Thursday, November 26, 2009

Laughs and Shivers and 7 Towers

Poetry is definitely getting more popular and trendy, as comedy was in the 90's, poetry open mics seem to be opening every other day - am thinking of starting one myself, maybe in my house, Niamh's Salon de Póit's, or some such, but that's a story for another time.

On Wednesday night however I ventured into town alone to visit, for the first time, one of the older, more established nights in the city, that being the 7 Towers last Wednesday series, I'd been trying to check it out for ages, and just hadn't made it until now. Like the Glór sessions it's another downstairs kind of place, you feel hidden away in the depths of the pub, with fanciful gossamer drapings behind the stage and red glass chandeliers.
It starts early, 7.30, which is nice, because it then finishes early 10.45, great for those of us who are unable for the late late nights, (except on fridays when the late late makes it acceptable). As I say it's a well established night, run by the folks at 7 towers publications since long before it was cool. There is a great mix at it of young and old, so it feels like a more multigenerational thing than anything I've been at before, and there was a really impressive range of talent on display, about 12 readers, at about 7 minutes each.

The highlights? Steven Conway had a lovely story called Shrodinger's bus, there was a poem about an earthworm surfacing on the M50, Anamaria Crowe Serrano gave us some breath taking poems, literally - catch your breath kinda stuff, there was Andrej - a regular from the Glór nights who blew the crowd away with a cover of a great poem about Tommy Cooper's death, and his own poem was pretty amazing too. Ross Hattaway, Oran Ryan, and Eamon Linskey too made for really very enjoyable and thought provoking listening. A few other really striking readers whose names I didn't catch also gave us a few good laughs and shivers.
I liked the feeling of experimentation there as well, one lady read a poem she had written that very day, it felt very fresh from that point of view, felt like the work was all new to that environment, no reading the same old same old... a challenging thing but also very exciting.
All this, and a good sized crowd at it on a night when we were spoiled for choice with another new open mic The Brown Bread Mix Tape happening at the Stag's head (which I'm reliably informed was also brilliant and which I'll have to try and get to next), and lots of other literary happenings/ launches etc in the city. SPOILED we are.

(Speaking of spoiling if you've read this far I might as well tell you it's Mr VC's Birthday today, he started a blog yesterday - An Flíp - feel free to go over and wish him a happy day, but you don't have to)

9 comments:

Titus said...

Going very green over here.

But it is good to hear of a place where the spoken word is thriving.

Colm Keegan said...

Did you not read yourself? I might buzz along to that sometime.

Batteson.Ind said...

I can't help but think I'm about to miss out on yet another revolutionary movement.... you city folk get all the coolness!
:0)

Niamh B said...

Ah Titus, gotto to start your own.
Uisce - I did indeed, they very kindly invited me to get up there, I was surprised at how nervous I felt, I was on fairly near the end I suppose, and had therefore heard the quality that had gone before.
Watercats - The thing I liked about this one is it seems like something solid, that's been there all along, a slow quiet kind of revolution. Anyway - you get the fresh air, connection with nature, the universe etc etc etc

Dominic Rivron said...

All sounds great - could do with something like that round here! I'll have to give it some thought...

Domestic Oub said...

Sounds like an excellent night Niamh. How regularly is it on? (forgive me if you mentioned this in the post!)

Niamh B said...

You really should Dominic. It's real nourishment for your soul, I find.
Oub - it is really great, and I didn't mention the timing, 11 times per year, last wednesday of each month except December :-( Next one will be on in Jan, and they have a parallel event in New York. Check 7 towers website - they've lots of day time things too.

Grace Mannion said...

Hi Niamh from Galway. Was unable to leave comment on Mr VC's blogg so pass on "Breithla Shona dhuit". Oh now I am all nervous with my grammar - is it 'shona dhuit' or 'shona duit'. Chat soon. Grace x

Niamh B said...

Hi Grace, not sure why you had trouble - I myself left a brilliant inspiring comment over there this morning with no trouble at all. He appreciates the birthday wish.