This is the official blog of Northern Arizona slam poet Christopher Fox Graham. Begun in 2002, and transferred to blogspot in 2006, FoxTheBlog has recorded more than 670,000 hits since 2009. This blog cover's Graham's poetry, the Arizona poetry slam community and offers tips for slam poets from sources around the Internet. Read CFG's full biography here. Looking for just that one poem? You know the one ... click here to find it.
Showing posts with label Sedona National Poetry Slam Team. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sedona National Poetry Slam Team. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

National Poetry Slam scores; Sedona ranked 30 of 48 thus far

Scores from night No.1
Sedona did well, but slipped from 2nd place to third by 0.7. Next bout is Thursday.
FlagSlam slams for the first time tonight.
Sedona is top-ranked Arizona team right now.

http://scores.poetryslam.com/node/4179/scores

PlaceTeamBout 1 RankBout 1 ScoreBout 2 RankBout 2 ScoreTotal RankStrengthTotal Score
1Boston Poetry Slam @ the Cantab Lounge1117.6

1
117.6
2Salt City Slam1115.2

1
115.2
3Beltway Poetry Slam1112.6

1
112.6
4Da Poetry Lounge1111.6

1
111.6
5SlamRichmond1111.5

1
111.5
6Portland Poetry Slam1111.1

1
111.1
7Slam New Orleans1110.9

1
110.9
8Soap Boxing1110

1
110
9Respect Da Mic1109.5

1
109.5
10Urbana1108.3

1
108.3
11Killeen Poetry Slam1104.3

1
104.3
12Golden State Slam1101.4

1
101.4
13SF BayArea Unified2117.1

2
117.1
14Java Monkey Slam2113.9

2
113.9
15Writing Wrongs2112.2

2
112.2
16Green Mill2111

2
111
17Slam Free or Die2109.1

2
109.1
18Red Dirt Poetry Slam2109

2
109
19Bull City Slam2108.5

2
108.5
20Vancouver Poetry Slam2107.8

2
107.8
21Dallas Poetry Slam2107.5

2
107.5
22Verbal Slap2106.4

2
106.4
23Intangible Slam2100.7

2
100.7
24Inkwell Poetry Slam298.8

2
98.8
25Piedmont Poetry Slam3114.9

3
114.9
26Houston Poetry Slam3112.4

3
112.4
27SlamCharlotte3111

3
111
28Writer's Block3109.7

3
109.7
29Burlington Slam Project3108.4

3
108.4
30Sedona Poetry Slam3108.3

3
108.3
31ABQ Slams3107

3
107
32WU Slam3106.6

3
106.6
33Lizard Lounge3104.1

3
104.1
34Steel City Slam3101.3

3
101.3
35Providence Poetry Slam398.3

3
98.3
36OM Center Poetry Slam393.8

3
93.8
37Lawn Gnome Poetry Slam (Phoenix)4112.7

4
112.7
38Neo-Soul4110.7

4
110.7
39Rocktown Slam4109.6

4
109.6
40White Plains Library Slam4107.8

4
107.8
41Fort Worth Poetry Slam4106.8

4
106.8
42MO Poetry Slam Springfield4106.1

4
106.1
43Sacred Sounds4106.1

4
106.1
44Boise Poetry Slam4103.9

4
103.9
45Las Vegas Slam4101.5

4
101.5
46Spoken Innovation Slam498.1

4
98.1
47Loser Slam493.1

4
93.1
48Ocotillo Poetry Slam (Tucson)492.7

4
92.7

Saturday, July 7, 2012

The poets and teams at the 2012 National Poetry Slam

The poets and teams at the 2012 National Poetry Slam. The numbers are merely alphabetical order placeholders.


Much thanks to Danny Strack's 2012 NPS Scouting Report

1 Nitty Gritty Slam (Albany, N.Y.):
Shannon Shoemaker, Elizag, Kevin Peterson, Poetic Visionz, Coach: Mojavi, Slammaster: Thom Francis, Daniel Nester Mary
New England/N Beast
http://albanypoets.com/2012/05/help-team-nitty-gritty-go-to-national-poetry-slam-in-charlotte/

2 ABQ Slams (Albuquerque, N.M.):
Jessica Helen Lopez, Khalid Binsunni, Damien Flores, Zachary Kluckman, Alternate: Eva Crespin and NJ Casey, Slammaster: Damien Flores, Kenn Rodriquez
Southwest Shoot Out
http://www.facebook.com/kennrodriguez.poet
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_133873645144

3 Loser Slam (Asbury Park, N.J.):
Joshua Ballard, Greg Murray, Nicolas Cabrera, Dan Sanchez, Slammaster: Nicole Homer
New England/N Beast
http://www.facebook.com/loserslam

4 Art Amok! (Atlanta, Ga.):
Jonathan Samuel Eddie, Hillary Kobernick Watson, Marshall “Gripp” Gillson, Gabe Moses, Malika Hadley Freydberg, Slammaster: Karen “Karen G”
Southern Fried

5 Austin NeoSoul (Austin, Texas):
Shae Harris, LaLove Robinson, Danny Strack, Zai, “Korim” Jonathon Sterling, Coach: Ebony Stewart , Slammaster: Brian “B-Fran” Francis
Southwest Shoot Out

6 Austin Slam at Spiderhouse (Austin, Texas):
Good Ghost Bill, Kevin W. Burke, Margaret Ruth Olson, Keith Ruckus, Zachary Caballero Coach: Christopher Michael , Slammaster: Danny Strack
Southwest Shoot Out

7 Eclectic Truth (Baton Rouge, La.):
Chancelier Xero Skidmore, Jonathan Brown, Desireé V. Dallagiacomo, Rodrick Minor, Donney Rose, Slammaster: Jocelyn Young
Southern Fried

8 Boise Poetry Slam, Big Tree Arts - Delux (Boise, Idaho):
Cheryl Maddalena, Ross Hargreaves, Conor Hatchett Harris, Matthew Freeman, Alex Hatter, Slammaster: Cheryl Maddalena
Pac Coast/Big Sur
http://www.boisepoetry.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

9 Boston Poetry Slam @ the Cantab Lounge (Boston, Mass.):
Kemi Alabi, Antonia Lassar, Omoizele Okoawo, Mckendy Fils-Aimé, Melissa Newman-Evans, Slammaster: Simone Beaubien Mckendy/April Ranger
New England/N Beast
http://bostonpoetryslam.com/

10 Lizard Lounge; Boston/Cambridge (Boston, Mass.):
Porsha Rashidaat J. Olayiwola, Janae Johnson, Rudy Rudacious, TheIncredible Christopher Johnson!, Slammaster: Jeff Robinson
New England/N Beast
http://poetryjam.org/slam/

11 Verbal Slap at the Poetz Realms (Bridgeport, Conn.):
Midnight, Hawk, Baub, Coach: Frederick Douglass , Slammaster: Croilot Carlos, “Kwalo” Semexant
New England/N Beast
www.facebook.com/poetzrealm
http://www.gofundme.com/maddk

12 Bulington Slam Project (Bulington, Ontario, Canada):
Kay’la Fraser, Truth Is…, Tomy Bewick, Lip Balm, Alternate: Dan aka Dan Murray aka Dan, Slammaster: Tomy Bewick
Canadian
http://burlingtonslam.wordpress.com/

13 Charlotte Respect Da Mic (Charlotte, N.C.):
Blk Swan, CP Maze, EyeAmBic, Mania, Slammaster: Rochelle “Blaqbaree” Stanley
Southern Fried
www.respectdamic.org

14 SlamCharlotte (Charlotte, N.C.):
Ed Mabrey, Christopher Shawn Barker, Filmore Johnson, Boris Rogers, Twenty20, Slammaster: Boris “Bluz” Rogers
Southern Fried
http://www.slamcharlotte.com

