Fusicology is a proud sponsor of the 2009 Official Essence Music Festival Afterparties popping off 4th of July weekend in New Orleans! Club Metro will be jumping two nights in a row right after the Superdome concerts with performances from MC Lyte, Rich Girl, Monie Love, Kid n Play’s DJ Wiz, K’Jon, Common’s DJ Dummy, NoLa’s own DJ Raj Smoov, and more, hosted by Idris Elba with tons of celebrity guests TBA.  See you there! |  Pre-Sale Tickets

*Once again, Fusicology brings you a fresh ticket give-away contest with a chance to win [2] tickets to the Official Essence Music Festival Afterparties and party with best if you will be in New Orleans for Essence Music Festival weekend.  Simply follow the steps below no later than Tuesday, June 30th at 6:00pm EST to enter to win.  Winners will be notified via Email by Wednesday, July 1st with ticket claim instructions.

1. Confirm your subscription to one of our Fusicology cities.

2. Email your answer to the following question + your full government name & phone number to submit@fusicology.com.

Q: In what comedic TV series that aired in British and US versions did Idris Elba guest star in?  And in which version (US or British) did he appear?

GOOD LUCK!

Friday, 07.03.09 – Sunday, 07.05.09
15th Annual Essence Music Festival Line-Up + Tickets

SELF DETERMINATION.
2 words that sum-up the grassroots Hip Hop soldier that is Truth Universal.
Also happens to be the title of his current album, which should already be in your vault.

/// A Natural Born Leader Rises From The Rubble ///

Born in Trinidad and raised in New Orleans, Truth represents that “other side” of Big Easy Hip Hop.  Differing by leaps and bounds from his hometown counterparts, Lil Wayne, Juvenile, Birdman, and the rest of the Hot Boys / Cash Money phenomenon now ruling the airwaves and riding Grammy territory, he remains militant in his calling to expose and discuss relevant social issues of today.  No newbie to this game, Truth began publishing music in 2000, followed by “The Naked Truth” EP in 2001, and released a string of singles between 2000 – 2005.  2006 saw the “Move the Crowd” mixtape, and after 2 years in the kitchen, Truth unleashed the full Self Determination on Dragons Breath Records.

Highly political, Truth does not waste a beat using his talent, and music in general, as a tool for social awareness and change.  He believes firmly in the traditions of grassroots Hip Hop culture and continues to be a true leader in the underground New Orleans scene.  Yet, his music and his messages are universal topics that people from all corners of the Earth can relate to in their own way, making him a solid collaborator with an array of MCs and producers you already know.  An advocate of peaceful resistance through education, Truth Universal is an important link in the chain of the conscious Hip Hop movement.

Truth Universal is leading a movement from the Crescent City side of things, and with all eyes on New Orleans in the wake of Katrina and since the seemingly overnight stardom of the Lil Wayne cadre, it is refreshing and inspiring to see the flipside of the NOLA coin.  Just as every city gets blanketed and stereotyped in light of its few celebrities, so too is New Orleans experiencing what Truth Universal is here to balance out.  Like anything, there are two sides to any story, and many ways to tell it.

Recently, Truth was able to put forth his “Angola 3″ song in a context with open ears when Mos Def and the MXGM / Black August movement organized shows in several cities to raise awareness about the 3 Louisiana men incarcerated at Angola Prison in solitary confinement without proper conviction since the early 1970s, and 1 of their releases in 2008.

>This season, as part of his police brutality and corruption awareness project, Truth drops his Self Determination bonus track, “Serve & Protect,” along with his latest video for the 2nd single off the Self Determination LP, “Work.” After spending the month of August touring as part of the Black August collective (now also a commemoration project for Katrina victims – http://www.mxgm.org/blackaugust/), opening shows for Mos Def, and appearing for cameos in several cities, including Rock the Bells weekend in San Francisco, Truth Universal has been back in the lab already working on his next album, due out in spring 2009.  He is also working on a youth education and music workshop program in New Orleans.

Listen:  http://sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=36496 |  “Self Determination”

Watch:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6t7nuvzhQ4 |  “Work / Black Culture”

SELF DETERMINATION: worth your support.
12 powerful, independently produced tracks featuring stic man of Dead Prez, Doodlebug of Digable Planets, Wise Intelligent, Sula of Zion Trinity, and rising New Orleans Soul/Funk artist, Tondrae Kemp.  With guest production from Strange Fruit Project and more.
Get it: http://www.truthuniversal.com

Extras:

> “Mind Frame” (2005) feat. Zion I & Inspiration + DJ Dynamite Dave Soul video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSgGT7hwXk8

> Truth Universal Press Kit: http://truthuniversal.com/pk/TruthUniversalSDx.zip

> Truth Universal on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/truthuniversal

*DJs! — Email jocelyne@fusicology.com for Self Determination promos!*

— Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology

We could not have asked for a more perfect weekend in the Big Easy this October.  The weather was gorgeous (October always is in New Orleans), the setting was surreal (City Park), and the music was, well, like voodoo!  We see why this is an annual ritual in the Crescent City – 3 days packed chock-full of a diverse array of live music, intimate tents, and all the soul-satisfying Nawlins food and art you can take.

> The weekend in brief? We could not have done without the sets from Erykah, Wyclef Jean, King Britt w/The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Fishbone, Thievery Corporation, Lupe Fiasco, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Fleur de Tease, The Soul Rebels, The Hot 8 Brass Band, and of course, our daily night-cap with DJ Soul Sister!  (Not to mention the thick political motif swimming in the air.)

NOLA rep and Senior Editor, Jocelyne Ninneman, blogs about the full experience… enjoy.*

10.24.08  |  DAY 1

After a misty morning, fearing a muddy scene a-la-Lollapalooza memories, we were thrilled with the breaking of the sun around 2pm as my photographer, Emily, and I arrived at check-in on Friday under some sprawling poplar trees at the spectacular New Orleans City Park.  Just a bit of distant chill in the air to let us know we’s need jackets for later and friendly smiles from the Voodoo Festival staff.

