100 Monkeys feat. Jackson Rathbone, Jan. 6th @ Warehouse Live

The unsigned band from Los Angeles, featuring Twilight actor Jackson Rathbone, will be showcasing their eclectic sound at Warehouse Live. The group is named after the Hundredth-Monkey  Effect, in which involves an instantaneous spreading of an idea or ability to the remainder of the population. This phenomenon is illustrated by their unique sound.

When: January 6, 2009

Where:

Warehouse Live

817 St. Emanuel Street

Houston, TX 77003

The Akire Group presents: A Birthday in Wonderland, Jan. 9, Avant Garden

The Akire Group  will be introducing some of Houston’s most buzzworthy underground and electronic scene artist. The lineup will include Michele Thibeaux, rap duo JUZCOZ, and Hisson 1083 aka  The Birthday Boy! Known for one of the most unforgettable performances, Hisson 1083 delivers an illustration of his words  through ihis music which can only be characterized as a Wonderland…so come enjoy the experience!

When : January 9, 2009 at 9 pm

Where:

Avant Garden

411 Westheimer

Houston, TX 77006

Admission: $5

Don’t Call it a Comeback

Don’t say nothing else about music being dead. It’s alive, it’s living, it’s accessible.

It may not be on television, or the radio, but it’s here. That soulful, relatable, can’t help but groove with it kind of music.

Sometimes it needs to take a break, grow up and poke around in life in order to have something new to say, in order to keep up with you in a way that will make you want to keep listening.

Enter Teedra Moses.  Theblvdmag.com caught up with her as she prepared to take stage at New York’s R&B stalwart SOB’s in lower Manhattan. The last time we saw her, she was on the cover of her seminal album Complex Simplicity. Five years later, and a war chest of life lessons later she’s back to let her fans know that she’s grown, but ain’t nothing changed. She’s still that friend that understands.

The petite powerhouse has taken time to raise her 13-year-old twins Ras and Taj, move to Miami and get out of a sour deal with TVT music, her former label. That didn’t mean the music stopped. Moses released three mixtapes over the course of three years.

“The last time people saw me I was dealing getting out of a relationship,” she said. “I was dealing with stuff with my music and I just wanted to have fun and move out of the funk I was in. “

That feeling and other personal issues, including losing her mother, influenced her sound.  It gave young women a soundtrack to explore love with. Five years have passed since that 2004 classic, and it’s a different time for Moses.

“I was getting out of a relationship where I was very focused on him,” she said. “I realized that when you make someone your world you miss out on finding out what God has had for you all along.”

But it’s different now.

“I’m wanting love again, and I’m ready to talk about it” she said. “My fans are writing me and twittering me about putting out a new album, and I have something to say.”

The 33-year-old feels that while she’s been an adult for a while, she’s now a grown woman who has been and has used those life lessons and solid spiritual footing to find a strength that grows daily.

“This time around my sound is more aggressive,” she said. “I’m using my voice from a deeper place.” To Moses, she’s come a long way from “Caught Up,” her first song ever recording. “I have stronger lyrics now, and I’m anxious for people to hear my music.”

Moses’ fans look to her for her strong sassy cleverness, but there’s always a message within the melody.

“We really need to try to keep the attitudes positive, and start focusing on developing really good relationships with ourselves so we don’t tolerate stupid shit,” she said. “Before you work on anything else, make sure that you love and respect yourself.”

Her songs are not about checklists, and what a nigga should be driving and where he should be vacationing. They are about the tears, and smiles you share when you are so deep in love with that one person. The stuff you sometimes don’t want to admit you’re feeling. The stuff you love to be mad at, and the stuff you are mad to love. Sometimes it feels like she puts the words right in your mouth, and gives you the permission to feel it.

“She’s really soulful,” said Claudia Steer, a 27-year-old Londoner who stood outside waiting for her friend to arrive. “She finds a way to remain true to the R&B sound, but still be relevant.

“There’s something late 90s, early 2000s about her that’s filling a void in music today.”

The hopeless romantic in Steer, understands the kind of love Moses writes about. So does Mike Milan, 30, another fan of Moses.

“Her music is timeless and her sound is pure,” he said. “It’s like the R&B in the early 90s when the sound was rich and really yummy.”

Fans wonder why she hasn’t blown up from having such a diverse and deep fan base. Men love her. She’s intriguing without posing a threat, but sassy enough to you know if you are intimidated, that’s your issue. And women relate, mayne we relate.

Still major label success is not what keeps Moses writing and singing.

“This was not something I grew up wanting to,” said the former stylist assistant. “I wasn’t that interested in being a superstar. I knew I needed a way to take care of my kids, and I wasn’t having fun styling anymore.”

So, one tearful night she cried out to God asking Him to bless her with a way to provide for the most important people in her world.

“I’m grateful for my fans allowing me to take care of my kids,” she said. “I feel successful because I’ve been able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for them and that’s all I asked for and he gave it to me in abundance.”

She’s written for people who have had commercial success. Christina Milian, Raphael Saadiq, Nivea, Teairra Mari, Trina and others. And even if selling out your local Wal-mart forever remains elusive, she’ll be happy with the blessings that God has granted.