15 Green Mill (Chicago) (Chicago, Ill.):
Eric Sirota, Shelly Giezler, Rik Vazquez, Marty McConnell, Slammaster: Marc “So What” Smith
Midwest/Rustbelt

16 Mental Graffiti (Chicago, Ill.):
Anthony Michael Cooremans, Patrick Pressl, Stephanie Lane Sutton, Billy Tuggle, Coach: Emily Rose, Slammaster: Emily Rose
Midwest/Rustbelt
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mental-Graffiti/42614196497

17 Lake Effect Poetry, formerly Dragons Inc. (Cleveland, Ohio):
T.M. Göttl, Mello da Poet, Carla Thompson, Cory Mikesell, Alternate: Skylark Bruce, Slammaster: Vertigo Xi'an Xavier
Midwest/Rustbelt
http://www.lakeeffectpoetry.com/

18 Writer's Block (Colombus, Ohio):
Gina Blaurock, Hanif Abdurraqib, Rose M Smith, Vernell Bristow, Slammaster: Scott Woods
Midwest/Rustbelt
http://writersblockpoetry.rewritingovid.net/Current.php

19 Writing Wrongs (Colombus, Ohio):
Siaara ControverSi Freeman, AKeemjamal Rollins, Ethan Rivera, Rachel Wiley, Arianna Cheree McCall, Slammaster: Will Evans
Midwest/Rustbelt
http://www.facebook.com/groups/109154669177635/

20 Dallas Poetry Slam (Dallas, Texas):
Awaji Johnson, Candy, Twain, Lgb Jay Sentino, Slammaster: Rock Baby
Southwest Shoot Out
http://www.wordspace.us/past_events/

21 Java Monkey (Decatur, Ga.):
Marques “Quez” Linly, Daryl Funn, Miss Haze, Brian Patillo, Fit Linly, Slammaster: Daryl “MistaFunn” Funn
Southern Fried
http://www.facebook.com/JavaMonkeySlam

22 SlamNUBA (Denver, Colo.):
Jovan Mays, Kenya Mahogany Pollard, Jozer Guerrero, Alejandro Jimenez, Suzi Q. Smith Alternate: D. Brooks, Slammaster: Suzi Q Smith
Southwest Shoot Out

23 Mercury Café aka Denver Merc (Denver, Colo.):
Ian Dougherty, Rebecca Preston, Trevor Liam-Byrne Smith, Eddie Eifler, Kylee Wellons Alternate: Kayla Price Coach: Bianca Mikahn , Slammaster: Bianca Mikahn and Trevor Byrne-Smith
Southwest Shoot Out

24 Bull City Slam/Jambalaya Soul Slam (Durham, N.C.):
Kimberly Redefining Freedom, Sum Thyng Likea Poet, Elliot Axiom, I-Shine, Slammaster: Chris Massenberg aka “Dasan Ahanu”
Southern Fried
http://bullcitypoetryslam.com/about.html

25 Flagslam (Flagstaff, Ariz.):
Christopher Fox Graham, Ryan Brown, Shaun Srivastava “nodalone”, Tara Pollock, Jackson Morris, Slammaster: Ryan Brown
Southwest Shoot Out

26 Ink Well Poetry Slam (Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas ):
Divine aka Verb Kulture, La Quitta Alexander, Terry Odis, Michael Hatcher, Duane Madden, Slammaster: Duane Madden
Southwest Shoot Out
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003162799340

27 Fort Worth Poetry Slam (Fort Worth, Texas ):
DonJuan Hutchinson, Alex “ThaGreat” Gurley, Giselle Robinson, Stephen Seargant, Coach: A.J. Houston , Slammaster: Michael Guinn & Dave Stanley
Southwest Shoot Out
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Worth-Poetry-Slams/324953048000

28 Da Poetry Lounge - Hollywood Slam (Hollywood, Calif.):
Fisseha Moges, Simply Kat, Terisa Siagatonu, Javon Johnson, Venessa Marie Marco, Slammaster: Shihan Van Clief
Pac Coast/Big Sur

29 Hawai’i Slam (Honalulu, Hawai’i):
Liam Skilling, Tui-Z, Jenna Robinson, Sterling Higa, Ink, Slammaster: Kealoha
Pac Coast/Big Sur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Slam

30 Houston Poetry Slam (Houston, Texas):
Savannah Blue, Brother Said, Karega, Softly Spoken, Slammaster: Cedric “Brother Said” Ary
Southwest Shoot Out

31 Houston V.I.P. (Houston, Texas):
DEEP, Fluent, Trademark, Outspoken Bean, Slammaster: Marcell Murphy, D.E.E.P
Southwest Shoot Out

32 Jersey City aka J.C. Slam (Jersey City, N.J.):
Rico, Quote, Justin Woo, Sean V., Jaime Martin, Slammaster: Broken English, Benedicto Figuera
New England/N Beast
http://www.facebook.com/events/155669631228935/

33 Killeen Poetry Slam (Killeen, Texas (KPS @ NPS):
Forressa Harrison, Phetote, “Doc” - Jennine Krueger, John Crow, Allen Small, Slammaster: John Crow
Southwest Shoot Out/Southern Fried
http://www.facebook.com/kpslam

34 Spoken Innovation Slam (Lafayette, LA ):
Don “Yah Fu the Prodigal Son” Mitchell, Hungry Hungry, Michelle “Spirit Soul” Hayes Nelson, Traverse, Slammaster: Yahfu
Southern Fried

35 Las Vegas Slam (Las Vegas, Nev.):
A.j. Moyer, Kari O'Connor, Kingsnoise, Brian Du Fresne “Cactus”, Tiegen Kosiak, Slammaster: AJ Moyer
Southwest Shoot Out
http://www.facebook.com/lasvegasslam

36 Rocktown Poetry Slam aka Unified Arkansas (Little Rock, Ark.):
Houston Hughes, Kim Marshall, Lennon Simpson, Mo-Man, Slammaster: The Mo-Man Amoja Sumelr
Southern Fried

37 Team Speak On It - Louisville Poetry Slam (Louisville, Miss.):
Zamir, Cherish Triplett (Cheri B), TRUE, Sireal, Slammaster: Sam Green and Krystle Green
Southern Fried
http://www.louisvillepoetryslam.org/
http://www.facebook.com/lpslam

38 Urban Spoken Word - Madison Slam (Madison, Wis.):
Dan Vaughn, Sabrina Madison “Progress”, Tony Fudge, Caitlin Mchagan, Slammaster: David Hart
Midwest/Rustbelt
http://www.madpoetry.org/readings.html

39 SlamFree or Die at Milly's Tavern (Manchester, N.H.):
Heidi Therrien, Sam Teitel, Derek Avila, Beau Williams, Christopher Clauss, Slammaster: Mark Palos
New England/N Beast
http://www.facebook.com/slamfreeordie

40 Bama Slam (Montevallo, Ala.):
Natalie Peach, Alex Allen, Jerri Hardesty, Sara McCune “The Current Poet”, Lady Caldwell, Slammaster: Kirk Hardesty
Southern Fried
http://www.newdawnunlimited.com/

41 SNO - SlamNewOrleans (New Orleans, La.):
Katalyst Alcindor, Tarriona Tank Ball, Akeem Martin, Icon, Justin Lamb, Slammaster: Akeem Martin
Southern Fried

42 Intangible (Washington Square, New York, N.Y.):
Brian Omni Dillon, Mike Rosen, Vanessa Perillo, Seth Wallin, Thomas Fucaloro, Slammaster: Brian “Omni” Dillon
New England/N Beast
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Intangible-Collective/67799698440

43 Louder Arts at Bar 13 (Union Square, New York, N.Y.):
Mokgethi Thinane “Mega”, Megan Falley, Jamaal May, Catalina Ferro, Slammaster: Lynne Procope
New England/N Beast
http://www.louderarts.com/

