Just wanted to let you all know: After three years on Typepad, I'm moving the blog over to Wordpress. The process is underway now. Even once everything redirects, I expect that there might be some minor drama, i.e., the blog probably won't look like what you're used to and there may even be a bit of downtime. But hang in there with us, and I'm sure you're gonna dig the new site.
Over 500 people joined us for the launch of WRFB last night! And thanks to all who tuned in, not just for my show, but for the segments hosted by YankeeZulu, Christian Wikane and Shelley Nicole.
I'll have info on a link to the podcast shortly. In the meantime, here's my set list (song/artist/time/album):
It was cool, too, to be able to have a world premiere. Yes, those of you who listened got to hear a new track off the forthcoming album by MuthaWit featuring Boston Fielder. The song was "Wasted (Fill My House With Salt)". No worries, I'll be posting it in a day or so, and the song will be available on Sunday, Mother's (Mutha's) Day. So, that's why you've got to tune in: You never know what you'll hear. Whether it's the unveiling of a new song, a special guest interview (Christian interviewed singer Russell Taylor), or one of Shelley Nicole's great themed shows (last night was "Law & Order").
The summer's only gonna get hotter!
Actually, it's not just me. No, I'll be joined by three other dope hosts for the launch of WRFB (which, by the way does NOT stand for Rob Fields Broadcasting), Radio Free Brooklyn. In addition to me, you'll also hear from Yankee Zulu, Christian John Wikane, and Shelley Nicole of Shelley Nicole's blaKbushe.
You can tune in from 7-11PM EST tomorrow and every Tuesday via the link here.
The schedule will go something like this:
7-8pm Yankee Zulu
8-9pm The Flying Perfect Parlor with Christian John Wikane
9-10pm Sounds from the New Black Imagination with Rob Fields
10-11pm Shelley Nicole
I can tell you that each segment is still evolving. Right now, Yankee Zulu does what he calls an "eclectic mix of old and new school." Christian covers a lot of territory, from Dixie Cups (1964) to Kenna (2007) to all points between. I, of course, will be spinning global black rock, Afro-Punk and some odds and ends. And Shelley's been doing a great job of theming her shows: For the first test run it was "My People", music by artists she knows. Test #2 was "Covers" which explored the cover song. Tomorrow night's show is "Law & Order". Can't wait to hear this!
Again, you can listen to the live stream tomorrow via the link on this page.
And feel free to reach out to WRFB via the following channels:
One more thing: For the launch tomorrow and probably next week also, I'll just be playing music. As I get more comfortable with all the equipment, I plan to start adding live or call-in interview segments featuring a range of folks, everyone from musicians, filmmakers, writers, visual artists, academics, perhaps even an occasional politician. As long as they're representative of the "new black imagination," it's all good. So stay tuned for announcements about interview segments.
Thanks again to the folks at Brooklyn Movie Labs for hosting the show and providing the equipment for us all to get our DJ on!
If you've already taken the survey, thank you. Thanks to you, we've crossed an important threshold in terms of responses. If not, I'd appreciate it. It'll take 5-7 minutes to complete and you'll get some great FREE music at the end.
You can take the survey here.
As of this post, the survey has been completed by over 250 of you. I'd like to get to at least 300 completes, which will help when it's time to draw some conclusions, and when it's time to seek outside support to help this community grow.
I'll start sharing some of the data over the next few weeks. Much of the responses are simply confirming what I'd always believed to be true. However, there are some things that are surprising me.
Again, thanks to all who've taken it thusfar. And thanks in advance to those of you who are clicking on this link to do so now.
Stay tuned for more details!
(l to r) Reebee Garofalo, Tamar-Kali, Moe Mitchell, Linda Tillery, Dr. Portia Maultsby, Greg Tate
Frankly, it’s easy to think that wherever you are is the center of the Universe. In my case, that would be Brooklyn and New York City. But, in fact, there’s a lot going on—particularly in the world of black rock and Afro-Punk—far beyond NYC. Bloomington, Indiana is a case in point.
A couple of weekends ago, I had the privilege of participating in the conference called “Reclaiming the Right to Rock: Black Experiences in Rock Music”, which was hosted by the Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) at Indiana University.
First, let me say that there’s some amazing work going on at the AAAMC. Its director, Dr. Portia Maultsby—who was recently named one of the university's distinguished professors—talked about the importance of source materials to both research and academic study. She said that it’s impossible to introduce a course if you can’t provide multiple original sources that can be studied. As such, since 1991, the Archives have amassed materials covering the range of African American cultural expression since the post World War II era. Its holdings include oral histories, photographs, musical and print manuscripts, audio and video recordings, educational broadcast programs, and the personal papers of individuals and organizations concerned with black music.
