The house was even more packed than usual for last night's open mic and feature! The night started rolling with spotlight features from Albuquerque SlamMaster Don McIver and local favorite Christopher Kain... Plus too many standout performances on the open mic to even count. Our feature was Champion of Champions Brian S. Ellis, who absolutely packed his half hour with intense work both new and old. What a treat to see our slam champion cutting loose with no time limit and no scoring; just a sincere Brian performing the poems he wanted us to hear.

Once again, the slam was full to the gills with poets shooting to qualify for the team, the 8x8 series, or just looking for more chances to perform to an audience willing to close the bar. Despite standout performances from Cassandra de Alba and Gary Hoare, the finals came down to Waiter vs. SlamMaster: Adam Stone and Simone Beaubien. Simone eeked in just under the time limit and just over Adam, taking home the $10 and qualifying for team semi-finals on April 16.

Next week, Emerson College slammer and beloved regular Steve Subrizi will feature. But if you can't wait that long, you can always come out this Saturday...

This last-minute slam among Bar 13, Hampshire County, and Portland, Maine will secure a spot to the National Poetry Slam for the winner! Plus, we'll have features from The Gringo Choir -- that's Emerson College slammers Max Kessler, Carrie Rudzinski, Steve Subrizi, and Carlos Williams. We'll pass the hat to raise money for Emerson's trip to College Nationals in Albuquerque, then hang out and seat noodles at this ALL AGES, FREE SHOW.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

So, if you missed Jai Chakrabarti's feature last night, don't worry; you are sure to be hearing about it from all of your friends for the next several weeks. This incredible writer and performer made our regulars sit up and take notice and is sure to bring last night's first-timers back out to the bar. More importantly, expect to hear writing inspired by Jai's work for months to come.

Yet another packed poetry slam was won by Charley Pope, who just edged out rare slammer April Ranger in a hotly contested final. Slam season sure is heating up for our team selection slams in April, folks!

Next week: Champion of Champions and perennial Cantab Slam Team member Brian S. Ellis just got back from the Northwest, and with fresh new poetry, of course. Come for a chance to hear Brian feature without any slamming involved! Special treats tonight, too: Albuquerque SlamMaster Don McIver will spotlight, and Christopher Kain will also read selections from his brand new chapbook. Plus, another open qualifying slam! See you there...

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Whoa. Whoa. What happened last night? Does anyone remember? It's all a wet blur of black leather and high heels...

Yup, it was another successful Erotic Poetry Night at the Cantab Lounge. Hilarious and sexy hosts Dawn Gabriel and Sean Conlon wrangled a good thirty poets onto the open mic, including wonderful spotlight features from Jess del Balzo, Omoizele Okoawo, and Jme --as Dawn would say, "that's something for everyone!" The annual Nappy Owl award for real erotic poetry went to Igor, who enlisted Jess to help read his two-voice erotic cover. And, fittingly, the first annual Two Girls One Cup award went to 1two5 for his traditional reading of the one and only "warm towel/on your nappy owl" poem. There was plenty other rambunctiousness and bawdiness to spare, not least of all being upcoming feature Steve's unforgettable "tornado of pussy" and an unforgettable rendition of... We don't know what... From super-cute couple Sharyn and Dan.

And did we slam after the open mic? We did! Another slam jam-packed with 2008 Cantab Slam Team hopefuls narrowed down to 1two5 vs. Simone in the finals; 1two5 took the prize and the glory, avenging his finals loss from last week, but you can expect to see the other seven back for more action in coming weeks as we lead up to the team slams in April.

Next week: towel off and cool down for Jai Chakrabarti. A Bar 13 NYC regular with lyrical style and casual performance, he's exactly what you'll need to hear after this week's open. This is his only Boston feature, so don't miss it!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Congratulations to our World Qualifier winner... Erich Hagan! After four rounds of slam, Erich was the last poet left standing, taking down 1two5 in the final pairing. Erich will represent the Cantab at the 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam in Columbus, Ohio. Thanks to all who slammed, sacrificed, attended and judged!

Next week: the Cantab's annual Erotic Poetry Night. Bring your naughtiest poetry (or at least a good outfit) to our special extended open mic night. Assisting the erotically impaired will be special spotlight features: Jess Del Balzo, Omoizele Okoawo, and James Caroline, with Dawn Gabriel and Sean Conlon hosting.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

What a great night at the Cantab! The venue was absolutely packed to the gills with folks excited to see the annual World Qualifier throwdown! At the end of the night, our results were...

