Music, My Medicine

 I started spending half of my time in Georgia a little over a year ago. Since then, I have enjoyed so much live music. The Atlanta area books more musicians in town than Columbus, Ohio. I often have to ride to Cleveland, Cincinatti, Pittsburg or Detroit to see a lot of the artists I want to see when I am in Columbus. So, when I am in the Atlanta area, I take full advantage. 

I have been struggling with my mental health for many years now. The one thing that has kept me sane is music. It has been a calming force for me. It puts me to sleep when my mind is racing. It levels me out when my anxiety is high. It helps me remember things I need to remember and forget the things I don't. I know that these statements are the same for many because I have had this conversation often. 

Music bonds us to one another and makes us feel things. Just last week I was having a conversation with a fellow music lover, who lit up with excitement as we discussed our favorite Tiny Desk Music Concerts, bonded over artists we both enjoyed and swapped info about favorites we were not so familiar with.

I have seen so many great artists this passed few years. Today, I want to share some of the artists I really enjoyed the last eighteen months. If you have heard of them or listened to their work, great! If not, I urge you to check them out and share your thoughts with me here or on my ig @krisintransit. I would also love to hear who you think I should check out. I love exploring new artists.

1. Anderson Paak

I saw him three times last year. Not only does he put on a consistently great show every time, he sounds like his album. I can't wait for the next Nxworries album with Knxwledge. Yes Lawd, Is my favorite album.Suede is my favorite song. I also love the Malibu album but I have been playing the latest two albums on repeat since they came out.


2. Leikeli47

I discovered Leikeli47 listening to music on Soundcloud a few years ago. I was so happy to hear her music featured on shows like Insecure and Grownish. I saw her twice last year. She is a Brooklyn rapper and singer who has so much to say about black culture and creates music that has so much attitude. Both Acrylic and Wash & Set are fun albums.


3. April & Vista

The first time I came across this group was on Colors Studios. Then I saw them open for Little Sims. April's voice is so interesting. Vista and April together have created an incredible sound that I find myself enjoying most when I want to just chill.


4. EarthGang

The Atlanta duo, is kind of like a new Outkast/ Goodie Mob. They have the fun Atl sound. At Afropunk, they were my favorite performance. I listened to them a little before the festival and had previously heard a couple of their songs on the radio. They are currently one of my favorite alternative hip hop groups. They are currently touring for their new album Mirrorland.


5.Sir

I have been a fan or Sir's for a while now but I saw him the first time at Afropunk Atlanta this past October. He just did a Tiny Desk Concert recently, that I still need to watch.  My favorite songs are D'Evil's from the November Album and Jay Z from Seven Sundays. I love so much of his music from all of his albums that I couldn't possibly name it all. His new album Chasing Summer was released at the end of last summer. 

6. Willow Smith

Willow is an awesome musician. She creates music that makes you zone out and think about your life, Lol. My favorite song of her's is Female Energy but I also love 9 featuring Sza. She released  a new album last summer called Willow. I fell in love with the song Time Machine from the Willow album and have played it so many times my neighbors probably hate me.


7. Masego 

I listen to Masego often, thanks to The Friend Zone podcast. I was introduced to the artist a couple years ago and finally got to see him at Afropunk Atlanta. He was the artist I was most looking forward to. I honestly don't think there is a song he has anything to do with that I don't love or at least really like. Many people are familiar with his callaboration with FKJ, Tadow. 

8.Moonchild

Moonchild is a trio who produces music that is a fusion of R&B and Jazz. Each of them plays several instruments but the the most impressive instrument of all, is Amber Navran's voice. I love to play their music when I am soaking in the tub or entertaining guests. They released an album last September called Little Ghost. My favorites albums are Voyager and Please Rewind. Listen to The List, Hideaway, Don't Wake Me and Money.


9.Smino

I was introduced to Smino by a family friend a few years ago. I have been a fan ever since. He has a rapping/singing thing happening. You remember the Ja Rule And Nelly sound of the 2000s but I honestly love his version even better. It feels very now. Some of my favorite songs of Smino are Z4L, Klink and I love the song Khlorine by Sango featuring Smino. He makes music that you want to ride to in the summer with the top down.

