Say Word Wednesdays

Philadelphia Weekly
August 8, 2007

A-List

Spoke fiends

Say Word Wednesdays

Wed., Aug. 15, 9pm. Free. Arts Garage, 1520 Parrish St. 215.765.2702. www.myspace.com/crashersinc

If the thought of attending a spoken-word event turns your stomach, you’re not alone. The prospect of being forced to sit through a single minute of Def Poetry Jam’s Slam makes me want to kick puppies.

So why is it that Say Word Wednesdays sounds so appealing?

Perhaps it’s the venue. Arts Garage is quickly becoming the hot hang for the city’s underground hip-hop set—and for good reason. It’s out of the way enough to score points for semi-obscurity, yet the interior design is just early-’90s Chelsea enough to make even your gayest friend envious.

Plus, Say Word Wednesdays has the street sense to marry pop poetry with a hefty helping of hip-hop beats, raising its cool factor well above open-mike night at Doc Watson’s. Say Word is jockin’ the DIY tip in a city that loves its underdogs. (Joshua Valocchi)