Cantab Recap for Wednesday, April 22, 2015

It was a windy spring night in Cambridge last night, which meant that we were lucky enough to have Chanel Dupree blow in from New York via Northampton! This up-and-coming poet brought us a lovely and lyrical set, including both well-polished poems from last year’s Nationals and some brand-new work we expect to see sharpened on the stage later this summer. The slam was a well-balanced six-poet fight, boiling down to JR Mahung and Janae Johnson in the 1-minute round. Janae pulled out all the (Stevie Wonder!) stops to take the win and the $10, earning her one of the last spots in our upcoming World Qualifier Speed Slam.

Next week: we welcome back Columbus-at-heart poet and our recent Grudge Match hosting star, Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib. The speed slam that night will be the last in our 8×8 Champion of Champions series.

Tips from the Bar: Is It That Time of Year Already?

Prepare a creepy interaction for your next reunion.

Cantab Feature for Wednesday, April 22: Chanel Dupree

2014 NPS semi-finalist Chanel Dupree.

2014 NPS semi-finalist Chanel Dupree.

Chanel Dupree is a rising young spoken word artist from New York City. Chanel was the only woman on the final LouderARTS slam team, semi-finalists at the 2014 National Poetry Slam; she was invited to perform her poem “Delusions” as part the Finals Stage showcase. Chanel has featured at the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, Port Veritas, and at Yale University’s United Nations Global Health Conference, promoting women’s advocacy and youth employment. Chanel has also been featured on “At the Inkwell” as one of their inspiring up and coming writers. Chanel’s writing style is storytelling and redemption; spilling everything on the page, showing how being human is a beautiful battle.

Note that tonight’s open poetry slam is a speed slam with 3-, 2-, and 1-minute rounds. Slam winners qualify for the 2015 World Qualifier.

This show in our weekly Wednesday series takes place at the Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. Doors for the show open at 7:15. The open mic begins at 8:00 and the feature performs at approximately 10:00. An open speed slam in the 8×8 series will follow. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.

Grudge Match 2015 Recap: Thank You to All Our Grudging Fans!

For those of you who were able to get tickets to our sold out Grudge Match show on Sunday: thank you, thank you, thank you! We packed the house with an awesome crowd (comic Wes Hazard said y’all were “dope,” btw) and were so proud to put on a show for you. All the proceeds from this show will be split between the Boston Poetry Slam and the House Slam to help send both teams to the National Poetry Slam this August. NorthBEAST!!

Oh, you’re wondering who WON this Grudge Match? Okay, okay: we officially acknowledge that by a 4-3 round score, the Haley House took the big win at our first ever show. Congratulations to the show, especially founding SlamMasters Porsha Olayiwola and Janae Johnson! Janae was captured in a great stage shot by official photographer Marshall Goff:

Janae Johnson takes the mic at the 2015 Grudge Match to tell us about the MBTA. Photo by Marshall Goff.

Janae Johnson takes the mic at the 2015 Grudge Match to tell us about the MBTA. Photo by Marshall Goff.

Congratulations to the Haley House! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR, RIVAL CROSS-TOWN SLAM!!11!1!

Of course, this show could not possibly have happened without the help of many hard-working volunteers. Remember hearing about the upcoming shows that all our judges, openers, and hosts are involved in?? Here’s a quick guide to what’s coming up from these excellent folks… We are proud to recommend all the shows featuring these talented folks:

  • KEN GREEN, Chicago Judge Extraordinare, is the founder of Story Club Boston, a live theater open mic with storytelling features. The next show is this Monday, April 27, at the Milky Way in Jamaica Plain!
  • COLIN KILLICK, judge, community organizer, and poet, will speak at Capable Massachusetts: A Panel on Poetry and Disability at the Mass Poetry Festival in Salem on Saturday, May 2.
  • WES HAZARD, brilliant comedian and stage presence, will be back at Oberon on Monday, May 4 as quizmaster for The Big Quiz Thing’s special Star-Wars themed live trivia game show. You can cheer on his other pursuits at his personal website.
  • AIMEE ROSE RANGER, host and comedian, hosts a FREE comedy variety show at Zuzu in Central Square, Cambridge on first and third (and fifth!) Sundays. It’s called The Ranger Zone, and the next one will be Sunday, May 3.
  • ALEX CHARALAMBIDES, who served as our de facto Bout Manager/Head Evil Judge, is actually the kind-hearted Managing Director for Mass LEAP, which presents the annual Louder Than a Bomb youth poetry slam tournament every spring in Boston. Follow them on Facebook to keep up with the fun: events start in South Boston on May 9.

