Los Angeles Semi Final Bout #1

I say, I say, I say DAMN! Let me tell you... though Slam may by definition be a competition, Monday's Semi Final bout proved that it's not a game. 9 poets took the stage to earn 1 of 5 coveted slots in the Finals, and they were not playing around. It was a brawl that ended in a 3 way tie and a sudden death round. I think someone lost an eye. Where do I begin???

I guess the beginning is a good place to start. First off, despite the rain and the Laker game it was a packed house. The energy was crazy, the audience was loud and lovely, the judges were stern faced, and the evening's hostess, Judy Holiday had on her Bad Bitch heels. We had some awesome poets in the audience that showed up just to support, and a few that blessed us with some of their work as the night's calibrators. We want to thank Donny Jackson, Francois, Fisseha, and Tammy Vaitai for starting our rounds off right.

Our lovely Score/Time Keeper and Resident Slam Veteran, Cayenne

DJ Just Boom kept us entertained between poets, Cayenne kept score, and Naomi worked the door, collecting donations that will fund the team's trip to Nationals. At the end of the night, Charlene "Hustle Diva" Green, Artus Mansoir, and the evening's underdog, Nick Mecedo, found themselves in a 3 way tie with only 2 slots available for Finals. The audience demanded a 4th round, and the tied poets went at it. When the smoke cleared, Artus and Nick were left standing and join April Rojas, Nikki Blak, and Daniel Weingarten as the 5 poets advancing to Finals.

Poetic Wizard, Daniel Weingarten

Cumulative Scores for the Evening

April Rojas 87.8

Nikki Blak86.5

Daniel Weingarten 85.4

Artus Mansoir 84.6 (3rd round: 29.6)

Nick Macedo 84.6 (3rd round: 29.3)

We want to thank the other poets in the bout. We appreciate your hard work and thank you for making this slam the hellified shit. We look forward to May 24th's Semi Final Bout. The following poets will be competing for the remaining 5 spots in Finals:

Mr. Poetic

Treesje

Judy Holiday

Rel8

Francois

Matt Sedillio

Paul Mabon

Damnyo

Leon P.

If you missed Bout #1, we seriously suggest that you bring your ass out to the 2nd one, cause it looks like it's gonna be a banger, kids.

BRASS KNUCKLES

@Kaos

4343 Leimert Park Blvd

LA, CA

8:30pm

$5

Go Hard, or Don't Leave the House

We know the Lakers are playing tonight and thats all fine and good... But in these days of synthesized bullshit, virtual this, and programed that, we figured folks would be in the mood for something real. Thus, we bring you, an evening of live entertainment, courtesy of tonight's Semi Final bout poets. They promise to bring it to you in a way that it has never been brought-en to you before. As a matter of fact, they've been explicitly instructed to go hard... Or don't leave the house. That's reason enough for you to leave yours and join us at Brass Knuckles for the first of 2 Semi Final Bouts. Bring $5, a pair of hands ready for clappin', and a mind set to be blown. At the end of the night, we will personally thank you. Kobe won't. Boom.

BRASS KNUCKLES

SEMI FINAL BOUT #1

@Kaos

4343 Leimert Park Blvd

8:30

$5

What Had Happened Was...

So, this past Monday was the very last qualifying slam for the 2010 Los Angeles Slam Team. As we suspected, the last of the area's most brave and motivated poets brought their asses on out the house to participate in the slam extravaganza... and we love them for it. We were also graced with the presence and talent of New Orleans songstress, Kelly Love Jones, and a few of our favorite poets who didn't want to slam, but instead came out to support and even offered to calibrate. Much love and thanks to everybody who's been out to Brass Knuckles so far and we want to wish good luck to the poets who have qualified and made it into the Semi Final Bouts.

This past week's qualifying poets include Daniel, April, Rel8, Brass Knuckles' own Judy Holiday, Damnyo, and Francois, who swept in like a viscous whirl wind and earned the highest cumulative score of the night. And with that, our rapid fire qualifiers were done.

So what's next?

Well kids, now we get down to business. The 18 poets that qualified get to show you what they got in a duo of Semi Final bouts. Each bout will have 9 poets competing for a spot in the Grand Slam Final, which will determine the 2010 Los Angeles Slam Team. Thanks Random.org, we were able to generate list for the Semi bouts, and it goes a little something like this:

Semi Final Bout #1 - May 17th

Artus Mansoir

Sanyu
E. Amato
April
Daniel
Charlene
Kristina
J.P Martinez
Nikki Blak

Semi Final Bout #2 - May 24th

Mr. Poetic
Treesje
Francois
Matt Sedillio
Judy Holiday
Leon P.
Damnyo
Paul
Rel8

We anticipate 2 nights of kick ass poetry, and we're pretty sure you won't wanna miss it. So be there. It's easy.

Kaos

4343 Leimert Park Blvd

8:30

$5

Back to the Future

Last week, folks came on out to slam, slam, slam... and slam some more. If you weren't there, you sure picked a perfect time to fuck up! It was a juicy one. If you were there, I think you'll agree that people laid it all out, so much so, that I'm wondering what they're gonna have left for Semis and Finals! In the end, Mr. Poetic was crowned King of the evening's slammers and we're looking forward to seeing him in one of two Semi bouts. Also advancing to Semis was Kristina Von Hoffman, Sanyu, Charlene "Hustle Diva" Green, new author Matt Sadillio, and Brass Knuckles' own, Nikki Blak. See what I'm sayin?!?!

Tonight, we're anticipating more slam madness. It's the final qualifying slam for the Los Angeles Slam team, which means that if you ain't made it yet, this is officially it. For that reason, we think it might end up turning into quite the blood bath, as all the last minute poets go all out for a spot in Semis. Our recommendation: Be there. On time. That way, you'll be sure to snag a seat (the closer to the stage, the better. If you're lucky, you'll get a little blood spray in the face... Ummm... that was a metaphor. Not really, but, yeah).

8pm sign up

8:30 Start time

4343 Leimert Park Blvd

Los Angeles

$5 to Sit

FREE to Spit

Opening Night Pictures

Here are some pictures of us (loitering on the corner) on our first night, after the slam, courtesy of Birthday Girl, aka Jimetta Rose.

Host Extraordinaire, Judy Holiday

Nikki Blak, the Other Host

Brutha Gimel

One of the night's Slammers (who earned a spot in the Semi Finals), E. Amato

Our Door Girl and Resident Side Eyer, Naomi

The evening's Birthday Girl

Once again, we want to thank everyone that came and supported. So far, we've had 2 successful qualifying slams, which means there's only 1 left before we move on to Semis... Which means, if you want an opportunity to rep LA at this year's National Poetry Slam, you got one more chance to get your shit together. Bring your best poems and meet us at Kaos in Leimert Park on May 10th. We promise, we won't bite... Unless you want us to.

Brass Knuckles

@ KAOS

4343 Leimert Blvd.

LA, Ca. 90008

8pm Slam Sign Up

8:30 Start Time

$5 for a Seat

FREE to Spit Some Heat