I first saw Chris Chandler at the Wabash Café in 1993. I didn’t remember his name and in the 12 years since I didn’t see him, hear of or about him. But I never forgot his poetry. He did a piece called “(United States of) Generica” that has stayed with me ever since. It was stuck in my head one night last October as I was driving home from a poetry slam. Two days later, Wiktor tells me this guy named Chris Chandler was gonna be in town performing. I had no idea who he was talking about and gave some non-committal response. Searching for an example of Chris’ work, Wiktor mentioned “Generica” and my eyes lit up. I started reciting “Generica” to Wiktor after having not heard it over ten years.
I went to Chris’ show and he wrecked the spot. Imagine Tom Waits and Randy Newman as a double act and you start to get the picture of Chris Chandler and David Roe. The whole show was great, but the piece they did about New Orleans almost made me cry. You can hear it, along with a video slide show here:
I saw this guy when Calvin Case had the place where the Drug store is now on the corner by the Diner, I think in ’95 or ’96. He was very inspiring. My piece called “Shopping Mall” was dedicated to Chris. I would love to have seen him again.
I first saw Chris sometime in the very late ’80’s, when he was still pretty much just playing in the streets for gas money to the next city. He became an instant hero. My all-time favorite Chris Chandler show was at a house party (I don’t remember the exact year but it was sometime in the latter half of the ’90’s) backed by a small acoustic band. After the set proper (which was awesome) there was an extended, spontaneous jam on “Hey Joe” during which Chris’ accordion player started making pleas to “Joe” on a bullhorn. Good times…