The Scene » R&B

Erykah Badu’s New Album Finally Drops

Dave — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:10:44 +0000

After what seems like an eternity, Erykah Badu’s new album, New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh, drops today – Tuesday March 30th. We’ve been hearing about this album since she dropped New Amerykah Part One back in 2008 – in fact, I saw her perform in 2008 and she said the new album was coming out in the Fall of that year. Now that it’s finally out, I can’t wait to get a copy myself. Now I’m just waiting for The Roots to finally drop How I Got Over . . .what is up with production processes taking so long lately? I think technology was going to help albums come out quicker?

Jah-I’s videos

Dave — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:31:28 +0000

One of the great things about the internet is it’s ability to allow independent artists new ways to get their music out. Jah-I-Witness is one of those artists that is using the internet to get his music out there. Check-out this collection of videos that he put together on ReverbNation.

Independent Radio: Soul City Radio

Dave — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:00:54 +0000

One of the main ways that artists and music fans can subvert the monopolistic radio industry is to go online for radio. Fortunately, Baltimore has a great internet radio site that is focusing on the promotion of independent music. Soul City Radio is focused on non-mainstream Hip Hop, Soul, Neo – Soul, R&B or Jazz. Station founder DeWayne Alston is trying to promote both independent artists and the idea of independent music; look in the near future for more information about the panel discussions that Alston will be hosting on his show “Soul Session”. The station is live at different times, but you can always check-out the week’s shows. The station player and schedule is after the jump:

Schedule

Thursday

8-9pm, The Free Your Mind Experience, hosted by Nat Burnz

Friday

10pm-12am, In The Studio, hosted by DeWayne Alston

Saturday

7-9pm, The DJ Mr. E Show, hosted by Eric Whitehead
10pm-12am, Soul Sessions, hosted by DeWayne Alston

Sunday

10am-12pm, Coffee w/ Catalina, hosted by Catalina Byrd
8-10pm, On The Soapboxx w/ Mina Holladay

True Sound’s Homecoming

Dave — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:19:15 +0000

True Sound returns to Blacksburg, Virginia during Virginia Tech’s homecoming weekend. The band will be playing at Awful Arthur’s in Blacksburg for the first time since their 2009 New Year’s Eve party. Band members are sure to bring their original blend of Hip-Hop, Soul, Rock, R&B and Reggae with extended jams to town that night. The show is Saturday, October 10th at 10pm with special guest DJ Sprigs spinning before the show and between sets. If you are in Blacksburg for Homecoming, be sure to catch this show. Tickets are $5 at the door, admission is 21+.

John Legend coming to MPP

Dave — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:27:13 +0000

On Friday, July 17th, John Legend will bring his band to the Merriweather Post Pavillion at 7:30pm. Legend has been touring to sell his 2008 release Revolver. While John Legend’s voice is enough of a reason to get anyone into the crowd, also know that his summer tour is part of a “green” promotion. The “Greening” tour means that the band is performing “Carbon-Neutral concerts – offsetting CO2 emissions from venue energy use, buses and trucks, flights and hotel accommodations by supporting renewable energy projects.” One of the new songs that he has recently recorded has been leaked to the public; check-out “When it Rains” here. It’s my understanding that he’s also been playing “When it Rains” along with other new songs at his live shows.

Review: Chrisette Michele’s “Epiphany”

Dave — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:07:13 +0000

After hearing Chrisette Michele for the first time on The Roots‘ Rising Down , I thought that Michele was a new type of singer that would change the sound of music. Her track on that album, “Rising Up,” has one of the most original beats (of course thanks mainly to ?uestlove of The Roots) and a bit of a political edge to it. When I found out that Chrisette Michele’s sophomore album, Epiphany, debuted at the number 1 spot on Billboard, I went out and bought the album to see what exactly this talented artist had in store.

While Chrisette Michele’s vocals are electrifying, Epiphany is without a doubt a pop R&B album. As far as pop music goes, she is hands down the most talented singer on the scene right now. The problem is that the album not only lacks any political statement whatsoever, but every song is a love song. There’s not one song that strays from a sad love life and it lacks the edge of something like Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. The shear banality of this album is dissappointing since I was introduced to her from one of The Roots’ stronger statements.

There are some tracks with great beats that compliment her voice. The first track (that happens to be the title track), “Epiphany,” has a great beat to start the album with. “Another One” is also a beautiful track that starts with her singing with an acoustic guitar before the full band comes in and the drum beat is solid. My favorite track is “Fragile” which progresses nicely throughout the track with some great production.

The good news is that this high selling banal album may be exactly what Chrisette Michele needs to do what she wants with her next album. Sometimes going along with the demands of the record industry can result in more freedom down the road. That’s the way that the music business works and Epiphany is a testament to the problems with the industry. Someone as talented as Michele deserves the leeway to create music that uses her talent to its fullest extent.