Our first glimpse was of the circus-style New Orleans Bingo! Show parlor tent, where we assume some scandalous revelry was taking place inside, but alas off we went to our first set on the PlayStation/Billboard Stage to check out those rising punk kids, and my hometown homies (shameless Detroit plug), THE DIRTBOMBS[The Dirtbombs], where they were opening that stage for the weekend.  It was dope to see this band, who I watched play seedy bars and local festivals in years of late, playing on this enormous mammoth of a stage, as well as be the first act I catch at Voodoo.  And you know what?  Theirs was the best rock set of the entire weekend, and not just because I am partial to my hometown heroes.  Unless, of course you want to classify FishBone as rock.  Seriously.

Next up on the PlayStation/Billboard Stage was that young British ivory soul chica, JOSS STONE[Joss Stone].  Clad in the most bohemian of summer dresses and of course naked feet, Joss seemed to have bought out the sun for the weekend single-handedly.  Her innocence reflected in the gleaming all-white of her amazing band.  (We just loved her male back-up singer – what a playa!)  Miss Stone wasn’t all first and happy bohemian innocence today though… apparently she had a few messages to get across; one of them for the girls – gently reminding the ladies to be ladies if you expect to be treated like one; and the second for everyone – that we have to reamain focused and choose our battles wisely in this time of war and economic crisis. [Not a straight-forward Obama plug, but an anti-war one, not to mention an economic one - and she's not even American! ---O-plug #1]

Next, it was across the racetrack to claim our front row spots for the king of voodoo himself, Mr. WYCLEF JEAN[Wyclef Jean].  With full band and DJ in effect, Wyclef re-sold us all over again.  I mean, this dude is versatile.  From rapping to singing to rippin up the guitar, not to mention on the quick wit with the New Orleans, voodoo, and political satire.  Heck, even his DJ got jokes – while warming up the decks for Wyclef, he decided to amuse us with his play on Lil Wayne’s “Under Water” monologue (also heard on Robin Thicke’s new album) as he DJ’s while taking off his shirt, putting on scuba goggles, slowly disappearing below the table, and reappearing with a mouthful of water, shortly projected all the way out in front of his DJ deck for the climax… all the while never removing his hands from the platters! (now that’s talent)

Now that the stage had our attention, Wyclef decided it was time to make his entrance, language-switching and referencing his Haitian heritage, citing his grandfather who “was a voodoo priest”  and noting that “this is Voodoo Fest, so let’s put a spell on them…”  [After his Obama plug ---O-plug #2] Clef next launched into his “If I was President,” where he would be “elected on Thursday, assassinated on Friday, buried on Saturday, resurrected on Sunday, and back to work on Monday” !  We’d vote for you Wyclef, after giving a solid performance, including Hip-Hop-inspired cuts, traditional mixture, and plenty of guitar skills, how could we not?

After our true voodoo warm-up with our fine Haitian Jean, we bounced back over to the Playstation/Billboard Stage for one of our most anticipated sets of the weekend – the one and only, Ms. ERYKAH BADU [Erykah Badu] – voodoo queen indeed.  Now we already know she’s caught many a tough guy under her spell, and we just wanted to experience for ourselves “that voodoo that you do so well.”  We heard she wasn’t feeling her most tip-top (it appears as if the rumours be true – a wee Jayerykah seems to be on his/her way soon), so she stayed outta the spotlight quite a bit, requesting a darker stage setting as she hid her hazel soul-traps under a massive shelf of combed-down afro-bangs tonight.

Always with the super-fly background singers, the Badu band was on point sans their drummer, who apparently got lost in the travels and flights overnight, but much to our (pleasant) surprise was replaced for the evening with a local drummer we know from ’round who effin killed it given the uber-short notice!  A few cues from the keyboardist, and homeboy was rollin.  Of course she opens with “Hip Hop is Bigger Than…” - just in case there are some newbies in the audience tonight   Next she introduces us to “Me,” then back to some “Mama’s Gun” classics and onto a bit of a jam with what we can only assume are previews of material from the 2nd part of the “New Amerykah,” due out very soon.

The massive crowd really got live for “Soldier” though, (and not just because of the steady beat by Detroit’s Karriem Riggins, yo) as she truly spoke live and direct right to the people when she hit her line in this track… “baptized when the levees broke.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard her sing a phrase so distinctly and directly to the people in front of her.  A great moment indeed.  Then, after pouring her libations and sipping from her omnipresent hot tea canter, she introduces the stellar band before launching into the last song and dropping her Obama plug [O-plug #3] like a bomb as fists pop up in the ay-er.  We must say, it felt very New Orleans tonight… the poplar trees, the still air, Wyclef’s Haitian vibe, Erykah’s voodoo influence…

[[[ Unfortunately, Erykah was feeling too under the weather, so one-on-one interviews got canceled, and only a brief general session took place in the Fuse TV tent after the set.  Next time... ]]]

The next stop was TV ON THE RADIO [TV on the Radio], one of the most talked-about bands of the year, and one of the most anticipated acts at Voodoo Fest this year.  The boys definitely delivered one of their distinctly experimental and eternally different sets… consistent in that you never know what you’re gonna get.  TV gets points for pushing the envelope for sure.  Sadly we couldn’t stay for the whole set as we had to jet over to the WWOZ/SoCo Stage for what was even more anticipated for us – KING BRITT’s [King Britt] “Tribute to Sister Gertrude Morgan” featuring the full live band and photo/video footage.  Philly native, Britt, came across the late NOLA folk legend, Sister Gertrude Morgan’s work ironically not long before Hurricane Katrina and the flood of 2005 destroyed almost all of Morgan’s neighborhood, and therefore much of her famed artwork.

