By Mari Nicholson
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
[email protected]
MIKE CHIEN/Daily Bruin
Passionate octogenarian FrancEyE reads at Unurban’s
Wednesday open-mic night.
In spite of the cafe’s dim lighting, Unurban’s
objective to provide a comfortable creative space is clear ““
particularly on evenings when the subject is whatever open-mic
participants deem relevant.
Unurban’s Wednesday nights engage crowds with poetry,
storytelling and spoken word. Many stay until the wee hours
and leave high on coffee and inspired to write something down and
perform it next time.
The artists address diverse subjects and themes. One speaker
read his poem titled “Fuck,” which declares, “I
needed only a bar, two bourbons and a cigar.”
Another man took on the ice-cream man as his subject of choice,
simultaneously revering him and ragging on him.
Another performer described the crutch that cigarettes provide
her, which sparked empathy in the audience.
Open-mic host and part-time guitar teacher Tony Perez encourages
both regular and newcomer artists to feel as at ease on-stage as
they are when in the audience, fixated on caffeine and new
acquaintances.
“People are really friendly here. I’ve been looking
for a place like this,” said David Hopkins, who has just
moved to Los Angeles from the Bronx and is a first-timer at
Unurban.
Perez has hosted the weekly event for a year and a half and has
learned to begin each week when attendees appear ready, coffee
drink and snack in hand with open ears.
“It’s all about the reader and their work,”
Perez said. “I allow no questions in order to ensure a
comfortable room. After all, no one is qualified to comment on
anyone else’s work because they aren’t in the same
mind-set as (the writer is).”
Often audience response and sign-up sheets make people in the
spotlight feel uncomfortable, like irresponsible children answering
to adults, according to Perez. That’s why Unurban has
neither.
“People definitely leave here a little more mature,”
he said.
A variety of seating options, from simple benches to plush sofas
and worn chairs with wheels help create a warm atmosphere and cater
to the smorgasbord of personalities who frequent the
coffeehouse.
Occasionally, the evening turns into a family affair. FrancEyE,
an 80-year-old regular and avid attendee of readings and similar
events watches in admiration whenever her 19-year-old grandson
shares his poetry.
Perez believes, with both poetry and guitar, in teaching passion
prior to technique.
“Technique will come as writers learn how to provoke
connections between their piece and audience members,” he
said. “Here, almost every open mic night is successful
because people eventually find some plane to connect on, some way
of reading one another.”
According to Tara, a poet and regular who recently celebrated
her 21st birthday at the cafe, making that connection is
possible.
“There is a common desire to read and understand
literature here. People of all backgrounds are brought together
under that,” Tara said.
The introduction of new themes each week heightens senses,
though nature and romance are always popular topics, according to
Tara.
FrancEyE tackled aging on July 10. She tried to decode the
secrets of longevity but eventually just related it all back to
“good genes.”
“Objects new to this place I receive you,” FrancEyE
read from her poem.
Unurban both receives people and provides a place for the
development of their identities and expression in the large, often
unfriendly world of Los Angeles.
And attendees can get a caffeine buzz while they’re at
it.
Unurban is located at 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Poetry
open- mic night is on Wednesdays at 7:30, comedy and music open-mic
nights are on Thursdays and Fridays, respectively. Call (310)
315-0556 for details.