circa 1976

*BIO* Last Edited in 2008! :)

 

Abraham Chang is a "retransplanted" New Yorker. This young Chinese–American poet/musician was born and raised in Queens, NY and attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. He spent his college years in Boston and abroad. In 1998, after Abe received an Academy of American Poets Prize, he returned to New York and attended the MFA program in Creative Writing at NYU. During the course of the program Abe worked with several award-winning poets including Galway Kinnell, Sharon Olds, Donald Hall and Abe’s mentor, Philip Levine. Abe's music is an eclectic blend of his poetic verse set to a vibrant mix of hard rock, folk, indie, electronica, and pop-punk. Each song tells a story--often of redemption and heartbreak. Abe's material not only touches on the emotional tides of the human condition, but he also writes songs that are infused with humor, wit, and the joy of a fast beating heart. Armed with an acoustic six string and a smart mouth, Abe's live shows are infamous for unique mini-cover songs, "themes," and true-life tales of the inspiration behind the music. Never one to just sit and strum, Abe fiercely attacks each song as if it was his last....and cracks jokes in between. Abe Chang recorded an independently released album entitled "just in case i lose you" in 1998 and an EP, "lucky insouciance: 7 live & acoustic" in 2002. In 2005, his first full length CD, "lo-fi is chic." was released. He is currently working on "revenge made easy" for a 2009 album release. He perpetually plays live solo shows in NYC and along the East Coast including venues such as: the green room, Manhattan Theatre Source, Teabag: AMPLIFIED, PIANOS, Laugh Lounge, Fat Baby Bar, and the Nightingale Lounge. He has also performed at Tufts University, Amherst University, MIT, UPENN, Oldie Goodie (Taiwan), Beecher's Comedy Madhouse, Yi Jia, and The Rivers in the Desert Advocacy Center. He has also performed on the nationally syndicated PBS television program "Asian America" and on SINO TV's morning show. In 2007, a commercial parody that Abe starred in was featured in an MTV/Viacom talent search. Abe Chang's poetry has been published in journals from Tufts University and Columbia University. His poetry has also appeared in China Dahhhl, the Asian American Pacific Journal, Carriage House Review, Lotus Magazine (*winning a "Sleepy Allen Time Award"), NY Spirit Magazine, and in Holt, Rinehart and Winston's English Literature textbook series. Abe's poetry has also been used in the Montgomery County standardized tests. Abe has also written numerous features for Anime Insider magazine. He has contributed to the Rough Guide to Graphic Novels, and several books for DK Publishing. * * * Abe uses: Gibson, Fender, Martin, and Ibanez guitars. Pearl drums, Zildjian and Sabian cymbals, AKG and Samson mics, Korg EMX beats, and Fostex digi8trackyumminess. * * *

abe's faves and raves: Abe listens to: Superchunk, Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers,The Smiths, Morrissey, U2, Shudder to Think, The Killers, THRICE, Coheed and Cambria, Sunny Day Real Estate, Placebo, Suede, The Bravery, The Shins, Arcade Fire, Pulp, Blur, Coldplay, MUSE, The Cure, depeche mode, Radiohead, Portishead, Interpol, Bright Eyes, THE FAINT, My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, Ladytron, Jimmy Eat World, Thursday, Dashboard Confessional, Alkaline Trio, The Get Up Kids, Hot Rod Circuit, Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, AFI, TOOL, A Perfect Circle, Iron Maiden, Korn, Smashing Pumpkins, Flickerstick, STP, NIN, Sisters of Mercy, Belle and Sebastian, Portishead, Pixies, Tori Amos, Juliana Hatfield, Jonatha Brooke, Do As Infinity, M-flo, Number Twelve, 80's metal, ol skool hip-hop. Abe reads: Philip Levine, Louise Gluck, Deborah Digges, Donald Hall, Marie Howe, Alice Sebold, Zadie Smith, Chang-Rae Lee, Irvine Welsh, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Brian K. Vaughn, Mark Millar, David Sedaris, Chuck Klosterman, Dave Eggers, Chuck Pahlaniuk. Abe watches: Conan O' Brien, Arrested Development, Mr. Show, Kids in the Hall, Strangers with Candy, Buffy!, battlestar galactica, The Sopranos, The Office, Coupling, LOST, Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, Dexter, Weeds, Scrubs, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Everybody Loves Raymond, nip/tuck, VERONICA MARS, Wonderfalls, Sex and the City, Boy Meets World, Family Guy, Simpsons, Futurama, South Park, and anime anime anime. Abe's fave movies: Army of Darkness, The Professional, Amelie, kisskissbangbang, Three Colours Trilogy, Memento, The Usual Suspects, John Hughes movies, Kung Fu Panda, Iron Man, Election, Roman Holiday, Kill Bill, Battle Royale, Donnie Darko, Harold and Maude, Mean Girls, Star Wars, the Adam Sandler oeuvre....and anything Kevin Smith. Abe loves comic books. Abe loves yorkies and retrievers. Abe loves a good thai iced tea. Abe loves giant robots and cute girls with guns. Abe loves a good crisp, buttondown shirt. Abe loves short walks on a muddy trailway. Abe loves domestic movies in color. Abe loves ...you.