A Wet Dream, A Prescription, A Block Party Part 1
15.05.22
Indigenous House
Years ago, forefather Tony Humphries told the press, Baltimore house music was underrated. The legend then went on to compare if the music coming out of Baltimore came out of NYC, the Baltimore sound would be more highly regarded. Years later, this sentiment rings true. Just look around.
1500
There is ample space to dance within the pavilion’s embrace. A lone pink tent sits atop the hill adjacent the jogging track and soccer field. Yet, there is a major hub of gathered multi-hued tents closest the pavilion’s entrance. Attendance is sparser compared to a year earlier when a NYC master played. When the entire city was present, dancing, drinking, and delighting.
By 4 pm, there are no cheers as one world-renowned headliner steps up to play. He is joined by two of his brothers within minutes. Oddly, the crowd is just too quiet. Soft excitement straddles the pavilion. A chagrin of sorts. Today is all about the music. Unapologetic house music. And Baltimore is in the house. Ready to give Atlanta a B-more beat down.
If last year’s Indigenous House Music opened the world to house music, this year’s festivities is all business. One word sums up the headlining music selectors hailing from Maryland. Epic. To catch all three living legends playing together at a public park in Midtown Atlanta is a wet dream.
Drip. Drip. Drop. Beads of sweat fall from the brow. A sweat rag catches the perspiration. The heat index reads 86 degrees. A scorching Sunday in May. Already? Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. The party is only beginning.
There behind a table of hardware large enough to command a spaceship, the holy triplicity stands. The Father. The Son. The Holy Ghost. Teddy Douglas, Karizma, and DJ Spen each brings their distinct dynamic to the open-air green space. Teddy goes disco/classics. Spen brings the church. And Karizma, plays everything in between. Father Douglas is more strait-laced, giving you the music without the punch. Enter the Son, Karizma who will knock you out. Spen is the anointed who keeps the other two in check.
Rock Steady Sound System Block Party
22.05.22
“Don’t forget we are streaming live on Rock Steady Radio. There are cameras everywhere, onstage, in the air, and in the crowd.” There passes a drone overhead. “So, if you are with someone you should not be with then…..” Announces host Leon Rogers at Rock Steady’s Sound System Block Party one week later.
The corner of Marietta Avenue and Hampton Street landmarks an Afro/Caribbean eatery with an upstairs gallery in the bustling West Midtown district. There is much a do in the parking lot rear the brick façade. Guests sit on white chairs at white round tables ordering Oxtail Fiore paired with Rum Punch. The musty smell of sanitation hunts the nostrils ever so often. Pose. At the step and repeat. Smile. Vendors sell lively spirits, tasty bites, to licensed merchandise. Thirsty? There are H2O stations scattered here and over there. Feel the temperature climb into the upper 80s. Need protection? VIP white topped cabanas rent out at $300 that shields the sun rays and rain drops forecast during the evening hours of day number two. A Sunday that matches hip-hop’s platinum with soulful house giants.
Dancing in the sunshine is the best. When the sound emits clear and crisp decibels from speaker cabinets positioned at both ends the massive DJ stage. Too bad for the residents living nearby. One never knows. A midtowner might take matters in their own hands at the boisterous yet beautiful harmonies emitting from the parking lot all weekend.
However, these days a peripheral scan around the premises is needed. A glance or two, high above at the balconies of the grey high rise adjacent the party reveals no suspicious activity. No snipers. No active shooters.
Back at the 11th annual Indigenous House Music event held at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Where rolling green hills meet human footprints and furry canines, all basking in the of glow love. Whiff. The intoxicating aroma of charcoaled flesh steers sniffers to the pavilion near the field and track. Yes. It is going to be one of those parties. Barbecue & boogie.
She-jays
Serving some serious grilling at the park, DJ Kelly Kel serenades the crowd playing Louie Vega’s “Another Day In My Life.” The cult favorite, Leela James’ “My Joy” (Quentin Harris Mix) brings screams and foot stomps. The shocker comes when Mathew Bandy featuring Josh Milan’s “Wish I Didn’t Love You” eschews from speaker cabinets. The N’Dinga Gaba Remix that is unavailable to stream or purchase online make dancing feet happy.
Both events are marked by scheduled rain and thunderstorms according to the weather app in hand. Both she-jays acknowledge the rain gods. Indigenous House’s opener DJ Kelly Kel drops The Rainmakers featuring Lady Alma singing, “Let It Rain” (Harlum Mix) as Rock Steady Block Party’s headliner, DJ Rashida plays a white label of SWV’s “Rain” that makes mouths sing, “Fall on me.” Cue on the laptop. Busy Signal’s “Da Style Deh” that has the Debõrah Hughes +Aodõ & Company dance crew performing a choreographed routine. “They up there doing that Alvin Ailey $hit,” a woman jokes. As the crowd sings “La Da Dee, La Dee Da” to Crystal Water’s “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless), Rashida’s former mentor, the late genius Prince is honored but so is Lathun’s “Freak It” that keeps the music homegrown ATL from the So So Def Allstars as Jodeci’s “Freek’n You” (MK Dub) throws back to the year 1997. Latin Soul shows face courtesy Louie Vega’s Remix of “Dance” from the 3 Winans Brothers featuring the Clark Sisters that is almost the WTF moment until playing Norma Jean Bell proves true. DJ Rashida is “The Baddest Bitch (In The Room).”
TEDDY DOUGLAS
“Is it raining yet?” reads a text message from a week earlier back at Piedmont Park.
You reply, “nope.”
