SOUL EXPLORATIONS :: SOULPEOPLE :: SPRING SOUL 2008

Major Soul Events Hit L.A. This Spring

February 4 2008 • Text by Tomas Palermo

New York may be known as “the city that never sleeps,” but it's looking like Los Angeles is the city where art don’t sleep. This spring, Angelenos will have a whole lot of soul to stay awake for, as local collective Art Don’t Sleep has assembled some amazing music events in the coming months.

ADS’s five-part Soul Exploration live music and DJ series, held at The Crash Mansion in downtown Los Angeles, kicks off with a bang Saturday, (in conjunction with SOULPEOPLE) February 16 with a live performance from Philly-born, New York-based singer Bilal (of the Soulquarians), featuring SA-RA Creative Partners. Also performing that night is nine-piece band Orgone, celebrating its new album, The Killion Floor, on Ubiquity Records, and DJs Coleman and Al Jackson.

Part two of the dynamic, independent soul showcase goes down March 1, with PPP (formerly Platinum Pied Pipers) performing live, London’s Spacek Sound System, heavy L.A. emcee/producer combo Blu and Exile along with San Francisco’s DJ Sake 1, and J-Boogie with L.A. DJs Coleman and Aski.

On March 8, Art Don’t Sleep switches it up with the Cali party series featuring The Lions’ Jungle Struttin album release party and live performance. The night will also feature live sets from Ubiquity artists Nino Moeshella, veteran soul singer Darondo, and L.A.’s Connie Price and the Keystones, with DJs Jeremy Sole, Shakespeare, and Aurelito (I&I Soundsystem). That’s an insane live line-up!

March 15, Soul Exploration part three takes place, featuring a live performance by the legendary group RAMP (sampled by Tribe Called Quest and others), with all five original members. Also playing live are The Rebirth and Boogaloo Assassins with DJs Coleman and SOULPEOPLE’s Cid Hernandez. To put this night in perspective, the DC-based RAMP (pictured above) has been largely ignored in the U.S. since the '70s, playing mainly European gigs in recent years. But the popularity in recent decades of its Roy Ayers-produced classics “Daylight” and “Everyone Loves The Sunshine” has brought the group wider acclaim.

The Crash Mansion is located at 1024 S Grand Ave. at Olympic, downtown Los Angeles. Shows start at 9 p.m., are 21 with ID and covers vary.

Eddie Veder - quick tour!

Apr-02 The Centre Vancouver, BC
Apr-05 SC Civic Aud. Santa Cruz, CA
Apr-07 Zellerbach Th. Berkeley, CA
Apr-10 Arlington Th. Santa Barb, CA
Apr-12 Wiltern Th. Los Angeles, CA
Apr-13 Wiltern Th. Los Angeles, CA
Apr-15 Spreckels Th. San Diego, CA

Presales start Feb 18 and tickets for the general public will go on sale on Friday, February 22nd at
10am PST through www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.

Need something to do on Valentine's Day...

the last two have been well-attended and a lot of fun!!! Support your local bands!


Come. Please.

SoulPeople:: Bilal w/ SA-RA Creative Partners +Orgone

This show will not disappoint. Get your tickets now before it's sold-out.

Keep an eye out for upcoming shows. SoulPeople has projects that will keep you grooving...


Fresh out the gate, 2008 has been everything an Angelino can wish for. The creative movement taking place in the city is reminiscent of a vibrant musical community of the 60's. In this spirit we are going to explore music from the past, present and future. ArtDontSleep is proud to present our first four events of 2008.



Satuday Feb. 16th, 2008
Soul Exploration I of IV
Presented by: KCRW, SOULPEOPLE and ArtDontSleep is proud to present our first four events of 2008.



Bilal [NYC] *Live*
featuring Sa-Ra Creative Partners

Orgone *Live*

DJ's
Coleman & Al Jackson


Located @ The Crash Mansion :: 1024 S Grand Ave. :: Downtown Los Angeles, CA.
20$ @ the door :: 21+ Wiser :: Doors Open @ 9pm
Info :: myspace.com/artdontsleep :: artdontsleep@sbcglobal.net
*early arrival suggested*

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
- Edgar Allan Poe

Dig Deeper...


