Cap City Slam Showcase, August 1

I’ve yet to get over to the Albany Barn to see the Cap City Slam (formerly Nitty Gritty Slam) so I seized this welcome opportunity to see the folks — all women tonight — in action. It was held in the back room of the Savoy Taproom, scene of many a fine jazz performance back when it was Justin’s. As if in a nod to that history the backdrops were large murals of Miles & Mingus. Amani O+ served as host & M/C. Some of the performers I was familiar with, others were new to me, a welcome mix of old & new.

First up was Laura, who does the college slam locally. She did Slam-style pieces on white crime/black crime, on her grandmother as an immigrant, & a piece from a notebook on being gay. Amani followed with a (“dreaded” as some poetry hosts say) audience participation piece hyping the Cap City Slam monthly event, then a collaborative piece on Joy with Laura, a rare upbeat piece.

poetik uses humor & wordplay to comment on race & body image, beginning with a familiar poem beginning “I’m trying to be a different kind of poet…” Then on to a couple poems from her 2017 collection Labyrinth of a Melaninated Being, both with good doses of humor, “fat Black girl: an aesthetic,” & a food poem “i dream of brunch.”

Ginari (not sure of the spelling) was introduced as being from DC, did a piece about attempting suicide then moving on to make her choices in her life. Sydney’s first piece was a tribute to the mothers & other women in her life, then on to “An Ode to Social Workers & Service Providers Who Wonder How to Get Up Tomorrow,” & “Sex Talk, Different Kind,” & then the first poem she wrote, only 1 year ago.

Liv McKee is a well-known performer on the scene who writes not only Slam pieces but other poems as well. She read a mix of them tonight, including one about the death — & life — of her grandmother, a breakup rant, even Haiku. There was a poem about Blue Whales fucking & one about her first kiss, with a girl, & one on sex workers.

Amani O+ introduced the group for a fun, collaborative poem with Liv, Laura, herself & Sydney.

Amani O+ ended the night with a mixed bag of her own poems, one titled “Brilliance” a poem for poets with new age music from her poem, & a dance song “Grit,” but much more interesting was a favorite “Plantanos & Collard Greens” explaining her mixed heritage, with audience participation, ending with an improvisation song on “Savoy.”

It was a lot of fun, reminding me to get over to the Albany Barn on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Check out their Facebook Page for more information.