First Friday Open Mic
Story by Alex Victoria
Photos by Ezekiel Espanola
Like too many other Bakersfield summer days, the heat had not abated going into the afternoon, but perhaps thankfully our tiny room within Dagny’s Coffee Shop offered a chilled refuge for attendees of the July 2017 First Friday event.
However, a different kind of heat pervaded the open mic night as soon as the performances began.
On top of the usual poetry performances, there were a number of standout musical performances, beginning with the impressive strums of Kyle’s powerful performance about daily life and contemplation of the plight of others.
Notable as well was the memorized (and mesmerizing) spoken word performance by Sunny, a new arrival to our local community by way of Michigan. He painted a scene in the life of a damaged but determined woman with his first piece, and delivered an enthusiastic and at times biting social and political commentary with his second piece.
Notable among the more traditional poetry performances were the grim (by his own admission) but poignant pieces of Terry, the impromptu, crowd involving craft of Julie Jordan Scott, and a performance by the always wonderful Liz Greynolds. You can find the piece she delivered presented in full below.
I’ll Tuck n Roll
by Liz Greynolds
I’ll tuck n roll
me to my death baby
ooo I like it raw no skin
skraight scraped bones
in the holes where my teeth go
from gnawing on ropes and chains
and headphone strings and that sorta thing
I’m going to drive a car
I’ll make my mark and wake
not to find a place or a bottomless pit
but a sweet sweet vomitorium with a scent
nothing short of intoxicating
but if you’re ever feeling
something maybe more milder
I’ll take you where I loiter be my experiment
incomplete my garden overflows with lillies in the
sometimes
