Anthony Hamilton & Rahsaan Patterson: Killin Me Softly with their Soul

Anthony Hamilton "Playin It Cool" Tour

Last night was phenomenal! I started the night out at the House of Blues hanging out with Gloria Fitts/Jive Records, Big Mouth and Bryant/Live Nation with some food and drinks in the Foundation Room. On the way to the Foundation Room I ran into Anthony and snapped my picture with him(groupie) and then went to feed my face. It was great spending time with Gloria (Cat Momma) and reconnecting with Bryant. "As quiet as it's kept" Big Mouth is hilarious! Back to to Anthony, I crept off from the crew and ran downstairs to catch my girl Choklate open the show. She killed it! She was nervous due to this being a sold out show and most of the audience not being familiar with her. She performed all my favorites "Incredible" & "Heavy" with audience loving all of it. I'm so proud of Choklate and Ivory Jean, they performed at the "I Got Soul" conference in June and now before the end of the year they are opening for Anthony Hamilton.

Now to Anthony...he came out in a shiny gold jacket, paper boy hat and glasses and funked it up with band and showed us his dance moves. The crowd went crazy, how I was able to get as close to the stage as I did is amazing. I have to be honest, I was so caught up in the show I forgot to take my notes so I have to start with his brilliant cover of Sam Cook's "Change Gone Come", I think we all stopped breathing for a second. Next he performed "Can You Feel Me" which in my opinion is one of the best things about the movie "American Gangster". Then on to "Mama Knew Love" was rocked out with a gospel ending. Anthony took a break and then his beautiful wife Tasha blessed the stage with the 1st single off her upcoming album. The highlight of the night was when Anthony came out into the audience and danced with his fans, the females were very appreciative. Anthony also performed a couple of songs from his new album "The Point of It All" one of which was "Lose Her". All the comments I heard from the audience were all positive and I have to give my kudos as well. Another highlight of the show was the acoustic version of "Pass Me Over". I have to add during "Sista Big Bones" AH talked about Diabetes and taking better care of our health. All in all the show was AMAZING and I feel like the music doctor prescribed the perfect medicine. The tour hits Austin & Houston in the next few days.
Click here to check out his video "Cool"

Rahsaan Patterson @ The Prophet Bar

I leave the heaven that was Anthony Hamilton and take a step into the Rahsaan zone. I love my peeps over at the Prophet Bar, Z, Yazmine and R.C. They have a great night of live music it every week with the best musicians in the city sitting in on the jam session. In addition to having the best musicians in the city, the best in the country drop in from time to time. Last week Jaguar Wright grace the stage and this week the incomparable Rahsaan Patterson. Rahsaan was in town town for a private event at Dee Dee McGuire's beautiful home. Rahsaan performed his hit singles from his album "Wine & Spirits" one of which is "The One For Me" and a cover of the Donnie Hathaway classic "This Christmas" which is featured on his Christmas album "The Ultimate Gift". Rahsaan will be back 12/19 for the "Red Carpet Affair" hosted by KRNB. In attendance for the performance were: Jawn Murray for Rolling Out TV, Shawn Henderson/The Foundation, Dawn/30something.com, Sput/Snarky Puppy, Anthony Hamilton's band and background singers, Choklate, Nanette Lee, and Frances Jaye/Neo Soul Cafe.
"The One For Me"


"This Christmas"

Q-Tip 2K Sports Bounce Tour Nov. 19 Dallas, TX

So I went to the Q-Tip concert last night and it was overall a good show. It started a little late and the 1st two acts The Knux and The Cool Kids were OK.... Now to Q-Tip, he had a 4 piece band a DJ. DJ Scratch for all of his 5-7mins put it DOWN. He did 3 tricks in those few minutes that were CRAZY! DJ Scratch is the MAN! His set was crazy, you have to get out to see him. One of my friends said he was worth the price of the ticket.(of course he's a DJ too). The keyboard player is a member of one of my favorite New York bands HEAvy. Since Q-Tip hadn't performed in Dallas in over 10 years you would have thought the show would have sold out, but it didn't. One of the reasons: The show was on the same night as a free T Mobile event at the Ghost Bar with Lil Jon as the guest DJ. You know we're in the South and FREE equaled Lil Jon.

Q-Tip started the night out with We Fight/We Love off his new album "The Renaissance" and it was off to the races with songs off the album into a tribute to J Dilla and some of the ATCQ classics. The crowd was semi-energized but you can't blame them, they were mostly all under the age of 25 which means they missed out on a lot of the of ATCQ past hits and what they represent. He ended his set with an extended version of "Getting Up". I think the Q-Tip and the band are still working out the kinks so whoever is on the last stop of this tour will get the best of Q-Tip's comeback. If you are in Austin and Houston these will be his next stops tonight and Friday. Oh yeah he didn't perform "Breath & Stop" a downer!

Photo: Christopher McKnight