Ann Arbor Poetry Slam

We have a fantastic feature for you in November. Jive Poetic is coming to us straight from New York. I have had the opportunity to see Jive perform on more than one NPS stage, and I have never been disappointed.

His Bio, courtesy of his website:

From his hometown in Buffalo, NY to London, England JIVE POETIC has ignited microphones with humorous wordplay and thought provoking verbal display. During a lengthy deliverance of revolutionary regression to teen suicide and sex, JIVE POETIC opts to teach the masses a lesson in life. His incentive? Watching the reaction of his listeners.

(more…)

This coming Tuesday, October 2, the Ann Arbor Poetry Slam continues it’s 2nd decade on the scene. Because of a horrendous scheduling error by yours truly, Blair will not be featuring, (Don’t worry, he will be here in December I promise!). Filling his place will be a Kalamazoo poet named Uncle Drunk. He approached me not too long ago looking for this feature, and well, I couldn’t say no. Kalamazoo poets are always different.

Uncle Drunk’s bio:

Uncle Drunk grew up in a poor section of Palm Desert Ca. Writing his first piece of poetry at the tender age of 8 years old. From that point on his live was a downhill slide of literature and vice. Spending time around the street punks of Ventura/Santa Cruz Ca got him the perfect basis for his brand of street punk infused words and memories of childhood.

After getting clean and helping other punks in the Grand Rapids area get clean he attended his first Slam. He once again fell onto his rhythmic toboggan with a new dream.
In 2007 his dream was realized and he competed at National Poetry Slam in Austin, Tx. He was a member of the Kalamazoo Poets’ Anonymous team.

His first book “Life in the Doghouse: Memories of a Street Punk” has sold over 30 copies. All proceeds from his newly found ability to feature will go to fuel selling even more of these books so he can afford all of his techie supplies like Doritos and Jolt Cola. Mmmm Jolt Cola.

Of course, there will be an open mike, and the world famous poetry slam. See you there!

The Ann Arbor Poetry Slam is going down on Tuesday! Don’t miss the show.

The feature will be the incredible Corbet Dean. Check out his bio from CorbetDean.com

On the evening of May 23, 1994, three policemen were shot by a single gunman in Southwest Phoenix. One of the injured officers waited several years to process his thoughts and emotions about that critical incident.

In 2000, Corbet Dean shared his experience at the Spoken Word Festival in Tempe, AZ. After performing poetry about the confrontation, Corbet was praised: Gary Mex Glazner mentioned his work in a festival review for About.com. Later that year, The Mesa Tribune quoted the poem in an feature article on poetry in Arizona. Eventually, Corbet’s work appeared in Off the Cuffs, an unforgettable anthology published by Soft Skull Press.

read more…

Corbet is a powerful and moving performer. Don’t miss the chance to see this poet, who knows when I can get him back in!

Just a quick reminder that the semi-finals are tonight! Since we had several poets qualify more than once, for the first time ever, we are opening up a wildcard slot which will be filled by random selection of anyone who volunteers!

Don’t miss another epic battle of words as the poets who have qualified all year come together to compete for a spot in the finals and a chance to perform at the National Poetry Slam in Austin this August.

Details can be found at our website. Don’t Forget: We have moved the showtime to 8PM, doors open at 7:30PM.

It’s nearly that time again. The Ann Arbor Poetry Slam is next Tuesday! Our feature will be Jamie Kilstein from New York City. I caught him when he performed at the Indie Finals at NPS, and you don’t want to miss him.

Jamie Kilstein

At the age of 24 Jamie Kilstein has become one of New York City’s top slam poets, and was just ranked 5th in the nation at the 2006 National Poetry slam. He is touring internationally and was recently a featured headliner at the Brighton Arts Festival in Brighton England . Jamie was also featured in the largest French Newspaper Le Monde, England’s The Fringe Report and Australia’s Wo! Magazine . He has taught workshops for The Brighton Festival and at Brown University.
After making a living with stand-up comedy, he quickly exiled himself after the war due to political censorship. Because — to quote a club owner– “The people don’t come here to think. they come here to drink.” While working the stand up circuit he worked with such greats as: Dave Chapelle, Lewis Black, Marc Maron, Doug Stanhope, and Dave Attell. Jamie has been featured on MNN/PBS 102.7 WNEW NEW YORK The syndicated Ron and Fez show, The Boston Comedy Festival and The New York Underground Comedy Festival. His writing has been published in Mcsweeney’s literary journal and the upcoming Still not making a living as a poet? National release — summer of 07. This year he was in all three New York City slam poetry finals including The Bowery Poetry Club’s URBANA team, The LOUDER ARTS team, and The Nuyorican Poets team. He will be going to the 2006 National Poetry Championship as the URBANA GRANDSLAM CHAMPION, and will be featured on the 2006 Best Of Urbana CD. He has somehow managed to find a career that pays less than standup comedy, but now has a book, CD and soon to be DVD. He has no idea how his wife hasn’t left him and his parents still support him.

“Jamie Kilstein is amazing. Incredibly impressive. He takes on big important issues with humor, heart and balls.”
-James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces, #1 New York Times Best Seller

“Kilstein’s hilarious performance proves that when it comes to saving the world from itself, mockery is the sincerest form of warfare.”-Josh Kilmer-Purcell New York Times Best Selling Author of “I Am Not Myself These Days: A Memoir”

“Jamie Kilstein defies taboos in a muckraking fashion. His Cometry is a combinaton of Lenny Bruce, Allen Ginsberg and Audre Lorde. He’s not for the fainthearted.” -Bruce George, Co-Founder of HBO’S Def Poetry Jam

“Jamie Kilstein has taken over the poetry slam I have never seen anyone go so far, so fast.” - Taylor Mali, SlamNation 4 time Slam Champion

“You’re a funny fuck.” - Doug Stanhope, Comedy Central, The Aristocrats

“Self-assured, Stylish, and very funny.” - Mark Doty

I am also looking for volunteers who would like to compete in a head-to-head bout against Detroit on March 13th. See Erik at the Slam, or reply to this email if you are interested.