At the Asylum

(Sorry this follow up to 'To the Asylum' has taken so long. I've been super-busy)

AT THE ASYLUM: A short review

I’m no expert on apples, but the ABCtales.com meetup at the Asylum Cafeteria on Monday May 23rd in London was something special. In the space of three short hours, those who attended were greeted by and treated to an example of exceptional talent, both new and established in a sumptuous environment selfishly containing a neo-speakeasy ambiance.

Events such as these can often be a missed opportunity for meeting new people, but there was a great open attitude from everyone there – and that was before the drinks started flowing. Robert Rankin was the star attraction, and came on first warming the crowd for the later acts. From reading his books, it is clear he is a natural story-teller, and his performance on the small stage in the corner was no different, verbalising fluently for a good half-hour about the stars he has injured . Having forgotten to bring a notepad to sketch down specifics it is hard to remember whether or not the stage had a tropical beach background or if it was just the effect of Robert Rankin’s blue and white surfer-style shirt playing with my mind.

It was hard to imagine anyone following the introduction by Robert Rankin, but all who did said 'bollocks to that' and impressed all with their outstanding quality. Claudia Conway’s tale of a near-future mind-fucking drug was given life in reading that the tale would have otherwise lost on paper. Christopher Twigg gained fifty new fans with amaziningly well crafted and often satirical poems and, later, songs. Bobblehat2000’s intelligent and punch-line funny poems also wowed – a bright future clearly awaits his grasp and his work should not be missed. The performance of the night, not so much for the material but for the delivery, belonged to Tiff with her sirenic tale. Avra Kaufmann completed the line-up, bringing with her formidable verse.

The importance of the night wasn’t so much the readings as much as the beginning of a very exciting community. There was a buzz from everyone in the Asylum that would be mad to ignore. For many who were attending a reading for the first time it gave life to words that had only existed as just words. In the many ways that a live music performance can wrap it’s arms and legs around you and hug itself into you in ways that a CD can’t, so a live reading of a poem or story does too. Extra character and quality was given to every letter with the tone of voice, the movement of the body of the readers/performers and most importantly the extra taste it offered into the cocktail of magical words being poured that evening. Ever wonder what writing is all about? That night at The Asylum is what it is all about – experiences , thoughts, ideas, all shared, all bared, standing out and kissing the audiences spirit in a louche, often passionate manner, never letting them forget.

We can only hope that there will be more meetings like this on a regular basis.