And the archiving that’s happening is way better than what’s happening for a lot of bands: old posters, CDs/albums, show flyers, press photos, all of it sitting in a box in the drummer’s basement.In many ways, it was a big family reunion. There were a lot of people there who I already knew, folks like Greg Tate, Tamar-kali, Stew, Kandia Crazy Horse, Maureen Mahon and the BRC’s Earl Douglas and Laronda Davis. But I also got to hang with Cipher’s Moe Mitchell, Game Rebellion’s Netic and Earl Greyhound’s Kamara Thomas (look out for Kosmic Kam!) It was also cool to meet both guitarist Suzanne Thomas and vocalist and drummer Linda Tillery, along with Ike Willis, guitarist for the late Frank Zappa. Academics such as Reebee Garafalo (UMass Boston) and Andy Hollinden, are also providing valuable scholarship related to black rock and American popular music.
Good discussions all around. I mean, it was great to be around folks who wanted to talk about nothing but black rock for two days.
The other treat was to hear some music. IU has a student performance group, The Soul Revue (above). Lemme tell you: If you are near Bloomington when they’re performing, I highly recommend that you go see them. They’re high energy and they can stop on a dime. An impressive group of students, to be sure. They started their set with a cover of “Cult of Personality.” That caught me by surprise, given that I’ve just seen Corey and Living Colour not long ago. But then I realized that the song has been around for 21 years and has entered the canon. Other highlights were “Them Changes” performed as a duet, and a rousing version of “Proud Mary”. Suzanne Thomas sat in with the group for “Voodoo Chile”.
Speaking of Suzanne, she and her group, The Blues Church, were great. There is no doubt that Suzanne is a masterful guitarist and bandleader. Her set started with field hollers, moved into electrified blues and finished with hard rock. I especially enjoyed her song “Not Like I Give A Fuck."
Tamar-Kali and her band closed out the night. She also performed a few songs from her upcoming album, including the single, “Pearl,” which is available now on iTunes. As ever, she’s powerful, captivating and her band is tight. She just gets better and better, and is one of several artists in the black rock scene who is ready for a wider audience.
Blogger and fellow traveler Laina Dawes also attended the conference and she shared some of her observations here.
Additional link:
Have you taken the Boldaslove.us black rock audience survey? It only takes 5 minutes! Click here to start.
So thrilled to let you all know that the compilation album is now available for your listening pleasure! That’s right: 17 tracks from artists who represent the diversity of black rock, Afro-punk and black alternative music, both here in the US and internationally (thrilled to have Sabatta, Otto Fischer and Milk Plus representing the London black rock fam), including a brand new song from The Family Stand!
Once again, I want to thank all the artists who submitted tracks, as well as the ones who were ultimately chosen.
And I just want to be clear with everyone: Yes, this compilation is FREE. But if you like what you hear from any of the artists, please consider buying their full length albums or EPs. Many of the artists on the compilation have albums or EPs available on Amazon.com. If Amazon sees sales increases on existing catalog that they can correlate to artists who are on the compilation, then the whole exercise is worth it to them. Maybe they’ll be open to my doing volume 2 next year.
This is how you make progressive culture matter in the marketplace.
Finally, if you've got friends who you think would dig the music, please send them this link
http://bit.ly/wdKYT
Click here to download your copy of Boldaslove.us presents Fire In The Dark.
Enjoy!
Mark you calendars, join us and celebrate some releases.
That's right, Boldaslove.us is in effect at the Northside Music & Arts Festival. In case you're not aware, the festival is sponsored by the L Magazine. What they're doing is kind of cool: They're having various Brooklyn-based bloggers and music companies program showcases around Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
The Boldaslove.us show is an afternoon hit, 2-6pm. Not only will we be celebrating the release of the compilation album (TBD in June!) with great sets from some of the artists on the compilation, but also author Farai Chideya will be on hand and will sign books and read a few short excerpts from Kiss The Sky between sets.
Another enticement: The venue is the newly renovated Berry Park. One of its cool features is that is has a roof deck, so come and hang.
Berry Park is located at
4 Berry Street @ N. 14th in Williamsburg. Closest train is the G train to Nassau, but you can also take the L to Bedford.
Check the map here:
Like what you see here? Consider a donation. Any amount helps defray the cost of maintaining this site. And any amount will be appreciated!
| Blog: |
| Bold As Love |
Topics: |
| Black rock, music, culture |
