San Francisco Bay Guardian
preview 5-19-99
Much to the consternation of working stiffs hurriedly dashing
into java joints for a quick fix, Roger Manning is very
likely the sort who leisurely reads paperback novels on the couch
midday, jots musings on napkins, and scribbles in sketchbooks.
He also in-line skates around different cities, assessing their
skater friendliness for skatecity.com. His latest collection of
mental effluvia, Fuck You Have a Nice Day, was published
by NYC's Soft Skull Press, home to the writings of King Missile's
John S. Hall, Grant Lee Phillips, Michael Stipe, and Sonic Youth's
Lee Renaldo. However, Manning is best recognized onstage, singing
songs and playing guitar. But don't call him a folk artist. He
hails from the anti-folk genre, its' stronghold in NYC's Lower
East Side ("the last place where you could still wear black clothes,
make lousy art and have a good time," he chided on his third CD).
Equal parts troubadour, stand-up comic, and spoken word artist,
Manning works up a pretty good lather, playing his acoustic guitar
with punk rock's heavy strumming and engaging the audience with a
jabber-jaw wit, a storyteller's eye, and the sparring ability of
the funniest Politically Incorrect guest.
Wed/19, 9 p.m., Hotel Utah
(Howard Myint) -San Francisco Bay Guardian
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