Michael Gravel Edmonton Writer

Raving Poets Ride Tonight

That’s right. The baddest mofos on the Edmonton Poetic landscape, The Raving Poets are rocking the Kasbar every Wednesday night until December 2, 2009 with our latest series, 9½. Where is this infamous Kasbar, you ask? 10444 – 82 Avenue, under Yianni’s Taverna in Edmonton. It’s a spicy little place with a penchant for high-end lager and Moroccan brothel-inspired furnishings. A helluva place, and we’re glad it’s home. And I’m glad to be back between the pipes for this series. I took the spring off for mind recovery. Didn’t go too well. Had to get back with the maniacs.

The folks down at the Kasbar (Tammy, Immanuel) are about as cool as people get. Such gracious hosts. Reading poetry in the Kasbar is like being a Moroccan soothsayer…people swoon, deals are made, drinks are tipped, people tumble into the night. The place was built for verse. Some of the Ravers refer to the experience as “church-like”. Many years ago, a guy told me that Raving nights were his Sundays. Here’s a snap of the Kasbar, to whet your appetite.

The Raving Poets Band has been hot this series. They continue to push the envelope and make every poem an interesting ride. It doesn’t happen every night – or even every series for that matter – but when the band finds a good groove and the poet at the mic leans back into the music and truly delivers their words, it’s nothing short of magic. I think I’ve only seen / heard it maybe a dozen times over the years. It’s rare, and that’s how it should be. It can’t be Nashville every night, sayeth the poets.

Much to our collective chagrin, Trofimuk, our piano player and resident literary sensation, has taken to Tweeting Raving Nights. I swear he tweeted his key changes in between hand strokes last week. You can keep up with Raving Tweets here: Raving Poets on Twitter And while I’m at it, hook up with the Raving Poets on Facebook.

See you tonight.

PS – Comments for Journal entries are up and running.

Entry #112 · November 18, 2009 in