44 Nuyorican (Lower East Side, New York, N.Y.):
Jaamal St John, McPherson, Falu, Cyn Thompson, Slammaster: Mahogany “Mo” L. Browne
New England/N Beast

45 Urbana (Bowery, New York, NY Urbana):
Joanna Hoffman, Jeanann Verlee, Jared Singer, Ingamar Dion Ramirez, Slammaster: Jeanann Verlee
New England/N Beast
http://original.bowerypoetry.com/urbana/

46 Golden State Slam (Oakland, Calif.):
Danee Black-Queen D, Prentice Powell, Imani Cezanne, Joshua Merchant, Slammaster: NerCitty aka Shawn Gullatt
Pac Coast/Big Sur

47 Red Dirt - Wayward Poets (Oklahoma City, Okla.):
Melissa May, Rob Sturma, Michael Pearce, Grae, Slammaster: Jenn Hudgens
Southwest Shoot Out

48 Center Slam - Omaha; Healing Arts (Omaha,Neb.):
Zedeka Poindexter, Sean Patrick Mulroy, Gage Wallace, Ben Wenzl, Jarvis, Slammaster: Matt Mason
Midwest/Rustbelt
http://novia.net/~mtmason/phealing.html

49 The FUZE (Philadelphia, Pa.):
Mike O'Hara, Clarence Wright, MJ Harris, Elicit, Warren Longmire, Slammaster: Sherod Smallman
New England/N Beast
http://www.facebook.com/FuzePoetry

50 Lawn Gnome Poetry Slam (Phoenix, Ariz.):
Rowie Shebala, Charles Levett, Bernard Schober “The Klute,” Kevin Chesko Briancesco, Slammaster: Aaron Johnson
Southwest Shoot Out
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150744275064374

51 Piedmont Slam (Winston-Salem, N.C.):
Eurydice, Milli, LB, Kelly Rae, Krosswordz, Slammaster: Bob Moyer
Southern Fried
http://www.facebook.com/piedmontslam

52 Steel City Slam at Shadow Lounge (Pittsburgh, Pa.):
William James, Adriana, Tera McIntosh, Valkyrie, Alternate: Rhetorical Artz, Slammaster: Adriana Ramirez William James & Brian Francis
New England/N Beast
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steel-City-Slam/154621124559854

53 Second Tues Slam at Port Veritas (Portland, Maine):
Ryan McLellan, Nate Amadon, Wil Gibson, Tina Smith, Zach Dickie, Slammaster: Nate Amadon
New England/N Beast
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1456950954
(Depending on what coastline a team is from, this is called the "Portland" to much confusion with those who mistake it the Portland, Ore., team.)

54 Portland Poetry Slam (Portland, Ore.):
David Doc Luben, Meg Waldron, Samantha Peterson, Robyn Bateman, William Stanford Alternate: Chris Leja, Slammaster: Eirean Bradley
Pac Coast/Big Sur
(Depending on what coastline a team is from, this is called the "Portland" to much confusion with those who mistake it the Portland, Maine, team.)

55 Providence  aka ProvSlam) (Providence, R.I.):
Franny Choi, Aaron Samuels, Casey Rocheteau, Ryk McIntyre, Slammaster: Megan Thoma and Jared Paul
New England/N Beast
http://www.facebook.com/groups/27253469049/

56 SlamRichmond (Richmond, Va.):
Matthew Cuban Hernandez, John S. Blake, Casandra B., Douglas Roscoe-Burnems Powell, Lee Jones, Slammaster: Jason Moore
Southern Fried
http://www.facebook.com/slamrichmond

57 Salt City Slam (Salt Lake City, Utah):
Gray, DeAnn Emett, Jesse Parent, Brian Frandsen, Rebeca Mae, Slammaster: Jesse Parent
Southwest Shoot Out

58 PuroSlam! (San Antonio, Texas):
Amanda Flores, Christopher Rooster Martinez, Joshua Lakey Hinson, Diamond Mason, Kellee Taylor Morgan Greenwood, Slammaster: Jason “Shaggy” Gossard
Southwest Shoot Out

59 San Diego Slam; Elevated (San Diego, Calif.):
Benni, Joe Limer, Rudy Francisco, Nick Macedo, Treesje Powers Coach: Chris Wilson , Slammaster: Christopher Wilson Rudy Francisco
Pac Coast/Big Sur

60 San Francisco Bay Area United (San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland and San Jose, Calif.):
Sam Sax, Katelyn Lucas, Lisa Evans, Cameron Awkward-Rich, Slammaster: Mona Webb and Betsy Gomez
Pac Coast/Big Sur

61 Legendary Collective (Santa Cruz, Calif.):
Jesse Rincon, Jasmine Rosemary Schlafke, Storm Thomas, Lee Knight Jr., Precious Wingo, Slammaster: Jaz Sufi
Pac Coast/Big Sur
http://www.legendarycollective.com/

62 Seattle Poetry Slam (Seattle, Wash.):
Sara Brickman, Rose McAleese, Roma Raye, Amber Flame, Slammaster: Daemond Arrindell
Pac Coast/Big Sur

63 Sedona Poetry Slam (Sedona, Ariz.):
Tyler “Valence” Sirvinskas, Evan Dissinger, Josh Wiss, Frank O'Brien, Spenser Troth, Slammaster: Christopher Fox Graham
Southwest Shoot Out
http://foxthepoet.blogspot.com/

64 Springfield Poetry Slam (Springfield, Mo.):
Michelle Nimmo, Sarah Woolsey, Mary Spratt, Gretchen Glock Teague, Slammaster: Seth White & Michelle Nimmo
Southern Fried
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001721305743

65 St. Paul Unified (Soapboxing & SlamMN) (St. Paul, Minn.):
Guante, Shane Hawley, Kait Rokowski, Khary Jackson (6 is 9), Slammaster: Sam Cook
Midwest/Rustbelt
http://www.soap-boxing.com/catalog.html
http://www.facebook.com/SlamMinnesota

66 Pierced Ear Poetry Slam (Stockton, Calif.):
The Saint, Leo Bryant, The Poet -i-, Christina Perez (Perez), Jaz Sufi, Slammaster: Anthony Gonsalves
Pac Coast/Big Sur

67 Toronto Poetry Slam at Cytopoetics (Toronto, Ontario, Canada):
Britta B, Eytan Crouton, The P.O.E., Noah Kaplan, Cathy Petch, Slammaster: David Silverberg
Canadian
http://www.torontopoetryslam.com/

68 Tucson - Ocotillo Poetry Slam (Tucson, Ariz.):
Mickey Randalman, Ethan C. Dickinson, Laura Lacanette, Jordan Pasch, Maya Asher, Slammaster: Maya Asher
Southwest Shoot Out
http://www.facebook.com/ocotillopoetryslam

69 Vancouver Slam (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada):
Jillian Christmas, Erich Haygun, Erin-Brooke Kirsh, Zaccheus Jackson Nyce, Alternate: Julie J C Peters (alternate), Slammaster: Jessica Mason Paull
Pac Coast/Big Sur/Canadian

70 Beltway Slam (Washington, D.C.):
Pages Matam, Drew Law, Twain Dooley, Clint Smith, Slammaster: Sarah Lawson
Southern Fried
http://www.facebook.com/beltwaypoetryslam

71 White Plains (White Plains, N.Y. ):
Holden Contreras Sr., Sr., Bryan Roessel, Eric “Zork” Alan, Laura Vookles “LV”, Nina Robins, Slammaster: Eric “Zork” Allen
New England/N Beast
http://whiteplains.patch.com/announcements/official-westchester-poetry-slam-team-to-compete-in-national-championships-in-charlotte-north-carolina?logout=true

72 WU Slam - Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.):
Pat Hollinger, Lauren Banka, Bryan Baird, Jacqui Germain, Sam Lai, Slammaster: Mikkel Snyder - formerly Solomon Brown
Midwest/Rustbelt
http://www.facebook.com/WUSLam
https://sites.google.com/site/wuslam/