Celebrate Fairfax

Dave — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:21:18 +0000

Fairfax County puts on a huge festival every year at the Fairfax Government Center that it has called “Celebrate Fairfax“. Now, to me, that is an incredibly strange name, what are we celebrating about Fairfax? Anyway, it used to be called the Fairfax Fair before they tried to get all original with its name. Name aside, it is one of the best chances to catch local and national acts outside at one event in northern Virginia. This year it is Friday, June 5th – Sunday June, 7th and will be headlined by Blues Traveler (Friday, June 5th – 8pm), The Fixx (Saturday, June 6th – 3pm), The Sugarhill Gang, Tone Loc and Naughty by Nature (Saturday, June 6th – 7:30pm)and Phil Vassar (Sunday, June 7th – 3:30pm). Get your tickets now. Checkout after the jump for the complete line-up.

Rockin Blues Stage

Friday, June 5
	6:30 p.m.	OnTap Last Band In Winner
	9:45 p.m.	Kelly Bell Band

Saturday, June 6
	11:00 a.m.	The U.S. Army Band Downrange
	12:30 p.m.	Eric Scott
	2:00 p.m.	The Lloyd Dobler Effect
	4:30 p.m.	JunkFood
	6:15 p.m.	Ska Face
	9:45 p.m.	Dr. FU

Sunday, June 7
	11:30 a.m.	Shane Gamble
	1:00 p.m.	Michael Logen
	2:30 p.m.	Billy Coulter Band
	5:00 p.m.	Luke Brindley

Star Hill Music Stage

Friday, June 5
	6:45 p.m.	The Janine Wilson Band
	8:15 p.m.	TBD
	9:45 p.m.	Second Wind

Saturday, June 6
	11:45 a.m.	HeLO
	1:00 p.m.	Allwreck
	2:15 p.m.	InTechnicolor
	3:30 p.m.	No Compromise (NoCo)
	4:45 p.m.	Juniper Lane
	6:00 p.m.	The Dreamscapes Project
	7:15 p.m.	TBD
	8:30 p.m.	Shaggy Wonda
	10:00 p.m.	TBD

Sunday, June 7
	11:00 a.m.	TBD
	12:00 p.m.	Icewagon Flu
	1:15 p.m.	the reserves
	2:30 p.m.	Justin Trawick
	3:45 p.m.	Ceann
	5:00 p.m.	Naked Blue

Acoustic Music Cafe

Friday, June 6
	6:15 p.m.	TBD
	7:00 p.m.	TBD
	9:45 p.m.	DJ Kylexi

Saturday, June 7
	10:30 a.m.	TBD
	11:30 a.m.	TBD
	12:30 p.m.	TBD
	1:30 p.m.	Felicia Carter
	2:30 p.m.	TBD
	3:30 p.m.	Flo Anito
	4:30 p.m.	TBD
	5:30 p.m.	TBD

Sunday, June 8
	11:00 a.m.	TBD
	12:00 p.m.	ilyAIMY
	1:00 p.m.	TBD
	2:00 p.m.	Liz Longley
	3:00 p.m.	TBD
	4:00 p.m.	TBD
	5:00 p.m.	TBD

Hampton Jazz Festival 2009

Dave — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:38:57 +0000

One of the big events each year in Tidewater Virginia is the Hampton Jazz Festival at the Hampton Coliseum. However the big irony about the Hampton Jazz Fest is that it has very little jazz today. I went several years ago and saw The Average White Band, Chaka Khan and George Benson. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of all of three of those acts, but George Benson is the only act that you could remotely call Jazz. This year is no different . . . each night the major acts playing are not jazz. It looks like it’s going to be a great festival, I just think that they need to change the name to the Hampton R&B Festival or the Hampton Soul Festival or something. Anyway, this year’s festival is June 26-28. Click here for tickets. Check out after the jump for the full line-up.

Friday June 26th – 7:30pm

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds

Saturday June 27th – 7:00pm

Sunday June 28th – 2:00pm

Jah-I-Witness Album Release Party

Dave — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:11:48 +0000

This Thursday, March 19th, if you’re in the Richmond area (or want to travel to see some great live music) don’t miss Jah-I-Witness‘ Album Release Party at Fantasy Island Cafe and Grille. While you may have already checked out the album review of “The Struggle, The Love, The Glory” and purchased it online, nothing is like catching Jah-I live. Not only is this an album release party its also celebrating the opening of Fantasy Island Cafe and Grille in Richmond. The show starts at 8:30pm.

The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show

Dave — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:13:46 +0000

Wolf Trap has a great season of shows going on this summer and a handful of mini festivals. Sunday, June 14th is The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show at 8pm in the File center at Wolf Trap. Tickets are $22 in the Lawn and $40 in-house.

Line-Up

The Drifters

Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners

The Contours

Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs

The Blue Suede Orchestra