You already know this is another artist on the short list that can bring me out of retirement.

I’d be remiss as queen bee of the Bilal Stan Association if I didn’t share with the one or two of you that still stop by (thank you!) new tracks that Mr. Oliver performed during his set here in DC over the weekend.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous about this show. Last couple of times he rolled through DC, I had to take him to task on Twitter for lackluster, “i don’t give a fuck, cut the check,”  performances. It was like watching this right here. I derive no pleasure from standing on the side of the road and watch a ten-car pileup.

I am happy to say at this show he acted like the Grammy-nominated artist I know who could blow all of these R&B cats off the stage using  only10% of his vocals. Mr. Oliver put on an amazing set that included a preview of three tracks I expect we’ll see on his upcoming album, Airtights Revenge. Check out “Levels,” “Robots,” and “Cake & Eat It Too” and let me know what you think in the comments.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about “Levels” when I first heard it and was curious about the direction of the album. However, after seeing it live, I can dig it. “Cake & Eat It Too” will definitely be popular with the fans. The beat knocks.

Levels

Cake and Eat It Too

Robots

“Since I Been Loving You” is of course a Led Zepplin cover and I don’t believe it will be on the album. However, if you don’t watch any other video, watch this one. I attribute his antics to my fly ass Bilal tee I was rocking in the front row. He saw that and knew I had been down for a minute!

So seems like 2010 will be a damn good year musically. We’ll be holding a vigil for Airtights Revenge. His manager says he only a couple tracks left to record. Look out for an interview soon over at SoulBounce where I’m sure Butta will get to the bottom of this. We’ll also be checking hard for:

• Sade: Soldier of Love (um, for real if you haven’t heard about her first release in ten years on Feb 8, 2010, saw the stunning artwork, and listened to the title track, well I can’t help you.)
• Corrine Bailey Rae: The Sea (January 26th)
• Erykah Badu New Amerykah Part II
• Darien Brockington: The Cold Case Files
• Anthony David: As Above, So Below
• Vikter Duplaix: Love Machine
  
• New project from Yahzarah
• New music from Deborah Bond
• New joint from Amy Winehouse
• D’Ange….aww fuck it!

Be sure to follow these artists on Twitter and via their official websites and blogs to keep up with the latest on release dates. Who knows when I’ll write here again.

Rock in Roll is in memory of Piper - mans best friend - making the best out of man

Sir James Paul McCartney

, MBE (born 18 June 1942), is an English singer-songwriter, poet, composer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, record and film producer, painter, and animal rights and peace activist. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings, McCartney is the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music.^[1][2][3][4] McCartney gained worldwide fame as a member of The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. McCartney and Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and wrote some of the most popular songs in the history of rock music.

Linda Louise McCartney (Eastman, September 24 1941 – April 17 1998) was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman, heiress to the Lindner Department Store fortune.

At a young age I was brought into the rock and roll by the beatles, rolling stones and then Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. But my best is Paul McCartney…I was struck by his song…Let it Be…this was the beginning to a long road of rock and roll with Paul McCartney and Linda Louise McCartney.

In 1980 Paul McCartney came into our lives in another way. We lived in a small growing city of Calgary (now over one million people) craving our lives after our second year of  being married. During this time we wer blessed with a little girl, our daughter, Jenni Micheal Demers. Like any new parent, we loved Jenni with all our hearts and souls. I would take her to the Calgary zoo and spent hours listening to songs from  Paul McCartney  albums.

With our little gift Jenni we had so much fun being new parents…it was really a great joy to be alive. But, suddenly, in the summer of 1980 Jenni had pitching high fevers. As any young parent would do, we took Jenni to the our physician. He gave the normal check-up and sent us away with prescribed medication. The physician told us it looks like a minor cold and it won’t be long before she is better again.

