Open Mic Nite Review by Dani Adamson

  It was obvious that Open Mic was going to be a huge success as the dimly lit Hub began to brim with  anticipation minutes away from the commencement of the event. Co-sponsored by Agnes Writes, Aurora, Programming Board, the Sisterhood of the Lyrically Inclined, and the Center for Writing & Speaking, last Friday’s Open Mic featured Def Jam Poetry spoken word artist, Jon Goode. The evening started with a heartfelt acoustic guitar solo by musician, Devin McLaughlin, who performed several cover songs including, Supersonic’s “Secret Smile” and Dispatch’s “Two Coins.” The next performer to take the stage was sophomore Scottie, Tally Deushane with her incredibly adorable soft blue ukulele named, Kaylee in tow. In addition to senior Creative Writing major, Elaine Koutroulias’s recital of poems, Tehseen Dossul '11 recited a poignant excerpt from Sylvia Plath with nothing less than conviction as she seamlessly illustrated the narrator’s unyielding strength in the midst of tragedy. Local spoken word artist, Theresa Davis, gave a timely performance regarding unrequited love, which evoked laughter from the spectators amid her wit and fury.

Open Mic Featured Guest Artist with Scotties

In contrast to the cheery opening, Goode later recited a poem called, “Mastectomy,”about a woman that he knew who was forced to sever her left breast due to cancer. With expressions like, “I have cancer, but cancer will never have me, this performance was not only beautiful, but  strong and compelling as well. While discussing how he landed on the HBO hit series, Def Poetry Jam, Goode gave the sage words of advice to simply, “Be yourself.”

Jon Goode Writing Center Co-Coordinators Neil Simpkins and Shannon Yarbrough

Goode with even more Scotties

Soon afterward, another spoken word artist, Infrared, took the stage with a piece entitled, “Onion.” There was no need for a microphone as he traveled across the scuffled wooden floor, bursting with fervor and candor.

Other Scotties who performed that night included Natasha Byrd, Hannah Hunt, Crista Carter, Raquel Stroud, Ashanti Boykin, and Rachael Pietkiewicz, Celeste Banks, Sydney Tonsfeldt, Kristen Davis, and Tiffany Samuels.

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Dani Adamson is a sophomore and a tutor at the Agnes Scott College Writing Center.