ADELE BERTEI   BOOK TOUR 
​
 October 2021

I'm about to embark on a book tour with two inspiring writers and friends,  Lucy Sante and Mike DeCapite. Lucy and I have known one another since  1977, while we were both employed at the Strand, NYC.  She's written many books but this time around will be reading from her collection of essays, fiction, memoir, and poetry--Maybe The People Will Be The Times.
​Much of the book is anchored in downtown NYC during the No Wave reign of artistic freedom. Mike DeCapite is the author of several books including Through the Windshield. His latest, Jacket Weather, is a poetic novel about falling in love in New York City. Mike is my paisan, a working class Italian writer like myself, born and raised in Cleveland.

I'll be reading from Peter and the Wolves, a memoir about being encouraged to sing by Peter Laugfhner of Pere Ubu, and the ensuing musical relationship and journey into excess.  Will also read from my most recent book, Why Labelle Matters (the Afronautic supergroup of Patti, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash). The book is an alchemical brew of biography, critical analysis, memoir, and hymn to the group.

Dates and places:

October 15th — Beachland Ballroom Tavern,
                                     15711 Waterloo Rd.,    Cleveland
October 16th — Third Man Records, 441 West Canfield St., Detroit 
October 20th — Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland 
October 24th — Howl Happening!, 6 E 1st St, New York City
October 27th — The Spotty Dog, 440 Warren St, Hudson, NY
October 29th — Black Spring Books, 672 Driggs Ave., Brooklyn, NY
October 30th — The Golden Notebook, 297 Tinker Street
                                     Bearsville Theatre Complex

November 11th — Skylight Books, Los Angeles
November 13th — The MakeOut Room, San Francisco
​

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Thoroughly enjoyed my night out with the bonfire that is Lydia Lunch,  dark lady of the sonnets Lucy Sante, and a new and welcome discovery for me, the writer and cantante Joseph Keckler, at Berlin in NYC  on Avenue A.  We performed spoken word (and a bit of music from Monsieur Keckler and myself.) I was accompanied by the lovely accordioniste, Susan Hwang.  A fantastic crowd attended  and everyone followed all Covid protocols.  Photos were taken that night , October 3rd 2021 by Jasmine Hirst. 
​Thank you Lydia, Lucy, Joseph and Jasmine!

from top left: Joseph Keckler, Lucy Sante, Adele Bertei, Lydia Lunch

photos by Jasmine Hirst

RIP  SARAH  DASH
August 18, 1945 – September 20, 2021

Sarah Dash,  original member of girl-group Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles which transformed into the Afronautic trio LABELLE (Patti, Nona Hendryx and Sarah), passed unexpectedly on September 20th. Sarah was a beloved singer and performer, sister, daughter, mother, activist for musicians' rights, and a vibrant and dynamic ambassador and mother to several communities, including those of music, the Trenton, NJ community, and her church. I never had the opportunity to meet her, but we spoke on the phone several times while I was writing Why Labelle Matters. Sarah was  warm, funny ,and generous with her time and stories. We laughed on the phone, and sang "We Come This Far By Faith",  promising each other we'd meet one day. Sarah was working on a memoir.  Two nights before she passed, she had joined her sister Patti on stage to sing.  Our broken hearts were eased knowing she was doing what she loved best , right up until the end  here on this crazy ball of beauty and pain.  My condolences go to her family, friends, and musical sisters Patti and Nona.

Nona said it best in a eulogy echoing the first Labelle concert ,where I saw Sarah standing in a halo of light singing these words as intro to a song capable of transporting  a body through  its darkest fears via flight...
"Nightbird fly by the light of the moon... she's flying high and all alone...
​Nightbird fly by the light of the moon... why not let heaven be your home?"

​"Every disease is a musical problem; every cure is a musical solution."
— Novalis