#173: It's not a lifestyle it's your stage.
On embracing your roots, Essex Girls and actual feminism (not the media’s portrayal of the same).
I have not felt the urge to do a gig review for some time. Last night deserves recording, for lots of reasons. Mostly, because last night was a game changer.
There’s an in joke with a few of my poetry mates that once you get more than fifteen people in your audience who aren’t reading, then the gig becomes a bit special. It took a while to realise that this is all to do with energy. It’s like my spin instructor tells me: you want everyone moving with the same positivity. There needs to be an absolute acceptance of how important the subject is at hand. You all need to pull together.
Last night, poetry was queen. This was very much a space where feminism was uppermost, and Jake Nathan’s headline set was an object lesson in how honestly, in all cases, is the absolute best way to ply your trade. His poem on men and sexual assault will stay with me for a very long time indeed. It is hugely refreshing to hear a working class poet who sums this up with 100% no fuss and absolutely zero ambiguity.
There was not one scrap of toxic masculinity in the room all evening.
I bought these shoes with money made from poetry. They will now come with me as a metaphor for making progress. They got more compliments last night than the work, which would normally bother me, but it is rare that anyone I don’t know will approach me at gigs. Apparently I’m genuinely intimidating, or so I am told by these people who do not know me. I’m not sure how I work on that, but it is noted.
The people who do know me, who were there, I am very grateful for last night, more so than has ever been the case. Nicola, the photographer, who is so very smart and clever, was hugely complimentary. Paige, who is the person at the arts collective in my corner right now, was beyond complimentary. I read a poem from the Substack Poetry Collection [*] last night that I will now reproduce here.
She told me it was the right choice, and it was.
Keith
oh mate we don't need to be a 'green clean superpower' this grandstanding language is so late 1990's and you have not progressed one single iota because you took the left out of left wing and replaced it with a rota of people that look the same as Blue to fool the average casual voter oh Keith why does this posing feel so beneath a better truth your predecessor harnessed before 'cool' advisors trashed the lot on a pretext believing what this country needs is in truth never any actual opposition but a weaker hue limited cognition thinking no one wants a people's revolution rather a private member’s bill solution that keeps the wealth where it should belong oh Labour why do you feel no inclination to evolve past the other party's crass behaviour you have been fucked royally by the media embracing judgment is more important than inclusion as a Red circle turns back upon itself from this distance it was CLEAR that you would alter nothing and instead decide to make a gammon fist around these same mistakes again
Every poet was top drawer last night. Every Open miccer, both the support acts, not one single poet turned up and did half a job. EVERYONE pulled together. Massive props must also go to Hollie Dee whose MC-ing of the event should be adopted as an industry standard. There was also the bonus of a guitar set at the end of this, which was so good it inspired me to write a poem inspired by the music…
Some nights are important for growth. Some nights remind you of what you’re afraid of and the poet you never want to become. Then there are nights like this where you leave feeling a better person than when you arrived. You’re stronger, more nurtured, and frankly just a better person. None of this would have happened without Aaron Shrimpton’s tireless behind the scenes organisation and determination. He deserves probably the biggest thanks of all.
It was a night which will live long in the memory.
[*] Update to Paid from Free and you’ll recieve this after your first mont’s sub has been paid. All Paid members will be getting more free poetry SOON [TM].