SVC Presents: Nobody Likes Us, But We’re Here Anyway
May 16, 2018 @ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
We have two special guests from Atlanta, Georgia joining our monthly open mic night, Nate Mask & Ryan J., who are currently on their tour titled: Nobody Likes Us, But We’re Here Anyway…you can read more about them down below.
We will still have an open mic to kick things off for you poets who want to share your work!
We will start the night around 7pm. So come grab a seat and/or sign up around 6:30!
Nate Mask and Ryan J are Atlanta-based spoken word artists. Both have
competed and found success in the Slam community at national, regional, and local
levels. They are tolerated in their local scene because their poems are somewhat
entertaining, but nobody actually likes either of them. Nate and Ryan are known to
be kind of awkward and somewhat dickish, even though their onstage personas
put forth a deceiving amount of charm (if that’s what you call it…)
Despite their differences in approach and personality, their
dynamic as a team somehow works, as
Ryan actually enjoys talking to people, and Nate
always comes through in the clutch, and
opens tough jars for Ryan. Each
manages to provide balance for
the other, and they are both
always ready for a good laugh.
Their writing and delivery can range
anywhere from thought-provoking and
pensive to brash and in-your-face;
from hilarious to heartbreaking.
Throughout their work, both poets
use humor and passion to draw
audiences in, while providing
insightful and scathing commentary on
both social and personal issues.
Their work touches on topics ranging from
race, politics, relationships and mental health to driving in Atlanta traffic.
Nate is a two time member of the Java Monkey Slam Team, and one time
member of the Art Amok Slam Team. He has competed at the National Poetry
Slam, Southern Fried Poetry Slam, the LEAF Arts Festival, King of the South
Poetry Slam, Red Stick Regional Poetry Slam, Write Club Atlanta, and the Java
Monkey Invitational Slam. Nate has featured at slams and open mics across the
Southeast, as well as The Decatur Book Festival, Elevate Atlanta, Creative
Loafing’s ‘Best of Atlanta,’ Poems & Pasties, Madmen and Poets, and Emory
University. He has also been featured in “The Root,” and on several radio
shows and podcasts, including “The Good Gracious Show” and Forth District’s
“Off The Record.” Nate has self-published two chapbooks: “Well, This Is
Awkward…” and his latest, “Love Is For Suckers,” an
exploration into past, present, and future relationships
while learning to forgive and love oneself.
Ryan is a two time member of Mercer University’s
Point B.L.A.N.K. Slam Team, and a one time
member of the Java Monkey Slam Team. He is
the 2014 Bad Mamma Jamma Slam Champion, and
has competed at the National Poetry Slam, College
Unions Poetry Slam Invitational, Individual World
Poetry Slam, LEAF Arts Festival, Red Stick
Regional Poetry Slam, Write Club Atlanta, and the
Java Monkey Invitational Poetry Slam. Ryan is the
founder of the spoken word video outlet
HomeGrown Poetry, and co-founder of Point
B.L.A.N.K. He has facilitated workshops for Point
B.L.A.N.K. and VoxATL, and has been featured in
“Mi Dulce Fortaleza,” “Beyond Poetry,” and
the “Famous Enough” podcast.
In 2016, Ryan self-published his first chapbook, Go Home Ryan, a brief look
at the struggle of deconstructing masculinity, relationships, and learning how to
exist in a world that looks down on blackness.