We were relieved and comfort Jenni – giving her the prescribed medication. But, after a couple of days ( running into the weekend) Jenni was getting worse. Back then, I worked during the day while my wife Patricia was a bartender with the only White Spot at that time. Saturday, I called the doctor and he actually came over to our home ( they just don’t do this now) and he took her temperature. Some more medication and told me if she doesn’t seem to get better by the evening, give him a call.

So – what does this have to do with Paul McCartney?  Read on…

That evening I had no choice but to call our doctor, but to my disappointment, our doctor was called out of the city and another doctor was “On Call”. This particular doctor was extremely rude and it appeared I interrupted him out of his beauty sleep. He wasn’t cooperating or caring for my concerns – so I took Jenni to the Foothills Hospital at 2:00 am running into emergency with Jenni in my arms. My wife Patricia wasn’t far behind after I had called her from her work. 

The doctors worked on her for a good week, still with spiking fever. The agony was unbearable for us young parents. But, the doctors all said that this kind of fever would eventually go down, but it never did. I took daily notes of Jenni’s spiking fever, recording each and every temperature.

By the end of two weeks, Jenni seem to be getting better, her fever was still spiking, but she was hungry – this was a good sign, so we thought. Patricia and I took turns, her days and myself, evenings, being with Jenni 24/7. Towards the end of the second week, we were wearing out, both still working and coming to see Jenni in the foothills hospital.

As any other evening, I would comfort Jenni, holding her in my arms, hoping and praying for Jenni to get better. The last evening I feed her and she seem to fuse. I called the doctor on station and he pretty much told me,” Look…we can’t just get your doctor to come in for nothing..” I said,” Why not…she doesn’t look good, please come in and have a look at her…” Then he had the attitude,spurting out,” Are you a doctor?”

I will never forget this red-headed doctor for the rest of my life. That evening Jenni died… 

We had to prepare for her death and this is where Paul McCartney comes back into our lives… we used one of his songs which really described how we felt : I believe in Yesterday …why she had to go, I don’t know, she wouldn’t say…. shadow hanging over me…yesterday…I believe in yesterday….I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday…yesterday…love was an easy game to play….why she had to go, I don’t know, she wouldn’t say…  now I need a place to hide away…. I believe in Yesterday.

Thank you Paul for such a beautiful song… it will last in our hearts forever.

With Paul McCartney’s determination to bring his own songs and poetry into the entrepreneur spotlight was a risky – but only if you didn’t know what you were doing – Paul McCartney knew exactly what he was doing. With the determination of his be-loved wife Linda McCartney, Paul established his own rock and roll world. Expressing his inner soul to the world.

In my teens I would scramble out to the record stores to get his first edition of these famous albums :
1. McCartney

2. McCartney II

3. Ram

4. Red Rose Speed Way

5. Wings across America

6. Wild Life

7. Wings at the Speed of Sound

8. Off the Ground

It was a time to release my inner soul within rock and roll.  Paul McCartney brought us his very artistic gift to the rest of the world. His expression of music brings your soul alive. Paul McCartney proved his ability way and above the era of the beatles, but he never forgot his tidings. I have never personally met Paul McCartney, but it would indeed be a great celebration if I had the honor of meeting him. As a struggling young lad I used my earned money very carefully – so when I bought Paul McCartney’s music I was gifted with every lasting music straight from his heart.

Music and Art is the most expressive release of anyones inner soul. Expression is the root of mankind and without it – where exactly would we be.

Maybe…within the Grace of God I may be able have the chance to meet Paul McCartney. Realistically though, it may never be…well…in this life time… we may meet at the Grace of God.., we never know the wonderful world of grace.

I will close this blog by saying “Thank you Paul McCartney” for bringing my soul alive with Rock and Roll…

bari – http://201art.com ( In memory of Jenni and Piper)

Apple today revealed their new iPod line-up in addition to iTunes 9, iPhone OS 3.1 and a iTunes store redesign. The biggest update today was recieved by the iPod nano, which now has a Video Camer in the rear.