Wow: what a baller troupe of staff folks. Want to give thanks for a great night? Please spread the word about these good folks making art happen all over the state.

Thanks, everybody. Looking forward to the rematch…

The Boston Poetry Slam and the House Slam Present: THE GRUDGE MATCH, April 19, 2015

First-ever Haley House vs. Boston Poetry Slam Grudge Match! Banner by Emily Carroll.

First-ever Haley House vs. Boston Poetry Slam Grudge Match! Banner by Emily Carroll.

THE GRUDGE MATCH: House Slam vs. Boston Poetry Slam
Sunday, April 19, 2015
OBERON, 2 Arrow St. in Harvard Square, Cambridge
doors at 6:30pm, show 7pm-9pm
18+, $10/advance or $15/door (click for tickets)
click for Facebook event

Get ready for the biggest National Poetry Month event of 2015! The House Slam @ the Haley House Bakery Cafe and the Boston Poetry Slam @ the Cantab Lounge are proud to present the first ever GRUDGE MATCH POETRY SLAM between the two venues.

On Sunday, April 19, greater Boston’s oldest and freshest slam venues will face off against each other in a head-to-head poetry battle for big-city bragging rights. Poets from each team will use all the tricks of their trade— lyricism, comedy, political fury, and straight-up heartfelt personal narrative— to impress rowdy audience and all-star judges in the heart of Harvard Square!

ANNOUNCING THE TEAMS FOR THE GRUDGE MATCH:
—Team Boston Poetry Slam will be represented by SlamMaster Simone Beaubien (Captain), Bobby Crawford, Chloé Cunha, Marshall Gillson, Jade Sylvan, Joshua Elbaum, Sean Patrick Mulroy, and Meaghan Ford.
—Team House Slam will be comprised of SlamMaster Porsha Olayiwola (Captain), Nora Meiners, Febo, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Cassandra Euphrat Weston, Sterling Higa, Jordan Peterson, and Janae Johnson.

All slammers will present NEW WORK written EXCLUSIVELY FOR THIS SLAM on topics selected by the Captains. They’ll be judged by five hyper-critical American-Idol-style judges, including Mass LEAP leader Alex Charalambides, slam legend and Story Club Boston curator Ken Green, displaced Portland slam champ Sarah Lynn Herklots, local thinker and slammer Colin Killick, and one-time Cambridge Poet Populist Toni Bee.

The show opens promptly at 7:00 with performances from comedian Wes Hazard, musician Steve Subrizi, and Princess Moon. The slam will follow, hosted by Encyclopedia Show host Aimee Rose Ranger and Columbus poet Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib.

This show is 18+ and tickets are $10 in advance/$15 at the door. All proceeds go to help send the House Slam and Boston Poetry Slam teams to the 2015 National Poetry Slam in Oakland, California this August.

Cantab Recap for Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Tax Day has come and gone, Cantabbers, and with it the wild and emotional celebration we have come to associate with… Our feature Emily Rose! Emily brought us a classic chapbook and a hot new manuscript, dipping into each for a series of succulent one-minute treats. The reeling audience knew themselves for extra-lucky when Emily finished her set: we got a sneak preview last night, but you’ll want to watch for her upcoming publication with Thoughtcrime Press.

The slam was jam-packed with eight poets who came prepared for speed! The final one-minute-don’t-blink round came down to new slammer Kylie Noelle and veteran performer Ed Wilkinson. The judges had been totally into both poets all night, but gave Kylie the decisive win and the big $10.

Next week: we’re back with NYC poet and NPS showcase performer Chanel Dupree and our seventh speed slam in the 8×8 series… But wait, there’s more: this Sunday, April 19, we have a special presentation at OBERON in Harvard Square!

That’s right, it’s THE GRUDGE MATCH, a cooperative/competitive fundraiser with Boston’s newest poetry slam, The House Slam. Come see poets from each venue go head-to-head on the OBERON stage! It’s all for bragging rights and a chance to raise money to send both venues’ teams to the National Poetry Slam. Tickets are going fast and WILL sell out, so you’ll want to grab yours soon or risk missing the city’s biggest slam of the year!

Tips from the Bar: On Company Time

Write a self-care manual in the style of a corporate handbook.