[[[ Britt released his "King Britt presents: Sister Gertrude Morgan" on Philly's RopeADope Records [RopeADope] the same year Katrina wreaked havoc on the history of the 9th Ward in New Orleans, serving as an almost eerie preservation and rebirth of one of the city’s most noted, yet often unknown, people.  Though she died in 1980, Sister Gertrude was a self-proclaimed “Bride of Jesus” and was cornerstone of the 9th Ward for decades, serving as a minister and community artist.  She was both a painter and a musician, and possibly her most famous song is “Lets Make A Record,” which RopeAdope also re-released as part of a partnership with NOLA’s Preservation Hall – the historical Jazz institution that owns the original recordings of Morgan’s vocals – and continuation of Britt’s ongoing collaboration with Ben Jaffe and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.]]]

Having heard Britt’s re-work of Morgan’s music, and learning about who she was, this would be the first time Britt and Jaffe would present the full project live, so we just had to be there for this moment in history.  As Britt presented his electronic pieces, old photos and original video collages created specifically for this presentation moved across two giant screens, transporting us back to another era… a black and white world of Jazz greats in tiny wooden rooms, Mardi gras Indians, and parades down streets brimming with smiling faces… until the colorful members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band [Preservation Hall Jazz Band] emerged one by one in there places on stage in front of the screens as if they were born straight out of the video, some of them sons of some of the late greats on the screens above, and the music literally came alive as each member joined in to play their part.

By the end, the modest crowd had gathered and we found ourselves dancing in the grass, where the time machine dropped us back off, we came to and second-line stepped out way over to our finale for the day – DJ Soul Sister’s Social Aid & Pleasure Club [DJ Soul Sister] inside the Preservation Hall Tent, where we proceeded to get loose to Soul Sister’s infectious blend of original Soul and Funk goodness til they shut it down.  Was this a highlight?  Well, don’t know when the last time was that we got down in a cypher to Funk and Soul… so you be the judge!  Layers were comin off left and right… and the Booty Patrol Go-Go Dancers [NOLA Booty Patrol] were on fire!

All danced out, we were most definitely feelin’ good as we pulled out of the haunting yet peaceful City Park for one more stop before we turned in… the TV on the Radio afterparty where one of their members was DJing and celebrating a birthday @ Cafe Lazizza on our favorite Big Easy strip – Frenchmen Street.  Some good ole’ 80s and mash-up fun was had by all, not ot mention shisha hookahs and late-night eats, and of course… the color and character(s) that are being on Frenchmen Street.

10.25.08  |  DAY 2

Saturday was an absolutely, positively beautiful day and the sun welcomed us as we arrived back at City Park to start our afternoon with some more true Nawlins flavor in the Bingo! Parlour Tent for soon-to-be-known musician, Clint Maedgen’s [Clint Maedgen] feature set, where we were soon in the time machine again, entering the world of circus-theatre-bohemian-burlesque… you know, the classic New Orleans breed of Moulin Rouge meets Sweeney Todd.  Yet, not to take away from Clint’s performance, I think everyone inside the packed-out tent would agree when we say that it was the Fleur de Tease [Fleur de Tease] burlesque show that got all the attention Saturday afternoon on that side of the park.  Though New Orleanians know where to get a dose of Miss Trixie and her scantily-clad lovely ladies on the regular, for the newbies, this was quite a treat!  Sure is nice to see adult entertainment being done the good ole’ fashioned way – with class and panache

We made an executive decision to fore-go Lil Wayne, though blasphemy in Nawlins to do so, in light of the fact that we had to catch two very important acts – Thievery Corporation and FishBone.  Yes, that’s right, the afro-punk originals were live and direct on the NooMoon Stage – perhaps the smallest stage that side of center park – and so before we posseed-up with NOLA man of the people and local festival organizer extraordinaire, Karl Washington, and King Britt and Rucyl, guest artists, to make the pleasant hike over to NooMoon for what was one of the Top 3 sets of the weekend, hands-down… we scooted over to Thievery Corporation’s Artist Tent to chat for a few with Rob and Eric about their beginnings, their new album, and of course what we could expect from this evening’s sundown performance.

[[[ Exclusive Interview with Thievery Corporation ]]]

Turns out, hailing from our nation’s capital city of Washington DC, TC’s Rob Garza and Eric Hilton got together over [12] years ago (Wow! Has it been that long already? No way!) and have been steadily raising the bar and contributing to the genre-skating, worldbeat music movement over the better part of the last decade.  Chopping it up with them was not quite as easy as expected, for these guys are modest as all get out – quiet, unassuming and without too many airs.  So getting them to talk about themselves at length was, at times, like coaxing a cat.  What struck as an amazing point in their career was discovering that, even after over 10 years in this rough music biz game, Thievery Corporation [Thievery Corporation] STILL has yet to sign under a major label.  Yep, that’s right, now touring in support of their 5th album, “Radio Retaliation,” released just 1 month ago, Rob and Eric have helmed a full project every 2 years completely independently…and YOU know who they are!  Well, there it is… it CAN be done without the majors!

Aside from having their own close-knit team to run their business, TC has managed to collaborate with some of the most diverse and notable musicians on the planet for each and every album, including Perry Farrell, The Flaming Lips, David Byrne, Anoushka Shankar, Astrud Gilberto, Bebel Gilberto, Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, Femi Kuti, Seu Jorge, Jana Andevska, and fellow DC legend, Chuck Brown. In fact, it has been their ability to merge limitless, seemingly disparate sounds into the Thievery Corporation brand of forward, eclectic dance music that easily translates into lounges and soundtracks that has been their trademark.

So what is the focus of the new project?  The DC duo say: “Radio Retaliation is definitely a more overt political statement,” says Garza of Thievery Corporation. “There’s no excuse for not speaking out at this point, with the suspension of habeas corpus, outsourced torture, illegal wars of aggression, fuel, food, and economic crises. It’s hard to close your eyes and sleep while the world is burning around you. If you are an artist, this is the most essential time to speak up.”

