Music Addikts

Rhonda Thomas has been busy, since her latest album, Listen, hit the shelves. Check out the remix of her track “The Light”.  Also, check her out at the Quad on Feb 5th for her official release concert.  The ADDIKTS want to see you in the building!

Rhonda Thomas – The Light (Al Ross Remix)

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WARNING: It takes A LOT for me to give any show a negative review. I’m always in search of the positive, because there has to be…right? So if you are an avid Lauryn Hill fan (which I also consider myself) and you’re easily offended…DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW. That being said, let me recollect last night’s show in Charlotte. Atlanta, beware!

Although I was one of the very few to get my tickets on the morning they went on sale for the Atlanta show, I made the trip to Charlotte with a friend who wasn’t so lucky(I guess that depends on how you look at it). As we drove up 85, we made a pact that we’d have no expectations, this way we’d be prepared for anything.  Totally glad we had that talk, by the way. 

Let’s start with the venue.  The doors were supposed to open at 9:00 pm.  When we arrived(approximately 9:15pm), the line was literally wrapped around the venue -twice.  Not to mention, it was about 20 degrees below ANTARTICA! So, after losing all 10 fingers, or at least the feeling in them, we made it inside and mentally prepared for what was about to go down.

Lauryn took the stage at 11:45 pm. Was I surprised? No! I’d actually guessed an 11:30 pm start time, so I wasn’t that far off. From the moment she opened her mouth to sing the first note, I knew this was going to be a very interesting night. Dressed in a brown get-up with what appeared to be a dead raccoon scarf thingy, she directed the band and her background singers like a conductor. At one point, I thought we were being punked.  Will the real Lauryn Hill please stand up? Just saying.  Apparently when some artists ‘go away’ and make their ‘grand return’ something happens to their vocal ability.  Reminiscent of Whitney Houston’s new talk-singing(which confuses me so much), Lauryn annihilated “When It Hurts So Bad”. Oh the irony.  She went on to sing several songs from her album, which seemed unrecognizable and remixed.   It was almost as if she didn’t want to sing the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill joints. The crowd stood there in amazement.

Once she moved into the Fugees era, the old Lauryn’s spirit possessed her and for once, the crowd was rocking.  Her lyricism hasn’t faded.  Hip hop reigns supreme, at least for her live show.  Because we had zero expectations and I mean NADA, we weren’t disappointed.  It was entertaining, if nothing else.  

ATL, don’t say no one told you! You’re up next!

*stock photo used*

Whenever we are able, we always try to give various perspectives on the shows we ADDIKTS attend. Below is a review of the PJ Morton “Walk Alone” Album release show at Center Stage Atlanta on Friday, April 23rd, told from 2 perspectives.

4daLove: Having just come off an interview with PJ Morton, us ADDIKTS were really looking forward to seeing him live at CenterStage last Friday. But, when I got to the venue, I was a little surprised. The crowd was a little light. There was no line at the bar or the bathrooms and everyone was sitting down.  The air and vibe before the show was definitely lacking something…

I had to wonder…would PJ be enough to move this crowd?

Turns out, he didn t have to be. With a colorful cast of opening acts and a stand-out peformance, PJ Morton found a creative way to weave religion into the show without putting people off. 

His show was a case study of how to pay respect to your religion and spirirtuality without beating people over the head with it.

Part MC, all comedian, Marcus Harvey got the crowd warmed up with his hilarious depictions of the antics that characterize Sunday worship service.

Then Decatur native, Nathan Angelo took “us to chuuurcchh” with moving performances of several songs from his 4 releases, “Love Sucks“, “Way Past “Love“, “These Ol’ Keys” and “A Brighter Day“.

soulHIGH: It had been a LONG time since I’d seen PJ Morton in concert. So the anticipation was high prior to the show. Not only that, but this show was a live recording to celebrate the release of his new album Walk Alone. His set began with a full band, with a horns section, leading the intro to “She’s Gone” and the crowd went wild.  At least, the ADDIKTS did.  I did notice a few concert-goers around us that seemed a bit stiff for a PJ show.  I’d hope that as the show went on, they’d get some energy.  Who comes to a concert like that to sit with your arms folded? Anyway, the ADDIKTS always bring enough energy to spread, so we masked their lack thereof. When Tweet graced the stage to sing “Love You More” with PJ, the audience responded well.  I think this is an album favorite. 

There was quite a moment that I personally experienced during the show, when he sang “Mountains and Molehills”.  If you listen to the words of the song, maybe you’ll understand.  I literally got chills.  Music is such a powerful form of expression.  At one point in the show, PJ called up his father to the stage and they sang “Let Go” and it was definitely felt in the room.  I respect the fact that PJ hasn’t forgotten where his roots are.  It was a beautiful thing to see father and son sing a song of encouragement and inspiration.  I’m sure someone in the audience needed to hear that- perhaps even me.

He also took us back to some of his previous albums by singing songs like “Jiborish”, “No Ordinary Love”, “How We Were” and the show closer – “I Need You”. PJ’s live show definitely leaves the ADDIKTS on a high…we’re still trying to recover! Support good music…

For more information on PJ Morton, check his website and follow him on Twitter.