10. Noname

Noname is a rapper with a very interesting flow and cadence. In fact, I am not sure how to describe it and it isn't for everyone but I like it. She is different. She also has a lot to say outside of what the average female rapper has to talk about. I guess she is considered alternative hip hop. Her first album, Telefone  was the soundtrack of my life for 2 months while I worked on a huge creative project. The newest album  Room 25 from 2018 is good but I am still playing her first album. I have seen her twice in the last 14 months. I am sad she may be cutting her career short. So, if she is coming to a city near you, take advantage.

That wraps up my list of some of the people I am currently listening to and whom I saw recently.
I need to mention one more person who I am obsessed with at the moment but her catalog isn't very large yet. Chika, I saw when she opened for Megan thee Stallion last year. I was super impressed with her and love the few songs I have been exposed to so far.  

Let's have a conversation. Please share your list of current favorites and who you saw in concert the last year or so. 

Until Next Time!

Kris,

Olu from EarthGang


One last thought...For fun!

Here is a list of people I have seen in my lifetime. One is a lie. Can you guess the lie? Comment below or on my social platforms.

1. Aretha Franklin
2.Stevie Wonder
3. Cher
4. Whitesnake
5.Prince
6. Lil Baby
7.Travis Scott
8.Beyonce
9.Earth, Wind & Fire
10.Janet Jackson

July Concert Wrap Up

Yesterday I did reviews on the three Ohio wineries I visited. This month I did so much. In addition to the wineries I visited, I went to a couple of concerts. I love music as much as I love my wine. So today's post is about the concerts I attended this month.

I have a broad selection of music that I listen to. This year I have seen Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Tyga, Stevie Wonder and Tesla. This month I added Whitesnake, Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa to the list.


WHITESNAKE

My beau loves 80s hair bands, so I went to see Whitesnake with him, his brother and his friend a few weeks ago near Dayton. Songs you may be familiar with are, Still Of The Night, Is This Love and Here I Go Again. I was impressed with the energy of lead singer David Coverdale. He is in his 60s and moves just as he did when I was wearing cloth diapers and Huggies. The band's songs are still being used in the soundtracks of current shows and movies.

The show was great! All though I was not familiar with every song, I still had a good time. I danced, sang along to the songs I knew and drooled over guitarist Joel Hoekstra. I also met a couple who got engaged at a Whitesnake concert many years ago. The husband celebrated seeing his 100th Whitesnake concert that night.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Photos

The Whitesnake Set

David Coverdale

Joel Hoekstra

THE BOYS OF ZUMMER TOUR

I took my preteen nephew to his first concert two weeks ago. It was a festival style concert where Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa were the headliners. It also featured Hoodie Allen and a few other acts I was not familiar with.

It may not have been the best concert to take a twelve year old because of the the glamorization of a certain natural drug that Wiz Khalifa refers to often; no judgement to those who appreciate it. His set even included giant inflatable joints that the crowd tossed around. The concert itself was entertaining and lively. I forgot how many Wiz Khalifa songs I actually knew. We went because my nephew was a Fall Out Boy fan but he left more of a fan of Wiz. Aside from the second hand smoke we inhaled during his entire show, it was a good time.

Fall Out Boy sounded just as they do on their tracks. Their set used a lot of graphics, laser lights and pyrotechnics. I felt like an old lady, jumping every time there was a big boom.  My nephew got a kick out of my skittishness. We sang along to Centuries, Light Em Up, Uma Thurman and older hits like Thanks For The Memories. Hopefully the concert will be a lasting memory for my nephew. You only get one first concert.

LEICA V-LUX 1 DIGITAL CAMERA

The tour banner

Samsung Camera Phone Photo of us at the concert

Wiz Khalifa

Wiz

Patrick Stump & Pete Wentz

Joe Trohman & Andy Hurley

Light Em Up played as we headed toward the exit.