Perhaps this is why they are fairly excited about today’s performance, as this is one of those opportunities – at a large festival with a decent budget – where they can afford to present the entire band on stage.  “Nearlyevery collaborator on “Radio Retaliation” will be on that stage today,” Rob & Eric say.  “It is not all the time that we get the chance to really present the whole band, all the elements, live.  We ‘re going to have belly-dancers and everything.”

Now we can see glimmers of excitement and anticipation in their demeanors.  It appears, like the rest of us Fusicologists, that the full, live and direct experience is the pinnacle of not only their careers, but their souls.  Wow, now I’m all excited!  Especially since we haven’t heard the new album yet, this will be one of those treasured situations where you get to experience new music live, in person, before you have it on recording – the way it should be.  And with that, management beckons that it’s time to head over to the stage to prep the set.  That is our cue to grab a cocktail and head over to catch FishBone.

[[[ End Interview ]]]

FishBone’s [FishBone] set on the tiny NooMoon Stage was ridiculous.  Period.  I think they were even better than I remember them before.  Seriously, less heavy metal, and more ska.  I think I even got some afrobeat vibes from them!  The crowd was hype…obviously enough old-school fans in attendance, crowd-surfing soon commenced.  And though the guys are clearly getting older, they’re no less swank – just as quirky, but even maybe more so, in a somehow more sophisticated way.  Or is that just me trying to justify my quirky taste now that I’m supposed to know the difference between unique talent and just plain weirdness?

In any case, their set was sick; funky horns, laid-back bass, and, though it took a minute, eventually the hype MC/lead front man we expected to dive into the audience not sans corded mic.  Each member most definitely still has their own character, only a few uber-thick dreads now, but enough eclecticism to maintain their rank as one of my top bands of all time.  In fact, I think I like them even more now.  Hey – I haven’t been near the front row of a crowd-surfing pit and not been annoyed in years!  FishBone was absolutely the low-profile, hardly publicized act of the weekend that just killed it. I totally went home to pull out my old FishBone albums.

Kinda salty we couldn’t stay for their whole set, but super amped for the anticipated full-band set of Thievery Corporation [Thievery Corporation], we bounced back over to the PlayStation/Billboard Stage, lured by the exotic vocals of new TC feature chanteuse, Jana Andevska, already into their first song.  Belly-dancers and ethereal fairy-goddesses in white and gold lured us in as close as we could get, having to craftily dance through an already packed race track crowd to get to our press box side-stage.

There we met the small brigade of press, photographers, guest artists, and local who’s who just feet from center stage where there was no talking and soon we found ourselves in a swarm of feet, derrieres, and shoulders dancing quietly as what seemed to be one worshiping unit.  Dancers were swirling in blazes of white and gold, the occasional pink and orange, and the lovely Jana made her exits just as graceful as her entrances – somehow a Bjork meets M.I.A. meets Bebel Gilberto new character.   The simple bronze crown atop her crown donning a new queen.

Riddim MCs Sleepy Wonder and Notch kept the reggae in the area with their rude boy flavor and appropriate attire to accompany these Jamaican ‘tings, while a 6+ piece band surrounded Thievery Corporation captains, Rob and Eric, as they stood on their small platform with their keyboards, drum machines, and headphones.

After that trip around the world, we most definitely did not want it to be over, but nonetheless were shooed off stage so crew could make the swift set-change.  As we descended the stairs into the “backstage” poplar courtyard that is City Park, the feeling still lingered in the air as all the band members, dancers, artists, press, and who’s who were gathering under a warm glow and a soft breeze under the canopy crawling Crescent City foliage, still a bit sweaty, but smiling wide and after that beverage from the bar. Is this why they call it the “Voodoo Music Experience” ?

Now that we were hungry, thanks to our little work out, we decided it was time to indulge in whatever Cajun ans Creole fancies we could find along the “Voodoo Village” and “Loa Tent.” (Just in case, for those unclear, a “loa” is a god or goddess, so yes – the idea was to make us feel like gods and goddesses, and we have to admit, it was something like that.)  A few crawfish breads, fried green tomato napoleons, and po-boys later, we were rested and ready for the last live set of the night and, of course, our daily night-cap with DJ Soul Sister.

The Mars Volta [the Mars Volta], another much talked-about feature of this year’s festival, also delivered an expected, consistent set of unpredictable experimentation ans abstract grooves on the main Voodoo Stage, much like TV on The Radio did.  No one can say they are trying to sound like someone else, that’s for darn sure.  The Volta dark purple set transitioned us into another mood and next we were off to toss back a few cocktails before getting under that jumpin dome known as the Preservation Hall Tent where DJ Soul Sister [DJ Soul Sister] was throwing down her 2nd night of her Voodoo Social Aid & Pleasure Club – which we knew we would need an entirely new batch of energy for, and possibly a fresh pair of dancin shoes.

Indeed, within 10 minutes of arrival, layers were coming off, bags were being stashed in safe places, water started circulating, and after a brief photo shoot with Soul Sis’s smokin Booty Patrol Dancers[NOLA Booty Patrol], we found ourselves back in the throes of Round II of our little Voodoo Fest dance party.  Folks were trying to hop the stage to bump n grind with the sultry BP girls, and eventually the ladies were given the greenlight by Soul Sister, but the dudes unfortunately had to remain in their places on the ground and return to enjoying the view.  Aw, darn.  Uh, anyone wanna go see Nine Inch Nails on the main stage?  Um, nope.

Pretty pooped after getting all the social aid and pleasure we could get for the night, we made it an early night in the Quarter and on Frenchmen St., in hopes of catching some Zzz’s before the final day was upon us.

10.26.08  |  DAY 3

Sunday it wasn’t quite so easy to rise and shine, though the weather was one again superb, and we finally made it to City Park just barely around 2-ish.  In fact, it was looking like this was going to be the warmest day of the three.  The bad news: we got word that N.E.R.D. [N*E*R*D] had canceled, and instead of being bummed, we were down-right ticked off… how dare they?!  Whatever.