Bilal
Raised in Philadelphia, Bilal frequented hole-in-the-wall clubs till sunrise with aspirations of scoring film. His eventual classical training at New York City's Mannes Music Conservatory ensured him able to sing opera in seven languages as well as an extended musical vocabulary. Bilal is a young disciple of King Tubby and Jelly Roll Morton; music of the early twenties, that pitch and swing, the bass striding on all fours. "I am fascinated by the history of our music. Jazz is a whorehouse," Bilal says of the historical sin and salvation of the form. "The original booty shake." Perhaps he shall silence Wynton Marsalis and those conservative keepers of institution, naysayers of today's musical youth.

Eventually Bilal moved to Brooklyn and began gigging around the city. He is now a venerable member of the collective Soul Aquarians, along with folks like Badu, Mos Def, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Q-Tip, D'Angelo. Bilal is by far an ArtDontSleep favorite and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off our Soul Series. Prepare for your lives to be changed.


Sa-Ra Creative Partners
Experience and innovation. In the age of young thugs and one-hit wonders, these two traits are often missing from todays Hip-Hop. Not so, with SA-RA. The Los Angeles/New York-based group/production trio consisting of Taz Arnold, Shafiq Husayn and Om'Mas Keith have a term and a definition to describe their music, says Shafiq. “The term: Afro Magnetic Electronic Spiritualism. The definition: Black music.” Bear witness to the union of three of the freshest Angelinos to make music in the last decade.


Orgone
With a lively, evocative set of covers and original material, Los Angeles-based ensemble Orgone brought new attention to the funk revivalist and jam band circuits when they launched their recording career with Ubiquity Records in the mid- to late 2000s. Orgone's sound hosts a myriad groove-oriented styles, including but not limited to deep funk, '60s Memphis soul/blues, Fela-inspired Afro-beat, hip-hop, Latin jazz, and electronic dance and house. Many of the band's musicians started playing together in the early '90s, but Orgone did not develop into a tight-knit ensemble until the end of the decade.

Bonnarro Line-up announced...

June 12-15th in Manchester, Tennessee

Why can't we have a line-up like this for Coachella? I'm really, really thinking about going to Bonnarro instead of Coachella. Shit.


PEARL JAM

and others....
Metallica
Jack Johnson
Kanye West
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss
Phil Lesh And Friends
My Morning Jacket
The Allman Brothers Band
The Raconteurs

Willie Nelson
Death Cab For Cutie
B.B. King
Sigur Ros
Levon Helm And The Ramble On The Road
Ben Folds
O.A.R.
The Bluegrass Allstars featuring Luke Bulla, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Bryan Sutton
M.I.A.
Umphrey's McGee
Iron And Wine
Yonder Mountain String Band
Swell Season
Talib Kweli
Derek Trucks And Susan Tedeschi's Soul Stew Revival
Gogol Bordello
Broken Social Scene
Robert Randolph's Revival
Rilo Kiley
Mastodon
Lupe Fiasco
Against Me!
Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings
Pat Green
Ozomatli
Tegan And Sara
Solomon Burke
Drive-By Truckers
!!!
The Avett Brothers
Israel Vibration
Abigail Washburn And The Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck
Phil Lesh/Larry Campbell/Jackie Greene
Aimee Mann
Ladytron
The Fiery Furnaces
Orchestra Baobab
Ghostland Observatory
José González
Dark Star Orchestra
Minus The Bear
Donavon Frankenreiter
Lez Zeppelin
State Radio
Battles
Jakob Dylan
Two Gallants
The Sword
Vampire Weekend
Little Feat
Nicole Atkins
The Felice Brothers
Mason Jennings
MGMT
The Lee Boys
Black Kids
Serena Ryder
Steel Train
Grupo Fantasma
Back Door Slam

Coachella 2008 Fuller Line-Up

Cat Dirt Sez

Friday

Jack Johnson, the verve, raconteurs, the breeders, fatboy slim, teagen and sara, madness, the swell season, the nationals, animal collective, slightly stupid, Sharon jones and the dap kings, stars, battles, aesop rocks, does it offend you, minus the bear, spank rock, diplo, adam freeland, john butler trio, vampie weekend, Sandra Collins, cut copy, black lips, data rock, professor murder, revd and the makers, porter, the bees, rogue wave, mode selector.

