Can't let go -- but really want to

I’m in a bit of a quandary right now.
I still own cassette tapes.
I know I’m not the only one, but among my friends, I think I just might be.
What 8-tracks were to my parent’s generation, cassette tapes are to mine – classics. It took me a long while to switch to CDs. I told myself CDs weren’t as good as cassettes and I would never change over.
Obviously I got over that thinking. Sidebar, I was the same way with VHS tapes and DVDs. I didn’t make that switch until my sister bought me a DVD player for Christmas one year. Even then, it took a minute before I realized just how much better quality a DVD was.
I’m still trying to figure out why I’m holding on to these tapes, especially since I don’t have anything to play them on. A few months ago I replaced the cassette radio in my car with a CD/MP3 player, so there went my only avenue for playing a tape.
What am I to do with these cassettes?
There’s a record store where I live called Rasputin Music. They buy used CDs and DVDs. Their used section is outstanding and you generally can find that CD you’ve long forgotten about. You know the one you remember one day while you’re driving down the highway, listening to the radio and Troop’s All I Do Is Think of you comes on?
I had that happen to me with Intro – their first album. I have it on tape, but luckily Rasputin had it on CD.
They used to buy back tapes, but the last time I was in there, there wasn’t a cassette tape in sight. I wonder what they did with them. Hum, maybe they sent them to cassette tape heaven where they are now conversing with 8-track and reel-to-reel, reminiscing about the good ol’ days.
Anyone have any really good ideas on how I can dispose of such classics as Johnny Gill’s self-titled album, New Edition’s Under the Blue Moon, Kriss Krosses’ Da Bomb or Ex-Girlfriend’s X Marks the Spot? Wait, what in the heck did Ex-Girlfriend sing???
I can’t bring myself to throw these in the trash. I’m trying to be an environmentally conscious person, but really, what else can I do with them?

Hatin’ on J-i-l-l S-c-o-t-t

I am a huge fan of Jill Scott. Actually, I don’t think the word “huge” really captures how much I love Jill. Ever since the release of her classic Who Is Jill Scott: Words and Sounds, Volume I, I’ve been hooked.
I’ll admit, it took awhile before I was aware of who Jill Scott was. At the time I was heavily into Erykah Badu and wasn’t interested in anyone else.
Luckily, I opened my ears and embraced the music of a singer who can really “sang.” I probably listen to her at least once a day.
Her latest project, The Real Thing was the best album of 2007. From previous albums, you could tell Jill has a sensual side, but this album leaves no doubt about it. Just listen real closely to "Crown Royal," "Come See Me," "Epiphany" and "All I."
I’ve seen Miss Scott perform live on many occasions and each performance is better than the last. She’s on my list of top five best concerts of all time. When you go to a Jill Scott show, you get more than a performance – you walk out holding your head a little higher and your walk is a bit lighter.
After seeing her in 2001, a few girlfriends and I headed to a “special” store and bought some unmentionables because of the things Jill talked about. TMI, I know, but that’s how Jill makes you feel once you see her live.
In 2004, some friends and I went to see Jill on what was dubbed The Buzz Tour. Held at a standing-room only venue, she performed songs from her yet to be released album Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Volume II.
The performance lasted a little more than an hour – leaving the entire audience wanting more. Hence, the reason it was called The Buzz Tour.
Afterwards, my friends and I hung around. Why, I have no idea because we usually beat the crowd out, but we stayed long enough to strike up a conversation with her band members (they were really cool).
Eventually, Jill came from backstage. She greeted us and we told her how much we liked her show and couldn’t wait for the album. She said there was room for improvement (we didn’t feel the same, but she would know better than we would).
She took a photo with us and that was that.
Fast forward to 2007, and one of these friends (she will remain nameless), has decided she doesn’t like Jill anymore because she wasn’t “nice” to us the night we met her. Confused, I called the other person who was there and asked if she remembered the event the same way I did. She did and said, “I don’t know what she’s talking about, but Jill was very kind and gracious.”
A few weeks ago, I was talking to the now non-Jill Scott fan about the BET Awards (read my previous blog). We were discussing performances and my friend stated that Jill’s performance wasn’t all that great. She continued on about what Jill was wearing (not flattering, she says). I thought the opposite and told her so.
Her reply? “You would think that because you like her.”
I shot back, “And you would think that because you don’t.”
A couple of days later, I was listening to Hate On Me, and it clicked – Jill wrote that song for people like my friend. “Hate on me/Hater/Now or later/cause I’m gonna do me/You’ll be mad baby.”
I’m not saying my friend was mad – she was expressing her opinion. But she definitely is a Jill Scott hater.
It’s cool though, because in my eyes, Jill will always be one of the best singers/poets/performers of my day, and the haters can “go head and hate!”

