Canadian poet, guitarist and songwriter Joseph Maviglia’s visit to Bird & Beckett has been four years in the making!

His collection, Critics Who Know Jack (Urban Myths, Media and Rock and Roll) was published in Guernica Editions’ “Essential Essays” series in 2014 when the conversation started. Now, he’ll read a bit from the book, do a few songs and undoubtedly regale us with some choice anecdotes.

The book is brimful of essays, memoirs and critiques on subjects ranging from TV programming, film and literature to rock journalism, with commentary on the interpretation of artistic expression across conventional and social media. From Feng-Shui to conspiracy theory, Maviglia debunks the rise of faddishness and new age trends that undervalue primary sources in music, literature, theatre, film, and urban living.

Songs mean something sometimes.
And sometimes they don’t.
Sometimes people just want to dance
and sometimes people want to burn down palaces.

What the critics say:

In his new work, Critics Who Know Jack, internationally acclaimed poet and singer/songwriter Joseph Maviglia showcases his gifts as a cultural commentator riffing on a wide variety of subjects with real insight, virile energy and an acerbic sense of humour. Whether he’s extolling the virtues of pre-disco phase The Bee Gees, debating Independence Day versus On the Road, or posing the intriguing question “why do men’s voice heighten with weight-lifting and women’s voices deepen?”, Maviglia is always highly entertaining, thanks to an adrenalized, beats-driven prose style. This is a winner!
Kerry Doole, rock journalist

Razor sharp, drenched in poetry and punk rock attitude, Joseph Maviglia’s discursions and excursions into the realm of pop culture thrill, inform and entertain. His thoughts are personal but come across like my personal thoughts, which make him a writer for everyone.
Jerry Ciccoritti, filmmaker

Critics Who Know Jack is a look over the shoulder of a poet and musician as he reacts to literature, music, art, film, pop culture and high culture — not in order to stifle them through detached analysis but rather to keep them vital and pertinent.
Rick Salutin, playwright, novelist and journalist 

From Toronto’s answer to Lou Reed comes a book of satire, eloquence and wit!
Anthony Bilbao, media critic