Mutant Radio Poetry Night -Review by Alison Cuthbertson

When I returned to Olympia, Washington, from New York my mind questioned what I would do with myself. Although to my surprise there were three events happening Sunday night which is not common here. There was a Roller Derby bout happening on the eastside at a character filled roller rink called Skateland, a punk show at Le Voyeur, and a poetry reading at the New Moon Café. Two of these events cost money which is something I do not have at this time, so I chose the poetry read. It was an easy choice anyway.
I moseyed over to the downtown area in my car through the forest brimming with life and everything flowered and green. I even saw three deer before leaving my house. When I got close I parked about a block away. I knew a band would also be at this reading but I assumed something clean and sweeter, but what they had was an undecipherable concoction of metal drumming, a wining guitar and megaphone vocals that were really just words being yelled over it all or screaming. I could hear this before even leaving my car. What more could I expect from Olympia? As I approached the door of the café I saw some familiar faces and the band started to settle down. This musical guest was called DEFACEMAN with main sing Alice Wynne, also the hostess of this event.
When the blaring ended a reader took the stage. I believe his name was Shane Yee. He seemed very straight-laced and no nonsense, with his Budweiser t-shirt tucked into his denim jeans with hair brush and parted. He read four poems some of which were very composed and carefully read while one other was faster more repetitive and meant to help you understand what being “high on weed and coffee” felt like. DEFACEMAN immediately picks it up after him with a thirty second or less song. During this time I took a better look around. Oh yes this is Olympia! All I could see was dirty half bleached hair, jean jackets with patches, studded vests, backwards hats, retro glasses, stick and poke tattoos, Billy Corgan look-alikes, vintage dresses, torn shirts, Doc Marten boots of all kinds, and black and red lipstick. Also, do not forget the smell of an unwashed Greener; this was prominent, along with cigarette smoke blowing through the doorway.
Another reader came up who I think was named Melissa. She wasn’t listed as a featured reader and Melissa was her only introduction. She read a poem in a slam style about a hospital called McClean and another one about zodiac signs and how they are astrologically racist. The band played a song for an absent Adam Barnes, and a third reader was up next. These next two readers never had introductions but they were either Sarah Bradley or Shannen Hansen. One of these girls made a reference to Xanadu; she had been listening to it and contemplated on her life. She had posted the song on a social network and read the comments she received while playing the song aloud. Another song was played very quickly and the last reader sat on the stool with many paper and about three notebooks. She read from each piece she held, some things being funny and others very serious. She read one poem that was a collaborative effort with her friend while on a road trip. These poets are at the same level or standing in life as I am and if these people had books published I would have bought them.




The reading ended with one more song and everyone slowly dispersed. As I was leaving, Alice announced that if anyone wanted to read at the next even all you had to do was tell her. Maybe after some time I’ll have enough or the right material to read at one of these Mutant Radio Poetry events.