So there it was, we got ourselves some time bought, because now Lupe Fiasco was going to take N.E.R.D.’s slot and that left us some time to casually make our way over to OZOMATLI [OZOMATLI] on the WWOZ/SoCo Stage.  You know, these guys rarely fail to show us a good time.  Truly.  Bringing the same eclectic worldbeat flair that Thievery Corporation brought the day before, but in a bit more organic sense – less refined, more college festival, but not any less authentic and fantastic.  The Latin-Hip-Hop-Hippie-Reggae vibes got us grooving in bare feet before long.  Chali 2na killed it, and every single band member gave us some.  OZOMATLI just can’t lose.

Peeling off our jackets, and whipping out shades and caps, we trekked back across the “Voodoo Village” (stopping for some tasty eats of course) toward the PlayStation/Billboard Stage for Lupe’s set, where we found Mr. Lupe Fiasco [Lupe Fiasco] already into his first song.  He and his hype man all suave in minimal black and designer denim, kicks, and shades.  To our (pleasant) surprise, Fiasco had a nearly full band too, not just his DJ.  But the “Hip Hop Nerd” certainly wasn’t so geeky today… looking all swank and stuff, his hype man jsut a tad street.  After a few tracks, his sweat beads starting to take over, Lupe had to ask the somewhat still crowd to get into it… hw offered up his love, serenaded a single lady in the audience, and even got down on his knees.  Then he launched into “Superstar” and the crowd goes wild.  Guess that one works.  LOL.

Sidenote: We are convinced that Lupe’s designer kicks are a new kind that only the celebs are getting right now  – the kind that have little super-springs built into the soles – because that young man literally sprung his way all over every inch of that gigantic stage for the entire duration of that freaking song!  Maybe he’s not human after all?

Finally, he brings it down a notch after presenting his hit to take down the volume and announce that he “would like to introduce to you a very special guest that we have here with us today…” (thousands of people with ears perked – is it Pharrell?  Who is it?)… “Ladies and Gentlemen… the mutha-f*in SUN!  Give it up for that giant ball of fire in the sky over there that burning my azz up right now!” >>> Lupe Fiasco gets the Comedian Award for Voodoo Fest ‘08

We all died, and appreciated Fiasco’s down-to-earth persona, as it WAS getting crazy hot, and that huge black stage was facing due-East.  He and hype man continued to sweat out their charcoal clothes and finished out the set though, no matter how drenched and out of breath they were.  Soon Lupe ended up on the stage floor, on his back, feet in the air, mic in hand, ripping it while the audience laughed at dancing air-feet.

Not being able to complain that his guy does not deliver an energetic show, we accepted his closing set, the politcal one, not without his Obama plug [O-Plug #5] and reminder to all that “the most important vote is the one for yourself!” A feeling I believe some call “unity” rippled through that field.

All reminded of our democratic duties yet again for the 5th time this weekend, we mosied on over across the race track to the Voodoo Stage to catch the first 3 songs from Panic at the Disco [Panic At The Disco].  I must admit, I do appreciate their little theme.  They’re whole get-up is funky and quirky, yet totally marketable.  At least their take on The Beatles is a bit more original than say, Oasis. (lol)  OK, maybe that was bit unfair.  These guys really do have a lil sumthin-sumthin.  Maybe I’m just partial to ripping on bands that make it the center of their universe to dog disco.  I mean, c’mon man, we find appreciation in your music, and you can’t do the same for everyone else?  Either way, they were worth checking out, I’m just not all woo-woo about them.

3 tunes from Panic and it was a wrap for us, we had a more important place to be; back to the WWOZ/SoCo Stage for our girl, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings! [Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings] Would we ever miss them?  Naw.  As usual, the Brooklyn Kings warmed up the stage with an almost instrumental set – getting us in the groove, several bare feet in the grass – to build the anticipation factor for Ms. Jones, their 1st Lady of Soul.  (We’re actually kinda glad, in a weird way, that Amy can’t rehab long enough to tour with these guys… because what it’s done is allowed Sharon to finally get the spotlight long due to her.)

Sharon stormed the stage in bright orange and gold, with her usual bundle of energy.  She took us all ’round the world, from Funk to Soul to Afrobeat, displaying her usual tale of her family heritage through each funky movement of a different body part.  Right on schedule her heels came off, and she closed out the set by inviting a group of eager dancing girls to the stage to share the spotlight with her and shake their groove thangs front-and-center with her for her second-to-last song.  Each new-found young diva took her turn in the Jones-style Soul Train line, until Ms. Sharon had to remind them it was time to resume their places down below. Thoroughly entertaining and heart-warming were the the hip older women in the audience who were so into this and kept asking “Who is this? We love them! What’s her name?”

Parking ourselves for a few at the complimentary SoCo tent nearby, we caught a breather, then kept right on second-lining in the grass straight into Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue [Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue] also on the WWOZ/SoCo Stage.  Already one of my favorites, Troy and crew are still not getting old.  We could see them again and again.  These guys create a mad-funky blend of that traditional New Orleans brass band power and contemporary hip hop / r&b that translates into the pop arena quite smoothly.  Yet never cheesey, they manage to know which covers to tackle and how often, always sticking to their roots and original tunes to balance out the combo.  At times, we felt like we were at a fun DJ party at someone’s house.  Mark my words… Trombone Shorty about to be a star.

Once again, we decided to forfeit the main headlining act, R.E.M., knowing that we only had one more edition of DJ Soul Sister’s Voodoo Social Aid & Pleasure Club left… so that is where we parked it for the remainder of the night, and partied til we stank a little.  Yet again, people tryin to get on stage with the luscious Booty Patrol, and losing their brains to rare grooves, classic hip hop, and even some ‘Nawlins bounce.  We would venture to bet that more than half these peeps in this tent have never experienced a party like this, and at least a few hundred more ears and souls have been opened right here this weekend.