Until next time,
Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!
Kris,

Music is Healing

photo courtesy of  theforeignexchangemusic.com

Lately I have attended more than a few shows. Last night a friend invited me to check out Foreign Exchange. I can't say I was that familiar with the band but I am glad I now know who they are. When I was asked to go, I had to do a little research. Even though I knew I was most likely going regardless, I found myself online listening to their music and reading their background story. The music was jazzy and soulful. It was in the same realm of artists I already really loved like Raheem Devaughn, Musiq Soulchild and Eric Roberson.  Although the venue was small, humid and a little funky with the abundance of mostly brown people, I found myself filled with joy as I danced, sang and laughed. Be it that I am under five foot, I can't say I saw much but that is how I know it was a good show. One of the things I remember was Phonte asking us to repeat the words " music is healing" to the person to the left and right of us.  Yes it is.

Saturday was the K.Michelle concert. That experience was much different from the one I had last night. The crowd was interesting and the venue was less than desirable but once the music began, nothing else much mattered. My aching feet and attitude was forgotten for a short twenty minutes. I can't say it was the best show I'd been to but the effect of it confirms that music really does make such a difference in our lives and moods.

I saw Cher last month and before that I went to the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson show. Both of those shows made me think about my happy childhood. I remembered what my parents and friends were playing on their stereos before there were iPods and iPads. The shows were also so colorful and full of activity that you couldn't help but force out negative distractions. These shows felt like an escape from the outside world, a few hours of a fantasy or vacation.

Music is healing. It is the only thing in the world that can stir up so many feelings and remind us where we have been, where we want to go or where we don't want to go.  It can
 make us wait in long lines in uncomfortable shoes or sleep outside for a concert. It 
can remind us of our first crush, first dance or favorite vacation. It makes us laugh, cry, happy and energetic. It can make us feel confident and sexy. It can help us through a break up or teach us how to make up.  Music provides a soundtrack to our lives. Music is healing. Yes it is.

After a hard days work and you are driving in your car today listening to your cd, or the radio, think of it as therapy. Think about how the music makes you feel or don't think at all, lose yourself in the music, scream the words out loud and just sway to the beat.

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!
Kris,

Dancing with Drag Queens

CHECKING CHER OFF MY LIST

Photo courtesy of celebs.com

Two nights ago, I went to a Cher concert alone. She was on my to do list of people to see in concert. I am not sure why I had not seen her sooner but I am so happy that I finally did. Having studied fashion design in school, she has long been a source of fashion inspiration for me and many others.

When I woke up Wednesday I had not bought a ticket. I did not possess a ticket until I visited the ticketmaster website late that afternoon. Lets just say it was a last minute decision that I am patting myself on the back for. I threw on a vintage sequin jacket that I'm certain would have earned Cher's approval and was off. The show was the best I have ever seen.  She puts on a fantastic show! This 67 year old woman puts many of us to shame with her fabulous costumes, wigs, huge headpieces, and ridiculous amount of energy while wearing heels. If she is coming to your city, I recommend you go to the show if you don't already have plans to do so. Between Cher's colorful show full of visually stimulating images, sexy choreography and spinning acrobats and Cyndi Lauper's spunk and ability to make you reminisce fond memories of the 80's, you will leave in a positive mood.  I left feeling happy and energized. Plus, my sequin jacket was a hit with ladies, gentlemen and those still trying to decide, as Cher would say. I got lots of compliments. Thanks to Cher, Ms. Lauper and all the queens that night, it was a party and I had a blast.

There are a few other people I want to see or wish I could see. My list is in no particular order and some of these people are impossibilities for the obvious reasons.

1. Michael Jackson
2. Whitney Houston
3. Tina Turner
4. Madonna
5. Earth Wind & Fire (check) 7/4/14 Free concert in Dublin for the holiday
6. Cher (check)
7. Cyndi Lauper (check)
8. Prince
9. Kiss
10. Queen Latifah


Who is on your dream concert list?