Concert Review: Soundtrack of America Is A Must-See Series
At times, in this world/ New York, our cultures and our communities feel like they are getting erased; as if our appreciation for peoples and traditions are not as strong as our desire for money. Just this week, The Shed, located in The Bloomberg Building on 545 W 30th Street, had its opening, and it has promised to be a place where cultures and communities are exalted. With a 40 million dollar build, this gorgeous, futuristic entertainment center promises to be for everyone; starting with the Soundtrack of America concert series.
This concert series is exceptional and emotional. Backed by the likes of Quincy Jones and Steve McQueen, it features artists that are legendary or on the cusp of legendary status, and asks who were the artists that inspired them to rise. It is unlike any other concert series because its purpose is historically and spiritually important; to find and praise the history of Black America through sound. For all that we know about slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, history is always written according to wars and the ones that won them, and, unfortunately, the black community has suffered and lost too much. Thus, artists like Jade Novah, Kelsey Lu, Braxton Cook, Duckwrth, and Tank And The Bangas gave astral performances to prove music has been the black community’s most powerful gain.
The good thing about Soundtrack of America is that it feels like an event: not a concert. You enter the GIANT McCourt theater, sit, and let yourself be entertained. The crowd is always filled with people from all likes and walks of life, which makes the impressive space feel inviting. Moreover, each artist gets around 20 to 30 minutes to perform their set; solidifying the brisk nature of the night. Luckily, because the artists’ “homework” was to find how music has fleshed the journey of Black America, the night felt like art, of which Tank And The Bangas were a tour-de-force. Tarriona “Tank” Ball’s voice and rap prowess showed how avant-garde Hip Hop and Soul have been in turning a verse into a societal image. Yet, she was not the only one!
Kelsey Lu was riveting; moving her body and cello like a sculpture that has been brought to life by Zeus himself. Moreover, she was backed by a an all-black group of cellists; the image being empowering. At times, it feels more common to see no people of color represented than even one. Yet, Soundtrack of America was about both representation and reverence, of which Braxton Cook solidified he is the Millennial John Coltrane. He thrashed his sax like a sword, and made the crowd realize the eternal power of jazz. Meanwhile, Dckworth gave the funnest performance; bursting unto the scene with a vivacity and warmth that amplified R&B and Hip Hop are all about the fun of love. Finally, Jade Novah closed out the night with a medley of every phenomenal, black songstress that paved the way for to be next on the throne. Her voice was clear, celestial, and would have made Whitney proud. Together, they made Soundtrack of America unmissable. Click Here For Upcoming Dates.
