Watch for Joe in "THE SOLOIST"

I just attended the cast and crew screening last night at the CineramaDome and was really blown away. Talk about a great film that won't be released 'til next year (March 13, 2009) due to b.s. industry politics. I have a very small part as EMT #1. You'll have an easier time seeing my name in the credits than in the actual film but I don't care. I'm just proud to be a part of such a wonderful film.

Jamie Foxx plays Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless music prodigy, who is befriended by LA Times reporter Steve Lopez, played by Robert Downey Jr, It's a very moving story. The audience last night was filled with actual homeless people who had parts in the film. They cheered when their friends were on screen. It was incredibly powerful. For more info on how to get involved go to www.takepart.com/thesoloist

Love,

Joe

THANK YOU, NACA!

I had a great time performing at the NACA NORTHEAST conference this past Friday night. Talk about an amazing crowd! I've never had more fun throwing Twinkies at an audience!

Shout out to my agents, Tammy, Amber and Sarah from American Program Bureau. And shout outs to all of the students who stopped by afterwards! Send me your pics and I'll post them in my blog!

Love,

Joe

Why? Because we like you.

"So Fresh and So Clean"
returns to bang.

Comedy. Poetry. Beatboxing.

Only Four Shows!
Every Saturday in October at 8pm!

This show contains (im)mature subject matter.

"So Fresh and So Clean is hilarious and outrageous, driven by provocative writing and strong performances. Joe and Josh are an amazing team. See this show!"
--Stan Lathan (Co-Creator of HBO's Def Comedy Jam & Def Poetry)


Two-time HBO Def Poet Joe Hernandez-Kolski and internationally-known beatboxer Joshua Silverstein combine comedy, poetry and beatboxing in this hilarious performance that grapples with love/sex, ethnicity and politics. According to Joe, “Imagine the Smothers Brothers meet Rahzel combined with that book of Truly Tasteless Jokes that you used to carry in your backpack during grade school.”

After two previous sold out engagements, bang is inviting them back once again.

Come see why.


"So Fresh and So Clean"

Written and performed by Joe Hernandez-Kolski and Joshua Silverstein
Directed by Benjamin Byron Davis

Saturday, October 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th at 8pm
(Total Running Time: Around 50min.)

bang. Comedy Theatre
457 N. Fairfax
Hollywood, CA 90036
(1 bl North of Canter's)

www.bangstudio.com
box office: 323-653-6886

Tix: Still just $10
(Street parking or $5 paylot NE corner Fairfax & Rosewood)


About the artists:

Joe Hernandez-Kolski is an accomplished actor who has traveled throughout the U.S. and the U.K. as part of several theatrical productions including the West End debut of “The Bomb-itty of Errors” and Center Theater Group’s “The Stones.” As a spoken word artist, not only has he performed twice on HBO’s “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry,” but he was recently invited to open for John Mellencamp in Chicago. Born and raised in Chicago and a graduate of Princeton University, Joe continues to balance his work as an actor with his youth work. He is proud to be the host of Downbeat 720, a high school open-mic that he helped create over seven years ago.

Joshua Silverstein is an LA native, equally skilled as an actor, comedian and beatboxer. After traveling the country with Norman Lear’s “Declare Yourself” Tour, Joshua returned to Los Angeles to continue developing his skills as both an actor and beatboxer. He is the host of several successful music/poetry events throughout Los Angeles including “Reflection” at Temple Bar and “Friday Night Heartbeat” at the Agape International Spiritual Center.

Benjamin Byron Davis is a native of Boston. He is an actor, writer and director. He has performed his two solo shows, “In Absentia” and “Big Shot,” on both coasts to critical acclaim. He has numerous television and film credits as an actor, and his first collaboration with Joe Hernandez-Kolski - “You Wanna Piece of Me?" - received a rave review in the New York Times when it bowed in NYC's Fringe Festival. Ben teaches acting at the reknown Ivanna Chubbuck studios in Hollywood and holds a BFA with honors in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.


Info on the theater: www.bangstudio.com
Info on Joe: www.pochojoe.com
Info on Josh: www.myspace.com/joshuasilverstein

John Mellencamp tonight in Chicago

I'm going to be one of the opening acts for John Mellencamp tonight at his show at the Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island.

Below are the two pieces that I'll be performing.