Upcoming concerts alert!

Aug. 16 at the Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord: JVC Jazz Festival starring George Benson, Boney James, Ramsey Lewis and Norman Brown’s Summer Storm (featuring Chante Moore, Paul Taylor & Alex Bugnon

Aug. 16 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View: Rock the Bells Tour starring A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, The Pharcyde, Rakim, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon & Ghostface, Dead Prez and more.

Ticketmaster and those *^$#? fees!

As you can tell from the header, I’m a little peeved at Ticketmaster. I write this as I’m looking at my most recent purchase from their Web site.
Can someone please explain to me why the fees are so outrageous when you want to buy a concert ticket???
I know everyone charges fees, but my current beef is with Ticketmaster.
I recently purchased tickets to Musiq and Ledisi at the Warfield in San Francisco on Sept. 18. I had no choice but to buy them online.
I’m the queen of not paying services fees. I avoid them at all costs. I make every effort to go to the venue and buy the tickets in person.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do that this time. The Warfield is only open 1½ hours before show time, and I’m also the queen of getting the best seats possible (after sitting in the front row dead center at a concert last year, I’m hooked. See photo at right).
Waiting until the day of the show to buy my tickets is never an option.
The original price of the ticket was $37.50. But wait, there’s that “convenience charge” of $9.60. Oh, hold up, one more fee – an order processing fee of $2.55. My ticket went from $37.50 to $49.65 just like that. Times that by two and it’s $99.30. Almost $100 for two tickets that originally cost $75.
It just burns me up inside that I paid damn near $25 extra for some concert tickets!!! I really would like to know how they determine how much “extra” they are going to charge per ticket and why they continue to get away with gouging people’s wallet.
Ticketmaster is making a killing because they basically have a monopoly on the market. Everyone knows that when it comes to buying a ticket for anything – be it a concert, football game, symphony or ballet – the first place you check is Ticketmaster.
If they had more competition, the charges they saddle us with would have to come down.
Until then, every time I need to buy a ticket, I’ll try my best to find a way around using Ticketmaster.

Upcoming tour schedules

So far this year, I’ve seen Chris Botti, Jill Scott, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige & Jay Z, and Kenny Lattimore live. In September, I have the pleasure of seeing Musiq and Ledisi.

Below you will find the link to the schedule for some of my favorite artists. Be sure to check back often as I plan to update tour dates as they become available.

Jill Scott
Official site
Ticketmaster

Erykah Badu
Badu’s myspace page
Ticketmaster

Kanye West
Official site
Ticketmaster

Kem
Official site
Ticketmaster

Chris Botti
Official site
Ticketmaster

Musiq
Official site
Ticketmaster

Mary J. Blige
Official site
Ticketmaster

Alicia Keys
Official site
Ticketmaster

Earth, Wind & Fire
Official site
Ticketmaster

Stevie Wonder
Official site
Ticketmaster:

Santana
Official site
Ticketmaster

Janet Jackson
Official site
Ticketmaster

India Arie – not currently on tour, but will make her Broadway debut in Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf beginning Sept. 8.
Official site

My “Dream” experience

I just spent July 13-20 in Washington D.C., celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Founded Jan. 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University, AKA is the first and oldest Greek-letter organization established for college-trained black women.

More than 25,000 members came together in spirit and sisterhood to honor our legacy and look toward the next 100 years. I came away for the experience with a renewed commitment to my illustrious organization.

With a gathering of so many individuals, there’s bound to be a party or three. My e-mail inbox was flooded with so many different celebrations that I eventually lost track. I did, however, make a list of what I received so I would at least have an idea of what was happening every night.

