Erotic economics, etc.

By Vincent Tinguely

Sometimes Jake Brown seems like the perfect newspaper columnist without a column, bursting with ideas people should wake up to every morning over coffee and toast. Take the two new pieces he's performing at his solo show this week. "Why Spoken Word Sucks" is an attempt to explain why, despite having been practiced for thousands of years, spoken word remains an invisible artistic genre. Brown explains that there are two sets of reasons: "The reasons spoken word artists are responsible for, and those they aren't responsible for."

He also plans a variety of irresponsible costume changes for this performance. "From Fibre Optic Cables to Cock Rings: Our Insane Economy" was written and recorded recently for a CD/chapbook project on the FTAA, and is inspired by something Brown read by a U.S. economist when the new technology bubble burst: "Don't worry, Americans will find something useful to make again."

There'll be musical interludes by the mysterious Janet Apple Red, and free apples for the audience. Brown also promises, "If you don't laugh, you get your money back." Wednesday, Oct. 10, 9 p.m. at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), $5 (if you laugh).

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