*!X* Performs

This week, Monday, at the Sacramento Poetry Center, Bob Stanley hosted performance poetry by the Sacramento City College group !X. The ensemble has been creating and preparing for their performances for over 6 months, and had a chance to showcase their work at the weekly venue. Hailed in Sacramento Bee's Sunday Ticket as "one of 7 things to do this week" Ticket, the enthusiam and quality of performance excelled as a tribute to the alive and endearing talents of our college student performers in Sacramento. From dance and melodies, to political satire, the group enlivened and inspired a long tally of open mic readers afterwards. The devoted "open-mic-ers" were led by SPC Board Member,Tim Kahl, who read "The Century of Travel" from the February cover of SPC's monthly publication Poetry Now. As I sat listening to his lines (modestly interpreted as a statement about fuel) the line about his car fual dial "the needle comes to rest on E,.." I remember thinking "I hate it when that happens!." Following Tim was a grand list of poets, and a poem by Rhony Bhopla, also published in Poetry Now. Finally, the evening ended with a spontaneous unedited piece by Bob Stanley, who shined in his ability to capture the essence of the space and moment in a last poem of compliments to the evening show. I'm looking forward to the next Monday night at the SPC. Special thanks to the leader of !X, Angela-Dee Alforque, artistic dance and performance artist, and teacher.