The first East Meets Words after Election Day ‘08
November 14, 2008: The first East Meets Words after Election Day ‘08—and what an East Meets Words it was! Our featured artist Beau Sia drew in a massive crowd which helped make for an energetic, diverse bunch of open mic performers. Poems of injustice, social issues and loss intermingled with excerpts from plays, a picture book and stories of hope.
Emily Lawsin shared with us her feelings of voting in Massachusetts (”the bluest of the blue states,” is how I think she characterized our state in her lead-in) for Barack Obama through a poem full of intense personal and historic perspective. Through her words I felt a deep connection to people and events that, as my friend Michèle reminded me recently, predate me and are now integral to who we are, even if we are not fully conscious that they are embedded in our heritage and identities. Emily’s words revitalized my awareness that history continues to speak to and through us, with our words and actions.
Charismatic, long-time BPAC member Dave voiced his perspective by recounting some BPAC history, when it all began with the opening of the East Meets West bookstore and the launch of East Meets Words. Describing in his vibrant words the transformations BPAC and its members have undergone, Dave contrasted his near-breakdown psychological state after election ‘04 to his enthusiasm during and after the BPAC election ‘08 party — and what a way we’ve all come, our entire nation and world. Then beat boxing for Open Orchestra, Dave got Pen and Chuck to fill the crowded space with some lively freestyling sounds. Holding a mic in one hand and almost toasting to the audience with cup of M&Ms held in his other hand, Pen let loose some relaxed, idiosyncratically humorous rhymes (in part about buying socks!) that evoked laughter and cheer from the audience.
Beau Sia started his performance in much the way I’ve seen various artists perform: sitting on a stool, singing while playing his guitar. That changed quickly and drastically as he hurled ideas at the audience in his stentorian voice, vehemently sharing his artistic ideas and experiences. Climbing upon the front counter, demanding that we sitting behind the counter not stare at his butt, he fervently performed poetry accompanied by vigorous gestures and fluid movements — in one piece jogging in place as he described “chasing Bruce Lee” in pursuit of his (Beau’s) own Asian Am conception of self. Up there towering over us with the blazing colors of his tie-dyed t-shirt and occasionally swigging from a one-gallon jug of water, he radiated a ferocity that asserted, almost assaulted us with an onslaught of frenetic, compellingly lyrical language. Beau started his performance by telling us that in this space he could be unrestrained in ways he can’t be in college-campus venues, and by its end, he had shown us an ecstatic spectrum of vitality possible in that freedom.
Packed would be the word to describe this East Meets Words: hours packed with performance, voices packed with power, language packed with eloquence, space packed with people, minds packed with ideas, hearts packed with feeling. As I packed up to go, I felt like I was carrying a lot more home than I brought.
[Editor's Note: I was able to record Beau's performance for those of you who couldn't go. Be prepared, he is both foul and fabulous, but also quite inspiring. It can't equal the live version.]
Last 5 posts by sudo
- The final East Meets Words of 2008! - December 16th, 2008
Standard Podcast [48:18m]: Tags: Open Mic, Podcasts, Recap, spoken word.
Beau was truly inspiring. I especially liked his attire. Tie dye shirt, black jeans, with powder blue boat shoes. How can one not like those boat shoes?
(And he threw off his blazer so it wouldn’t get funky!)
That night was amazing, especially when Beau jumped on the counter and strutted his stuff like it was a stage and a tightrope! I kept praying that he wouldn’t trip over the cash register and fall on someone sitting on the floor. Just think of the headlines. But he didn’t and that’s why, as always, BEAU SIA ROCKS!
Salamat/Thanks for the shout-out and the great re-cap! Here is a link to the poem that I read that night. Thanks for giving me a safe & warm space to share it.
http://divadiba.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/electionpoem/
Let’s also give props to all the inspiring first timers on the mic….
It was inspiring to be in a space that simultaneously nurtures more seasoned performers like Beau Sia, but also welcomes and supports new voices.