December Slam Roundup
Read or join the discussion on this post.
One of the most beautiful things about slam poetry is when rookies shock the veterans out of their comfort zone. That’s what happened on Dec. 15 when slam virgin Ariana took the stage and won the entire competition, earning a spot in the International World Poetry Slam in Vancouver in late January. She looked more overwhelmed than anyone else!
But before the slam, the packed house at The Boat was treated to the spoken word power of Will Evans, straight outta Columbus, Ohio. He gave us fresh perspectives on love, politics and even the simple phrase “Fuck That.” Props to peeps who bought his CD, cuz supporting a touring poet is always a mitzvah in my book.
During the slam, poets brought the kind of variety the Toronto scene is known for: Electric Jon doing his voodoo-reggae song “Death by Shark”; Krystle waxin poetic about handing out resumes; Memo rippin apart first-impression ignorance; That Brown Bastard wishin the entire human race a fiery death; and Ariana droppin both funny and heart-breaking poem-monologues that surprised every earhole in the room.
Congrats to Ariana, Boonaa and G.E. for makin the final round, and big-time props to Will Evans for gracing our stage.
Check this space for information about the 2007 season, and what it’ll take for poets to make the 2007 team reppin’ Toronto Poetry Slam. See you Jan. 12 at the Drake (early start time, remember!).
December 17th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
it was an amazing night. i was certainly shocked by Ariana’s emergence onto the scene. it was inspiring and endearing when, at the end of the slam, she gave pure props to Krystle for being her inspiration. a moment i won’t soon forget. lookin forward to the new year.
tomy “not-so-slam-idol” bewick
ps don’t forget this thursday Dimenzia 5
BAMBAM
December 17th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
I love the fact that a rookie pulled the carpet out from alla yall (of course I’m also glad I abstained from slamming so I could keep my footing!).
And I’m glad it weren’t no fella. The slam gender balance has tended to be a little testosteronerous, but it looks like it’s starting to shift.
Hey Ariana if you’re reading this, come on out to the Jan slam too - and anyone else waiting in the wings, the gates are open!
December 17th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
oh, p.s.:
TEAM TORONTO 2 REPRESENT!
Boonaa held it down.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:52 am
I am so inspired by Ariana’s poems and win! I had that line, “I like that red dress in the corner, I’m a 12 let’s make it work.” in my head (in her exact voice in my head) and several other lines too… I think her (was it italian) accent really helped her delivery too, which is something I’m always telling my esl learners, accents are sexy, keep them! Anyway I was inspired for a couple of reasons, the humour, the kaliedescope of imagery that somehow created an overall impression without even seeming to mean to… I could go on, but i also like that she read it from the page because that’s my worst fear is reading my peices because i don’t have the focus to memorize things anymore. i have a store of ten years of poems but most of them are from the first two years on this track. anyway enuff about me, you ‘ll be hearing enuff sooon enuff…. ok a little ditty i made up while touring on my rubber hoses framed by metal around the chitty
i search the faces for traces of places
i thought i saw in their spaces
cold cases closed cause when they’re open it shows
something everyone thought no one should know
he was taught to be fought consistently caught
picked up considered and eventually dropped
i hopped to my sane stat
riding out the plain fret
a musical note on the train cat
it was wacked completely stacked
my head turning with a burning
and a wet lap… uh ok
i got a bit carried away
anyway
if anyone out there wants to come to riverdale and chill with this mama
lets rap and play with my laptop
ha ha ha
i don’t think i’m gonna go to the gallery 636 thing on saturday that i was promoting and has my name all over it !! but what the hell, it’s not my fault… all i can say is…
personality…. fuck the personality…
that’s z out
i’m not a big myspacer but i do have a couple m, one is zaylazworld
and i have some pics up that are cute at
flickr.com/photos/zaylazworld
s.s.p.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:56 am
That’s my website now actually not that other one linked to my name up there… that’s not my link but still a good link, as links go.
December 26th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
The right person won definately.
I felt like alot of us vets were
over thinking the slam.
It was good to see someone just killing
it from the first round…
It also showed the maturing of the audience
(but the judges were a little inconsitent)
The right 3 made the final and the right person
won…thanks to a pretty wise crowd
BIG DEAL - the champion of champion slam
is shaping up nicely