• Steve Subrizi 46.4
• Charley Pope 50.2
• Trevor Byrne-Smith 50.9
• Erich Hagan 51.0
• Sean Conlon 51.4
• Artie Moffa 52.0
• Sam Teitel 52.3
• Sharyn Wolfenbarger 53.6
• 1two5 54.4
• Omoizele Okoawo 56.1

Poets in bold will advance to the World Qualifier Finals next week! We'll wipe the slate clean and go four rounds to pare it down to a single winner. Remember, it's another $5 cover to help send the top poet to the Individual World Poetry Slam in Columbus this October.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

It was another cold Wednesday in Cambridge, but, as usual, the Cantab regulars were heating it up with another great night of open mic. Our feature was Shannon Leigh, who performed a spotlight feature for us years ago and now made a triumphant, stellar return for a full feature. Shannon brought us great writing and performance and her work is sure to inspire listeners for weeks to come. A hard-fought slam --the last before our big World Qualifier slam-- was won by Artie Moffa.

Next week's show will be...

Wednesday, January 30
World Qualifiers for the 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam!
$5 cover charge helps send the winner to IWPS 2008 in Columbus, Ohio

Two-round speed slam, top scorers advance to Finals on February 6.
Final list of qualified slammers:
Emily Griffin, 1two5, Jme, Simone Beaubien, Shira Erlichman, Brian S. Ellis, Erich Hagan, Adam Stone, Jamei Bauer, James Lindsay, Rainmaker, Christopher Johnson, Artie Moffa, Trevor Byrne-Smith, Jason S., Nate Leland, 6 is 9, Sharyn Wolfenbarger, Lonzelle, Steve Subrizi, Charley Pope, Sam Teitel, Omoizele Okoawo, Sean Conlon, Inkstress

This is going to be a great show! See you there!!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Of course Queen Sheba was lively, engaging, and just a little unpredictable: did you expect anything less? But last night's feature was also sincere, powerful, and a generally good show, honoring the Cantab with hard work and a brand new piece to close out the night. An incredibly fun slam featured a good range of first-timers and veterans, but at the end, Sheba's touring buddy Inkstress from Durham eliminated 125 in the final round.

Next week: years ago, you saw her spotlight at the Cantab. Then, just last August, the whole slam community watched her take a top three finish at the National Poetry Slam's last individual competition. Next Wednesday, we get half an hour of Shannon Leigh all to ourselves. Plus, the last open slam to qualify for our IWPS slams!

...And, meanwhile, don't forget this Saturday's show:

Saturday, January 19 @ The Attleboro Arts Museum
Third Annual Attleboro Slam!

• 1:00 p.m.: Music by students of the Network School. Signups begin for the slam!
• 2:00 p.m.: Youth slam! 19 years and younger, with prizes of $100/$50/$25 for the winners.
• 3:00 p.m.: Spotlight features by Worcester's Sou MacMillan and SlamMaster Simone Beaubien.
• 4:00 p.m.: Adult slam! Prizes of $200/$100/$50 for the winners. This slam will include past Attleboro champions Ryk McIntyre and Artie Moffa.

Don't miss this fun, free, all-ages event at the Attleboro Arts Museum. See you there!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Oh, Mike McGee and Robbie Q: they helped us ring in the New Year for 2007, so what better than to invite them back to kick off 2008, too? This mighty duo treated a sold-out crowd to a solid mix of silly and serious. After the feature, a packed slam included three first-timers and some heavy hitters, too: in the final round, recent regular Sam Teitel eliminated first-timer Jason Henry for the win.

Next week: Queen Sheba, 2007 National Poetry Slam champion and long-time Charlotte slammer makes her first appearance at the Cantab! After the feature, we'll have one of the last two slams remaining to qualify for our Individual World Poetry Slam spot.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Happy New Year, Cantabbers! Did you come see us at First Night? If so, you were privileged to catch Adam Stone, Patrick S., April Ranger, Richard Cambridge, Steve Subrizi, Nate Leland, Trevor Byrne-Smith, Brian S. Ellis, Samantha Jane Scolamiero, Eric Urban, Cara Powers, and Alex Charalambides in what was, obviously, a rockin' set of all-star poetry slams. Big thanks go to all who participated, judged, heckled, and made our show the best First Night Poetry Slam we've had in years.

Even if you missed First Night, you can probably forgive yourself if you saw Roger Bonair-Agard perform just this past Wednesday. We always try to ring in the new year at the Cantab with a great feature, and this year was no exception: Roger was everything we expected, and more, delivering his heady, remarkable work with the presence you'd expect from a national champion. After Roger's feature, six slammers buckled down for a three-round fight, and Sean Conlon edged out Cara Powers for the win and the big ten bucks.

Next week: you know them, you love them, and it wouldn't be a year at the Cantab without them... It's Mike McGee and Robbie Q, national slam sensations guaranteed to make you shoot beer out of your nose. This hilarous, clever, and engaging duo returns to entertain and move, all in the name of poetry. Plus, there'll be another open slam. See you there!

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