This is a major change. Apple have through this addition positioned the iPod nano as a distinct offering compared to their other iPods and iPhones. The new nano now competes directly with the Flip Mino video camera, for all the youtubers out there. Also in the new model is a large 2.2 inch display, Built in microphone to go with the camera, VoiceOver pinched from the Shuffle, an FM radio (allowing it to compete directly with the Zune) and a built-in pedometer.

Now, why do I think this marks a big change and refinement of Apples iPod strategy? Because the changes cater to two distinct markets. First, the video camera, microphone and speaker appeal directly to the under 25s, specifically teenagers who can’t afford an iPhone 3GS and want to make some annoying videos for their friends to share via youtube. In the past, kids have used their phone to take low res photos and force them on the world at large, now video is going to be next big thing sweeping bus stops and schools the country over. I expect soon that a great deal of the content going on youtube on any given day will be from these new nanos.

The other market I mentioned is the active grown-ups. People who go to gyms and go running. The iPod nano already had nike+iPod support to track runs and distance ran, now the nano features a pedometer. The pedometer has been in vogue recently with games from Nintendo such as “Walk With Me”, which simply track and tabulate the amount you walk a day. This little extra now allows the nano to become even more so the gym bunnies best friend. The new FM radio would also help the runners among us to get motivated to keep running just to the end of the latest episode of “Just a Minute”.

We’ll see in the comming moonths how true my predictions become, but for now I think the nano is a very very smart update, and one whose effects we’ll be feeling for a long time to come.

Amigos,

Hoje estarei discotecando na festa Let’s Rock dos DJs Humberto Luminati e Felipe Manso na Toy Lounge .

Conto com a presença de todos vocês.

ENJOY!

Bjs e Abraços

I’m not nearly as negative aboutthe Summer season as I could be, simply because for me there’s nothing to be negative about. Although there’s not as many shows as the last couple of seasons, I’m actually rather happy about that. No matter how much I try to limit how much current anime I’m watching, I always end up following at least ten shows (with regular fansub schedules) per season, so a packed season would probably have seen me getting a headache. Then again, as summer’s almost here, I’d have more than enough time to watch the shows but I’d rather get throught the ever increasing backlog than waste my time on something mediocre.

Fortunately, there seems to be a clear cut division of shows I’ll like and I won’t like. This is going off first impressions, but most of the time I’m right about what I will and will not end up watching. What’s a real refreshing change this season is the spread of intriguing concepts (thanks to THAT for the summer preview info): from Canaan, to Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, to Bakemonogatari, to Umineko – there seems to be more originality this season than in others. Even the shows that don’t particularly interest me, such as Element Hunters (chemistry education lolwut) and Taishou Yakyuu Musume (baseball in 1925 lolwut) are still offering something different from the norm.

Granted, that might not always be the best case since originality doesn’t always sell. But that’s why we have sequels and remakes on the way. Spice and Wolf was one of my favourite series (whenever it wasn’t too bogged down with the economics) so I’m glad that I can see more HOROHOROHORO of the same show. There’s also Zetsubou Sensei (FTW) and a Minami-ke OVA, so it’s a safe bet I’ll enjoy those as well.

Summer 09 seems custom made for what I like about anime, so all I can say is bring it on and LOL NO MECHA AND LACK OF MOE/FANSERVICE SHOWS LOL.

You know it ain’t nothing but a thang for me to travel up and down the East Coast to see Omar perform. When the “godfather of British soul,” comes stateside, I come a-running. I was hanging with some people before the show and one asked, “Do you really have to go to this show?” After my head stopped spinning around on my neck I basically said, “Nothing but death can keep me from it.”

It was my first time actually seeing him perform in DC. I’ve driven to Philly and even down to Raleigh, NC. DC shows Omar major love. The venue was packed and people were pressed to be as close as they could to absorb the energy from Omar and the band.

