So, as many folks know, Mocha Match closed soon after our $1,000 slam off, won by (Gangst)AP. It was a blow to our fundraising scheme leading into Nationals, but we recovered through intense and beautiful rehearsals, making it to West Palm Beach in glorious form.
Art Amok '09 did Atlanta, the poets themselves, slam ma'am, friends & family proud.
Our first night, we had a bout with some of our favorite people & poets from Vancouver, Tuscon & Killeen. We led the whole time.Individual pieces were rocking.Group pieces were difficult to pull off in that venue, but we did just fine in there.AP performed Wonder Woman like she was channelin' goddesses or somethin' and Chauncey made everyone Pay Attention with her piece.Theresa stuck it to phony "Real" Men and Stefen showed us his beautful death machinery, peeling back his skin and showing heart.
Everyone was wonderful.Vancouver made us all laugh & they were beautiful.Tuscon pulled it out, too.Int he end, Killeen was on our heels and they pulled up on us by .1
Our second night, we all knew, was going to be killer.A bit of a rematch from '07, we always meet a Denver team and this time, we'd meet up just like last year with Philly, too---the team that in their re-but/debut had everyone on hooks.the '07 bout was back and forth between all three of us---with judges changed out do to disorderly drunkeness inthe middle.Added to the mix was Rock Baby's Dallas, who always bring the noise.All teams, I knew, had deep group piece pockets.I believed we had them all on content and that we would definitely hold our own.The room was nice---think marble arches and velvet curtains.It was LOUD.Scoring was wild and wooly.We anticipated & we did the thing! We drew the A and started out strong with our multi-path domestic piece with Chauncey, Stefen & Theresa.There was mad love in the room between teams--goin' wild for each other.Escpecially Denver, who took the room deservedly.Not without a fight, though.Theresa did "Belt," making a statement that begins with funny & turns political, very savvy.She was robbed & this was the point all the teams realized that solo=risky.Next, we earned the top score in the bout with AP & Chauncey doing the GIFT, a memorial piece to their cousins.This piece catapaulted us into group piece finals (one of our team goals), to twitters of "that's the best duet I've ever seen." Theresa & Stefen closed out with "This is for Love," because the room needed a closer with laughs in it.
Moving on to Group Piece Finals was another highlight for Art Amok's history.I know I barely breathed the whole time.Jason Carney held me up through much of it.We front loaded, putting the piece that got us there first, so everyone could hear it.We were in with stellar teams. We had a good draw inthe middle (10 teams?).Each round would be clean slate.New points and new draw.
I was so proud.
We had the highest score going out of the first round.
In the second round, we held our own with the two pathed domestic piece with Chauncey,Stef & Theresa.We had the second highest score.
At this point I have to mention the beautful work the other teams put in.I still get chills thinking about Seattle's "Statue of Liberty Piece," with the team's heads turning and leaning---marvelous.Same thing with Berkeley, both the "snow" and the "Gay Soldier" piece (for lack of better names).
The heros of NPS to me were NJ Loser Slam.They PICKED GROUP PIECE FINALS OVER GOING TO SEM-FINALS/FINALS.As teams registered, they could elect to do this.NJ did it & didn't tell anyone or show it (from what I could tell).MAD PROPS--becuae they qualified for semis.The threw the gauntlet down to say "YO, there are TWO competitions at NATS."
And they brought the awesome sauce.funny, irreverent, articulate, "HYPE MAN" will live in infamy.
We closed out with "Don't Play Me No Symphony," which was beautiful, emotional , and again, we put it down.Did it for memory.Unfortunately, one of the mics was bad and the room was maybe too big for it, but Stef & Chauncey recovered.
In the end, out of all possibilities, I think I would have taken this over making it to semis.People really got to hear us, the crowd was huge and not split up into cramped venues & we were rewarded.Trophy and a little cash.4th place!
(And there was a spirit dancing somewhere 'cause this is what was in place of Indies, so I knew our poetic angels were ridin' with us---if the scores had been cumulative, we would have come in #3, our magic number for Nats trophies).
Anyway, this is where we stand going in to next season! Poised for more fun & greatness, not exactly from scratch, but definitely shiny & new!
Join us for Urban Grind.We'll be kicking off there on first Fridays, gearing up for some 3rd Fridays as well.
Inthe year ahead, we hope to feature the very, very best in local and traveling talent:SOme of these are confirmed, some aren't (emphasis on hope)
Marty McConnell, JBradley,Paulie Lipman,Laura Yes Yes, AmyEffinWeaverman,Cuban, Henzbo,Jason Carney, Rob Sturma,Nicole Homer, Billy Tuggle & whoever else we can get our grubby hands on!
Come GRIND the night away with us!
~Karen G.
Slam Madame
www.urbangrindatl.com962 Marietta St NW
Atlanta, GA 30318-5590
(404) 724-0605
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