Saturday

Portishead, kraftwerk, death cab for cutie, café decuba, sasha and digweed, rilo kiley, Dwight yoakam, mia, hot chip, cold war kids, malkamus, devotckha, flogging molly, islands, calvin harris, boyz noise, junkie xl, the teenagers, erol alken, yo majesty, bonde do role, akron family, mgmt, insitut djs, surkin, Sebastian, kavinsky, the bird and the bee, grand ole party, 120 days,

Sunday

Roger Waters presents dark side of the moon, spritiualized, justice, googol bordello, the streets, metric, smd, dimitri from paris, the field, the annuals, kid sister, a trak, man man, im from Barcelona, Manchester orchestra, the horrors, shout out louds, plasticines

Radiohead announces North American Tour Cities

The dates are still to be announced.

But here are the cities in the USA and Canda in alphabetical order:

Atlanta
Boston
Charlotte
Chicago
Cleveland
Dallas
Houston
Indianapolis
Los Angeles
Miami
Montreal
New York
Philadelphia
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Barbara
Seattle
St Louis
Tampa
Toronto
Vancouver
Washington DC

So So Glos & Fifty On Their Heels at Beauty Bar 12 06 07

It seemed like the weather, combined with it being December held the kiddies from coming out to play. And they'll be sorry they did. So So Glos and Fifty On Their Heels killed it last night.

But don't fret kiddies, you have a chance to see them TONIGHT AT THE CHE with Mermaid and another band that I can't recall at the moment. Bring all your friends, you won't want to miss them.

Back to last night's show. Wow. Sophie started the night was some great tunes on the tables until So So Glos took the stage.

How to describe them... Alex, lead singer and bassist broke his E string! What?!? I don't think I've ever seen that before. I don't think anyone's ever seen that at the Beauty Bar. Nick (Fifty On Their Heels) was kind enough to let them use his bass so the show continued. So So Glos was full of energy and though they had some technical difficulties, they sounded great. They have a sound that is very reminiscent of the Clash and other bands from that time. They love crowd interaction, so if you go to the show tonight, participate! And buy a CD or a sticker or a button. They have some cool merchandise. Support music!

After So So Glos, Fifty On Their Heels took the stage and presented to the crowd some new songs and some old. It was great to see the guys on stage again. It's been a long time since I've caught a show and they still have the same level of energy going and the music keeps getting better and better. Fifty brought on So So Glos during their last song and it was one big party on the stage. fun times.

Edgartronic took over the tables after Fifty played and he was playing some great mixes. I was out on the floor dancing my toosh off for a bit before I had to head on home. It was a Thursday and I had to go to work the next day.

I just wish there would have been more people there last night. It was a great, great show.

Don't miss them tonight!

Every Thursday Night in LA (Blue Velvet Lounge) SOULPEOPLE

If you live in Los Angeles, are going to Los Angeles, or have friends in Los Angeles, come check out the Blue Velvet Lounge. It's a place to relax and have some drinks while listening to beats old and new. And if you can't make it, tell a friend. There's always something for everyone at the Blue Velvet Lounge.



Meet.Mix & Politic at L.A.'s only Soulful Ultra Lounge



~::~

The Blue Velvet Lounge
750 S. Garland Ave. 90017 {DTLA}
213.239.0061 || (10pm - 2am) || 21+

~::~



~::~

The Blue Velvet Lounge
is located between 7th and 8th street
(2 blocks west of the 110 freeway) on Garland Ave. @The Flat
{click here for map}

~::~

SOULPEOPLE is fiercely independent and supported by our lovely family and crew.

C-Boogie
Coleman
Mr Alfred Hawkins
Max Rocha
Aja
Seven57
Adrienne
Kazue
Oni
Tania
Karina
Lisa P.
Jaqueline
Thieny

John West...

I was recently introduced to Mr. West's music and I was entranced. He has a wonderful voice. His melodies are catchy, yet simple. His lyrics aren't too "much," they speak to everyone or have spoken to everyone at one point in their lives. His CD has been living in my car since I was introduced and had to buy it. It's even living on my computer on repeat.

Check his website out at John West's Myspace

Here's a video...

Evel Knievel dead at 69!

Crazy! I thought he wasn't supposed to die! He did entertain a whole lot of us, some old and some young.

Here's a short article that I found on it.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -- Evel Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.

Knievel's death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.



Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills.

Immortalized in the Washington's Smithsonian Institution as "America's Legendary Daredevil," Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980.

Although he dropped off the pop culture radar in the '80s, Knievel always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In later years he still made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products. Thousands came to Butte, Mont., every year as his legend was celebrated during the "Evel Knievel Days" festival.

"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel said. "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."

His death came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.

