Slammy new year. A bit belated I know, but better late…
I can’t believe I missed the Bindi Irwin slam at Bar Open earlier this month. I crafted a slam poem especially for it, and was going to deliver it cork-hat, yellow zinc, Coles thongs and all…it started something like…
she’s a prickly little thorn
& she's ritalin rattled
white trash
child labour
& discovery channels…
(with suitable ocker drawl of course)
I’ve heard the Irwin slam was a ball…now what the heck am I going to do with a poem like this neighing loudly in my verse stable?
since steve was stung
she’s the zoo’s last fix
nothin rehab at twelve won’t fix
so us croc men leer
as terry cheers
just do it for daddy little bindi dear
maaaate.... crikey!
On January, I went in a slam at the Victorian Council of Churches in Little Collins street, hot on the heels of the Quang Minh Temple slam and the Northcote Uniting Church slam, the former of which I won (one of the most surreal experiences of my life – slamming for Buddhist monks), and the latter which I unfortunately missed going to, though I hear the competition was pretty fierce. The slams are organised by the spiritually minded Geoff Fox, who formerly ran the Melbourne slam out of Blue Velvet.
Got to say I had my reservations, about the Council of Churches slam, not being of mainstream religious ilk myself, but what a battle. Arch nemesis Marc I-won-the-National-slam-last-year-and-just-came-back-from-the-World Championships-in-the-States-this-month Testart was breathing down the back of my neck the whole time, at one stage just a few decimal points away. By rights I reckon the man had it in the bag, but you know what they say, the best poet never wins a slam.
In the end, for the final round, I thought I’d thrown myself on the sword by performing a piece of questionable dogma way shorter than the two minute time limit, but hey, desperate times and all that. The poem can be viewed on the Overland website, which I’m currently also blogging for. (http://web.overland.org.au/?p=712)
The great thing about Fox's slams is that the voting system is democratic - everyone in the audience votes, only a 7,8 or 9 can be given, and an average of the scores is taken for each round. As well, the 'faith-friendly- slams seem to attract more slam-sisters. This may be due to the venues : supportive, and beer and leer free.
Next up? I’ll be reading at The Big Read Out tomorrow night:
The Big Read Out
Friday 23rd Jan
Glitch Bar and Cinema
318 St Georges Street
North Fitzroy at 8pm.
in good company with Memphis slam king Benjamin Theolonius Sanders, Steve Smart and others.
Then roll on the Unusual Works Gig on Feb 6th and the Uniting Church Slam on February 12th.
I can’t believe I missed the Bindi Irwin slam at Bar Open earlier this month. I crafted a slam poem especially for it, and was going to deliver it cork-hat, yellow zinc, Coles thongs and all…it started something like…
she’s a prickly little thorn
& she's ritalin rattled
white trash
child labour
& discovery channels…
(with suitable ocker drawl of course)
I’ve heard the Irwin slam was a ball…now what the heck am I going to do with a poem like this neighing loudly in my verse stable?
since steve was stung
she’s the zoo’s last fix
nothin rehab at twelve won’t fix
so us croc men leer
as terry cheers
just do it for daddy little bindi dear
maaaate.... crikey!
On January, I went in a slam at the Victorian Council of Churches in Little Collins street, hot on the heels of the Quang Minh Temple slam and the Northcote Uniting Church slam, the former of which I won (one of the most surreal experiences of my life – slamming for Buddhist monks), and the latter which I unfortunately missed going to, though I hear the competition was pretty fierce. The slams are organised by the spiritually minded Geoff Fox, who formerly ran the Melbourne slam out of Blue Velvet.
Got to say I had my reservations, about the Council of Churches slam, not being of mainstream religious ilk myself, but what a battle. Arch nemesis Marc I-won-the-National-slam-last-year-and-just-came-back-from-the-World Championships-in-the-States-this-month Testart was breathing down the back of my neck the whole time, at one stage just a few decimal points away. By rights I reckon the man had it in the bag, but you know what they say, the best poet never wins a slam.
In the end, for the final round, I thought I’d thrown myself on the sword by performing a piece of questionable dogma way shorter than the two minute time limit, but hey, desperate times and all that. The poem can be viewed on the Overland website, which I’m currently also blogging for. (http://web.overland.org.au/?p=712)
The great thing about Fox's slams is that the voting system is democratic - everyone in the audience votes, only a 7,8 or 9 can be given, and an average of the scores is taken for each round. As well, the 'faith-friendly- slams seem to attract more slam-sisters. This may be due to the venues : supportive, and beer and leer free.
Next up? I’ll be reading at The Big Read Out tomorrow night:
The Big Read Out
Friday 23rd Jan
Glitch Bar and Cinema
318 St Georges Street
North Fitzroy at 8pm.
in good company with Memphis slam king Benjamin Theolonius Sanders, Steve Smart and others.
Then roll on the Unusual Works Gig on Feb 6th and the Uniting Church Slam on February 12th.