National Poetry Slam draw for the Sedona, Flagstaff slam teams


Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
Bout 8 (Venue 2, 9 p.m.), Tuesday
Sedona Poetry Slam:
Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, Evan Dissinger, Josh Wiss, Frank O'Brien, Spencer Troth
Poetry Slam Springfield, (Springfield, Ill.):
Michelle Nimmo, Sarah Woosley, Kait Rokowski, Khary Jackson "6 is 9"
Portland Poetry Slam (Portland, Ore.):
David Doc Luben (former Prescott and Tucson slammer), Meg Waldron, Samantha Peterson, Robyn Bateman, William Stanford
Red Dirt Poetry Slam (Oklahoma City):
Melissa May, Rob Sturma, Michael Pearce, Grae

Bout 30 (Venue 6, 7 p.m.), Thursday
Sedona Poetry Slam:
Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, Evan Dissinger, Josh Wiss, Frank O'Brien, Spencer Troth
ABQ Slams (Albuquerque, N.M.):
Jessica Helen Lopez, Khalid Binsunni, Damien Flores, Zachary Kluckman
WU Slam (Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.):
Pat Hollinger, Lauren Banka, Bryan Baird, Jacqui Germain,
Neo-Soul (Austin, Texas):
Shae Harris, LaLove Robinson, Danny Strack, Zai, "Korim" Jonathon Sterling

FlagSlam National Poetry Slam Team
Bout 14 (Venue 2, 7 p.m.), Wednesday
FlagSlam Poetry Slam:
Christopher Fox Graham, Ryan Brown, Shaun Srivastava "Nodalone", Tara Pollock, Jackson Morris
HawaiiSlam, (Honolulu):
Liam Skilling, Tui-Z, Jenna Robinson, Sterling Higa, Ink
Lake Effect (Cleveland, Ohio):
T.M. Göttl, Mello da Poet, Carla Thompson, Cory Mikesell
Nuyorican (Lower East Side, New York City):
Jaamal St John, McPherson, Falu, Cyn Thompson

Bout 34 (Venue 4, 9 p.m.), Thursday
FlagSlam Poetry Slam:
Christopher Fox Graham, Ryan Brown, Shaun Srivastava "Nodalone", Tara Pollock, Jackson Morris
Louder ARTS, Bar 13 (Union Square, New York City)
Mokgethi Thinane "Mega", Megan Falley, Jamaal May, Catalina Ferro  
Louisville Poetry Slam (Louisville, Miss.)
Zamir, Cherish Triplett "Cheri B", True, Sireal
Seattle Poetry Slam (Seattle, Wash):
Sara Brickman, Rose McAleese, Roma Raye, Amber Flame


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Valence wins the Sedona Poetry Grand Slam

Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas wins the Sedona Poetry Grand Slam held Saturday, June 16, 2012, at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in Sedona, Arizona.
Photo courtesy of MaryCae Vignolini
2012 Sedona Grand Slam Champion Tyler Sirvinskas, aka Valence, performs at the 2011 National Poetry Slam in Cambridge, Mass.
The 2012 Sedona National Poetry Slam Team members are:
Valence, Evan Dissinger, Josh Wiss, Frank O'Brien and Spenser Troth.


Benediction: Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona, "Welcome to the Church of the Word"
Round 1
Draw based on season's point rankings

Calibration: Shaun "nodalone" Sristava, of Flagstaff
Calibration: Jackson Morris, of Flagstaff
Calibration: Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona, "Spinal Language"
Lauren Hanss, of Flagstaff, 21.8, 1:32, 11th, -7.1
Gary Every, of Sedona, 23.7, 22.7 after 1.0-point time penalty, 3:24, 10th, -5.2
Evan Dissinger, of Flagstaff, 28.3, 3:06, tie 3rd, -0.6
Spenser Troth, of Flagstaff, 28.3, 27.3 after 1.0-point time penalty, 3:21, tie 3rd, -0.6
Austin Reeves, of Flagstaff, 26.8, 2:41, 8th -2.1
Mikel Weisser, of Kingman, 26.4, 2:18, 9th, -2.5
Frank O'Brien, of Prescott, 27.5, 2:59, tie 6th, -1.4
The Klute, of Phoenix, 28.3, 27.8 after 0.5-point time penalty, 3:15, tie 3rd, -0.6
Lauren Perry, of Phoenix, 27.5,  2:51, tie 6th, -1.4
Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff, 28.9, 2:18, 1st, 0.0
Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, of Flagstaff, 28.5, 2:54, 2nd, -0.4

Round 2
Reverse Order
Sorbet: Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona, "Dear Pluto"

Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, of Flagstaff, 28.3, 2:26, 56.8, 4th, -0.5
Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff, 28.1, 2:39, 57.0, 3rd, -0.3

Lauren Perry, of Phoenix, 28.3, 2:32, 55.8, 5th, -1.5
The Klute, of Phoenix, 29.4, 2:50, 57.2, 2nd, -0.1
Frank O'Brien, of Prescott, 27.8, 2:57, 55.3, 6th, -2.0
Mikel Weisser, of Kingman, 26.9, 2:46, 53.3, 9th, -4.0
Austin Reeves, of Flagstaff, 26.7, 2:59, 53.5, 8th, -3.8
Spenser Troth, of Flagstaff, 26.8, 2:33, 54.1, 7th, -3.2
Evan Dissinger, of Flagstaff, 29.0, 2:14, 57.3, 1st, 0.0
Gary Every, of Sedona, 27.0, 2:50, 49.7, 10th, -7.6
Lauren Hanss, of Flagstaff, 25.8, 2:08, 47.6, 11th, -9.7

Round 3
High to Low
Sorbet: Christopher Fox Graham (poem) and Azami Ishihara (dance), of Sedona, "In the Corners of This Room."

Evan Dissinger, of Flagstaff, 28.3, 1:33, 85.6, 2nd, -0.4
The Klute, of Phoenix, 28.3, 2:47, 85.5, 3rd, -0.5
Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff, 28.3, 2:26, 85.3, 4th, -0.7

Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, of Flagstaff, 29.2, 2:47, 86., 1st, 0.0
Lauren Perry, of Phoenix, 27.6, 27.1 after 0.5-point time penalty, 3:16, 82.9, 6th, -3.1
Frank O'Brien, of Prescott, 28.8, 2:58, 84., 5th, -1.9
Spenser Troth, of Flagstaff, 28.3, 1:33, 82.4, 7th, -3.6
Austin Reeves, of Flagstaff, 28.6, 3:06, 82.1, 8th, -3.9
Mikel Weisser, of Kingman, 26.9, 2:28, 80.2, 9th, -5.8
Gary Every, of Sedona, 27.6, 1:54, 77.3, 10th, -8.7
Lauren Hanss, of Flagstaff, 27.3, 1:54, 74.9, -11.1

Final Scores
Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, of Flagstaff, 86.0
Evan Dissinger, of Flagstaff, 85.6
The Klute, of Phoenix, 85.5
Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff, 85.3
Frank O'Brien, of Prescott, 84.1
Lauren Perry, of Phoenix, 82.9
Spenser Troth, of Flagstaff, 82.4
Austin Reeves, of Flagstaff, 82.1
Mikel Weisser, of Kingman, 80.2
Gary Every, of Sedona, 77.3
Lauren Hanss, of Flagstaff, 74.9

(The Klute and Lauren Perry declined to join the team, bumping Frank O'Brien and Spencer Troth to the team as alternates).

Photo by Jonathan Weiskopf.
Tyler Sirvinskas aka Valence performs at the 2011 National Poetry Slam in Cambridge, Mass.
Tyler Sirvinskas aka Valence, was a member of the 2011 Flagstaff National Poetry Slam team. He is the top-ranked poet competing in the Sedona grand slam

Evan Dissinger. Photo by Kelly Watts.
Evan Dissinger is one of the preeminent voices in the Flagstaff poetry scene. A skateboard rat in Flagstaff, Dissinger is one of the most sincere poets in Arizona with a knack for making conventional experiences sublime.

