Hammer and Tongue at Green Note

Hammer and Tongue at Green Note

08 April, 2009
by: Bexy

'I like my woman like I like my furniture, worn out with a blanket thrown over her.'
Simon Munnery at the Hammer and Tongue Slam, Green Note.

I want to get fit for summer so find myself cycling, sweating and red-faced, wondering if I really want to spend Spring's best yet evening indoors with poetry. It's only Monday (and only April), but this being England the above 10 degrees warmth has rendered the girls tights-less and the patios are out in full swing.

Power to the Spring!

Still, I've not been to a Hammer and Tongue Slam since my London student days 3 years ago: I'm determined not to miss another.

I beeline for a table in the corner, glad I arrived early. The Green Note is an awesome venue: intimate, hippy chic - but not too chic - good food, great wine, I'm yet to not enjoy myself here and hope tonight's no exception. Looking around I'm surprised to see men in suits, in fact the 70 strong crowd is refreshingly diverse and the room's filled up fast. I'm snapped out of people watching though as the poet and host Michelle Madsen takes the stage to kick off proceedings. Michelle starts reading her latest offering and I'm so glad I came. Questioning her presence at the G20 protest, I'm wincing as she debates how 'true' to the causes her career allows her to be. It's been five minutes and the words are shouting directly at my conscience.

Next up is another Tongue host and equally fabulous poet, Sophia Blackwell. I've seen Sophia before and start smiling. Sophia makes me think of a modern day Woolf and wolf. Her challenging, provocative style boasts a confidence rare in young women poets; her brilliant rhymes turn me on and make me laugh simultaneously. Her 'fuck it' attitude is infectious, you can't help but like her. Next is Sam's Berkson, the third and final host. Unlike most compères Sam is actually funny.

But this isn't about them, this is a slam; a chance for the unpublished milkman, maths teacher and barman to perform their innermost wonderings and get judged by a crowd of strangers. Why would you? My palms are prickling and my throat is dry as I look around anxiously; why on earth did I put my name down?
 
One by one we're called up, it's my turn, I do my bit and sit back down. I feel ok, the heart's still in the chest, but they laughed in the right places and no one booed.

Slam over, I relax as Simon Munnery, aka Alan Parker of Mark and Lard fame, takes the stage. You've been a lovely audience he tells us and we have. Tongue is as much cabaret and comedy as it is poetry and the audience reflects this. Originally hailing from Oxford, Tongue's mini empire extends out to Brighton and London, and in June all the way west to Glastonbury where the final is held. I won't be competing, I didn't win the slam, but I'll definitely, definitely be watching. I suggest you do too.

Click here to see more London poetry events.
Click here for things to do in Camden.

Bexy