On Monday, July 1, The Black Rock Coalition co-presented legendary Detroit protopunk-metal band DEATH with Le Poisson Rouge (NYC), hosted by MilitiA. Hear our interview with the band here and read long-time BRC friend Dawoud Kringle’s review here.

NOTE: We would have loved to have had some input on the booking of the bands that opened for DEATH. Unfortunately for us, the BRC wasn’t involved in the selection process, only the promotion of the night. So we apologize to our membership for not being able to get more artists of color on the bill, but we make no apologies for giving some of our pioneers the long-overdue support they deserve.

The Black Rock Coalition Pushing Forward
at the Clark Studio Theater / Dialogue
Presented by Lincoln Center Institute for The Arts in Education
From Are & Be, to The Kou and dadahdoodahda, to touring with Ani DiFranco on the “Rhythm and News” tour, Sekou Sundiata created his own path with music that existed outside of classifiable categories. He and his peers — founders and leaders of The Black Rock Coalition (BRC) — created modes of expression both radically new and grounded in cultural history; supported each other in the development, exposure and acceptance of Black alternative music; and actively opposed racist and reactionary forces that deny Black artists expressive freedom and economic rewards. Thirty years later, alongside huge shifts in music, Black alternative artists are still making their own opportunities and pushing forward a greater cultural conversation. What are they able to say in the forms that they choose – in the interstitial spaces — that they are not able to say elsewhere? BRC Co-founder Greg Tate moderates the panel which includes current BRC National President LaRonda Davis and Guillermo e. Brown (Pegasus Warning) and Kamara Thomas (Earl Greyhound, Kamara Thomas & The Ghost Gamblers), among others.

The retrospective continues through October 2013.
www.sekousundiata.org

Blink Your Eyes: Poets to Music
 at the Clark Studio Theater / Performances
 Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education
 In-school performances
 
A music and spoken word program curated specifically for middle, high school, and college students led by musical director JT Lewis and poetry director Tracie Morris with the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra. The multifaceted production, dedicated to and performed in honor of Sekou Sundiata, explores the thin line between poetry and lyrics, and the million questions along that line. How are the two forms different? In what ways are they the same? Do musicians work differently with poets than they do with lyricists? What’s the difference between spoken word and rhyming? Does music change a poem? Can poetry change music?

BRC ORCHESTRA @ BAMCAFÉ LIVE, BROOKLYN, NY, 1/18-19, A Salute To Richie Havens; With Richie’s brother Don and daughter Rachel in building, we brought the house down with transcendent performances from Stew (The Negro Problem), V. Jeffrey Smith (The Family Stand), Maritri, Kelsey Warren (Pillow Theory), King Julia (Fifth Nation), Akie Burmess (Aabaraki) and others. The BRC Orchestra’s only getting better, y’all…

Black Rock Coalition presented “MILLION MAN MOSH II” @ HIGHLINE BALLROOM, Featuring Living Colour, 24-7 Spyz, Ronny Drayton w/Rev. Kim Lesley, Nona Hendryx, Burnt Sugar Arkestra, Eddie Martinez, DJ Rockin’ Rob & Chuck City, and, in a super-special-throwback moment, the on-stage reunion of Grandmaster Melle Mel, Wonder Mike, and Raheim with bassist Doug Wimbish; live appearance from Donovan Drayton…

Thank you to the Estate of Gil Scott-Heron, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Poetry Society of America, Bill Bragin, Jill Sternheimer, and the amazing audience and staff at Lincoln Center Out Of Doors for helping the BRC Orchestra close out the venue’s 2012 season in grand style!

The night felt great and featured an intro from Gil’s son Rumal Rackley as well as poignant performances by such paragons of talent as Brian Jackson, Sapphire, Martha Redbone, Sandra St. Victor, Carl Hancock Rux, Abiodun Oyewole, John Murillo, Gordon Voidwell, Hanifah Walidah, Willie Perdomo, Aaron Whitby, Val-Inc, Chris Eddleton, Fred Cash, Lisette Santiago, Ben Tyree, Dave Smoota Smith, V. Jeffrey Smith.

Lastly, thanks to Kelsey Van Ert, Frankie Santiago and Greta Rushion for lending very helpful hands to keep it moving.

We really hope to do it again. So keep an eye out!

May 26, 2012 @ BAMcafe Live
 
 
Wow. Lines around the block and love, love, love…for the music, the man, the band, and the show that brought Blackness and pride and soul-spirit grooves to our living room every week. Thanks to all who performed and thanks to those who gleefully embraced the eternal Soul Train line. We definitely feel like we did Don Cornelius and SOLAR Records proud.

May 11, 2012 @ BAMcafe Live
 
 
Thanks to everyone who came out to witness the BRC Orchestra channel the music of Steel Pulse in memory of Tom Terrell. It was truly a great way to remember a treasured friend and, as always, we thank BAMCafe live for showing us love for the 10th year in a row. True Democracy lives…