Josh Wiss
Joshua Wiss’ infectious enthusiasm for life is evident in his energetic performances. A recent graduate of NAU with a degree in creative writing, Wiss performed at every Sedona Poetry Slam this season and was ranked No. 2 going into the grand slam.

Frank O'Brien
A poet’s poet, Frank O’Brien writes with a profound simplicity. O’Brien won the 2008 and 2009 Flagstaff Grand Slams, and competed at three national poetry slams from 2008 to 2010.

Spencer Troth
A political science student at NAU, Spencer Troth’s introspective work brings compassion to his views of current events, such as a poem touching on the double murder outside Sedona in January. Troth will be taking his poetic voice overseas as a political science student in France next year.

    Friday, May 4, 2012

    Buy your tickets now for Saturday's Sedona Poetry Slam featuring Sean Patrick Mulroy

    Sean Patrick Mulroy features at the Sedona Poetry Slam on Saturday, May 5

    Sedona's Studio Live hosts a poetry slam Saturday, May 5, starting at 7:30 p.m. featuring New York City poet Sean Patrick Mulroy and hosted by Sedona poet Christopher Fox Graham.


    All poets are welcome to compete for the $75 grand prize and $25 second-place prize. The prize is funded in part by a donation from Verde Valley poetry supporter Jeanne Freeland.

    The slam will the sixth and last of the 2011-12 regular season, which has been more moving, more energetic and more intense because this year as poets compete for a slot in Sedona's first National Poetry Slam Team.

    After four years of collaborating with the Flagstaff and Phoenix metro area poetry slam scenes, the Sedona scene has the reputation and strength to send its own team to the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., in August. The eventual four-poet team will share the stage with 300 of the top poets in the United States, Canada and Europe, pouring out their words in a weeklong explosion of expression.

    This is the last slam of the regular season. The next slam will be invitation only and feature the best of the best poets competing for the coveted top four slots plus an alternate.

    Sean Patrick Mulroy
    A gifted writer and an accomplished performer, Mulroy (aka Sean Patrick Conlon) is a dedicated student of literature and a firm believer in the power of the oral tradition.

    Born and raised in Southern Virginia, the house where Mulroy grew up was built in 1801 and was commandeered by the union army during the Civil War to serve as a makeshift hospital.  As a Mulroy, Sean loved to peel back the carpets to show where the blood from hasty surgeries on wounded soldiers had stained the wooden floorboards.  Now he writes poems.

    Photo by Penmanship Books
    Mulroy is the author of “The Pornography Diaries,” a poetic study of love and sex as seen through the lens of media study and film analysis.  He also stars in a one-man show of the same name, combining original rock music and the poems from the book in a critically acclaimed multimedia tour-de-force.

    Mulroy has performed in 10 countries on three continents, participated in 6 national spoken-word competitions, written and recorded three albums of music, and released more than 10 chapbooks of original poetry. He has been published in both online and print journals, and has featured at literary festivals for universities and arts organizations all over the world. He is currently on tour full-time while working on three new manuscripts and a new musical project.

    Sedona Poetry Slam
    To compete in the slam, poets need at least three original poems, each three minutes long or shorter. No props, costumes or musical accompaniment are permitted. All types of poetry are welcome.

    The May 5 slam will be hosted by Graham, who represented Northern Arizona on the Flagstaff team at five National Poetry Slams between 2001 and 2010. Contact Graham at foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up to slam.

    Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
    Competing poets earn points with each Sedona Poetry Slam performance between Dec. 3 and Saturday, May 5. Every poet earns 1 point for performing or hosting and 1/2 point for calibrating. First place earns 3 additional points, second place earns 2 and third place earns 1.

    Based on points, the top 12 poets in May are eligible to compete for the four slots on the Sedona Poetry Slam Team, which will represent the community and Studio Live at the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.

    All poets are eligible in the slamoff except those already confirmed members of or coaching another National Poetry Slam or College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational or Brave New Voices team. Poets can compete for multiple teams during a season and still be eligible to compete in the Sedona team.

    For poetry slam standings, videos from past slams, and updates, visit foxthepoet.blogspot.com.


    What is Poetry Slam?
    Founded in Chicago in 1984, poetry slam is a competitive artistic sport. Poetry slams are judged by five randomly chosen members of the audience who assign numerical value to individual poets' contents and performances.

    Poetry slam has become an international artistic sport, with more than 100 major poetry slams in the United States, Canada, Australia and Western Europe.

    Tickets are $7 in advance and $12 the day of the event, available at Golden Word Books and Music, 3150 W. SR 89A, and online at studiolivesedona.com.

    Studio Live is located at 215 Coffee Pot Drive, West Sedona. For more information, call (928) 282-2688.

    Friday, April 6, 2012

    Get your tickets today for the Sedona Poetry Slam on Saturday, April 7, featuring Bill Campana

    Bill Campana features at the Sedona Poetry Slam on Saturday, April 7

    In celebration of April as National Poetry Month, Sedona's Studio Live hosts a poetry slam Saturday, April 7, starting at 7:30 p.m. featuring Mesa poet Bill Campana and hosted by Sedona poet Christopher Fox Graham.

    All poets are welcome to compete for the $75 grand prize and $25 second-place prize. The prize is funded in part by a donation from Verde Valley poetry supporter Jeanne Freeland.


    The price rises to $12 at midnight tonight.

    The slam will the fourth of the 2011-12 season, which has been more moving, more energetic and more intense because this year as poets compete for a slot in Sedona's first National Poetry Slam Team.

    After four years of collaborating with the Flagstaff and Phoenix metro area poetry slam scenes, the Sedona scene has the reputation and strength to send its own team to the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., in August. The eventual four-poet team will share the stage with 300 of the top poets in the United States, Canada and Europe, pouring out their words in a weeklong explosion of expression.

    Bill Campana

    Before Campana blazed into the Mesa and Phoenix poetry scene in 1997, individuals would attend poetry readings and at the end of every dry, polished piece of mental origami, read with all the flair of a zoning law variance, those still awake in the audience would say "humph." Poets would get a smattering of courtesy applause, and everyone would go home feeling just a little more cultured than their neighbors who owned television sets.

    Campana, however, knows that the only true way to respect culture is to break it into little tiny pieces. He came onto the poetry scene at full power, and suddenly the dry dusty notebooks of lesser poets got burned up in the shockwave.

    Campana is the atom bomb that levels ivory towers. He got people excited enough about poetry to come back for more, and to see what would happen next. Soon, the audience was too big for the coffeehouse, a feat unprecedented since Socrates dared the baristas to make him a hemlock frappuchino.

    Campana began writing poetry at the age of 17, quit at 22 because he realized that he had nothing to say. Twenty years later, he picked up where he left off, soon ran out of things to say again but has not stopped writing.

    A member of five Mesa National Poetry Slam Teams, Campana has been to the semi-finals of the National Poetry Slam twice. He has hosted and featured across the Southwest, and continues to write at a feverish pace, always challenging fellow poets to better their craft on the page and the stage.

    Campana takes elements of other art forms and applies them to his poetry. Although audiences can't hear the music, he insists it's in there in tributes to composition. Although audiences can't see the paintings and photographs they are there behind the words. Campana currently lives on the fine line that separates the page from the stage. From there he can reach people from both spectrums of modern poetry. Campana runs the weekly Sound Effects poetry open mic called in Phoenix.

    Campana also recently released a compilation album, "The Hit List," that features 94 poems composed over the last 10 years of his performance career in Phoenix.

    Sedona Poetry Slam
    Photo by Harley Deuce
    The April 7 slam will be hosted by Graham, who
    represented Northern Arizona on the Flagstaff team
    at five National Poetry Slams between 2001 and 2010.