“I am able to be around to be a loving mom and build strong young men who aren’t pansies,” she said. “I get to write songs that people love, and I must be doing something right because I can’t do this alone.”

She knows she’s got a loyal base. One that will wait with bated breath, scour MySpace and limewire and travel across the country to see her. Fans like Sarah Kapitanoff, a 28-year-old new York transplant via Wisconsin.

“I first heard of her in 1999 singing on other people’s tracks and I’ve been down ever since,” she said. Kapitanoff said she’s seen her in D.C. and has gone to shows by herself just so she can get the Teedra experience. “It’s not hard to drag my boyfriend to the shows though. She’s a beautiful woman with a banging body and she knows she’s talented. I can relate to her.”

Kapitanoff puts out her cigarette and gets inside just inside to see Moses glide on the stage greeting the crowd with the warmth of an artist who really does love what she does.

The love was shown back. Fans, old and new, sang loudly with Moses as she crooned about love lost, and love gained. About the joys of being happy and staying positive, and of course about that “Backstroke.”

Look out for new material from The Young Lioness in 2010.

Photography by Yeppi Yeebo

Totally 80’s New Year’s Eve Bash feat. Thunderpants Dec. 31 HOB

Thunderpants will be hosting the House of Blues’s annual 80’s New Year’s Eve Bash. The bands 80’s and 90’s mix music style will surely be what this New Year’s Eve needs. They have added new keys to the lineup to give it a little more groove, so bring your dancing shoes!

I Set My Friends on Fire, Dec. 29, Meridian

The Miami, Florida natives will be hitting the stage on Dec. 29. Known for their rendition of Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em’s “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” on myspace the duo have earned veteran status in the music industry.

Where:

Meridian

13 Saint Emanuel Street
Houston, TX 77003

Not the Same Ol’ Story

By now you’ve read the Washington Post’s profile of Helena Andrews, the blogger whose upcoming memoir (can you have one of those at 29?), “Bitch is the New Black” has already been optioned as a film. There’s room for volumes of cultural critique of the WaPo’s portrayal of her travails in love and life but I’ll leave that to other writers. I have my opinions but it’s best to at least wait until her book comes out before I sharpen the skewering tools.

Still, weeks after the WaPo ushered Andrews in as the new poster girl for the accomplished, black and lonely in the DMV (that’s the District, Maryland & Virginia to the uninitiated), I’m just figuring out why it left such a bad taste in my mouth. What most bloggers have missed is context — not the kind that would shed light on Andrews’ book — but the kind that would shed light on where she stands relative to the legions of single, overachieving African-American women her book and movie will paint with a broad brush.

Andrews is making a major splash for herself via a yet-unpublished book about her misadventures as a single Black woman in Chocolate City. In the process she’s set to become the MSM’s standard bearer for millennial single Black women. The problem is that even in a world where people with good sense realize that African-Americans are not a monolith, Andrews’ worldview and experiences are anything but normative for most African-American women.

Her PoliticsDaily essays are stellar examples. In one, she writes of growing up the daughter of a single lesbian and of being the only black girl in a lily-white community. In another, she recalls rocking a pendant of two small feet — a known pro-life symbol — “not because I knew what the feet meant…but because, being black and knobby-kneed, I wanted nothing more than to disappear into that crowd of blondes.”

This is the woman whose entry into the pop culture arena is a declaration that Bitch is the New Black? Perhaps it’s her new Black, but it ain’t that for any of the black women who raised me, for whom I acted as big brother and protector, who I have befriended or dated — and I guarantee you that’s a diverse group.

Don’t get me wrong: I get why Andrews’ book hold such appeal. It’s just not the same reason most people think. The topic about lonely, successful black women has been written about for so long that it’s hard to imagine anyone making a bestseller out of something so cliche. The appeal, at least to her publisher and Hollywood, is that in Andrews they’ve found perhaps the truest example of what Malcolm Gladwell wrote about in Outliers: an anomaly who looks enough like the norm that they stand to typify a group whose commonalities they defy.

That’s a shame, wrought with the kind of racial and identity politics that folks like to pretend don’t influence decisions about what books and movies get green-lighted in the age of Obama. But it’s a real shame, nonetheless. Hollywood is still obsessed with finding voices through which it can slice Black life into pieces digestible by a mainstream hungry for cliche. In Andrews’ memoir and coming screenplay, there’s a good chance they’ve found the ingredients.

Keith Reed edits the educaiton magazine Catalyst Ohio, discusses personal finance at keithreedsmoneycorner.com, and has written for Essence, Ebony, Uptown and TheRoot.com.

Goodie Mob Reunion Tour with Scarface Jan. 14th House of Blues

Cee-Lo reunites with Big Gipp, Khujo, and T-Mo for the Goodie Mob’s Reunion Tour! The group will be accompanied by retired Houston legend Scarface. This will be the groups first tour in ten years, as well as Face’s first nationwide tour since announcing his retirement in 2008.

