With the impending release of his newest collection of poetry, "L-vis Lives! Racemusic Poems," Chicagoan Kevin Coval is only just continuing to build a name for himself that expands beyond the Windy City's limits.
Coval, the co-founder and artistic director of the Louder Than A Bomb teen poetry festival, is a prolific performer and educator. One of his previous collections, 2005's "Slingshots: A Hip-Hop Poetica" was named a finalist for the American Library Association's "Book of the Year" and his work has also been featured on HBO's "Def Poetry Jam" and Chicago Public Radio. Coval is also an instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has blogged for The Huffington Post.
A documentary featuring Louder Than A Bomb is also due to debut on the OWN Network early next year.
Tickets to Coval's "L-vis Lives!" book release party and concert at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., are available online for $5 (general admission) or $10 (seated). A VIP package is also available and DJ Itch 13 will also be among the evening's performers. High school students may enjoy free admission. The show begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
To get a preview of what you're in store for, watch video of Coval's 2001 appearance on "Def Poetry Jam" or listen to an interview the performer recently did with WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight.