from 2010 with the Weekly.  Read the whole thing here.

Al Jardine of the Beach Boys

But, since Magnus is my boss, let’s get some of his crucial commentary first:

“The 2010 season was amazing in so many ways,” Toren says. “The generosity of all the artists in the top 10 list is heart warming—when performing at the library they don’t do it for the money! Without the many volunteers, staff and interns and, of course, Britt Govea, none of this would have happened.”

“Yo La Tengo “They flew from the East Coast, stayed almost a week in Big Sur. Getting to know Georgia [Hubley] and Ira [Kaplan] is one of my most treasured memories. What generosity of talent and heart!” the xx “Having two of the biggest selling indie bands in the world (the xx and Arcade Fire) in our small redwood grove were highlights but, again, how can you put one above the other?” Arcade Fire “The rain—which came during soundcheck for Arcade Fire and brought the whole band inside with acoustic instruments for an impromptu concert/rehearsal—was one of the most memorable in my 17 years here.”

Keep reading here…

Another rare HML show – tonight! The Bee Eaters

Posted on: by hmmler

We normally don’t have winter shows here at the library.  For a few reasons.  Here are two:

1) The weather.  Winters in Big Sur can be Biblical.   Co-workers get stranded, as the dirt roads they live on become muddy rivers.  People subsist on beans and stale coffee.  The CHP hands out sandbags.  Arks float down Highway 1, etc.  And…

2) People don’t want to schlep down to the Library.  Because we’re “too far” (rolls eyes)

Well, both those things go out the window tonight (besides, it’s beautiful out – like, 70 degrees!) for the Bee Eaters.  How could we say no?

The Bee Eaters trace their roots back to musical traditions as diverse as bluegrass, Celtic, jazz and old-time. While today’s new breed often produces an amalgamation of sounds and styles based on a distant view, the Bee Eaters were raised embedded in these traditions… raised to mold, meld, shape them and carry them forward, leaving their own indelible marks in the process.

More info on the show on the Henry Miller Library site!  See you there!

Still room available for the "best writing workshop in the country"

Posted on: by hmmler

That would be our writing workshop.  Namely, the Big Sur writing workshop to be held March 4-6 in Seaside/Monterey, CA.  It will sell out so hurry up before it’s too late!

For the past fourteen years, writers have come to the Big Sur Writing Workshop for an intensive weekend of working on manuscripts with publishing professionals who are dedicated to helping new writers. The workshops are designed for writers who have a finished or partially finished manuscript that needs critiquing, revisions, editorial help and guidance.

But don’t just take our word for it:

“This is the first conference I have walked away thinking this was worth every penny. I actually feel like I have something of value, and I am a better writer for going.”

“The critique groups were amazing. The editors, agents, and authors were very approachable, and their comments/edits were invaluable. The writers in both critique groups shared fresh/unique perspectives, with an uninhibited ear/eye for what was and was not working. I stayed up nearly all night on both nights to create a revised first chapter that’s both immediate and evocative…… kick your butt in a good way workshop. It was was inspiring.”

Things that make us blush: kittens, Zima, nice blogs about us

Posted on: by hmmler

Like this one.   I mean, we’re not one to toot our own horns, but c’mon, can you blame us?  We blushed, for goodness sakes.

It’s a nice blog about a visitor’s tour of the library.  For you, dear reader, consider it a “Virtual Tour” as it were.  Key quote:

If a book lands on your head, you get a free tamale

I recently visited the Henry Miller Library on my New Years trip to Big Sur with my family. It was my first time inside this incredible space – part museum, part bookstore, part archives, part art. Gallery. Whether you enjoy the life and times of Henry Miller or not, one minute walking through this hideaway and you’re happy he was born.

<Blushing>

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