Keeping society civilised...or at least the teenagers

The thing I hate about youth-targeted events is that the organizers and performers always try way too hard. They feel like to impress youth, they have to get into our mindset - they have to say words like 'cool' and 'hip' and while they're at it, why not throw in a few casual references to rap? The truth is, events like these are a total underestimation of us and our interests. We don't all speak like wangsters or quote Snoop Dogg on everything as adults seem to think.

That being said, WORD!(2) was completely the opposite of a typical youth-targeted literary event.

To start things off, Vanessa Richards spoke in her calm, dignified way about arts cuts and the importance of our voices being heard because "arts and culture keep society civilised." She also introduced the three writers about to perform for us: Billeh Nickerson, Hilary Peach, and C.R. Avery.

First up was Billeh, an intensely likeable poet who read from his collection, McPoems, about none other than...the Golden Arches. This included a Langley-inspired poem about a man wearing a vanilla cone on his head (regularly) as if he was a Unicorn. Based on Billeh's personal experience in the drive thru world, McPoems is more poetic than you would think and the audience definitely sympathized.

Next, Hilary Peach delivered some poems/songs with a rhythmic cadence reminiscent of Kimya Dawson, the memorable singer of Juno's soundtrack. When asked how she first developed her style, Peach answered that she had been lost in a mall when she was young and started singing to avoid a breakdown.

C.R. Avery not only closed the show, he also completely stole it. Having heard C.R. perform several times before, I knew what to expect, so I watched the audience reaction instead of focusing on C.R.'s performance. You can literally pinpoint the moment - especially in a youth crowd like this one - when the audience realizes that he is not just a gangly white guy trying to win over the teenagers using beatboxing. He takes beatboxing to a whole new level.

Picture this: a man in pinstriped pants, a shirt, vest, and brown leather jacket steps up to the microphone. He speaks his slam poem like a master, engaging everyone with his beautiful words; the last lines are something like, 'if you can't make it to my final resting place, speed along a highway, put a harmonica out the window, and listen to the wind sing..."

He then puts a harmonica to the microphone and blows a long, soulful note. Then he adds the sound of the car engine behind the note, so you can imagine a harmonica out the window of a car. It gets faster and faster until suddenly he breaks out into beatboxing while still playing the harmonica.

Basically, you have to see this for yourself. If you ever get a chance to see C.R. or either of the other authors perform, DON'T PASS IT UP.

To finish everything up, Vanessa delivered another great quote, encouraging kids to use their creativity because "it's a tool that will help you fall in love with your own life". After seeing these wickedly creative performers today, it's a lesson that hopefully everyone here will take to heart.