What an Anything Goes Slam. On May 28 Toronto Poetry Slam hosted its annual break-the-rules slams, where poets are encouraged to wear costumes, use props, do covers, go as wild as their imagination will take them.
And the poets stretched their boundaries, to varying degrees. Dave Silverbeg - the usual host of TPS - decided to outfit his ode to Natalie Portman with 28 photos displayed on the Drake projection screen, timed perfectly. We were treated to sick beats for Eytan Crouton's raps, and The Draft busted out his djembe drum for nice background to a story poem. Lina performed poignantly in pajamas and Jenni covered some Lil Wayne on guitar.
Derrick rocked the karate attire for a powerful piece on "being yellow or white" and Tanya and Gypsy did the night's only team piece, a Buddy Wakefield classic.
The second round gave us more fluid raps from Crouton, The Drift in a soldier's uniform, Dave doing "Bloodbath" complete with fake blood and LipBalm reading from his buddy's chapbook.
Third round pitted Eytan vs Dave vs. Drift, and Drift went with a new poem while Dave debuted his ode to hiphop with samples from Tribe Called Quest to 2Pac. Eytan didn't disappoint with a newbie on poetry slams, even giving it up for the Drake mid-poem. It was the Crouton who took first place, Dave finished second Draft took third.
And the feature, let's not forget the Fugitives. Hailing from Vancouver, Babs and Brendan and Adrian slayed our earholes with beautiful music and kickass team pieces. We'll never look at Glenn Gould the same way again. (Catch them June 2 at the Rivoli)
Kudos to our awesome host Cathy Petch, who made no less than 3 costume changes and whose raunchy humour had the audience hooting and hollering.
What a night. Our annual tradition proved just how creative our poets can get. Let's get even crazier next year!
The June slam is JUNE 25 at Drake Hotel Underground, see ya then!