Love,

Joe

"COOL"
(the Chicago Remix)
Ryan Seacrest in his black leather pants
Is not cool
Hummers in parking spots labeled compact
Are not cool
Rims more expensive than your car
Are not cool
Calling a burrito a wrap
Is not cool
Calling a woman a bitch
Is not cool
Winters so cold you can freeze your nipples off
Are not cool
Downtown parking prices
Are not cool
Summer Expressway Construction
Is not cool
Leaving a voice mail message and giving the phone number really fast
Is not cool
Those mornings when it feels like your goals are completely out of reach
Are not cool
A 21 year old b-boy of mine
Being shot and paralyzed
For being at the wrong place at the wrong time
Is not only not cool
It is a painful reminder of what still needs to change in our world today.
And these ridiculous gas prices
Are not cool

I’ll tell you what I think is cool
Heath Ledger’s performance in “The Dark Knight”
Is cool
Getting Italian ice at Mario’s on Taylor Street
On a hot summer night
Is cool
Chicago Theater
Is cool
Chicago pizza
Is cool
The best skyline in the country
Is cool
Walking with a women and not in front of her
Is cool
Any John Mellencamp CD
Is cool
A father walking with his son in Millennium Park
Is cool and beautiful
Cute chicks in ugly cars
Are cool
Voting in November
Is cool
Enjoying what you do
Is cool
Being alive in the present
Is cool
Working to create change
Is cool
Never giving up
Is cool
The fact that Bush will be gone soon
Is cool
Cubbies/Sox World Series
Will be cool
Lucinda Williams
Is cool
The audience at Charter One Pavilion on a beautiful Tuesday night
Is cool
Bill O’Reilly

So please remember as I continue to remind myself
Living your life by Rousseau’s philosophy that
“All men are inherently good”
Is cool
Treating people as you wish to be treated
Is cool
Giving your own life the respect that it deserves
That’s the coolest of them all.

"AMERICA'S SON"

I’m a small city kid with my eyes open wide
Riding my bike through Chicago’s Northwest side
A 13 year old boy full of so many questions
Being raised by Catholic Poles and Mexicans
Hanging out with headbangers
Attending a Black high school
So many cultures
I don’t understand the rules
That somehow set up a deeply segregated population
Economics using race to divide our nation
But it doesn’t seem right to me
Dr. King spoke of commonalities
But Reagan says everything’s okay
And he looks great on TV
So who am I, at thirteen,
To question our country?

And then I hear this voice on the radio
I listen to his words
He strips off the paradise
Exposing the real world
It almost sounds like country
And yet I like it
I don’t understand why
He says he was born in a small town
And I live among buildings that touch the sky
But there’s more to it
It’s the way the band grooves
It’s like rock n roll born out of rhythm and blues
And there’s a passion in his voice
A connection immediately felt
To him it’s not about race
It’s about those who truly have the wealth

Those in the fields
Those with blue collars
Those who focus on something higher than the man made dollar
Those with bloodied palms for a day’s minimum wage
Those who wear their knowledge in the crow’s feet on their face

I immediately wanna run out and buy all of this man’s CDs
But I can’t afford them so my buddy dubs copies for me
Album after album so many solid joints
Yes, john, by the way, I owe you some soundscan points

Written in poor penmanship
I pop in a tape simply labeled “Uh-huh”
And I learn that it’s
“the simple man that pays for the thrills, the bills, the pills that kill”
I stretch out scarecrow
Staying glued to the TV while I watch this man inspire an entire Farm Aid audience
As they sing along with pride
“Scarecrow on a wooden cross
Blackbird in the barn
400 empty acres
That used to be my farm
I grew up like my daddy did
My grandpa cleared this land
When I was five
I walked the fence
While grandpa held my hand”

I switch tapes and breathe in Lonesome Jubilee
The tape that still means the most to me
Released on my fourteenth birthday
I claim this as the one that makes me a lifelong fan
From “Paper in Fire” to “Down n Out in Paradise” to
“Hard Times for an Honest Man”

I finally have enough dollars to buy Big Daddy
As I make my way to Princeton University
A scholarship kid with very few dates and a coupla A’s
I witness so much money and I’m both angry and amazed but then I listen to
“Whenever We Wanted” and I’m reminded
(which I have to say has one of the most intelligent, down to earth and straight up SEXIEST women ever on its album cover)
I’m reminded
“Now more than ever the world needs love
Now more than ever I can’t stand alone
Now more than ever…”

I am one of a million young poets screaming out their words
To a world full of people just living to be heard
By future generations riding on the highways that this man from Bloomington built
Thanks to you, John, I do have a better understanding

I know it’s important to not only question my government but more importantly myself
To remove my plastic smile and pull my confidence back off the shelf
To stop making excuses to follow through with my plan
To suck it up tough it out to be the best I can
Cuz this is our country at such a brilliantly beautiful time
America was born from those not afraid to cross the line

I am still the same city boy with my eyes open wide
With optimism so brightly shining from inside
A full-grown adult still full of so many questions
But what would you expect from a Catholic Polish Mexican?

