In 2007, the inaugural year for Denver's own competitive slam-poetry team, Slam Nuba, the poets did the Mile High City proud at the annual National Poetry Slam: In its very first year of competing, Slam Nuba placed fourth in the nation out of 75 teams. Last year, Slam Nuba performed at the wrap party for DNC volunteers and won an array of competitions, including the Flagstaff Win and You're In bout, the South West Shoot Out Poetry Slam and the Denver 40 Ounce Invitational Slam. They traveled again to the National Poetry Slam and made it to the semifinals, tying with the team from Hollywood and coming in second to team Austin Egos.
This year's National Poetry Slam could mean some serious glory for Slam Nuba; help send Slam Nuba off to West Palm Beach, Florida, in style tonight at the Slam Nuba Send Off Show, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Crossroads Theater, 2590 Washington Street; the show is part of Slam Nuba's biweekly slam open mic and slam. The 2009 team comprises Ken Arkind, Bobby LeFebre, Lucifury, Panama Soweto and Original Woman, each of whom has earned an array of awards for slam poetry. Admission to the show is $5; for that, you can catch a glimpse of the verbiage Slam Nuba will throw down at the competition. Afterward, head to Blue Ice, 22 Broadway, for an after-party featuring DJ SD spinning hip hop and neo-soul. For information, visit www.myspace.com/slamnuba_team. Good luck!
For more ways to rock the night and kill the day, go to westword.com/calendar.