Jim Carroll and Richard Hell with Groovy Religion
The Opera House
Toronto, ON, 20 June 1997 Review by Cathy
I caught the show last night and it was great. I don’t know HOW someone can be so incredibly genuine every time they read. But he was and is. Jim read from his soon to be released new book and my friend and I were just glued to the stage. He also read “8 Fragments for Kurt Cobain.” Also! his last piece was a message he left on the answering machine of a woman he had broken up with. Woo hoo . . . massive thunder storm! Actually no . . . tidal wave. . .
He mentioned watching the show Cops and how the one that featured this kid who had been sniffing gold paint inspired a song–which he did recite.
We were lucky enough to actually meet Jim before the show at a radio station. He was very generous with everyone and signed everything/posed for photos. He said he felt bad about not being able to write back to all the people that write him.
I felt like a fucking tourist asking for a photo with him. I honestly felt bad afterwards. I imagine a lot of people want one because they see him as some celebrity/famous person whatever. So, the photo becomes a party piece–look! me with Jim Carroll! Argh. That wasn’t my motivation/intention at all. I wish I could have just held his hand for a minute and tried to convey to him how much his writing has touched me.
What can I say.
He never ceases to move me.
his light–it shines shyly . . . gently.