You can see from my cheese-eating grin up there that the set was outstanding as usual.He performed about ten songs, a few of them from his latest album, Sing If You Want It. However, most of the sets featured classic tunes like “There’s Nothing Like This,” “Little Boy,” “Essensual,”  “This Is Not a Love Song,” the Roy Ayers cover, “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” and the William Devaughn cover of “Be Thankful (For What You Got). He would have been up there all night if he would have performed the tracks folks were calling out from the crowd. His repertoire is just that deep.

Here are a few videos from the show. As always, the entire show is on the You Tube channel for your viewing pleasure.

My theme song, “Music,” (I live for the music too, Omar)

Little Boy

Essensual

No word on when Omar will release a follow up to Sing If You Want It, but if you’re feenin for new flavor, head over to his official website and listen to a snippet of a new track, “When You Touch.” Love it. I can see the crowd dancing with wild abandon when he starts performing this one at shows.

Meeting him afterwards, I told him how I had traveled far and wide to see him perform and that he needed to come stateside more often. He was genuinely grateful for the support and promised to do so. So if and when he comes to your area, it’s essensual that you have your face in the place.

You’ll be seeing a lot of “rewind selectors” here in the coming weeks as I’ve discovered a ton of concert videos that I never uploaded to the You Tube channel and shared with you.

As you know, I spent Valentine’s night stanning for Bilal. He rolled solo that night, sans his back up singers. Raheem Devaughnwas in the house and all too happy to rock with “one of the most talented muhfuckers in the game.”

He helped Bilalout on backing vocals for a few songs and then took the stage and freestyled over “White Turns to Grey,” the panty-dropper on his lost album, Love for Sale.

Rah, you’re doing it right here. Cut the crap and get back on task. And did I hear mention of he and Bilal on tour? Well, we would need to get an album from Bilal first of course. Imagine that. 0_O

I wasn’t in the mood to play Mata Hari that night so I actually obeyed the no recording rule for the most part. Besides, I’m a lover not a fighter at heart. Other than capturing Raheem, I only pulled the camera out to get the end of what turned out to be the last song. Sound problems on the venue’s janky system brought about an abrupt end to “Make Me Over,” which Bilal soulfully mixed with “Planet Rock.”

Stay tuned for a mini-review with video of Omar in concert. If you’re in DC and missed this one for no good reason, I don’t really get you.

Also get ready to go inside the artist’s studio with Erik Rico. You don’t want to miss this cat preaching the gospel of industry rule number 4080.

Hi all! I’am new to all that blog stuff so I hope I don’t do anything wrong lol ). We learned about blogging in school today and I was so fascinated that I just started with it. Lol now I can tell all my stuff and you must read it . Ok so warm welcome, hello, olla, hallo to all the readers and I hope you stay here often. I’am a funny dude and I like to kill my boredom with browsing the web and searching for funny stuff. xD

by vivrant thang on platinum pied pipers abundance

I was finally able to sit down and listen to another one of my most highly anticipated albums of the year, Abundance by PPP (formerly known as Platinum Pied Pipers). People, do not sleep on this one. It’s the first album I am adding to my Best of 2009 list.

For those not familiar, PPP, Wajeed and Saadiq are Detroit-based producers who released their debut album Triple P in 2005, an album that Questlove of the Roots says he listened to seven times straight.  Saadiq is a multi-instrumentalist, which is probably one of the things that draws me to their music. The live instrumentation is crazy, mixing elements of hip hop, funk, techno, disco, pop and house.

Before I pressed play on Abundance, I already knew that it would be a winner if only because an artist I discovered last year, Coultrain,  appears on several tracks. I instantly fell in love with his debut album, The Adventures of Seymour Liberty. The only reason it didn’t appear on my Top Albums of 2008 You’ve Never Heard is because I was so sure it had been released in 2007 and I was late. I’ll be spotlighting him here soon.

