Cantab Recap for Wednesday, October 21, 2015

On pretty much any Wednesday night at the Boston Poetry Slam, you could tell yourself you were looking forward to a diverse, solid, and highly original open mic, a standout feature, or a baller all-star poetry slam. When the stars align, though (not that you’d know from our lightless basement, but let’s metaphor for a change), you can get all three parts of the show to dovetail flawlessly. What a great night at the Boston Poetry Slam!

After a really excellent open mic, showing off some real-talk dialogue among regulars and offering some standout new readers (not to mention a couple of debut hosts), Tim Toaster Henderson took the stage. And by “took the stage,” we really mean “rolled the stage up into a six-dimensional cigar and took us on a magic Linklater carpet ride into intersectionality, bigot recognition, and cicada heaven.” Did you miss it? Would you love to see more? He’ll be at Slam Free or Die in Manchester tonight and the House Slam in Boston on Friday.

The slam was, as advertised, packed with all-star winners from the past eight weeks, all looking to try on the crown of the venue’s coveted Champion of Champions title! Last season’s champion, Mckendy Fils-Aimé, stood by in the wings, waiting for this season’s finale to mint an opponent for him: the champs 8×8 slam came down to Jess Riz and Emily O’Neill, both bringing illuminating, remarkable work straight from the page. After gaining some momentum in an early-night tiebreaker round, Emily took the big win for the season title! She elected to move on and challenge Mckendy for the venue champion title in the highly anticipated all-new-poem finale round. Both poets showcased their own voices beautifully, but an off-page debut poem by Mckendy took the win in a 3-2 split from the judges. Congratulations to everyone! Long live Mckendy Fils-Aimé, who’ll be defending his new title on December 30!

Next week (that’s right, the hits keep on coming): we’ll feature a National Poetry Slam Champion, Melissa Lozada-Oliva of the 2015 House Slam Team. Our open poetry slams will also begin again: eight weekly chances remain to qualify for the 2016 Boston Poetry Slam team.

Tips from the Bar: I Was Going to Park There

Produce a poetic rebuke for someone who stole your chair at a bar or a show.

Bonus points: try this in form (other than free verse).

Cantab Feature for Wednesday, October 21, 2015: Tim “Toaster” Henderson and the Champion of Champions Poetry Slam

Chicago/Bay poet Tim Toaster Henderson. Photo by Ian Tuttle.

Chicago/Bay poet Tim Toaster Henderson. Photo by Ian Tuttle.

Toaster is a performance poet who has competed in the Individual World Poetry Slam, National Poetry Slam, Ink Slam and other “big money” poetry competitions. He has also performed in a large variety of literary showcases such as Literary Death Match, The Encyclopedia Show, Lit Quake and Beast Crawl. Toaster was featured in SF Weekly, on All Def Digital’s youtube channel and Season 4 of Lexus Verses and Flow. You can find his work on his website, his Instagram, and his Twitter.

Tonight also marks the final night in our current 8×8 poetry slam series! Eight slam winners will slam off for the season championship and the opportunity to slam against August’s Season Champion, Mckendy Fils-Aimé, to fill the vacant Champion of Champions post.

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. The Champions of Champions Slam in the 8×8 speed slam series will follow. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.

Encyclopedia Show: Somerville for TUESDAY, October 20, 2015 — S3V2: WYOMING

Encyclopedia Show: Somerville — WYOMING on October 20, 2015! Art by Melissa Newman-Evans.

Encyclopedia Show: Somerville — WYOMING on October 20, 2015! Art by Melissa Newman-Evans.

TUESDAY, October 20, 2015
The Davis Square Theatre
255 Elm St. in Somerville
7pm doors, 8pm-10pm show
all ages, $10/$7 sliding scale
click for Facebook event

The Boston Poetry Slam and Catherine Martin present the next installment in a slightly educational monthly series!

Our theme for this month’s show will be WYOMING! We’ve invited an exciting complement of artists to produce poetic experiences about one of the most interesting square states. Note that this event in the series will take place on a TUESDAY.

The Encyclopedia Show Somerville is a franchise event, wherein invited artists from a variety of performance disciplines present all-new, original works on sub-topics of a single theme. A recurring cast of hosts and characters welcomes the artists with open arms and minds, while the resident Fact Checker is charged with maintaining the integrity of the Encyclopedic Truth of the show. Presenting all-original guest performances from local artists, plus work from our recurring cast members:

  • Rob Crean and Chloé Cunha provide clever banter and funny accents appropriate for CO-HOSTING
  • The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library offers MUSICAL SUPPORT
  • Wes Hazard dispenses QUESTIONABLE EXPERTISE with panache and aplomb
  • and Intern Steve Subrizi has been advised to be less clumsy around the paint pots.

Live Fact Checking is reluctantly provided by Jack van Sly from the Institute of Human Knowledge and Hygiene. The personal assistant to Mr. van Sly is Jade Sylvan.