Where:

House of Blues

1204 Caroline Street

Houston, TX 77002

Letter from the B-Girls

For the first time in years, it snowed in Houston. This extreme weather called for early dismissal from work and school. It was exciting to see snow on the cars and on rooftops. And, it was the golden opportunity to wear that coat you never really get to wear in the winter months due to the typical warm temperatures in Houston.

What a way to go into the holiday season. Yep, it’s chilly out and people are spending a little more time cuddled up inside. Mistletoe is hanging and folks are ready for some action. But beware, our contributor T. Hughes, has questions that everyone should ask themselves before making that cuddle buddy your official winter boo; and Mistress Kaine has a little advice for those of you who’s only option is to kiss through the phone.

For some, the Holiday’s signify spending time with family and a break from work or school. And it’s always great to eat until your heart’s content.  Katherine Le made her way over to The Breakfast Klub for a plate of chicken and waffles. Eat up, but take Refresh contributor Shirley Johnson’s tips on how to reduce bloating and guilt as we head into a new decade.

Soul One analyzed why on earth Amerie came out with another album in Heavy Rotation, and our style guru Hollywood Cole highlighted one of the most debonair executives in the city. Check the Stylewatch to find out who. You might know him. It’s time to step up your wardrobe and reorganize your closet. You want to be well dressed for the great things to come in the New Year.

With all the excitement of the year and the preparation for 2010, we at theblvdmag.com want to thank you for continuing to support us as we grow. We got some hot shit for you in this upcoming decade, so keep rocking with us. Blessings to you and yours, and a prosperous New Year!

XX,

The B-Girls

Google Wave has nothing to do with surfing

It’s freakin magic!

Feel free to email the B-girls at techno@theblvdmag.com for Google Wave invites.

Chicken and Waffles

In a culture where we are always on a time crunch, for many people breakfast has become an afterthought. The Breakfast Klub has been a popular niche restaurant since 2001, but sadly it was this Houston native’s first time trying the place. I didn’t know what I was about to get into, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw plaques lining the entranceway with various articles and reviews raving about the Houston staple. I took a look around and discovered that its hole-in-the-wall appearance was a façade. The interior of the restaurant was modern and inviting with its red brick accent wall and dark wood furnishings.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted high above as the dull roar of conversation weaved through the din of clinking silverware and jazzy music gave the joint a comforting coziness. I was surprised at how busy the place was for a mid-morning weekday because the line wrapped around to the door.

The Breakfast Klub offers an extensive selection of breakfast classics with a Southern twist. They also serve lunch in addition to their breakfast menu after 11 a.m. to add to the gluttony. The restaurant has to dishes that boast their claim to fame: katfish and grits and wings and waffles. I know chicken and waffles are huge practically everywhere, but I had never tried them. Now was the perfect time to sample the sweet and salty fare, and a double white raspberry mocha would wash it down.

The crowd was an eclectic mix of people – young and old, professional and quirky, groups and solos. The walls were adorned with vibrant and colorful quilted wall hangings. After some research, I found out that The Breakfast Klub features an “Artist of the Month” and that their art changes monthly with works from local Houston artists who are often under the radar. This month, their featured artist was Phyllis J. Harris who is a quilt artist for S.P.I.E. Arts and the founder of Quilted Wall Hangings by Phyllis

J. Harris.  I was very pleased at the fact that the restaurant was passionate in supporting the local arts.

The owner of the restaurant, Marcus Davis, knows the value of quality service. He brought food directly to patrons, worked the cashier and shook hands with people at every table as he ran to and from the kitchen. In the hustle and bustle of the restaurant, it was quite the spectacle to see him stack three plates on one arm while cracking jokes, all without breaking a sweat.

My food arrived quickly, but one glance at my plate and you would think that it took an hour to construct. One giant, golden brown Belgian-style pecan waffle topped with strawberries and whipped cream surrounded by six perfectly crisp chicken wings. It didn’t matter that I was bare faced or that I was dressed like a hobo because the fragrance of the wings and waffles was so intoxicating. I was a woman on a mission to eat. As I prepared my first bite, I cut one piece of wing and one piece of waffle with a drizzle of syrup. Nothing could have prepared me for the symphonic marriage of flavors. The chicken was succulent and savory to the bone with a light, crunchy batter. The waffle was fluffy with a nice crunch from the pecans, and the syrup brought both of these powerful components together into one mouth-watering combination.

The explosive flavors were so surprising and enjoyable that the dish never became cloying. A few minutes after my food came out, my white raspberry mocha latte arrived. As I took my first cautious sip, I was relieved to discover that the latte was not sickly sweet as I had expected. On the contrary, the latte had the essence of raspberry and white chocolate but without that syrupy overtone that most flavored lattes have. Secretly thankful that I was alone with my decadent meal, I tucked in to one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had. With my jeans unbuttoned.

The Breakfast Klub is a truly unique restaurant that serves delicious food with a distinctly Houstonian flair. The patrons are a reflection of the diverse and lively population, the décor illustrates the eclectic Houston art scene and the food tastes like Southern home cooking down to the bone. For the most important meal of the day, I would highly recommend taking the time to try out The Breakfast Klub. A word of advice: wear stretchy pants and get there early. They close early in the day.

Photography by Jason Woods soularenaissance.com

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