I also got to hear more from Karma Stewart, an artist out of Texas whose EP I heard recently and highly enjoyed. I’ll talk more about her later as well and she’ll be added to my ever-growing list of underrated female soul artists. Meantime, you can download The Karma EP for free. I see good things in store for her as long as us true music lovers do our parts.

Other artists that appear on the album are Jamila Raegan and Neco Redd who I think you’ll agree that you need to keep an ear out for. Neco Redd appeared on PPP’s debut album and has a project called “No Discipline” coming soon.

Abundance is truly an album you can press play on and groove from start to finish. No skips. I listened to it on the way into work one morning and it lifted my mood ten-fold.

Listen to a couple of my favorite tracks.

Ain’t No Ifs Or Maybes (featuring Coultrain)

Rocket Science (featuring Karma Stewart and Coultrain)

• To find out more, view the Abundance Electronic Press Kit.
• Visit PPP Myspace page to hear more tracks from the album.
• Watch the making of Abundance’s lead single, “On A Cloud” featuring Karma Stewart.
• Read The Hip Hop DX review of the Abundance.

Support real music!

by vivrant thang on Chrisette Michele

More good news on the highly anticipated album front.

Every since I saw Chrisette Michele perform in DC last Fall where she hit us with new music, I have been anxiously awaiting news of her forthcoming album. According to her Myspace blog, it appears to be complete!

I’m so so so excited to share with you some new music! this new album took NO TIME to record. it seems like every word that i sang was already on the tip of my tounge before i even got to the studio. one song i dreamt, came to the studio the producer had music that already went with it and then my new friend, writer filled in the blanks like only he and i can! it was just so fateful.

The new music she refers to is a single called ‘Epiphany’  the negro-you-done-messed-up-for-the-last-time- and- I’m-leaving song that she does so well without sounding trite. She wrote almost all of the songs on I Am but turned that task over to Neyo on this track. I am not big of a fan of the music that comes out of that boy’s mouth. However, he is a home run hitter with that pen and a pad. And he has scored again with this one.

I stan for Chrissy (and I’m not alone – her You Tube videos on my channel are among the most viewed) and if this is any indication of what’s to come, there will be no sophomore slump here!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Epiphany

Also have to mention and underrated male soul singer that has a date for his next release. You’ll remember V has been back on my radar since I saw him on tour with Jill twice last year.

Need a reminder?

That Jersey boy can sang! You know how we do!

It’s been three years since his debut album, The Revelation Is Now Televised. The release date for his sophomore effort, The Paradox, is March 17th. You can preview and download two singles “Gone Away” and “This Moment” over on his Myspace page.

And the vigil continues.

by vivrant thang on stevie wonder live dvd

Many thanks to DJ YZO over at Industry Soul for alerting me to the fact that after more years in the business than most of us have been alive, Stevie Wonder will release his first official DVD, Live At Last!

According to YZO’s intel (no side eye needed), it will be out on March 10th and will feature his October 2008 “Wonder Summer Nights” concert at London’s O2 Arena. He is backed by a fourteen member band, including his daughter Aisha on vocals.

I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing Stevie live so I’m excited to get my hands on the next best thing. It seems he’ll be covering many of my favorites including  “You Are The Sunshine of My Life, ” My Cherie Amour,” “Superstition” (funking at it’s best!), “Higher Ground,” Living For The City,” and President O Man’s theme song, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours!”

Check out a brief  promotional preview.

Now I know how I will be spending that Amazon gift card I’ve been holding on to. Once I get my hands on it, you know I’ll be reviewing it here!

