Concert Review: Soundtrack Of America Must Return!
The Shed has ended their Soundtrack of America series, and, frankly, I am ready for a second helping. As previously mentioned, SOA was meant to musically document the journey of blackness in America; how has the sorrow, beauty, and spirit of African Americans been transferred into music? With Quincy Jones, himself, going on stage to thank and explain the purposes of the concert series, I realized that music has been the most honest documentarian of black history.
History is written according to those that win wars; the men whose acts of violence succeeded in gaining them their material interests. Such an immorality must be countered with art and thus truth, of which music has been both for Black Americans. From Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” to N.W.A’s “Straight Outta Compton,” music has always revealed to both Black and White America the scolding, hidden sufferings and resilient dreams of the African American community, of which each artist, that night and in the series, represented a more hopeful future. From Eryn Allen Kane to Moses Sumney, the night felt splendid and spectacular.
Black music is art, and for the artists of tomorrow like, Phony Ppl, there was a recognization of this truth. On night 5, it really hit me that as much as this event was an homage to the past, it was also a preview and taste-maker for the sounds that will define black history in America’s future. Each artist such as, Tamar Kali and Keyon Harrold, brought a spiritual glam to their set; displaying that elegance and originality are the birth-parents to swag. It is about transferring your confidence into a vibe; one powerful enough to ricochet across a room packed with people from all walks of life. As much as SOA was a series meant to praise and prosper an oppressed culture, it attracted a diverse audience of people that saw it as a relief to their own oppressions.
I said it before and I will say it again: The Shed looks luxurious. It has taken an oath to be a fervent, community center; where artists can push the boundaries of their genius and social/ cultural representation. It is a mighty goal that, so far, The Shed has succeeded in achieving. As someone that has, already, gone a few times, I am very happy to see how quickly people are growing in notice and favor for a place that treats everyone as equally valuable. For More Information On The Shed Click Here.