A few crazy photos with DJ Brice Nice, DJ Kazu, the Preservation Hall crew, and of course Miss B and her Booty Patrol and the Voodoo Fest ‘08 was a WRAP.  Well, so we thought… that was, until we chose to stop by Woody’s Bar for a night-cap only to find the Free Agents Brass Band starting a second-line through VIP!  I guess we were remiss for thinking that we weren’t going out without a bang – NOLA-style.  So we got swooped up into the crowded tiki room and got down to some New Orleans tradition before we made our tired hike off the premises.  It was Halloween and Mardi Gras and Carnivale and Burning Man all at once.

*For the full remote experience, check out our Fusicology Voodoo Festival 2008 Photo Wrap-Up here.

> Photo Credits: Emily Egan for Egan Photography

— Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology

+ TOTAL NUMBER OF OBAMA PLUGS: 5 [6 unofficially, 7 with bandana propaganda]

April 25 – May 4 this year saw the 38th Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Fusicology was pleased to run amok in the madness… because there’s just nothing like it.

For those that couldn’t make it this year, better luck next year. And for those that weren’t hip to this scene, consider yourself in the know

Excerpts from our daily blog here…. Enjoy!

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THURSDAY

Thursday actually kicked-off the second weekend of Jazz Fest for us at “Midnight Preserves” – Preservation Hall’s debut of the first installment of a multi-media project underway as a creative partnership between Preservation Hall Creative Director and local musician, Ben Jaffe & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Philly’s acclaimed DJ/producer, King Britt.

The project began when Britt came across music from work done by Jaffe’s father, also a New Orleans musician, where the late legendary Crescent City folk artist, Sister Gertrude Morgan’s song “Let’s Make A Record” was versioned. Britt was immediately inspired to embark upon his own variation of this, and look further into more of Sister Gertrude’s art.

Connecting with the son of the original “remixer” of “Let’s Make A Record” commenced an ongoing partnership between Jaffe and Britt that would find King visiting historical and personal family sites in destroyed areas of New Orleans, such as Sister Gertrude’s neighborhood in the 9th Ward.

The project soon moved beyond music collaborations and began to incorporate photo and film as well. What we were able to experience Thursday night in the small and humble original performance room of Preservation Hall in the heart of the French Quarter was film piece partially narrated by Ben, including photos and footage taken in places residential to people such as Sister Gertrude and the Jaffes before and directly after the storm that was Hurricane Katrina. The videographer, Darien Bagley, also hailing from Philly, created some very profound, yet subtle, statements in the visual presentation, merging the personal footage with some of the thoughts and concepts traveling through people’s minds during and after the great common loss that was “the storm.”

The sonic backdrop to engrossing film was a soundtrack DJ’d live by Britt himself, with an amazing surprise live over-dub by respected New Orleans trumpeter, Terrence Blachard. I parts we couldn’t help but get up and start to groove in the small open spaces, and during other moments we were frozen, taking in the sights and sounds before us.

Yet, what was just as remarkable as, or possibly even more so, the piece itself, is discovering that this is first time in Preservation Hall (a museum to traditional and indigenous acoustic New Orleans music) history that a DJ or electronic producer/musician has been asked to co-produce a native music project with its artists in residence, and only the second time that a DJ has been allowed to perform inside Preservation Hall (the first time being Questlove from The Roots). An amazing evolution indeed.
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FRIDAY

As the crowd swarmed around the Acura Stage at the end of the day, backed up even into the beaten entry paths, dark clouds coagulated above, as if something epic was about to happen. And indeed, something epic was about to happen: Stevie Wonder.

But just about 15 minutes before he was due to come on, the dark clouds released their reserves and sent droves of people packing, while others – not missing Stevie Wonder even if they had to float in their folding camp chairs – simply popped their umbrellas and held their place in view.

As we all hoped, the rain did let up in time for the Wonder to greet the people just a bit behind schedule, and a roar crescendoed over the muddy racetrack field. The legend appeared on the jumbo screens, that familiar smile evoking a sea of smiles… soggy, dripping smiles, but smiles nonetheless.

First, Wonder brings up his daughter, Aisha Morris, so that he can take her by the hand while he addresses New Orleans, salutes them for rebuilding their city, and suggests that perhaps instead of “The United States of America,” we might need to start referring to ourselves as “The United People of These United States”… if we are going to get anywhere out of this mess. He says he hears “that [his] people in Detroit are having a rough time right now, and next, Stevie takes the opportunity to say that, in spite of all of this, or maybe because of it, he is “excited about Barack Obama.” Finally, he assures the crowd that, together, “yes we can.”

And with that, he takes his bench at his baby grand, his daughter taking her place behind one of the back-up mics, and he opens, quite appropriately, with “Living for the City.” Just the sheer sound of his voice alone sends shivers down your spine, and brings tears to your eyes. No matter how often you hear the songs, there is nothing like the real thing.

With intermittent spurts of rain, and the popping and sharing of umbrellas [insert many a Rihanna joke here], a sense of unity and, if only temporary, peace washed over the enormous crowd. For “Ribbon in the Sky,” Wonder breaks into a call-and-response with the people which soon found all chanting in unison: “The ribbon, the ribbon –ah, ah –The Ribbon.” Somehow we had chased the rain away, and once again, The Wonder had brought the sunshine.

Native songstress Irma Thomas joins Wonder on stage to perform their Grammy-winning song from 2007 together, and then Stevie continues to moves through almost 2 hours of solid gold, making everyone hold out til the very end for “Superstition.” And back to reality it was. Yeah, if anyone could save the world, Stevie could.

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We spent several nights taking in some groovy dancefloor time and plenty ‘o second-line action to the horny, funky rhythms of the Soul Rebels Brass Band, the Hot 8 Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Spyboy, and Big Sam’s Funky Nation… not to mention the annual George Clinton & P-Funk show that never fails to disappoint. Got our DJ action on with Soul Sister, Real, and crew upstairs at the Blue Nile, and enjoyed simply wandering around the lively & colorful Frenchmen St.