UPDATE 2/2:  Via Billboard, here is the set list:

Intro / “All Blues”
“As If You Read My Mind”
“Master Blaster (Jammin’)”
“Did I Hear You Say You Love Me”
“All I Do”
“Knocks Me Off My Feet”
U.K. Medley: “London Bridge Is Falling Down,” “Fool On The Hill,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Satisfaction”
“People Make The World Go Round”
“Higher Ground”
“Spain”
“Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing”
“Visions”
“Living For The City”
“Part-Time Lover”
“Overjoyed”
“Lately”
“I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life” (performed by Aisha Morris)
“My Cherie Amour”
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered  (I’m Yours)”
“Sir Duke”
“I Wish”
“Isn’t She Lovely”
“You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”
“I Just Called To Say I Love You”
“You Are The Only One” (snippet)
“Superstition (So What The Fuss)”
“As”

Talk about a non-stop par-tay! Seriously, I think this release calls for a viewing party.

Billboard is also reporting that Stevie is at work on a project that is going to knock ME off MY feet. He’ll be releasing a duets album with Tony Bennett and produced by the master, Quincy Jones. It will feature a lot of Marvin Gaye songs turned jazzy since Marvin always wanted to be a jazz musician.

Stay tuned. Reviews of the Inauguration weekend Eric Roberson/The Revelations featuring Tre Williams and last night’s Tortured Soul show coming very soon – with video of course!

If you’re subscribed to the You Tube channel, you’ll see the video going up there first.

by vivrant thang on top concerts of 2008

It seems you all have enjoyed the first of my best of lists for 2008. We started out with the best songs and albums that you probably never heard to give you a break from some of these best of lists that are starting to look a bit like carbon copies of each other. This is definitely not a bad thing. Just proves that were a few albums that were indeed the creme de la creme – essential for any true music fan to have in their collections. I’ll be adding my two cents to that discussion very shortly.

Before we get there, since I am also a very amateur videographer and live for my  concert-going adventures,  I have to throw those into the countdown fray as well. By year’s end, I will have attended exactly thirty live performances by some of the best artists in the industry today. I’ve also supported up and coming underrated artists who are trying to make a name for themselves. For those just joining us, you can find video from all of these shows and more on my You Tube channel which has grown leaps and bounds this year.

In 2007,  I shared my top five shows. I look back at that post and smile because back then, I was averaging about one show a month. My how we’ve grown! So this year, there was absolutely no way I could limit it to five.

Reminisce with me for a minute.

(in no particular order)

Maxwell, Landmark Theatre in Richmond, VA  11/08

My my my my.

Maxie, don’t do me dirty now. You turned on the oven now you better be cooking something over there! I look forward to round two in 2009. In which time I should also have an album that I can cradle close to my bosom and play until my ears bleed.

Read my review of the Maxwell show and watch live video I captured of the performance. The review and videos ended up on several Maxwell fan forums and websites including The Latest Maxwell News, all Maxwell, all the time. Such serious stanneration  dedication. Gotta love it!

Jill Scott, The Roots, Chuck Brown and Estelle, Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia , MD 8/08

Even if I wanted to forget about this summer superfest, Jill fans won’t let me. I get several comments a week on the videos I captured from this show. This was my second time seeing Jill in 2008. The first was at home in Philly and that show was then aired in a television special. Raheem Devaughn and Musiq were on that bill. I was iffy about going again since I had plunked down a nice piece of change and traveled a couple of hours at that. I had also seen The Roots several times this summer already. I am so very glad I went ahead and spent my grocery money on a ticket to this show. Those PB&J sammiches I had to eat for the rest of the month were SO worth it.

Read my brief review of the Jill Scott, Estelle, The Roots and Chuck Brown show  and watch live video of the performances on my You Tube channel.

Foreign Exchange, Black Cat in Washington, DC 11/08

You already know. Phontigallo (the man of the year) in his good clothes getting his serious croon on. Yazarah styling on everybody in the baddest solid gold dress I’ve ever seen. Her and Muhsinah (the woman of the year) flowing so melodically over Nicolay’s  (the producer of the year, RECOGNIZE) beats. There’s nothing better than youuuuuuuu indeed.

Read my review of the Foreign Exchange concert and watch live video of the performance.

