Friday, May 2

Slam Poet Carlos Andrés Gómez

“Writing a poem is like having sex,” says slam poet Carlos Andrés Gómez. “If you’re not willing to get naked, it’s not going to happen.” There are plenty of spoken word talents right here in Buffalo who would agree with him. For that reason, they routinely meet at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and “get naked.” They bare their souls—and often their politics—at monthly Nickel City Poetry Slams in raw, uncompromising performances of verbal dexterity. The poets at these slams are, by nature of the event’s structure, indelibly linked to their audience, from whom five judges are picked. It is what poetry activist Bob Holman once called “the democratization of verse.” This Friday, eight poets—returning champ Nikki Germany, Jennifer Eling, Marina Blitshteyn, Lazyrus, MC Vendetta (a member of the first Buffalo team), 10,000, Sonchild, and Lovely—compete for positions on the third Nickel City Poetry Slam national team, which will travel to Madison for the August competition. Slam poet/actor Gómez will headline the night. Though the event is normally free, Friday night’s admission will go toward a worthy cause—sending Buffalo’s team to Madison.

—peter koch

7pm. Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo (882-8700/albrightknox.org) $12