Slam WEDS features Taalam Acey!
BERZERKELEY SLAM — Every Wednesday.
Chaz checks in:
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—THIS WEEK: Open Slam is fantastic! Plus Live Jazz! $90 Cash Prizes! Guest host: Thadra Sheridan.
—Featuring:
–Gary Glazner was one of the original slammasters, and helped define spoken word as we know it. He founded the Nationals in 1991. He’s toured the world, written several books (google him!), and (catch this!) makes his living as a poet! Hilarious and profound, he’s one of a kind. http://www.fullmoonpoets.org/gary_glazner.htm
–Taalam Acey should need no introduction to fans of slam; he’s been a major influence on many of the Bay’s top poets. http://www.taalamacey.com Taalam has been a full-time poet since 99, boasts an award winning memoir, "Eyes Free", a novel entitled What You Deserve, and 8 top-selling spoken word CDs. "Crack the CIA," a film narrated by Acey, won the Audience Award at Sundance in ‘02. Winner of slams world-wide, he also has a BS in Accounting and an MBA in Finance.
—LAST WEEK: So I was featured in Modesto last week (Modesto was packed and high-energy) and arrived back in Berkeley around 11:30. I walk up to the ‘Plough and ask a random couple how it went. "It was great, no FANTASTIC! In fact, it’s still going, go in and check it out!" So I mosey in, just in time for the winners to be announced. Apparently, it was one of the best nights in recent memory, house was PACKED, the open slam was fun, and the features (Krissy Reeves and Amy Steinberg) simply demolished the joint! There was still a palpable groovy vibe in the air. So congrats to the slam winner, and to all the new poets (more than half the list): Christian Drake=1st, A. Love=2nd, Mark States=3rd, and Christine=4th. Muchas Gracias to Nazelah, Betsy, Nathan, and 3 Blind Mice for holding it down better than I could have myself!
—UPCOMING: Mar 22: NYC’s Roger Bonair-Agard and Big Nate Da Poet. Mar 29: Chico Slammaster and Ntn’l Haiku Champ, Tazuo. Apr 5: Marc Marcel & Derrick Brown.
—TOP 16 POETS: Sara L=18; Stephen M=16; Xian Drake=13; Hillary H=9; Andrew L=7; Mark=7; Jason B=6; L.A.Kenyatta=5; Guinevere=4; Jaylee A=4; Big Nate=4; Dahled=4; Dawn=4; Karen=4; Prez.L.Davis=4; Elliot H=4; George W=4.
——STARRY PLOUGH. 3101 Shattuck. 510-841-2082.
(1 block uphill of Ashby BART). EVERY WEDS.
8:30-11pm. Sign-ups: 7:30. All ages before 9pm.
$90 Cash Prizes. $7 door, $5 students w/I.D.
Hosts: Charles Ellik, Betsy Roll & Friends.
Live Music: 3 Blind Mice, & DJ Agana.
http://www.berkeleypoetryslam.com
Media Sponsor: http://www.eastbayexpress.com
Yoga Sponsor: http://www.yogamandalastudio.com
Contact: voluptuary@hotmail.com