    To compete in the slam, poets need at least three original poems, each three minutes long or shorter. No props, costumes or musical accompaniment are permitted. All types of poetry are welcome.

    The April 7 slam will be hosted by Graham, who represented Northern Arizona on the Flagstaff team at five National Poetry Slams between 2001 and 2010.

    Contact Graham at foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up to slam.

    Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
    Competing poets earn points with each Sedona Poetry Slam performance between Dec. 3 and Saturday, May 5. Every poet earns 1 point for performing or hosting and 1/2 point for calibrating. First place earns 3 additional points, second place earns 2 and third place earns 1.

    Based on points, the top 12 poets in May are eligible to compete for the four slots on the Sedona Poetry Slam Team, which will represent the community and Studio Live at the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.

    All poets are eligible in the slamoff except those already confirmed members of or coaching another National Poetry Slam or College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational or Brave New Voices team. Poets can compete for multiple teams during a season and still be eligible to compete in the Sedona team.

    The last slam of the season takes place on Saturday, May 5, featuring Brooklyn, N.Y., poet Sean Patrick Mulroy.

    For poetry slam standings, videos from past slams, and updates, visit foxthepoet.blogspot.com.

    What is Poetry Slam?

    Founded in Chicago in 1984, poetry slam is a competitive artistic sport. Poetry slams are judged by five randomly chosen members of the audience who assign numerical value to individual poets' contents and performances.

    Poetry slam has become an international artistic sport, with more than 100 major poetry slams in the United States, Canada, Australia and Western Europe.

    Tickets are $7 in advance and $12 the day of the event, available at Golden Word Books and Music, 3150 W. SR 89A, and online at studiolivesedona.com.

    Studio Live is located at 215 Coffee Pot Drive, West Sedona. For more information, call (928) 282-2688.


    Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
    Slamoff Point Standings
    7 points
    Ryan Brown, of Flagstaff
    Shaun "nodalone" Sristava, of Flagstaff ✓
    6 points
    Rowie Shebala, of Phoenix ✓
    5 points
     Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff
    The Klute, of Phoenix ✓
    Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, of Flagstaff
    4 points
    Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona
    Jackson Morris, of Flagstaff ✓
    3 points
    Christopher Harbster, of Flagstaff
    Mikel Weisser, of Kingman
    Frank O'Brien, of Prescott
    Lauren Perry, of Phoenix
    Tara Pollock, of Flagstaff
    2.5 points

    Spencer Troth, of Flagstaff
    2 points
    Tom Heymsfeld, of Sedona
    1.5 points
    Noberto "Bert" Cisneros, of Cottonwood
    1 pointJahnilli Akbar, of New York City
    Ellenelizabeth Cernek, of Sedona
    Evan Dissinger, of Flagstaff
    Gabbi Jue, of Flagstaff
    Jack Egan, of Sedona
    Gary Every, of Sedona
    Josh Goldberg, of Oak Creek Ranch School
    Aaron Johnson, of Phoenix
    Michelle Peterson, of Sedona
    Kendra "Kenj" Shebala, of Flagstaff
    Mary Elizabeth Skene, of Sedona
    Seth Walker, of Texas
    0.5 points
    Sasha Anderson, of Flagstaff
    Gary Bowers, of Phoenix
    Danielle Silver, of Sedona
    ✓ = won a Sedona Poetry Slam

    Monday, March 26, 2012

    Bill Campana features at the Sedona Poetry Slam on Saturday, April 7

    Bill Campana features at the Sedona Poetry Slam on Saturday, April 7

    In celebration of April as National Poetry Month, Sedona's Studio Live hosts a poetry slam Saturday, April 7, starting at 7:30 p.m. featuring Mesa poet Bill Campana and hosted by Sedona poet Christopher Fox Graham.

    All poets are welcome to compete for the $75 grand prize and $25 second-place prize. The prize is funded in part by a donation from Verde Valley poetry supporter Jeanne Freeland.

    The slam will the fourth of the 2011-12 season, which has been more moving, more energetic and more intense because this year as poets compete for a slot in Sedona's first National Poetry Slam Team.

    After four years of collaborating with the Flagstaff and Phoenix metro area poetry slam scenes, the Sedona scene has the reputation and strength to send its own team to the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., in August. The eventual four-poet team will share the stage with 300 of the top poets in the United States, Canada and Europe, pouring out their words in a weeklong explosion of expression.

    Bill Campana

    Before Campana blazed into the Mesa and Phoenix poetry scene in 1997, individuals would attend poetry readings and at the end of every dry, polished piece of mental origami, read with all the flair of a zoning law variance, those still awake in the audience would say "humph." Poets would get a smattering of courtesy applause, and everyone would go home feeling just a little more cultured than their neighbors who owned television sets.

    Campana, however, knows that the only true way to respect culture is to break it into little tiny pieces. He came onto the poetry scene at full power, and suddenly the dry dusty notebooks of lesser poets got burned up in the shockwave.

    Campana is the atom bomb that levels ivory towers. He got people excited enough about poetry to come back for more, and to see what would happen next. Soon, the audience was too big for the coffeehouse, a feat unprecedented since Socrates dared the baristas to make him a hemlock frappuchino.

    Campana began writing poetry at the age of 17, quit at 22 because he realized that he had nothing to say. Twenty years later, he picked up where he left off, soon ran out of things to say again but has not stopped writing.

    A member of five Mesa National Poetry Slam Teams, Campana has been to the semi-finals of the National Poetry Slam twice. He has hosted and featured across the Southwest, and continues to write at a feverish pace, always challenging fellow poets to better their craft on the page and the stage.

    Campana takes elements of other art forms and applies them to his poetry. Although audiences can't hear the music, he insists it's in there in tributes to composition. Although audiences can't see the paintings and photographs they are there behind the words. Campana currently lives on the fine line that separates the page from the stage. From there he can reach people from both spectrums of modern poetry. Campana runs the weekly Sound Effects poetry open mic called in Phoenix.

    Campana also recently released a compilation album, "The Hit List," that features 94 poems composed over the last 10 years of his performance career in Phoenix.

    Sedona Poetry Slam
    Photo by Harley Deuce
    The April 7 slam will be hosted by Graham, who
    represented Northern Arizona on the Flagstaff team
    at five National Poetry Slams between 2001 and 2010.

    To compete in the slam, poets need at least three original poems, each three minutes long or shorter. No props, costumes or musical accompaniment are permitted. All types of poetry are welcome.

    The April 7 slam will be hosted by Graham, who represented Northern Arizona on the Flagstaff team at five National Poetry Slams between 2001 and 2010.

    Contact Graham at foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up to slam.

    Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
    Competing poets earn points with each Sedona Poetry Slam performance between Dec. 3 and Saturday, May 5. Every poet earns 1 point for performing or hosting and 1/2 point for calibrating. First place earns 3 additional points, second place earns 2 and third place earns 1.

    Based on points, the top 12 poets in May are eligible to compete for the four slots on the Sedona Poetry Slam Team, which will represent the community and Studio Live at the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.

    All poets are eligible in the slamoff except those already confirmed members of or coaching another National Poetry Slam or College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational or Brave New Voices team. Poets can compete for multiple teams during a season and still be eligible to compete in the Sedona team.

    The last slam of the season takes place on Saturday, May 5, featuring Brooklyn, N.Y., poet Sean Patrick Mulroy.

    For poetry slam standings, videos from past slams, and updates, visit foxthepoet.blogspot.com.

    What is Poetry Slam?

    Founded in Chicago in 1984, poetry slam is a competitive artistic sport. Poetry slams are judged by five randomly chosen members of the audience who assign numerical value to individual poets' contents and performances.

    Poetry slam has become an international artistic sport, with more than 100 major poetry slams in the United States, Canada, Australia and Western Europe.

    Tickets are $7 in advance and $12 the day of the event, available at Golden Word Books and Music, 3150 W. SR 89A, and online at studiolivesedona.com.

