More voices and an emphasis on performance boost Rochester's open mike scene

ANNETTE LEIN Writer Deb-Maisha reads poetry at the Iguana Cafe. Rhythm nights Poetry reading and open mike: hosted by David Dodd. 7 p.m. Thursday. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3349 Monroe Ave., Pittsford. Free. (585) 586-6020. Wide Open Mike with Norm Davis: 7:30 p.m. Friday. Verb Cafe, Writers & Books, 740 University Ave. Free. (585) 473-2590. Open mike poetry night: 7 p.m. Sunday. Le Jazz Hot Cafe, 135 W. Commercial St., East Rochester. Free. (585) 586-5690. Open mike poetry night: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 26. Mood Makers Books, Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman St. Free. (585) 271-7010. Open mike poetry night: 7-9 p.m. Jan. 31, Feb. 11 and Feb. 28. Earthtones Coffee House, 1217 Bay Road, Webster. Free. (585) 671-3060. Pure Kona poetry and open mike: 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Iguana Club, Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman St. Free. (585) 340-5437. Soul Food Reading Series -- Love Jones: monologues and open poetry readings. 7-10 p.m Feb. 24, Flower City Lodge (Elks Club), 285 Clarissa St. Free; donations accepted. (585) 442-4291.

By Sekai K. Mutunhu
Democrat and Chronicle

(January 17, 2002) -- A hushed silence falls over the crowded room at the Iguana Club as Akil Waleed takes to the stage and lyrically rages against violence, premature death and lying politicians.

''Wars and rumors of wars, who and what are we fighting for, especially when there's kids on the block with cop-killing Glocks, slinging rocks while listening to hip-hop.''

The audience suddenly erupts into applause, high fives, and thumbs-up signs as Waleed's voice grows louder and stronger by the minute.

''It becomes addictive,'' explains the 31-year-old Rochester resident. ''You start off slow, then you get that adrenaline rush and more of it starts to flow.''

Rochester's open mike poetry scene is flourishing with poets who have a lot to say. But who is saying it and how they are saying it has been evolving.

''Performance is a big element of poetry, and that's the biggest change that has occurred in Rochester,'' says Norm Davis, 67. ''I think it's a big gain.''

Davis, a Webster resident, is often referred to as the godfather of poetry. The retired school psychologist is the organizer of the Pure Kona Poetry series, editor of Hazmat Review and host of Wide Open Mike with Norm Davis at Writers & Books. He also serves as mentor to many aspiring poets.

Lindsay Herko, 19, is one of these poets. A liberal arts student at Monroe Community College, Herko has been writing since she was 15. She started going to open mikes about three months ago.

At first she just watched and listened, but the second time around Herko swallowed her fear and read a few original pieces.

''I get up there and I get this rush,'' says the Hilton resident. ''I want it to be creative. I want to create my own beauty.''

Herko, constantly working to improve her performance poetry, recently added music to her words. She is a member of Dream Engine, a perform-ance group made up of local musicians and poets who have combined their talents.

''It creates this whole mood, and we become like rock stars,'' she says.

This is apparent at the Iguana Club, where percussionists and guitarists often accompany the wordsmiths as they recite their works or ad lib while slapping tambourines against their thighs.

In addition to an increase in performance poetry, the diversity of the poets -- and their venues -- is growing.

Waleed has been a regular on the open mike circuit for several years and has witnessed the growing phenomenon.

''I think my poetry is for the people of the streets, so I try to reach out to those brothers and sisters,'' he says. ''I fell in love with the spoken and written word a long time ago. For my poetry, the voice is that of many frustrated black men in America.''

An open mike night has been held at Mood Makers Books, a bookseller that specializes in African-American books, for five years. But in the last year, several ethnically diverse open mikes have sprouted up around town. The Spoken Word program started up at the Pythodd Jazz Lounge in the recently opened Heritage House restaurant. (The sessions need a host and have been put on hold until one is found.)

The Soul Food Reading Series -- Love Jones formed as a venue for those who didn't have a place to go to say what they felt deserved to be heard. The group has had its ups and downs but has been going strong for six months.

''It's a safe space for everyone, but the goal of this particular open mike is for blacks and people of color to come and read their work and act out their character,'' says Laura Catracchia, 41, a musician and one of the organizers.

The readings and monologues, performed to live music in a living room setting at the Elks Club in Corn Hill, have a strong theatrical bent.

Deb-Maisha, 44, a poet who regularly performs around Rochester, also helped found Love Jones.

''I noticed that there wasn't a poetry base for people of color who see things differently, whose experiences have been different and when they speak, they speak of that journey,'' she says. ''Sometimes you have to say what you have to say.''