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SATURDAY

And just as we thought this much amazing soul music in one place in one week’s time just must be a dream, the sun finally really came out to play on Saturday where we enjoyed sets from rising soul singer, Tondrae Kemp, reggae culture staple Steel Pulse, and of course The Roots. With some new players on deck, ?uestlove and Black Thought led a rock-steady set of both new and old, opening with their new single, “Rising Up,” and peaking with an uber-anti-war statement with their cover of Bob Dylan’s classic, ?uestlove introducing the “song that is near and dear to all of [The Roots]” with the notion that he is “kinda sick and tired of the present administration, naw’mean?” Quest gives his subtle (or not so subtle) nod to Obama, and Dylan’s classic is off and running.

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A quick rejuvination with some ‘Nawlins seafood, fried green tomatoes, and boudin balls, and we entered what we had no idea would become the packed sweatbox that was a good ‘ole fashioned warehouse party! Just off the infamous, and hopping, Frenchmen St an unsuspecting warehouse was transformed into the 3-room party of the week by co-hosts Rehage Entertainment, Preservation Hall, Fusicology, Monopoli Projects, and Toyota Matrix “Antics.”

NOLA rum tasting, free, live on-site Tshirt screen-printing, pimped-out Matrix models, and more while gorilla-style sets by The New Orleans Bingo! Show with The Preservation Hall All-Stars and Holy F*ck rang round the brick. King Britt warmed up the growing crowd and we were glad we had room to dance for at least the time being, as the walls seemed to close in just as ?uestlove took to the decks. Without a word, ?uestlove delivered a seemless 2 hours of unrelenting classics and unexpected transitions, closing with one announcement: “See, all music is Hip Hop. Remember that.” And he was out.

Then, while 1,800 sweaty bodies clamored for towels and napkins, the set went silent, the lights came back up and M.I.A.’s DJ informs us that he will now play some dirty beats for us while M.I.A. gets ready to blast us with her Sri Lankan femi-gangster. M.I.A. and hype girl rush the stage only for the house to erupt with might we wouldn’t have imagined was left. M.I.A. & co. too out 2 sets, while we jammed backstage with M.I.A’s biggest fan, Jude Law, not of course sans entourage.

After M.I.A. said her farewell and did her damage, local funk-soul heroine, DJ Soul Sister, took the helm on the 1s and 2s and winded us down with some rare grooves and classic wax to make for the perfect cool-down to bring us back home. A quick stop at the taco truck outside, and home we went just as the day broke.

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SUNDAY

We had no choice but to take it easy in the Big Easy on closing day with a Tribute to NOLA Godmother, Mahalia Jackson, plus Santana, Galactic, and more. Phew.

So THIS is why New Orleans is important! There really is no other place like it on Earth.

— Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology

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***Jazz Fest Photos to be Posted Here 05.08.08***

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New Orleans kicks out the latest in its Hip Hop genius with the release of NOLA-native MC, Truth Universal’s “Self Determination” debut full-length effort this week. This album, featuring guest spots from Doodlebug of Digable Planets, Stic Man of Dead Prez, Symbolyc One of Strange Fruit Project, NOLA’s rising soul singer, Tondrae Kemp, among others, is available right now exclusively @ <strong><a href=”http://truthuniversal.com/buysd.html“target=”_blank”>Truth Universal Music</a></strong>. Get your limited-time-only FREE download of the singles <strong><a href=”http://www.zshare.net/audio/914898418547b0/“ target=”_blank”>Black Culture”</a></strong> and <strong><a href=”http://www.zshare.net/audio/10196779bbb3a9fd/“ target=”_blank”>“What It’s Bout“ </a></strong> now! <strong><a href=”http://jnolafusicology.wordpress.com/“ target=”_blank”>Read more</a></strong>….

Near-perfect weather set the tone for the 9th Annual Voodoo Music Festival (VME) last weekend at the sprawling New Orleans City Park, not to mention killer performances opening day from M.I.A. and the highly anticipated Rage Against The Machine. And while Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals delivered a woodsy sundown set fueled by empathy for New Orleanians in the wake of Katrina, encouragement for the people to “not feed on the false hope” perpetuated by the present American administration, and his signature cover of classic Motown Marvin Gaye… Smashing Pumpkins, well, didn’t deliver. Great outfits, cool light show – lame new material. The Pumpkins shoulda stuck with the patch. Today is most definitely not “1979″ anymore.

The Soul Rebels Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, and a few other local faves rolled through during the early parts of the days to keep the local flavor spicey, and, as expected, they never fail. You just can’t beat warming up your day with a ‘lil “Aeidie, Aeidie – Oh!” from the Rebels, and a ‘lil Second-Line in your step for the rest of the day never hurt anybody.

Speaking of local faves, NOLA’s own Galactic have certainly landed on the worldstage, especially with their latest funk-hop release, “From the Corner to the Block,” already gaining press, and they have officially made the “Ones to Watch” list without a doubt, their Voodoo performance definitely solidifying the hype. Another performance that had us rollin’ was Detroit’s Sista Otis & her Wholly Rollers who reminded us that there’s some darn good folk-funk-rock out there, and she too is “One to Watch.”

Quite possibly one of the most inspiring and interactive acts though, was (personal favorite) Zap Mama and her tribe’s unique blend of Afropean funk, afrobeat, hip hop, and soul… always bringing new meaning to “fusion.” With their retro-galactic garb, infectious beats, and killer dance moves, Zap Mama and crew nailed it. Always bringing something a little different, and reliably good, she left our dancing bodies left wanting more.