Thanks to you
I now embrace my full family name
I accept my life without passing the blame
My life is now I know that’s the answer
And I’m not ashamed that I’m a real good dancer
And yes, I’m 5’6” which to the world might be small
But you remind me to always walk tall

So on those days when I ask myself if it’s all worth it
Your music gives me a true sense of purpose
Your music reminds me that I am not the only one
So I keep on fighting thanks to you
You are truly America’s Son.

LATINATION

Episode 422
Showing Week of 07/14/08 - 07/20/08
Rerun Week of 09/08/08 - 09/14/08

Meet an inspiring star in the spoken word scene, Joe Hernandez-Kolski; Chill with up and coming music video director, Michael Lozano; Nurturing the artists of tomorrow, discover Austin’s own, Lupe Arte; Discover the healing powers of music with rock group, Curanderos; Get roughed up by Cuban born “American Gladiator,” Alex Castro.


LatiNation is in its fourth season and features segments such as extreme sports, video gaming, urban fashions, technology, wrestling, underground music movements, and pop culture. LatiNation can be seen weekly on over 90 (overwhelming full-powered) English-language TV stations from coast to coast, plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, reaching over 85% of the U.S. Hispanic market and over 65 million homes.



LOCAL WEEKLY AIR DATES:

Los Angeles KCAL 9 Saturday Nights @ 12:30 AM

New York WWOR/MY9 Sundays @ 4:30 PM

Chicago WPWR/My 50 Sundays @ 11PM

Complete market list at http://aimtvgroup.com/ln/wheretowatch/

See exclusive video for the web at www.LNMas.com

http://aimtvgroup.com/ln/whatson/http://aimtvgroup.com/ln/whatson/


Thanks go out to Dolly Romero and Jared Bentley!

"So Fresh and So Clean" is BACK at BANG!

"So Fresh and So Clean" returns to the bang Comedy Theater!
Every Saturday in May at 8pm!


THIS SHOW CONTAINS (IM)MATURE SUBJECT MATTER.

"So Fresh and So Clean" is written and performed by two-time HBO Def Poet Joe Hernandez-Kolski and internationally-known beatboxer Joshua Silverstein.

After packing the bang Comedy Theater to the rafters and receiving a standing ovation, they've asked us to bring the show back! We've been working on it and we promise that it's even "fresher" and "cleaner" (so to speak).

Please join us every Saturday in May at 8pm for a new hip-hop theater piece that combines comedy, spoken word poetry and beatboxing. (Imagine the Smothers Brothers meet Rahzel combined with that book of Truly Tasteless Jokes that you used to carry in your backpack during grade school.)

Dr. Cornel West says that, "Joe’s work offers a fresh perspective that is both honest and insightful." When Queen Latifah first saw Josh perform, she immediately exclaimed on the mic, "That kid is fresh!"

Come see why.

"So Fresh and So Clean"
Written and Performed by Joe Hernandez-Kolski and Joshua Silverstein
Directed by Benjamin Byron Davis


EVERY SATURDAY IN MAY!

Saturday, May 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st at 8pm
bang Comedy Theatre
457 N. Fairfax
Hollywood, CA 90036
(1 bl North of Canter's)
www.bangstudio.com
box office: 323-653-886

Tix: $10

Street parking or $5 paylot NE corner Fairfax & Rosewood

Love,

Joe

p.s. Keep your eyes peeled for an invitation to another great event coming up on Friday, May 9th..."Downbeat on the Street." Downbeat 720 (the high school open stage that I host with DJ Jedi) is taking over the Promenade! Friday, May 9th, come to the 3rd Street Promenade from 7-9pm and watch as our high school artists perform for the crowd. More details to follow.

(photo by Alfie Ebojo)

www.pochojoe.com
www.youtube.com/pochojoe

The latest.

It's 2am and I really should be asleep but there's a lot of good stuff happening right now:

1) Just confirmed -- "So Fresh and So Clean" returns to bang Comedy Theater on Saturday, May 3rd! Yes, the last show went so well (standing room only AND a standing ovation) that we'll be doing the show there EVERY SATURDAY IN MAY AT 8PM. And we're looking to rehaul the show so there will be a lot of changes (in other words, come see it again).

Mark your calendars NOW.

2) I'm currently having a blast working on a Center Theater Group workshop production of a new hip-hop musical. Loosely based on "Othello," it's written by Matt Sax and directed by Eric Rosen (The team that brought you "CLAY"). We're really having a lot of fun and later today we'll be performing for the CTG artistic staff. (And, yes, I'm singing all up in this biyotch!)

And then I drive directly to...

3) ...the set of Dreamworks' "The Soloist." Directed by Joe Wright ("Atonement"), this film stars Jamie Foxx as a homeless man who's a musical prodigy and Robert Downey Jr as the LA Times writer who befriends him. Yes, I'll be on the set with an Oscar-nominated director and working with two Oscar-winning actors. Wish me luck.