On a quiet Monday night, I found a parking spot behind the Hi Tone between two overflowing dumpsters. A sign on the front door facing the street led me there, stating, “Entrance in back, upstairs.” Pink spilled out of the doorway from the stage illuminated by vivid red lights.
Steve Fox, the host, sat near the stage where a woman read poetry from her phone. She spoke of a young girl with flowers in her hair. Fox pointed to the next to last name on a list of poets who had signed up to read. It said Ce Jay. When she finished, Fox snapped his fingers. Others clapped.
Along with writing poetry, Ce Jay has been an educator for 16 years. “My background starts with Bridge Builders, where I not only worked but am a product of the program.”
The last name on the list was Shiloh Grace, who recited a poem written in 1993, “Ode to the American Dick,” inspired by Lorena Bobbitt. Ouch.
“I’ve felt like the Hi Tone has been my home base for decades now, across three locations.” Grace extols the virtues of her safe space without mincing words, “It’s the quintessential dive bar sans hipster shit. It’s the kind of place where subcultures collide, where we can all be ourselves. No pretense. It’s easy to lose track of time ’cause the drinks are strong and conversations are long. It feels like an alternate reality where all the rest of life’s crap can just get lost for a while.”
Proceeds benefit the artists.
901 Poetry Slam Series Finale, Hi Tone, 282 N. Cleveland, Monday, July 19, 8-10 p.m., $9.01.