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Nickel City Poetry Slam Featuring Mike McGee

In the subterranean world of slam poetry, Californian Mike McGee is a shining star. Those in the know point to him as a prince of postmodern performance poetry by becoming, in 2006, the first slam poet ever to win two separate individual titles. McGee frequently performs solo, and also as a founding member of Tons of Fun University—a performance troupe comprised of fellow individual champion Shane Koyczan and poet-musician C. R. Avery. Friday’s show finds him pairing with Robbie Q, a slam poetry practitioner who has built a reputation at Chicago’s Green Mill Tavern, birthplace of slam. In 2005, McGee was one of the most popular competitors on HBO’s Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam, so this is a great opportunity to catch a giant of the genre. Check it: Nickel City Poetry Slam is open to all of Buffalo’s bardic battlers following the performance by McGee and Q.

Friday, January 5 at 7pm. Clifton Hall, Albright-Knox Art Gallery. 1285 Elmwood Avenue (884-0225). FREE.