Rock The Bells, Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD  7/08

I think I may still be high from this show – literally and figuratively. Rock the Bells was probably one of the best shows of this magnitude and with this caliber of line up that I’ve ever been to. As I rode home that night (and almost crashed my car cause I had a contact high), I put on the CD sampler because I just couldn’t get enough. Me and h.e.r got a thang going on and I can’t wait to get some more in 2009.

Read my Rock the Bells concert review and view live videos of the performances.

Legends of Hip Hop, Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore MD, 8/2008

Although I had a few critiques about this show, it made the list because of the lineup. Strictly for the thirty and over crowd. Just as I like it. It’s not often that you’ll see Mc Lyte, Chubb Rock (!!!), Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh, Rob Base, and Kool Moe Dee (!!!) on one stage. On a warm summer night by the water, I was throwing my hands up in the air and waving them like I just didn’t care. Real hip hop was definitely in the building.

Read my review of the Legends of Hip Hop Concert and watch the videos of the live performances.

Raphael Saadiq, Black Cat in Washington DC, 9/08

This was the show where I probably should have just gone up on stage took the mic and sang because apparently I felt I knew Raphael’ssongs better than he did. At times, I’m all you hear on the videos! Not a good look but definitely a testament to my long standing love for him as part of the Tonys and as a solo artist. He has provided the blueprint for how the Motown sound should be done and his stage show was the perfect compliment.

Read my review of the Raphael Saadiq concert and watch live video of his performance.

Amp Fiddler, Tortured Soul and Fertile Ground, 930 Club, Washington DC, 2/08

See that look on Christian of Tortured Soul’s face? It’s because of all that funk he created up in the 930 club back on that cold February night. I’ve seen many performances there but never have I seen the place turn into an all out party. I had to check to see if I was at a club. (I wasn’t or there wouldn’t have been any dancing. It’s DC). I left that show seriously considering following the tour bus up the road to NYC for their next gig. Turned out!

Read a very brief review of the Tortured Soul, Amp Fidder and Fertile Ground show and view my video of the performances on my You Tube channel.

Q-Tip, 930 Club in Washington DC, 11/08

In which Vivrant Thang is still swooning over the fact that she met her muse and got to preview the hotness that is Renaissance. After seeing him with ATCQ this summer at Rock The Bells,  I couldn’t wait for him to get back to the area to give it to us live as only a true emcee can. I almost didn’t make it to this show and I would have hated myself the morning after if I hadn’t. There is nothing like the live versions of these songs.

Read about Vivrant Thang getting up with Q-Tip and watch live video of the performance.

THE FIRST Annual Roots Picnic and Pre-Picnic Jam Session in Philly, 6/08

I was at the first annual Roots Picnic and I got the t-shirt to prove it. Heh. I think I am still scarred by how brutally hot it was out there that day. However, I hung in there because the energy and the performances were nothing short of amazing in spite of the heat. I’ll never forget how cool Binky Griptite of The Dap Kings looked out there in a suit. I don’t think I saw a bead of sweat roll down his face. I am so glad that The Roots will continue to put this on despite “retiring” from touring. I know that I will get a eclectic group of artists and make some new discoveries (like Santogold and Esperanza Spalding who both ended up on my best of 2008 lists).

Read my review of The Roots Picnic and watch live video of the performances.

Can A Sista Rock A Mic?, Washington DC, 10/08

Look at that bad mamajama right there!

Yazarah performed on the third night of this multi-day festival showcasing the best in underrated female soul and hip hop artists. It was out of this year’s festival that my underrated female soul singers spotlights were born. I’ve profiled some of the performers including Jean Baylor, Tamara Wellons, and Liv Warfield. Stay tuned for more. I look forward to the talent this festival will bring to the area next year.

As you can see, it’s been a damn good year musically. Remember you can view live video from each of these performances over on the You Tube channel. Subscribe. There’s much more to come.

Have you been to any great shows this years? Share with me in the comments.