KZOO POETRY SLAM-CAST

Another oops in the timeline brings us this slam recording from May of 2001, featuring Chicago poet, Jason Pettus.

Here’s the second half of the show recorded on November 13 th 2001. Featuring one of the most dynamic voices to ever come out of Chicago’s spoken word scene, Mr. Kevin Coval.

Due to a rather nasty head cold, there’s no introductory jibber jabber from me before this episode. . . you’re welcome. . . Instead, we’ll just jump right into the open-mic, a few tunes from Charlie Burgess, and the first half of our feature poet, Kevin Coval, one of the most dynamic voices to ever come out of Chicago’s spoken word scene. Recorded on November 13 th 2001.  

It’s time for the second half of Buddy’s feature. This show was recorded on October 24 th 2001. The feature is Buddy Wakefield, “three time world champion and most toured performance poet in history”. . . This was the 2 nd time Buddy stopped in Kalamazoo during his first U.S. tour. . . and he’s been on the road pretty much nonstop ever since.

Recorded on October 24 th 2001. Three time world champion and most toured performance poet in history. . . This was the 2 nd time Buddy stopped in Kalamazoo during his first U.S. tour. . . and he’s been on the road pretty much nonstop ever since. 

Recorded around September 25 th 2001. I tried like hell to Google up some info or at least a proper spelling for this feature poet. . . She’s pretty amazing. . . Oh, and Marc Smith dropped by. 

Todd Bannon and Karrie Waarala cohost this Kzoo Slam, recorded on September 18 th , 2001, and featuring one of the greatest slam poets of all time, Mr. Jim Dwyer. 

Before her move to Chicago, NYC poet, Marty McConnell stops by the Kalamazoo Poetry Slam for a feature. Recorded in late August or possibly September 4 th of 2001.

This is the final round of poetry at the 2001 Kzoo Summer Slam. For two nights poets from Ann Arbor, Detroit, Chicago, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo competed in preparation for the National Poetry Slam in Seatle Washington.

This is part one of the second night of the 2001 Kzoo Poetry Slam Invitational, featuring poets from Ann Arbor, Detroit, Chicago, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, with musical guest Charlie Burgess.

Part 2 of the first night of the 2001 Kzoo Poetry Slam Invitational. Poets include: Jeffrey Paul St. John, Shannon Bell, Dan Stevens, Greg Bliss, Chuck Perkins, Kim Koby, and musical guest, Brook Pridemore.

Poets from Ann Arbor, Detroit and Grand Rapids join the Kzoo Slam Team for two nights of practice slams before traveling to Seattle Washington for the 2001 National Poetry Slam.

This episode, recorded in the summer of 2000, should really be numbered 15 ½ . It features the music of Brook Pridemore, and poetry from Karrie, Dawn, Dan, Beth, James, Greg, Laurel, and a bunch more.

It’s about 95% music. . . Recorded in May of 2001, after our month-long slam tournament in April, local singer songwriter, Stacy Koviak stops by to feature at the show. . .and a whole bunch of other musical folks sign-up for the Open-Mic.

Recorded on April 24 th 2001. Shappy Seasholtz, a.k.a. Uncle Shappy, the funniest slam poet who ever lived, is the guest host and featured for the 2001 Kzoo Poetry Slam Finals.

Beth Bullmer features and hosts the 3 rd round of the Kzoo Poetry Slam semifinals, recorded on April 17 th 2001.

Christopher Bullmer hosts the 2 nd round of the Kzoo Slam 2001 semifinals.

1 st and 2 nd place slam winners compete for slots on the 2001 Kzoo Slam Team that competed at the National Poetry Slam in Seattle WA. Round one of the semi-finals was recorded on April 3 rd 2001. Feature poet, Danny Solis, hosted by Tracey Smith.

The Kalamazoo Poetry Slam’s resident bard, Charlie Burgess, performs his 2 nd (or is it 3 rd ?) annual musical feature.  

Karrie Waarala hosts this cover slam recorded on March 20 th 2001, featuring award winning poet Dennis Hinrichsen. https://dennishinrichsen.com/bio/

Former Slam Master of the Ann Arbor Poetry Slam and Executive Director of Poetry Slam Inc. Steve Marsh features at the Kzoo Poetry Slam. Performers include: Drachen Birch, Greg Bliss, Karrie Waarala, James Dixson. . . Dawn Saylor hosts.

Dan Stevens hosts one of the weirdest Kzoo Poetry Slams ever. Recorded on March 6 th 2001, with feature poet Christopher Bullmer (a.k.a. Chris Trudell) and a cover slam, where 60% of the contestants chose to cover Todd Bannon!?!

A couple of beat style jazz influenced cats I met at The Green Mill in Chicago, stop by the Kzoo Poetry Slam to show us how it’s done old-school- ish . 

The Kzoo Poetry Slam’s annual anti-Valentine’s Day show, where we encouraged everyone to exercise their romantic demons by bring the best of their worst love, sex, and breakup poetry. . . Featuring Drachen Birch. 

We’re skipping ahead in the timeline a few weeks to honor one of the best of us. Danny was the first poet to sit down with me and talk about how to create a poetry slam, and it literally changed my life.