First, this is what I think about going to clubs – they should all be free and the drinks should cost $8 or less. I’ve been over the excitement of going to the club for some time now. I’m more of a lounge/restaurant/bar goer these days.

On Thursday, a few of us ventured out to Love Nightclub. From what I’ve been told from others, this place was known as Dream and had it going on. I was hoping it was still the same since we were shelling out $30 for the Love experience.

The main reason we headed to Love (outside of wanting to get our groove on) was Idris Elba (of The Wire fame) hosting the event, and performances by some R&B singers.

Sidebar: As we were standing in line, an employee made the mistake of telling me that Boris Kodjoe was hosting a party at another club called The Park. I was ready to get out of line and head there because seeing such deliciousness in person really would have made my night!

Upon entering Love, the music was your typical urban radio fare. On the second floor however, the DJ was playing the likes of Cameo, New Edition, Guy, Michael Jackson, etc. This was the floor I needed to be (and stayed) on the rest of the night.

During our cab ride, my thoughts were, “Is Idris Elba really worth $30?”

Three words – yes he was!

There’s something to be said for seeing such a fine specimen of a man in person. Idris didn’t disappoint in the looks department, but he needed to chill with all the profanity. Stringer Bell is dead (if you know The Wire you know what I’m talking about).

I guess I should talk about the performances since this is a blog about music.

The first act was Lloyd, and I’ll be honest – never heard of him, didn’t know what he was singing and won’t be buying his album after seeing him perform. He's a cutie though.

Mario took the stage next and I knew one song – “Let Me Love You.” Again, don’t own any of his albums and he won’t make it into my iPod rotation.

Dwele was up last. Now, I used to own Dwele’s first album “Subject” but sold it after I realized I never listened to it. He gave a decent performance though. Actually, all three acts sounded pretty good.

The night ended with Idris taking over the DJ booth (and mike). He’s apparently done it before because he had the crowd grooving for the rest of the night.

I would recommend Love to anyone looking for a good time. Although it has four levels, only two were open the night I went. Could be that the $30 price tag kept some away.

A bit of advice for those who decide to host parties when large groups come to town – unless there are true ballers and shot callers in town (i.e., NBA All-Star weekend), it’s not a good idea to charge upwards of $50 when the economy is on the brink of a recession and we’ve already spent a grip just coming to town.

2008 BET Awards

First, a disclaimer (or two).

I don’t have cable. Well, let me clarify – I have very basic cable. Not expanded basic, but simple basic. You know, NBC, CBS and ABC.

A few years ago, I downgraded my cable because of some life changes. Even though things have greatly improved, I see no need to go back to paying $45 for TV. Once you go without, you realize you aren’t missing anything.

I said all that to say – I don’t have Black Entertainment Television, a k a BET – but I do have a friend who tapes things for me when I ask. After a few mishaps, I finally received the tape with the 2008 BET Awards on it, and I watched it tonight.

Second disclaimer – I’m not a fan of BET. Haven’t been for many years. I stopped watching it around the time they got rid of Tavis Smiley. BET needs a major overhaul – and quick.

I would be telling a small lie if I said I watched the entire awards show. I didn’t. I fast forwarded through the majority of it. See, I’m a product of the 80s – New Edition, Michael Jackson, Run DMC, you get the picture? I don’t listen to half of what’s currently out because I just can’t take it. (Don’t get me started on Lil’ Wayne and that damn lollipop song).

This is what I did see and enjoyed about the show:

Alicia Keys had me out of my seat when she brought SWV, En Vogue and TLC on stage with her to sing Weak, Hold On and Waterfalls respectively. Those are three girl groups I still listen to even though none of them have recently released an album. Shoot, I was jamming to SWV the other day. Their music is music I’ve always related to.

I don’t listen to gospel, but Marvin Sapp raised the roof. I couldn’t help but wonder though, if he and the gospel category were out of place at this show. With all the ass shaking other performers had on stage, it just didn’t seem appropriate after hearing Sapp sing about the Lord.

Maxwell, where have you been! When he walked out on stage to pay tribute to Al Green, I clutched my chest and held my breath. The man is still fine, sounds superb and needs to hurry the hell up with his next album. I mean, it’s been seven years already!

My real purpose for watching the show was Miss Jill Scott. I knew she was singing a tribute to Al Green and as usual, she didn’t disappoint. If you’ve never seen Jill perform live, you are missing one of the best artists of our time.