Yet, it was, of course, Common’s headlining set that drove us home closing night. His politically-charged charisma and effervescent wit charmed the pants right off the ladies – as usual. But perhaps his usual “F*#$ Bush” moniker tonight resonated a little deeper for the people of New Orleans who got to bounce to Common’s quick lyrics on the Saints, Reggie Bush vs. President Bush, and several other Nawlins’ isms, rallying the young crowd into a fit of team spirit. Not long though, before the master Chicago-bred MC put his skills back to work in the name of “real hip hop.” He “proved” that this hip hop star respects his women, “approaching them from the front, rather than the back.” Still sweating the fight against negative rap media, this Common Sense is determined to deliver a message… that true hip hop lives because one thing we can all agree on is hip hop… “we all love hip hop,” and “Kanye loves himself.” (!) The closing track appropriately dedicated to the late, great J Dilla.

Wait! You know we just couldn’t end a festival without an official Fusicology VME afterparty, could we? So of course we headed on over to the legendary Frenchmen St. corner to rock out with Common’s DJ Dummy at the Blue Nile, courtesy local promo wizards, Monopoli Projects, with big ups to DJs Real & HC for warming up the joint, and Jerome Holmes for catching a few snaps of the intimate wrap-up. Peep the pics @

By Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology.com

Video Courtesy the Times-Picayune.

September 20, 2007 will mark the day that the 6 black Jena High School students near Lake Charles, LA, are sentenced in court on accusations of 2nd-Degree Attempted Murder for the beating of a fellow white Jena High School student, the ring-leader of a group of white students that formerly hung hangman’s nooses from the branches of a schoolyard tree, where the black students wished to sit, and called the black students “nigger.” And this is 2007?!

Good people, this is a modern Civil Rights Movement!* It is very hard to believe that these types of ignorant crimes against humanity still exist today… unless you experience the American South.

None of the white students were charged with any punishments for their deeds, and were only issued a light reprimand by the school. Meanwhile, the black students were jailed and taken to court for their reaction to the white students’ actions.

Thankfully, many influential civil rights leaders and countless others have formed outspoken groups petitioning for the “Jena 6″ to be released from jail, and their charges dismissed. Thousands plan to march on Jena, Louisiana, in a rally organized by icons such as Martin Luther King III, Mos Def, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Tyler Perry, this Thursday, September 20, the day of sentencing for the first of the Jena 6 to be convicted, Mychal Bell.

If the District Attorney has his way, Mychal will face 22 years in prison for a school fight. Even if you cannot be in Jena this Thursday to participate in the march, you can voice your stand online, in the press, on the radio, and on the TV… exercise your right to free speech!

*International supporters of the campaign to FREE THE JENA 6 are being asked to wear all black this Thursday, 09.20.07, in order to show your stand in this controversial issue !

–>Receive up-to-date coverage via agencies such as National Public Radio [www.npr.org], Democracy Now! [www.democracynow.org], as well as the website dedicated to the JENA 6 : www.freethejena6.org.

By Jocelyne M. Ninneman for Fusicology

*With thanks to DJ Soul Sister, New Orleans, LA

The 11th Hour : Film Review

As an anthropologist, the key point that resonated most with me is the fact that global warming and pollution and the disintegration of ecosystems and all of these things are not technically the problem, so much as they are symptoms of the problem.  The problem then, is the cause if these symptoms – our culture.

Contemporary culture – our every day habits – is what needs to be cured.  Even deeper a cause though is the thinking, the collective mental attitude, of the consumer nations.  It is obvious that efficacy, preservation, and balance are not high on the priority list of the average American.  Although there is no doubt that other cultures contribute greatly to this eminent disease, I can really only speak on the one that I have experienced for a couple of decades… and compare it to those abroad that I have seen briefly.

My question to America is then:  Exactly what is it that you are scurrying around, wasting, and making yourself sick and tired for every day?

But rather than launch into how we got to be this cookie monster of a culture, which could take hours – if not days – to get through, my next thought was about just how hard it is to live consciously.  How difficult our infrastructure makes it to do things like recycle, take efficient and reliable public transportation, or buy organic food.  Well, at least in the Rust Belt post-industrial US.  Our forefathers became so proud of, and so hooked on, mass production that we’ve made it virtually impossible for ourselves to actually choose what we want to consume.

Come on, how far do you have to go to get to your nearest Whole Foods?  And how many of us have to spend our Whole Paycheck just for the week’s groceries?  And then of course there’s the issue of how you’re going to even get there… which is likely going to have to involve a fossil-fuel-driven vehicle or bus…  because the sticker on the few hybrid models out there is still outta your league right now.  And recycle?  Puh-lease…  that would involve me neatly remembering to separate and pack all the recyclables and actually drive them to the recycling center, because the City doesn’t pick up recycling, because that costs them money…  do we have to go further?

So, Leo wants us to “Make A Change.”  You know; make a difference in our little, every day choices.  Easy for him to say – he’s loaded.  So that’s my rant.  If you really wanna do something… (Hey! Remember that campaign? I think the hot actor at the time pitching that one was that guy from 90210, yeah?)  …send a sister some leads!  I mean, really, let me know where I can get some affordable good food, order solar panels for my new house, and shop for my next hybrid!

Therefore, I guess this has become my blog to collect great websites that contain the precious info on how I can know where to ”make a change,” wherever I may be…

And of course, I cannot forget how it came to me to start the roll call:  this topic most definitely reminded me of my dear friend Ulysses, in Detroit, (and yes, that’s his real name) and his Urban Crop Circle Project.  Yep, google it.  www.urbancropcircleproject.com  I just love the adventure of his girlfriend trying to simply buy a diesel vehicle from Daimler-Chrysler corporation…  “oh, we don’t sell those kind of cars to regular people – we just make those really efficient, super long-lasting vehicles for army use only.”   Huh?

NOTE:  Ironically, right after viewing the advance screening of “The 11th Hour,” in the hear of New Orleans, I then jetted over to check out Shakespear’s release of his next album…  the poet that was featured in Spike Lee’s controversial doc, “When The Levees Broke” releases more music since “The Storm.”  Hhmmm…