Next Week! Fifty on their Heels! So So Gloss (NY)! DJ Edgartronic! Chango Rey Y El Moreno! Mermaid!

Go! Go! Go!

I'll be at both San Diego shows if I don't get kidnapped by aliens!

What a way to kick off December!

SOULPEOPLE: Peter Hadar & Ilhame @ Blue Velvet Lounge Thursday, Nove 23rd!

The Blue Velvet Lounge
750 S. Garland Ave. 90017 {DTLA}
213.239.0061 || (10pm - 2am) || 21+
no cover || $5 valet available {suggested}

~::~

The Blue Velvet Lounge {click here for map}
is located between 7th and 8th street
(2 blocks west of the 110 freeway) on Garland Ave. @The Flat

~::~



“With just the right amount of heart, soul and edge, Peter Hadar IS the ‘Coolest Weirdo’.” - Rahsaan Patterson

“Pete has developed into a great writer and dope artist, so keep a look out for Peter Hadar.” - Eric Robeson

At first glance, Peter Hardar, born Peter Winstead, Jr., may seem like a superhero with a death wish rather than an extremely talented singer & songwriter. His unending struggle to learn and evolve as an artist coupled with his plans to die a great musician instantly single him out in an industry wrought with fly by night artists. As a young man, Hadar struggled to dissipate from the shadows of his father, a musical prodigy and well-known gospel artist. He longed to make a name for himself outside the music world. He was soon drawn to fashion, where he blazed a trail for himself with ease. It was because of his ferociousness at learning the trade and defeating challenges that he earned the name “Hadar,” given to him by his uncle, a Hebrew Israelite. “Hadar” literally means “adornment,” and in his case “to decorate or dress.”

In 2004, after losing his job in the fashion industry, Hadar found himself in dire straits. It was at that point that he realized that working for someone else did not appeal to him and decided to take the indie route to develop his paternal gift of music. Locking himself in his mother’s house and writing nonstop, Hadar, found he also had the gift of “dressing music.”
With only a year and some change as a songwriter and no formal training as a musician, Hadar began putting together an impressive resume. Through his industry connections, he was able to collaborate with some of R&B’s most respected artists including Chante Moore, Carl Thomas, and Joe.

Continuously progressing, Hadar eventually met up with Mike Genato (The G:neous) and the drum and bass duo Mathematics. Together, these musical scientists have concocted a formula that is unique, unrivaled and distinctively Peter Hadar. With his first solo effort, 'Memories of the Heart', released in July 2006, Hadar is working on taking over the world with his own brand of cool weirdo music. This definitely looks like a job for Peter Hadar.

~::~



She has Morocco in her blood, Paris in her heart and music in her soul.
Ilhame (aptly meaning “inspiration” in Arabic) always knew that music would be her constant muse. Born in the 17th District of Paris, Ilhame’s first musical experience was alongside her older sister, having innocent fun. As a little girl she loved to imitate famous musicians, reproducing mostly soul, funk and R&B stars such as Luther Vandross, Rose Royce and Bill Withers. At grade school she was urged by her music teacher to pursue her love for music, who noticed Ilhame’s natural talents as a vocalist. Thus, it was merely by pure instinct that Ilhame followed suit, followed her soul, and followed music.

Supported by DJ Fun (of Saian Supa Crew fame), a long-time friend and producer/sound engineer, Ilhame decided it was time to finance her own project and placed her career in her own hands. She decided that it was time to record an album. In 2000, a meeting brought forth a continuing collaboration with Max Valetudie, hip-hop/R&B/French Reggae producer (NTM, Raggasonic, Princess Erika, Tonton David). Lyricists and musicians such as Pascal Hospital, Marion Michau, and rap artist Kodjo have also lent their talents to Ilhame’s work in progress. In 2005, Ilhame traveled to the U.S. - Los Angeles to be exact - to record a major part of her album, an experience which furthered her desire continue making music. As Ilhame states, “I live, eat and sleep music. This is what I want to do. This is what I love to do.”

~::~

SOULPEOPLE is fiercely independent and supported by our lovely family and crew.

C-Boogie
Coleman
Mr Alfred Hawkins
Max Rocha
Aja
Seven57
Adrienne
Kazue
Oni
Tania
Karina
Lisa P.
Jaqueline
Thieny

Movie: Into The Wild

Playing at the Hillcrest Landmark Theater.

Go see it.

I really have no words to describe or explain this movie.

Just go see it.

