From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2005-02-26 23:23:58
Last night I ventured into Philadelphia to see Julie Dexter do a live show @ World Cafe Live
in Philadelphia on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. It was part of a larger event
called "Blue Funk Livepod" that is held monthly at World Cafe Live. Blue Funk Livepod is a
multifaceted/eclectic event that includes House DJ's, Hip Hop, Spoken Word, a Fashion Show,
live music,
information and more that is directed at an "urban bohemian crowd" (cornrows and nappy hair
afros). The World Cafe Live is a brand new performance venue in Philly comprised of two
separate performance spaces one seating about 1,000 and the other seating about 150. The
building also is the home of WXPN radio a station long known for it's "eclectic programming".
So the analogy for those of you in NYC is that this event was be something like if BB Kings
was housed in the same building as WBAI and independent promoters were allowed to come in and
use the venue for various types of activities.
Anyhow...
The crowd was hyped, pumped and Julie Dexter did not disappoint.
For me the reason why our support (patronage??) of LIVE music events has become so critical.
The "live" hip hop artist who had proceeded Julie Dexter on the stage was simply awful.
Admittedly, it's been a very long time since I had seen a "live hip hop show". I suddenly
remembered how terrible "live hip hop" sounded and why I had stopped going to those type of
shows. I actually wanted the rapper to shut up and just let the DJ rock the house!
Julie Dexter and her band (more on them later) came out and SMOKED the audience.
This was the second time that I had seen Julie Dexter perform live.
The first time was at BB Kings in NYC 3 years ago when she appeared with Fertile Ground,
Rhythm Republic and Shelly Nichole's BlakBushe. Back then she gave a soul/jazz type of
performance that was off the hook in a "Billie Holiday/Nancy Wilsonish (with just a touch of
Reggae) kinda way". That night we had about 30 members of Soul-Patrol in the audience and they
of course responded by purchasing the CD.
This time out it was kinda like night and day musically, because what I saw in Philadelphia
last night was an all out FUNK assault, that actually got the "too cool to be cool Black
bohemian crowd" up off of their be-hinds and dancing. In addition to singing her butt off,
Julie also took a turn at keyboards. It was a short set (bout 6 songs) mostly featuring cuts
from her new CD "Conscious". Julie engaged in actual communication with the audience, not only
giving props to Philly's musical legacy but to the crowd themselves for showing up and being
so enthusiastic to seeing a LIVE band/singer.
After the show, I spent some time backstage with the band waiting for Julie (she was besieged
by autograph seekers and CD buyers) where I learned that the core of the band (including
background singer Deborah Bond) were formerly of the band "Soul Element". Some of you here
might remember that "Soul Element" was one of the very first bands that we featured on
Soul-Patrol.Net Radio.
http://www.soul-patrol.net/train2.ram
Well even if you don't remember them, they sure as hell remembered Soul-Patrol and that rather
crude broadcast.
Anyhow, it was all rather cool for me to see this generation of underground soul artists
coming of age and coming together full circle!!
I spoke with Julie Dexter and she was truly excited both about the show and her new CD called
"Conscious". It's a much more personal album than her previous efforts filled with slices of
life (social concerns & romance) that she wanted to address.
She also talked with me quite a bit on the plusses of being an INDEPENDENT artist and the
satisfaction she derives from it, despite all of the hard work. That hard work was clearly in
evidence last night as I observed Julie's team (including our friend Mark Powers) busy
scurrying around not only engaged in setting things up, breaking them down, handling CD sales,
autographs, interviews and making arrangements to leave town all at the same time.
Julie Dexter is an artist who has been hanging around Soul-Patrol for years. Her website was
one of the very first "underground soul" artists websites to provide a link to us many years
ago. She is now on her third album and we are hanging tough with her as the music keeps
getting better and better. In my opinion both on CD and LIVE Julie Dexter is now ready to
break through and find an audience of hungry and frustrated music fans who want THE REAL
THING.
For those fans they need not wait much longer, because as Sam Cooke said "A Change Will Come"
and the time is upon us for that change. With artists like her, my feeling is that the future
of Soul music is in good hands. Artists like Julie Dexter are leading the way on multiple
levels.
Look for her new CD "Conscious" soon playing on Soul-Patrol.Net Radio.
Stay tuned...
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Bob Davis
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
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IT'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!!!
CELEBRATE IT, SHOUT ABOUT IT
DON'T BE ASHAMED OF IT
MAKE SURE THE LEGACY CONTINUES
http://www.soul-patrol.com/
<a href="http://www.soul-patrol.com"> BLACK HISTORY MONTH </a>
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