I took along my wonderful friend Louisa as my Poet date, which started off at Grain Store at Granary Square in Kings Cross.
We shared three starters, which included:
*Sprouting seeds and beans, miso aubergine, crispy citrus chicken skin and potato wafer
*Green asparagus 'ceasar custard' and flaxseed cracker
*Broad bean and chickpea hummus, raw mushrooms, slow cooked duck egg, dukkah and spring onion oil
I love anything with a bit of crunch, so the citrus crispy chicken skin and potato wafer was a welcome mouthful with the flavours in the first starter, and I loved dipping the cracker into the custard! It was all pretty good. We opted for the special for our main in plight of it being seasonal and seasonal is usually best. Spring onions, baby artichokes, polenta, wild garlic oil and confit lamb shank....can you go wrong?
Still suffering from Snowbombing-itus I went for a non-alcoholic French Blonde (Grape juice, elderflower cordial, lemongrass, verjus) and my date had the Baby Doll (Rum, Rhubarb syrup, orgeat, violet essence, lemon juice, egg white). It looked pretty and tasted sour which is how she likes it.
 |
| Cute little apple with the check please! |
 |
After ending with a quick explore and play (a little tryout on the piano- we couldn't resiiiissttt!) and chat time in the sunshine by the canal, we headed over to Scala.
So on to George. The stage was set up with that familiar roadworks scene that we see around the city so often, which seemed fitting for London loving George's topics. Later this was referred to by him as the 'road test' so it tied in nicely.
Shelz the dancer (who warmed up earlier for George) appeared on stage first, moving to the sound of George's voice. This got everyone excited and hyped for his entrance, and when George finally arrived on stage he had a big smile and and his positive energy filled the room.
His first piece (he was rocking a hard hat very well I must say) was about his time growing up and his experience of applying for Cambridge, something he is widely known and celebrated for. This really got the audience on side and rooting for his story, and it was clear from the outset, that not only was he speaking about his life, but he was influencing us all in a powerful way. See the video below for a clip of his first track:
His rapport with the audience was great, talking to us and with us as though we were his friends who had known him for a long time. My favourite moment was the way he moved into his song 'Grinding'. George's phone starts to ring whilst he's talking to the audience with that 'iconic' tune. As he starts to recite his words, it becomes apparent that the tune is in fact the backing track. The story of this piece seems to be about how he got on with his plans to make the music and poetry work together no matter what anyone thought. It reminds us to turn our backs to the world in which people tell you you can't, but to get your head down and do it anyway. Maybe one day you can show them they were wrong! Take a look at this recording of the same song for the Brits earlier this year:
My happiest moments were jigging about to 'My City' his piece about London, a love story many people in the audience seemed to share in. Also '1,2,1,2' with the classic line 'seven billion people in the world and there's only one you'. My friend Lisa told me this quote...'Be yourself, everyone else is taken' which I love, and again, it gave everyone that fun and happy spirit about celebrating your life, yourself and your contribution now, or in the future.
A heartfelt moment was shared when George talked about his desire to spread the word about premature parenthood, and how it is something we should discuss more openly. He shared a story of losing a baby and the pain physically and emotionally that was experienced. Not only was this moving, but you know he's right, in that sharing these experiences will help it to happen less and pain less if we talk more.
An appearance by Maverick Sabre was a crowd lifter, and the audience sung along to 'I Need' as the night drew to a close.
He neatly slid into his songs without any lumpy transitioning, a strength inherited perhaps from his spoken word style. He really performed his pieces like a monologue which is what sets him apart from watching a rap being delivered in the usual way. His messages are so strong. One of my favourite lines from the night being 'I'd rather have heart of gold than a chest full of treasures'. You believe him and know that he's been through what he's telling you he's been through.
He talked about his book 'Search Party' which I'm going to go out and buy this weekend for sure. He cares greatly about social change, and makes you want to care as much as he does. If a boy who came from an estate in Harlesden and went to Cambridge wants to talk about social change..well....I'm going to listen.
Follow George the Poet here:
No comments:
Post a Comment