SCHEDULE CHANGE: Cantab Feature for Wednesday, April 15, 2015: Emily Rose Kahn-Sheahan (CANCELED: Danez Smith)

Due to circumstances beyond our control, Danez Smith has had to cancel the New England leg of his 2015 tour. We will work to re-book the artist at his earliest convenience. In the meantime, the Boston Poetry Slam is pleased to present an excellent last-minute fill-in of the utmost quality:

Emily Rose onstage upstairs at the Cantab at the National Poetry Slam.

Emily Rose onstage upstairs at the Cantab at the National Poetry Slam.

Emily Rose Kahn-Sheahan lives in Chicago where she has hosted and curated shows for ten years, including operating as the SlamMaster for Mental Graffiti and the home curator for Real Talk Live. She has represented Chicago at the National Poetry Slam, provided performance coaching for slam and beyond, held down a position as a board member for Chicago Slam Works, and was Chair of Poetry for the Bucktown Arts Festival; she currently contracts with Poetry Slam, Inc. to make every spreadsheet run smoothly. Her work has recently appeared in Columbia Poetry Review, TriQuarterly, Muzzle Magazine, After Hours, and TimeOut Chicago. Her chapbook, Cigarette Love Songs and Nicotine Kisses, was published by Cross+Roads Press. Her upcoming chapbook will be released on Thoughtcrime Press.

Although currently on a non-working retreat in the New England area, Emily Rose has graciously agreed to fill our last-minute open feature slot. We are pleased to welcome her back to our stage.

Note that tonight’s open poetry slam is a speed slam with 3-, 2-, and 1-minute rounds. Slam winners qualify for the 2015 World Qualifier.

This show in our weekly Wednesday series takes place at the Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. Doors for the show open at 7:15. The open mic begins at 8:00 and the feature performs at approximately 10:00. An open speed slam in the 8×8 series will follow. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.

Biography of the CANCELED feature:

Ruth Lilly fellow Danez Smith.

Ruth Lilly fellow Danez Smith.

Danez Smith is the winner of a 2014 Ruth Lilly/Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation. He is the author of [insert] boy (YesYes Books, 2014), one of the Boston Globe’s Best Poetry Books of 2014 and a Lambda Literary Award Finalist, and two chapbooks— black movie (Button Poetry, 2015), winner of the 2014 Button Poetry Prize, and hands on ya knees (Penmanship Books, 2013). He holds fellowships from Cave Canem, VONA, and the McKnight Foundation. He was featured in The Academy of American Poets’ Emerging Poets Series by Patricia Smith. He is a founding member of the multi-genre, multicultural collective Dark Noise.

Danez placed second at the 2014 Individual World Poetry Slam and is a two-time Rustbelt Regional Champion. In 2014, he was the Festival Director for the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam. His writing has appeared in Poetry, Ploughshares, Beloit Poetry Journal, Narrative, and elsewhere. He lives in Minneapolis, Minn.

Note that tonight’s open poetry slam is a speed slam with 3-, 2-, and 1-minute rounds. Slam winners qualify for the 2015 World Qualifier.

This show in our weekly Wednesday series takes place at the Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. Doors for the show open at 7:15. The open mic begins at 8:00 and the feature performs at approximately 10:00. An open speed slam in the 8×8 series will follow. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.

Cantab Recap for Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Happy Even More National Poetry Month, Cantabbers! Last night we enjoyed far-flung traveler Karen Finneyfrock, a longtime legend from the Seattle slam who also shared a good helping of her young adult fiction with us. Missed your chance to get her books? You probably aren’t alone, since she sold out of everything she brought! You can of course order from her publisher online, so we’ll give you a quick link to just one… Here’s the amazing anthology she edited and appeared in, called Courage: Daring Poems for Gutsy Girls on WriteBloody Publishing.

After the feature, of course, we slam! This week’s speed slam featured four hard-core spring slammers, who were speedily (ha) narrowed down to the recently eliminated finalists Nora Meiners and Ed Wilkinson. In a tight match, Nora took the win in the one-minute round: you can catch Nora again at the Grudge Match on Sunday, April 19 at OBERON, where she’ll be repping the House Slam.

Next week: we’re back with our regularly-scheduled open mic, featured poet, and speed slam. Next week’s headliner will be the incomparable Danez Smith: you’ll want to be here early to get in before it’s sold out.

Tips from the Bar: Not That Kind of Sleep

Write a poem that is directions for putting an inanimate object, or abstract concept, to sleep.