June 3rd, 8 PM
Fisch Haus, 524 S. Commerce
By Kyle Little

Davy Rothbart is a hipster dreamboat: occasional correspondent to NPR's This American Life, author of his own collection of short stories, and founder of . . . well, Found magazine. This last endeavor brings him to Wichita on June 3rd as part of Found's Denim & Diamonds tour. For those unfamiliar with the magazine, Rothbart describes it as, "a giant community art project. People discover notes, letters, pictures, to-do lists-really anything-and send them to me." Finds range from the whimsical (booty tape, anyone?) to the sublime, and each issue promises a cache of Rothbart's favorites.

In fact, that's how the magazine originated: Rothbart discovered a note on his windshield intended for someone named Mario, and he considered it so amusing that he had to share it with his friends. Rothbart says, "I loved how the note was angry and hopeful at the same time, moving from 'I fucking hate you,' to 'Page me later,' in a couple lines." Found was born months after when Rothbart and a few friends compiled their best finds into a handmade 'zine. "Our neighbor thought we were selling drugs," says Rothbart of the traffic his apartment saw during Found's first 800-issue run.

Though it's expanded far from its humble origins, the magazine continues to showcase the most exceptional and absurd ephemera its readers encounter. Rothbart will recite some vintage Found gems when he visits Wichita in June, and his brother Pete will play songs based on Found notes. Rothbart says, "I get a little rowdy and carried away on stage-I try to read the finds with the same emotion and energy they were written with." The brothers will hit 56 cities this year as part of their Denim & Diamonds tour.

Rothbart will also have copies of Found's third book and impetus for this year's tour, Requiem for a Paper Bag, on hand when he performs in Wichita. He notes, however, that Requiem differs from its predecessors: "Sometimes the notes explaining the finds are more interesting or poignant than the finds themselves. We got in touch with our favorite writers, musicians, and artists and asked them to share stories about things they've found." Requiem's contributors include Andrew Bird, Sarah Vowel, Andy Samberg, Seth Rogen, Kimya Dawson, and a variety of others.

Rothbart will only perform one night in Wichita, so stop by the Fisch Haus at 8PM on June 3rd to contribute your own finds. Though the tour's never stopped here before, Rothbart evidences excitement at the prospect of seeing central Kansas. His short story collection, The Lone Surfer of Montana, Kansas, was actually inspired by his last road trip through the state. He says, "I saw this kid in a cornfield place a surfboard between two tractors, one thousand miles away from the nearest ocean. I love moments like that." Davy, we do too.

June 03, 2009
Wichita, KS » Fisch Haus, 8 pm, 524 S. Commerce, 316-263-6770