    Studio Live is located at 215 Coffee Pot Drive, West Sedona. For more information, call (928) 282-2688.


    Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
    Slamoff Point Standings
    7 points
    Ryan Brown, of Flagstaff
    Shaun "nodalone" Sristava, of Flagstaff ✓
    6 points
    Rowie Shebala, of Phoenix ✓
    5 points
     Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff
    The Klute, of Phoenix ✓
    Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, of Flagstaff
    4 points
    Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona
    Jackson Morris, of Flagstaff ✓
    3 points
    Christopher Harbster, of Flagstaff
    Mikel Weisser, of Kingman
    Frank O'Brien, of Prescott
    Lauren Perry, of Phoenix
    Tara Pollock, of Flagstaff
    2.5 points

    Spencer Troth, of Flagstaff
    2 points
    Tom Heymsfeld, of Sedona
    1.5 points
    Noberto "Bert" Cisneros, of Cottonwood
    1 pointJahnilli Akbar, of New York City
    Ellenelizabeth Cernek, of Sedona
    Evan Dissinger, of Flagstaff
    Gabbi Jue, of Flagstaff
    Jack Egan, of Sedona
    Gary Every, of Sedona
    Josh Goldberg, of Oak Creek Ranch School
    Aaron Johnson, of Phoenix
    Michelle Peterson, of Sedona
    Kendra "Kenj" Shebala, of Flagstaff
    Mary Elizabeth Skene, of Sedona
    Seth Walker, of Texas
    0.5 points
    Sasha Anderson, of Flagstaff
    Gary Bowers, of Phoenix
    Danielle Silver, of Sedona
    ✓ = won a Sedona Poetry Slam

    Friday, March 16, 2012

    Jackson Morris wins the fourth Sedona Poetry Slam of the 2011-12 National Poetry Slam Season

    Jackson Morris, of Flagstaff, won the Sedona Poetry Slam on
    Saturday, March 10.
    Jackson Morris wins the fourth Sedona Poetry Slam of the 2011-12 National Poetry Slam Season.


    Round 1
    Random Draw

    Calibration: Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona, “Poetic Babysitting”
    Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff, 22.1, 1:55
    Mikel Weisser, of Kingman, 19.3, 3:01
    Valence, of Flagstaff, 26.6, 2:52
    Tom Heymsfeld, of Sedona, 25.9, 2:09
    Rowie Shebala, of Phoenix, 25.2, 2:31
    Nodalone, of Flagstaff, 25.6, 3:04
    You Phonik, of Flagstaff, 23.7, 3:06
    Jackson, of Flagstaff, 28.4, 2:57

    Teaser: Seth Walker and Solomon Schneider

    Round 2
    Reverse Order
    Jackson, of Flagstaff, 28.8, 2:55, 57.2
    You Phonik, of Flagstaff, 20.1, 18.6 after 1.5 time penalty, 3:31, 42.3

    Nodalone, of Flagstaff, 21.8, 2:27, 47.4
    Rowie Shebala, of Phoenix, 24.2, 2:27, 49.4

    Tom Heymsfeld, of Sedona, 23.6, 1:11, 49.5
    Valence, of Flagstaff, 26.8, 2:04, 53.4
    Mikel Weisser, of Kingman, 23.1, 2:34, 42.4
    Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff, 24.3, 2:15, 46.4

    Courtesy photo
    Seth Walker and his cellist tour mate Solomon Schneider featured at
    the Sedona Poetry Slam on March 10.
    Feature: Seth Walker and Solomon Schneider


    Sorbet: Noberto Cisneros, of Cottonwood

    Sorbet: Spenser Troth, of Flagstaff

    Round 3
    High to Low
    Jackson, of Flagstaff, 26.5, 26.0 after 0.5 time penalty, 3:16, 83.2
    Valence, of Flagstaff, 25.1, 3:09, 78.5
    Tom Heymsfeld, of Sedona, 25.4, 1:37, 74.9 
    Rowie Shebala, of Phoenix, 25.2, 2:54, 74.6
    Nodalone, of Flagstaff, 22.7, 21.7 after 1 point time penalty, 3:29, 69.1
    Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff, 25.4, 2:38, 71.8
    Mikel Weisser, of Kingman, 26.8, 23.8 after 3 point time penalty, 4:06, 66.2
    You Phonik, of Flagstaff, 22.8, 1:52, 65.1

    Sorbet:  Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona, “The Peach is a Damn Sexy Fruit” with actual fruit

    Victory: Jackson, of Flagstaff

    Final Scores
    Jackson, of Flagstaff, 83.2

    Valence, of Flagstaff, 78.5

    Tom Heymsfeld, of Sedona, 74.9 

    Rowie Shebala, of Phoenix, 74.6

    Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff, 71.8
    Nodalone, of Flagstaff, 69.1
    Mikel Weisser, of Kingman, 66.2

    You Phonik, of Flagstaff, 65.1
    Scorekeeper: Alun Wile
    Cameramwoman: Azami

    Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
    Slamoff Point Standings
    7 points
    Ryan Brown, of Flagstaff
    Shaun "nodalone" Sristava, of Flagstaff ✓
    6 points
    Rowie Shebala, of Phoenix ✓
    5 points
     Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff
    The Klute, of Phoenix ✓
    Tyler "Valence" Sirvinskas, of Flagstaff
    4 points
    Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona
    Jackson Morris, of Flagstaff ✓
    3 points
    Christopher Harbster, of Flagstaff
    Mikel Weisser, of Kingman
    Frank O'Brien, of Prescott
    Lauren Perry, of Phoenix
    Tara Pollock, of Flagstaff
    2.5 points

    Spencer Troth, of Flagstaff
    2 points
    Tom Heymsfeld, of Sedona
    1.5 points
    Noberto "Bert" Cisneros, of Cottonwood
    1 pointJahnilli Akbar, of New York City
    Ellenelizabeth Cernek, of SedonaEvan Dissinger, of Flagstaff
    Gabbi Jue, of Flagstaff
    Jack Egan, of Sedona
    Gary Every, of Sedona
    Josh Goldberg, of Oak Creek Ranch School
    Aaron Johnson, of Phoenix
    Michelle Peterson, of Sedona
    Kendra "Kenj" Shebala, of Flagstaff
    Mary Elizabeth Skene, of Sedona
    Seth Walker, of Texas
    0.5 points
    Sasha Anderson, of Flagstaff
    Gary Bowers, of Phoenix
    Danielle Silver, of Sedona
    ✓ = won a Sedona Poetry Slam

    Tuesday, February 28, 2012

    Jack Egan performs "Up" in the third round of the Sedona Poetry Slam, 12-3-2011

    Jack Egan performs "Up" in the third round of the Sedona Poetry Slam, 12-3-2011. Great poem, and with audience participation, too.

    Jack Egan performs in the second round of the Sedona Poetry Slam, 12-3-2011

    Jack Egan performs in the second round of the Sedona Poetry Slam on Dec. 3, 2011

    Christopher "You Phonik" Harbster performs in the third round of the Sedona Poetry Slam, 12-3-2011

    Photo by Saar Ingelbert
    Christopher "You Phonik" Harbster
    Christopher "You Phonik" Harbster performs in the third round of the Sedona Poetry Slam on Dec. 3, 2011

    Spencer Troth performs in the third round of the Sedona Poetry Slam, 12-3-2011

    Spencer Troth performs in the third round of the Sedona Poetry Slam on Dec. 3, 2011

    Friday, February 17, 2012

    Mikel Weisser performs in the third round of the Sedona Poetry Slam, 12-3-2011

    Mikel Weisser performs in the third round of the Sedona Poetry Slam on Dec. 3, 2011

    >

    Order your tickets now for Sedona Poetry Slam tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 18

    Aaron Johnson features at the Sedona Poetry Slam on Saturday, Feb. 18
    Order your tickets now to reserve the discount price of $7.

