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Hammer and Tongue Poetry Slam
Verdict: Explosive spoken word
Brighton – Komedia – 28 May 06 – 20:00
Hammer and Tongue is a poetry slam. Contestants are judged by the audience. Comperes Steve Larkin and Sam Berkson remind that it’s not about points - it's about poetry. They focus this potentially explosive artistic event with sensitivity on the content.
The artists call their work spoken word rather than rap. Quibbling about definitions, there is less rhythm and more riff than rap, but most of the performers bridge the crevice between the two forms. Certainly they share a lack of inhibition in abusive language when nailing political abuse - and the conviction that corporations can’t trash souls the way they trash the planet.
UK Slam Champion Elvis McGonagall opens with a surprising act of rebellion spearing football’s aristocracy. He rants about celeb footballers playing to make poverty history while holding out for a £60,000 week. Elvis McGonagall looks forward to abolishing history when footballers form a socialist league and really play the game.
Jamie Kilstein, a New York City slam champion, takes on the US Government’s interpretation of the Bible in outlawing gay marriages. His style is outrageous protest to the Almighty, climaxing 'If God doesn't let me love who I want to love, I say fuck God.’
London hip hop artist Jonny Virgo is comparatively benign, describing a rude awakening from an all-night bender in Dulwich.
Kat Francois, World Slam Champion and BBC Slam Champion gives a detailed account of police brutality after her rape. It’s volcanic and effective use of chant and repetition.
New Zealander Baraka, a European Social Forum Slam Champion, tackles Green Party politics - and New Zealand’s hypocritical middle-class values in sending an 18-year-old boy to prison for graffiti, while letting earth polluters go free. It’s the kind of connection newspapers avoid making – whether for want of being corny, or want of corporate sponsorship, is never certain. Baraka comes across clearly, with loud cheering. And they’re still cheering after three rounds.
Overall winner is Kat Francois – she captures the most hearts – with Jamie Kilstein second. It’s close, and Kat Francois accepts coming first modestly. The night’s star is the power of the word.
Credits: (alpha order): Performers - Baraka, Disraeli, Kat Francois, Jamie Kilstein, Elvis McGonagall, Jonny Virgo. Comperes - Sam Berkson, Steve Larkin.
END
(c) eliza wyatt 2006
reviewed Sunday 28 May 06 / Komedia
Artist websites include (alpha order of artist) - myspace.com/jamiekilstein - www.stevelarkin.com - www.elvismcgonagall.co.uk - (advise any other artist websites to:)
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
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