Before the cumulonimbus arrive, Douglas, Spen and Karizma are up to play B2B2B. Hear, the legendary Basement Boys co-founder, Douglas rip open Karen Young’s “Hot Shot,” Ralphi Rosario featuring Xavier Gold’s “You Used to Hold Me,” Loose Joints’ “Is It All Over My Face?” (Larry Levan Remix) – to which the crowd enthusiastically replies, “Hell Yeah” – Sylvester’s “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” Inner City’s “Big Fun,” that turns Detroit Techno to Atechno, Georgia, John ‘Julius’ Knight’s “Find A Friend,” Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” (One Rascal Mix), and MFSB’s “The Message” – all are classics the AARP crowd loves to hear.
22.05.22
1800
Terry Hunter
“Deon Cole (actor, comedian turned DJ) played earlier,” AndiBop recounts to you staring at the performance stage. “As soon as he got onstage, they whisked him off.” She continues. “He barely played.”
“Let’s give it up for DJ Terry Hunter!” Hostess Consuela, the preacher’s kid, tells the mostly melanin is poppin’ congregation at the Block Party one week later. “Although Terry does not speak much, he brought the word.”
Rightfully so. One hour earlier, the T’s Box Records founder warmed up the crowd with the classic Clark Sister’s “You Brought the Sunshine,” the year’s anthem remixed by Baltimore’s DJ Spen – of course, and a boisterous newly extended remix of Karizma’s “Work It Out.” But it is Luther Vandross’ “Wait for Love” that has people jumping, singing, and 2-stepping. Next plays an unreleased Barbara Tucker gem as time throws back to the percussion driven Bohannon’s “Let’s Start the Dance,” as a sample of AC Soul Symphony’s “K-Jee” (Dave Lee Philly World Mix) morphs into afro thumper Mary J Blige’s “Good Morning Gorgeous.” The Terry Hunter, DJ Spen and Reelsoul Mix delights as Yolanda Adams’ “We Still Rise” (The Lounge Lizard Bootleg Mix) plays closing duties for a soulful yet engaging soundtrack. Hey, DJ Kemit – one half of the Lounge Lizards – standing on a grassy patch, we see you lost in the groove to your own remix.
Indigenous House
DJ Spen
At Piedmont Park, the supererogate Sean Spencer wearing a Basement Boys tee patrols the pavilion for one last soundcheck before joining his brethren behind the half dozen CDJs! “The highs need to be turned down,” one guest complains. “It’s too loud.”
Sadly, the recommendation goes unheard. Experience the Quantize Recordings creator launch into the 3 Winans Brothers featuring the Clark Sisters “Dance” (Mike Dunn’s Gospel Re-Touch), BeBe Winans’ “Thank You” (Masters At Work 12’ Mix), Ron Hall’s “Talk To God ‘Bout It” (Spen’s Sunday Service Re Edit) that is so fire right now. Barbara Tucker’s “I Get Lifted” (The Bar Dub), Wayne Williams & DJ Spen featuring Richard Burton & Tasha LaRae’s “Let God Work,” Oliver Dollar featuring Nils Ohrmann’s “John’s Church” equipped with Pastor Shirley Caesar preaching, Geoffrey C’s “This Is Hot (Yes Indeedy)” released on Spen’s Quantize Recordings, the classic Hardrive’s “Deep Inside” (Remix), the Basement Boys produced Crystal Water’s “100% Pure Love” with that “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” sampled ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-o-ssa, B Slade’s “Get Over U” (Director’s Cut Mix) morphing into “Your Love (Director’s Cut Signature Mix) but his remix of the Clark Sister’s “You Brought the Sunshine” (DJ Spen Remix) makes the loudest statement. Mouths sing and scream like on Pentecost Sunday.
Ron Trent
“Rock Steady Sound System gives a huge welcome to big brother Ron Trent!”
Already, the Music and Power phenom tributes “New York Style” from Mateo & Matos that breaks for Palamino’s “Oh My!” French maestro Manoo’s Vocal Remix moves bodies as Sinnamon croons, “I Need You Now” (acapella) before “Another Day In My Life” the Louie Vega Re-Touch excites the performing dancers to leap off stage and engage with the audience in a dance circle. To remix St. Germain’s “Rose Rouge, anthem is no easy task. A feat the Prescription Recordings founder easily accomplishes on his JazzFunkSuite Remix. Where Trent goes deep. Dropping unreleased gems. Those rare grooves. Whereas earlier, Chicago’s Terry Hunter structured his set around R n’ B/gospel chops, fellow Chicagoan Ron goes neither here nor there. Instead, he opts for trippy tracks. Atmospheric Afro. Organically orchestrated. A virtuoso of vibes. A conductor of mood.
“Whoa!” You yell. Your body jumping off the ledge and onto the asphalt at the park. “The music is way too loud.” Karizma playing G-Washington featuring Miriam Makeba’s “Warrior Mbube” sends people fleeing the pavilion. Their ears covered. Ya’ll Karizma up in here dropping bombs. All before the volume returns to tolerable. The latest from OVEOUS & Don Kamares’ “Legacy” stomps, but on Afefe Iku’s “Mirror Dance” (Remix) when the pads disappear and the xylophone plays solo, Karizma the mischievous Son dices and slices the vibes playing “Mary Had A Little Lamb!”
wrds: aj dance
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Tags: #dancefloormagic #housemusicexcellence, Atlanta Georgia, Baltimore House Music, Basement Boys, deep house music, disco music, DJ Kelly Kel, DJ Rashida, DJ Spen, DJ Terry Hunter, Expansions In The NYC, gospel house music, house music, house music dancing, Indigenous House Music Festival, Karizma, Louie Vega, Piedmont Park, Quantize Recordings, Rock Steady restaurant, Rock Steady Sound System Block Party, Ron Trent, Teddy Douglas, Unquantize Recordings