This show in our monthly Encylopedia Show: Somerville series takes place at the Davis Square Theatre, 255 Elm St. in Somerville. Doors and the theatre bar open for a pre-show welcome party at 7:00. The show begins promptly at 8:00 and finishes at 10:00, including a short intermission. This is an all ages show! Admission is $10, or $7 for students, teachers, or guests in Prohibition-era dress.

Cantab Recap for Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Last week: we welcomed the most excellent and thoughtful language pioneer Corrina Bain to the stage. C brought us a set with all the vulnerability, intensity, and honesty we’ve come to expect from this unique poet’s voice. The four-poet Slam of Doom (very serious) came down to a nailbiting third round between Encyclopedia Show host Chloé Cunha and New Hampshire wunderkind Ed Wilkinson. Ed took the final round, and the ten bucks, qualifying him for next week’s Champion of Champions slam.

NEXT WEEK: it’s a double-header! On Tuesday, we’ll welcome The Encyclopedia Show: Somerville back to the Davis Square Theatre for the second installment of Season 3; the show will feature poetry, music, comedy, and Very Important Interviews on the topic of WYOMING! Then, on Wednesday, we’re back at the Cantab for our usual open mic, featuring Tim “Toaster” Henderson and the Champion of Champions poetry slam. October! October! October!

Tips from the Bar: Snake Eyes Double-Bonus Prompt

Prompt #1: The Zeke Russell Prompt. Write about a happy moment in an apocalypse.

Prompt #2: The Valerie Loveland prompt. “Genitals on Pedestals.” Do with that what you will (consensually).

Cantab Feature for Wednesday, October 14, 2015: Corrina Bain

Worcester transplant Corrina Bain from NYC.

Worcester transplant Corrina Bain from NYC.

Corrina Bain is a gender non-conforming writer, performer, and teaching artist. He is a former member and coach of multiple national-level poetry slam teams. His work has appeared in anthologies and journals such as Muzzle Magazine, PANK, A Face to Meet the Faces, and the Everyman’s Library book Villanelles. His work engages the nuances of the body as a source of identity, pleasure, betrayal, and shame. While deeply rooted in the personal and specific, his vision extends to encompass history, mythology, and politics. No injustice, hypocrisy, or human weakness escapes this poet’s gaze, especially his own. Searching beyond violence, Corrina suggests that there is power in trusting the body’s wisdom, in witnessing suffering, and in speaking what you do not dare to say. Currently, he lives in Brooklyn where he practices roundhouse kicks, twerking, and emergency psychiatric counseling.

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 poetry slam in the 8×8 series will follow. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.

Cantab Recap for Wednesday, October 7, 2015

This past Wednesday: we had a killer night at the Cantab with a fabulous spotlight feature and full feature combo! The illustrious Beck Cooper from New Orleans took the stage during our open mic for a bonus set of three poems to close our her short northeast visit; she sold out of books earlier in the tour, but you can grab one through her Paypal link at her personal tumblr.

After our star-studded open mic, Jeremy Radin took the stage for a full feature. This actor, writer, and body-image warrior deconstructed his personal history for us through the foggy lenses of love, Twitter, and chocolate cake. You can get his book online from Write Bloody Publishing: check out Slow Dance with Sasquatch.

The night’s big finale was a cutthroat slam with a remarkable finish: the rarely-seen-slamming feral duo of Emily O’Neill and Cassandra de Alba faced off in the last round. Congratulations to Emily, who took the win, the ten dollars, and the coveted seventh spot in our upcoming Champion of Champions slam.

This Wednesday: IT’S KIND OF A BIG DEAL, GUYS. Corrina Bain will be in town from New York, poeming things to you as they actually are. Plus, it’ll be the very last slam in our 8×8 series before we crown a brand-new champ. See you there!

Tips from the Bar: Triskaidekaphilia

Write a horror poem about something that doesn’t scare you.

Cantab Feature for Wednesday, October 7, 2015: Jeremy Radin

L.A. native Jeremy Radin. Photo courtesy PEN Center USA.

L.A. native Jeremy Radin. Photo courtesy PEN Center USA.

Jeremy Radin is a poet and actor living in Los Angeles. His poems have appeared (or are forthcoming) in numerous journals including Union Station, Nailed, Souvenir, and Freezeray. His first book, Slow Dance with Sasquatch, is available from Write Bloody Publishing. You may have seen him on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia or in a restaurant aggressively eating pancakes by himself. Follow him @germyradin.

NOLA poet Beck Cooper. Photo by Christopher Diaz.

NOLA poet Beck Cooper. Photo by Christopher Diaz.

Tonight’s show will also feature a spotlight from another touring poet: Beck Cooper.

Beck Cooper is a New Orleans based spoken word artist whose work draws upon personal experience to explore themes of womanhood, queer identity and body positivity. She is a two time member of the Baton Rouge National Slam Team, and her poetry has been featured on Upworthy, Everyday Feminism, and All Def Poetry. Beck ranked within the top twenty poets at both the 2015 Women of the World Poetry Slam in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the 2015 Southern Fried Individual Poetry Competition in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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 poetry slam in the 8×8 series will follow. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.