The Scene » R&B

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.

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

Review: “The Struggle, The Love, The Glory”

Dave — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:23:08 +0000

Self-publishing an album can be one of the most difficult and most rewarding processes that an independent artist can experience. Jah-I-Witness has successfully completed his second self-published album with “The Struggle, The Love, the Glory” (The S.L.G.) and this is one you definitely gotta check-out. This album is a big departure from his first album, “Stranger”, which was a cutting edge eclectic/artistic mix of sounds that focused on rockin’. From the first cut of the album, The S.L.G.’s strength is in its lyrics and its dope production. Jah-I’s always been known as a nice MC, but with this album he demonstrated that he’s also a hot producer.

This is a SOUL album as Jah-I describes in “Soul Music”. He explains how genre distinctions are created by record labels and record stores, so they can break music down and sell it like any other commodity. The S.L.G. blends Hip-hop, Reggae, Rock, R&B and Funk: its straight up soul. That’s one of the things that makes this album so great – Jah-I didn’t limit it to one sound, but its all soul music through and through.

From the start of the album, Jah-I demonstrates that the S.L.G. is about freedom with the track “Wanna Be Free”. The S.L.G. is an expression of freedom about everything from being free from bondage to being free from economic wage-slavery to being free from mind control. “Stars and Stripes” really gets at what’s wrong with the music industry today when an artist “tries to teach the youth some truth”. But the absolute theme is set with the first three tunes “Wanna Be Free”, “Rat Race” (my favorite song, check it out) and “Make Money”. Independent artists struggle as they have to procuce their albums, peform them, print them and still find a way to pay the bills. Any artist as talented as Jah-I should be given the opportunity to succeed without selling out the content of their music. Definitely check this album out, you can but it on CD Baby here.

Urban Ball

Dave — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:18:35 +0000

The Second of the American Inaugural Ball’s two balls is the Urban Ball. This one is geared towards a younger audience than its older sibling (Legends Ball). Ludacris will host this event and will be geared primarily to Rap/Hip-Hop and R&B artists. The attire is going to be slightly more relaxed than the Legends Ball. “If you’re attending the Urban Ball, then dress to impress; but no jeans, no hoodies, no sneakers or ball caps will be allowed.” Once again this Ball has Cocktails at 6:30pm and doors open at 8:00pm. The show should last until Midnight. For the line-up see after the jump.

Marriott Wardman Park

Tribute to the Godfather of Soul

Dave — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:01:11 +0000

Its been over a year and a half since James Brown passed away and his music is sorely missed. This Saturday, August 23rd, Fred Wesley, Brown’s former trombonist, will play with the tribute to James Brown known as Still Black, Still Proud. James Brown was hugely popular in Africa and a cast of African musicians join musicians from Brown’s band to put on a concert in the name of a man and a movement. By choosing to name the group after one of Brown’s most politically poignant songs, the band attests that both the movement and the music are still here to continue on in the wake of the Godfather of Soul’s death. Get down and Get up at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC this Saturday at 8:00pm.

Jill Scott w/ The Roots

Dave — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:49:31 +0000

After seeing Erykah Badu with The Roots in Richmond, I can only imagine how great of a show is in store this Saturday, August 2nd. The Roots will share the stage with not only Jill Scott, but also Chuck Brown at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. This will be a very high energy show. No one sings with as much body and soul in her voice as Jill Scott. I don’t think that we’ll be lucky enough to have everyone on the stage at the same time, but I have no doubt that this show will rock. This show will be locking down Hip-Hop, Go-Go, R&B and Soul. Also performing is Estelle.

Link Wrap

Al Green at Wolf Trap

Dave — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:34:08 +0000

Its only the middle of July and so far Wolf Trap has been keeping the lock down on performances by classic R&B artists. Tonight, Tuesday, July 15th, soul legend Al Green will be performing at Wolf Trap to keep the summer line-up hot. Known as one of the most successful crossover artists, Green has topped the charts with both soul albums and gospel albums. Now he’s touring to promote his newest album, Lay it Down. The show starts at 8pm.

Wolf Trap [Venue Information]
Al Green [Artist Info]
Lay it Down [album]