things that are happening

It becomes increasingly difficult to Twitter when there's so much happening at once.

1. The annual "Big Slam" is this Sunday at Pepito's Parkway Theater. Check out a 4x4 Nationals-style bout between the St. Paul national team, the Minneapolis national team, the Quest for the Voice youth national team, and the reunited 1999 MN national team. Always one of the best poetry slams of the year.

2. My team, the St. Paul national team, will have DVDs available at the Sunday slam, at our Erotic slam on August 2, and anytime I have shows. Justin Schell put the DVD together, and it looks beautiful. Perfect resource for educators who want to show good spoken-word in the classroom, slam fans who want to take something home with them, or anyone else who just thinks I'm cute.

3. Going into Crazy Beast studio TONIGHT to record a big chunk of "AN UNWELCOME GUEST." Very exciting. Will leak a very special non-album track in the next couple of days too, so watch out for that.

4. Lots of big show announcements:

~7/23 at the Barfly for Mill City Scene (w/ Big Cats! and our band playing a 90 minute set)

~7/25 "One Day in July" Labor Festival w/ Brother Ali

~7/31 at the Nomad: See More's SUMMERTIME HIP HOP BBQ JAM FOR THE WORLD w/ Toki Wright, Maria Isa, and free food! (don't miss this one)

~9/4 at the Cedar: Junkyard Empire's CD release show

~2-3 other BIG shows that are 99% confirmed, as well as a fall tour in process-- as always, check my MySpace for full calendar.

5. Heading out to Chicago for a week this Tuesday to co-coach the MN national youth poetry slam team. We got a great team this year; should be a good time. Me and Khary (the other coach, better known as 6 is 9) will also be leading a couple workshops on persona poems.

Yeah, and even more. Been a lovely summer so far.