The Mist - Stephen King

I went to a sneak preview screening of this movie and all I could think of when leaving the movie were the following two things:

1. Made for TV movie
2. Was the short story as bad as the movie?

I did not like the movie. It was bad. The acting wasn't that good. The actors were unknowns, but some did look familiar,but I still had no idea who they were. It seemed like they had already segemented the movie in case it didn't go well in the theaters so that it could go straight to the TV.

I don't know what was worse, the movie or the audiences reaction to the movie. The movie was made for the non-thinker, for the reaction. And by the audience in attendence, they did their job. I had people clapping and going crazy when one of the ladies was shot in the head or when the "grandma" threw a can of soup at the same lady that was later shot. I don't get it. I felt stupid for even being there. I felt my brain cells diminishing.

I don't recommend it. It's not worth the time or money.

This Thursday! Blue Velvet Lounge Downtown LA

If you're in the area, check out SoulPeople at the Blue Velvet Lounge. It's a place to go lounge with your friends, have drinks and relax. The music doesn't stop and keeps in you a groove.




The Blue Velvet Lounge
750 S. Garland Ave. 90017 {DTLA}
213.239.0061 || (10pm - 2am) || 21+
no cover || $5 valet available {suggested}



The Blue Velvet Lounge {click here for map}
is located between 7th and 8th street
(2 blocks west of the 110 freeway) on Garland Ave. @The Flat

SOULPEOPLE is fiercely independent and supported by our lovely family and crew.

C-Boogie
Coleman
Mr Alfred Hawkins
Max Rocha
Aja
Seven57
Adrienne
Kazue
Oni
Tania
Karina
Lisa P.
Jaqueline
Thieny

SOULPEOPLE Raydee-OH Podcast Season 2 - Epi 15

click here and ur one step closer to the dopeness !!

SoulPeople Myspace

Pipe Bomb detonated. I-5 open!

I am so glad that I don't have to drive through that mess of traffic. To those of you that do, I hope the music's good.

Happy Friday!

From SignOnSanDiego.com

SAN DIEGO – Sheriff's bomb-arson investigators detonated a pipe bomb that was found in a backpack on the side of Interstate 5 near La Jolla Village Drive on Friday.


SignOnSanDiego
Authorities confer on Interstate 5 after the discovery of a pipe bomb.
The investigation caused a traffic nightmare as authorities closed the freeway in both directions for nearly four hours.

All lanes have since been re-opened, although traffic was still backed up for miles to the north and the south.

Late Friday afternoon, Oceanside police arrested 46-year-old Michael Buffalo, who told investigators he left the pipe bomb on the right shoulder of the southbound lanes on Tuesday, when his car broke down.

Traffic update


Authorities closed the freeway between Interstate 805 and state Route 52 about 12:30 p.m.

Southbound traffic was backed up to Carmel Valley Road while northbound traffic was backed up to Sea World Drive, with speeds as low as 1 mph.

Buffalo led officers and bomb squad deputies to the bomb and it was later detonated.

The investigation began Thursday, when Oceanside police received a tip that someone was threatening to set a bomb off at the Vista Courthouse, said Oceanside Sgt. Leonard Mata.

Officers were able to identify Buffalo as a suspect, and he volunteered to come into the police station for an interview.

That's when he told them about the bomb on the side of the freeway, police said.

A search for more explosives in his Oceanside home on Dunes Place came up empty.

Buffalo is expected to be booked into jail on numerous charges.

Part of Interstate 5 North and South Closed due to possible pipe bomb?

According to Sign On San Diego:

Authorities have closed Interstate 5 southbound at the Interstate 805 connector and northbound at Gilman Drive while they investigate a report of a possible pipe bomb found near the freeway. The California Highway Patrol said the off-ramps between those two points are also closed. Police are conducting their investigation on the right lane of south I-5 just north of Genesee Avenue.

Qualcomm Stadium Evacuation Center Pictures

I had a friend that was evacuated from his home and had to move into Qualcomm for a couple of days. Luckily, his house is still standing. But while there, he saw some interesting sites and took some fun pictures to show a little of what was going on at the stadium.

So here they are.





Katie Couric
Apparently she had many male fans at Qualcomm Stadium.







housing inside of Qualcomm. i think this is a great picture. it just shows so many details. The sleeping quarters right next to the bathrooms. What section they were sleeping in, etc.














Llamas!








apparently, this was a very friendly turtle, following people around when they got close!