Al Green showed the younger generation just why he’s been in the music biz for 30 years. He wasn’t lip synching (come on Usher, you’ve been in the game too long for that!) and everyone in the audience knew his songs. I was up and dancing when he launched into Love and Happiness. Go head Al!

I really wonder (all the time) will the current crop of rappers be around in 30 years? And will there be people who will actually pay to go see them? I’ll save that for another blog.

I was disappointed when Alicia Keys won over Mary J. Blige for best female artist. I love both, but Mary’s album was just superior to me. I guess I should be happy someone with some talent won. Also, why did Mary not perform? I would have taken her over Rihanna any day.

Lastly, it’s never cute when an overweight person’s stomach is on display. Rick Ross knows he needed to close his shirt during the T-Pain performance. Dang, I sound like my mama!

Kenny Lattimore @ Yoshi's July 3

I began my Fourth of July weekend with one of the most underrated vocalist of my time -- Kenny Lattimore. I purchased tickets to the first of his eight shows at Yoshi's in Jack London Square, Oakland (there's a newly-opened version in San Francisco), and spent the entire week excited about spending an evening with a man whose voice I enjoy listening to.

I love Yoshi's. The venue is intimate and there's not a bad seat in the house. The sound is always perfect and everyone I've seen perform there has always been on point.

I also love Kenny, and this is the first time I've ever seen him live, so the fact that I was blessed with the opportunity to see him at Yoshi's was exhilarating.

From the first note, Kenny had me hooked. "Come to me/Come closer/I'm feeling your love/All over," he sang -- and I sang right along with him (not as loud as I usually do when I go to a live show because, as I stated before, Yoshi's is intimate and I didn't want the couple sitting next to me to say, 'Hey, we came to hear Kenny sing, not you.'

From Come To Me (off his third album Weekend) he moved onto Days Like This (on From The Soul of Man). The transition was seamless and the audience was into him from beginning to end.
Other songs he delved into included Climb the Mountain, Never Too Busy, I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know (which sent chills all up and down my spine!) and Beautiful Girl (from the The Best Man soundtrack).

Kenny has a voice that pulls you in and doesn't let go. When he sang "If I ever leave you baby/You can say I told you so/And if I ever hurt/You know I'd hurt myself as well" it felt like he was singing from a personal experience that has stayed with him despite being married for more than seven years.

Nothing is better than seeing an artist sing with so much raw emotion that you feel it in your soul.

Kenny took probably his most well-known song, For You, and sung a different version, which had a more gospel-feel to it. He then launched into the version we all know and love. The show's closer, Weekend, was just what the audience needed to get amped for the drive home.

At the show's end, Yoshi's announced that the first 50 patrons who wanted to stay for the 10 o'clock show would be admitted. Seeing as though my girl and I didn't have to work the next day, we jumped at the opportunity. And I'm so glad we did!

The 10 o'clock show was much better than the 8 o'clock (and lasted a lot longer), and even Kenny alluded to this when he said he rushed through the first show because he was so focused on time. During the short break in between shows, it appeared him and his band (who sounded phenomenal and was easy on a sista's eyes) regrouped and were better prepared this time around.

At the end of his set, Kenny obliged the audience by taking requests (thanks to the sistagirl who asked for my all-time favorite Can't Get Enough from the Love Jones soundtrack). Other requests were Forgiveness, Make Believe and an a cappella version of Well Done. If you haven't heard this song (it's on From the Soul of Man), look it up on iTunes and just imagine what it sounds like sans music.

I won't speak on the woman who sung a duet with him (I think she forgot she was singing with a married man).

In addition to sounding better than his CDs, Kenny is sexy as hell! Yes, that is Chante's (Moore) man, but good lawd he looks delicious in person! He had an engaging personality and the crowd was really into what he had to say.

If Kenny comes to your area, definitely check him out. The money you spend is worth every last cent.

During the show, Kenny said his new album is called Timeless, and should be out soon. (There's are still tickets available for his Yoshi's performance on July 6.)

Because he's married to a fellow singer, he said the couple spent the last few years focusing on Chante's album. Being the loving and supportive husband he is, he plugged her album -- Love the Woman.