    Sedona's Studio Live hosts a poetry slam Saturday, Feb. 18, starting at 7:30 p.m. featuring longtime Phoenix poet Aaron Johnson and hosted by Sedona poet Christopher Fox Graham.

    All poets are welcome to compete for the $100 grand prize. The prize is funded in part by a donation from Verde Valley poetry supporter Jeanne Freeland.

    The slam will the third of the 2011-12 season, which has been more moving, more energetic and more intense because this year as poets compete for a slot in Sedona's first National Poetry Slam Team.

    After four years of collaborating with the Flagstaff and Phoenix metro area poetry slam scenes, the Sedona scene has the reputation and strength to send its own team to the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C., in August. The eventual four-poet team will share the stage with 300 of the top poets in the United States, Canada and Europe, pouring out their words in a weeklong explosion of expression.

    Aaron Johnson
    Aaron Johnson likes pinball machines, shortbread cookies, graphic novels, and skateboard competitions. However, Johnson is most likely to found at a poetry slam or rock show, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. As a young teen, he worked at Arby's. It was where he saw a lefthander chop off his thumb in a roast beef slicer. Being a lefty too, Aaron was permanently scarred for life and began writing and performing poetry.

    Courtesy photo
    Aaron Johnson likes pinball machines, shortbread cookies, graphic
    novels, and skateboard competitions. However, Johnson is most
    likely to found at a poetry slam or rock
    show, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee.
    Johnson was the 2001 International Poetry Interpretation champion. From 2002 to 2005, he studied communication theory and English at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, participated and coached award-winning speech and debate team.

    In 2004, he founded Boardwalk Open Mic and published "Irony Stinks," then "Watering the Poetry" chapbook in 2005. He also participated in his first the National Poetry Slam, held in Albuquerque, N.M., alongside Graham, Logan Phillips and Meghan Jones.

    He was the 2006 Southwest Shootout Regional Slam director and represented Flagstaff at the Individual World Poetry Slam.

    Photo by Christopher Fox Graham
    Aaron has performed in theaters, bars, poetry
    slams, high schools, universities,art galleries,
    comic book stores, street corners, book stores,
    living rooms, and in 45 states, in just the past
    four years.
    After moving to Phoenix in 2008, he formed the musical act "Spoken Circus" alongside Megyn Neff and Marykate Glenn, won the Phoenix Grand Slam and represented Phoenix at IWPS.

    He published "Chainsawsmoking" in 2009 and was the KABAM! Book Festival featured author in Kingman. Alongside Ed Mabrey, Myrlin Hepworth and The Klute on the Phoenix National Poetry Slam Team, Johnson's team semi-finals at the 2009 National Poetry Slam in Minneapolis.

    In 2010, he returned to the KABAM! Book Festival as a featured author and joined the First Friday Night Live writing staff and promotion crew as well as founding the Pink Slip Poetry Slam in downtown Phoenix.

    KABAM! Book Festival brought him back as a featured author a third time in 2011 and he created Encyclopedia Show: Arizona.
    In 2011, his chapbook "Roach Killer for Her" was translated into Spanish and he became director of First Friday Night Live at The Firehouse in Phoenix. He also founded Lawn Gnome Publishing.

    This year, he has been asked to return as a featured author to KABAM!, been a featured performer at The Encyclopedia Show: Arizona, serves as producer and writer of First Friday Night Live Writer and opened Lawn Gnome Bookstore. He was also featured painter for February's Solo Art Exhibition at Jones Gallery, and city of Phoenix Public Art Grant Recipient for "Dumpsterdiving Haiku" to be installed on Phoenix's busy 7th Avenue and McDowell intersection.

    Aaron has performed in theatres, bars, poetry slams, high schools, universities, art galleries, comic book stores, street corners, book stores, living rooms, and in 45 states, in just the past four years.

    Sedona Poetry Slam
    Photo by Harley Deuce
    The Feb. 18 slam will be hosted by Graham, who
    represented Northern Arizona on the Flagstaff team 
    at five National Poetry Slams between 2001 and 2010.

    To compete in the slam, poets need at least three original poems, each three minutes long or shorter. No props, costumes or musical accompaniment are permitted. All types of poetry are welcome.

    The Feb. 18 slam will be hosted by Graham, who represented Northern Arizona on the Flagstaff team at five National Poetry Slams between 2001 and 2010.

    Contact Graham at foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up to slam.

    Women of the World Poetry Slam Qualifier
    This slam is also the qualifier for Sedona's representative to the International Women of the World Poetry Slam, to be held in Denver March 7-10. Highest ranked female or female-identified poets from Sedona earns the slot.

    Eligibility: Poets who live their lives as women are eligible to participate in the Women of the World Poetry Slam. Competitors are eligible from certified venues or as individuals from areas without certified venues (a.k.a. “Storm” poets). Certified venues have a window of time to enter before individuals not associated with certified slams are able to enter. All certified venues must have a competition to determine their contestants.

    All competitors must be PSI members in good standing and must agree to participate in the event following the rules of Slam as well as the Code of Honor, and must allow for PSI to videotape their performances for PSI owned product.
    Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
    Competing poets earn points with each Sedona Poetry Slam performance between Dec. 3 and Saturday, May 5. Every poet earns 1 point for performing or hosting and 1/2 point for calibrating. First place earns 3 additional points, second place earns 2 and third place earns 1.

    Based on points, the top 12 poets in May are eligible to compete for the four slots on the Sedona Poetry Slam Team, which will represent the community and Studio Live at the 2012 National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.

    All poets are eligible in the slamoff except those already confirmed members of or coaching another National Poetry Slam or College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational or Brave New Voices team. Poets can compete for multiple teams during a season and still be eligible to compete in the Sedona team.

    Future slams will take place on Saturday, March 10, featuring Seth Walker from Austin, Texas; Saturday, April 7, featuring Mesa poet Bill Campana; and May 5, featuring Brooklyn, N.Y., poet Sean Patrick Mulroy.

    For poetry slam standings, videos from past slams, and updates, visit foxthepoet.blogspot.com.

    What is Poetry Slam?

    Founded in Chicago in 1984, poetry slam is a competitive artistic sport. Poetry slams are judged by five randomly chosen members of the audience who assign numerical value to individual poets' contents and performances.

    Poetry slam has become an international artistic sport, with more than 100 major poetry slams in the United States, Canada, Australia and Western Europe.

    Tickets are $7 in advance and $12 the day of the event, available at Golden Word Books and Music, 3150 W. SR 89A, and online at studiolivesedona.com.

    Studio Live is located at 215 Coffee Pot Drive, West Sedona. For more information, call (928) 282-2688.

    Sedona National Poetry Slam Team
    Slamoff Point Standings
    4 points 
    Ryan Brown, of Flagstaff 
    The Klute, of Phoenix 
    Rowie Shebala, of Phoenix   
    3 points 
    Frank O'Brien, of Prescott
    2 points 
    Christopher Fox Graham, of Sedona 
    Christopher Harbster, of Flagstaff 
    Lauren Perry, of Phoenix 
    Tara Pollock, of Flagstaff 
    Mikel Weisser, of Kingman 
    nodalone, of Flagstaff 
    Josh Wiss, of Flagstaff
    1 point 
    Bert Cisneros, of Cottonwood 
    Ellenelizabeth, of Sedona 
    Evan Dissinger, of Flagstaff 
    Gabbi Jue, of Flagstaff 
    Jack Egan, of Sedona 
    Jahnilli Akbar, of New York City 
    Josh Goldberg, of Oak Creek Ranch School 
    Kendra Kenj Shebala, of Flagstaff 
    Spencer Troth, of Flagstaff 
    Valence, of Flagstaff   
    0.5 points
    Danielle Silver, of Sedona 
    Gary Bowers, of Phoenix 
    Gary Every, of Sedona