ComplexCon day 1 was the most fun I’ve had in public. The moment I walked into the Long Beach Convention Center, I knew something special was happening.
Maxim Magazine and Karma International threw a decadent and delicious Halloween megabash in downtown Los Angeles. It was pure, joyous mayhem.
The Miles Davis Family hosted a sophisticated yet boozy private tasting of the new Miles Davis Kind of Blue Scotch Whiskey in at a swanky Hollywood art gallery. It was a real turn up.
Entertainment Fusion Group threw a funk, pop and food-filled Swedish extravaganza at Los Angeles’ Shrine Expo Hall and Grounds last weekend. The event was billed “Stockholm CA” and was the first all-Swedish festival to happened outside Swedish borders.
Tail O the Pup re-opened with a bang last week 11 years after it shuttered it’s weiner-themed doors. I attended the legendary hot dog brand’s grand re-opening on a steamy LA day, and boy did I love what I ate.
Iggy Azalea showed everyone at the 16th Annual MAXIM HOT 100 Party why she’s an international star. The Australian hit maker wowed the glamorous crowd with hit after hit, each new song whipping the crowd into a feverish frenzy.
The hyper-exclusive party was produced by Karma International and held at the famed Hollywood Palladium in LA. It was hosted by stunning model Stella Maxwell and featured a raucous DJ set from Nick Cannon, who rocked a black turban and tank top combo, and was flanked by a bevy of gorgeous models. He spent half his stage time sprinting around the stage hyping the already hyped crowd.
Attendees sipped on delicious Best Damn Root Beer floats and were gobsmacked by a high-fashion shoot with Pure Model Club. Gallany Cosmetics kept models looking fierce with timely touch ups, while Markable, the pioneering retail app, held fashion shopping demos.
Thirst-inducing celebs Amber Rose and Tyson Beckford pal’d around the packed to the gills affair dressed in all black. Top model and RuPaul’s Drag Race guest judge Chanel Iman glided around the grounds, a bombshell in a breathtaking one piece beige and black ensemble.
Mel B. gagged the world in a flowing red dress with barely there underwear. Nothing scary about that!
Swagtron smart board demos greeted guests as they touched down on the red carpet. Back inside the event, CIROC Vodka and Don Julio 1942 provided delicious, free drinks to thirsty party people.
One of my favorite sponsors of the evening was H2rOse, a beverage company that doled out tasty and refreshing rose water and saffron drinks, in addition to muddling with Monster Energy to create the most delicious energy drink I’ve ever tasted.
LYFT Premier shuttled glammed out galavanters home in style after a night of pitch-perfect popstar packed bottle popping.
Day 1 of the inaugural LA Soul Fest was an absolute dream. I walked into the grounds at the famed Autry Museum greeted by the sounds of Rahsaan Patterson’s last song of what I’m sure was a dynamic set. He played the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis a few years back and knocked my wig off with his expansive range and strong presence.
I took a stroll around the grounds hoping to get that feel; the one that comes with having a shared, loving experience with total strangers. I stood in the middle of big groups of people. I looked at the gorgeous Griffith Park mountains. I took pictures of off-beat things.
Eric Roberson’s set started and was an instant hit. He came out impeccably-dressed in baby blue and brown and in perfect voice. Erro what they call him.
He ran through a measured set with songs that spanned his over 15-year career. My favorite part of the set was his completely-improvised mid-tempo jam he wrote using suggestions from the audience. The crowd ate up the sophisticated, at times gut-bustingly hilarious jam about birthdays, cake and sex.
I’ve been a Roberson fan since I first heard “Pen Just Cries Away” nearly ten years ago. I like the sad ones. Everything about that song is perfect, a stellar mix of mood, lead vocal, and some unbeatable backing harmonies. Really glad I caught his set.
Melanie Fiona was next. I’d never listened to her before, but got the impression from media coverage that she was a pop-leaning, glamorous, dancing type. While she excels at being and doing each of those, I was not ready for her voice. Good god.
I mean really. A world-conquering vocal. Fairly sure my pieces of my jaw are still in the grass. My favorite jams were Wrong Side of a Love Song, with it’s soaring chorus and heart-wrenching story of love spurned, and Bite the Bullet, a soca-meets-Motown banger that got everyone on their feet.
Out came Lalah Hathaway. Dressed in all white. With stage smoke billowing around her. I knew we were about to get got.
She delivered. I saw couples slow-dancing. Children with those big ear can headphones bopping around. I was busy staring in awe. This set was paced perfectly. Slow burners surrounded by midtempo grooving jawns.
My first brush with Lalah Hathaway was her big hit “Forever, For Always, For Love.” It was clear she had once-in-a-generation vocal talent. What’s scary is she’s only gotten better since that jam came out.
A video of her performing “Something” with the progressive jazz act Snarky went viral a few years back for a thrilling reason. At the peak of the performance, she hits three notes at once in perfect harmony. This is rare, rare gift. Typically this type of thing is heard in throat singing music not on the American tonal system. But Hathaway hits it like it’s nothing in the middle of a scintillating, building groove.
She did it again at the show. When I say I lost it, I am not blowing smoke. I couldn’t believe how effortlessly she did nailed it. How much control she had. I want to highlight a song, but this was definitely my favorite moment of the set. It was transcendent.
Attending LA Soul Fest on Sunday was a good idea. The post-church vibes were high, and anyone who knows me knows I love gospel music.
My family had a post-church tradition of picking up catfish from JJ Fish, and low and behold there was a catfish and fried chicken truck at the festival with a fiercely-efficient line of hungry concertgoers.
Belly full, I was ready to take in some jawns. It was hot as hell, but Avery Sunshine was a welcome ray of light. She won me over with her from-the-pulpit-to-the-comedy-club charm and her strong piano playing and singing, and was the only act to play an instrument. Her voice is big, wide and reedy, and I am now a fan.
Next up was Lyfe Jennings, who burst onto the scene over 10 years ago with songs about broken love and time spent in prison. He scrubbed the bad boy image a bit for this family-friendly atmosphere, but the edge was still there.
He gruffly ran through the highlight of his set, “Must Be Nice,” his biggest and first hit. I played this song 46,000 times when it came out, and this live rendition was even better than the recording.
Jennings’ voice has gotten smoother over the years. His early work stood out in large part because of his jagged, genuine delivery, but this more-even delivery suited a man solidly into his 40s. He performed hits like “S.E.X.” with a newfound maturity. Huge applause from the crowd as he left the stage.
Marsha Ambrosius is an obvious star. Voice, songs, style to spare. I had no idea she was so funny, though. She was stellar when I saw her in Minneapolis a few years back, but on this night she joked openly and saltily about rumors, sex and two-timing men.
The highlight of her set was “Getting Late,” her first smash hit as a member of legendary hip-hop duo Floetry. She milked every note for maximum sensuality. I should also note that she wore a flowing red gown with voluminous, glowing jewels, and was the best-dressed performer of the weekend.
Sunday night’s headliner has been rocking my world for years, but she was still one of the freshest faces of the weekend. Jazmine Sullivan has the churchiest, most visceral voice in the industry; like Mary J. Blige with an armada of riffs and ad-libs. It punches and prods you in emotional places you didn’t know existed.
She lived up to that reputation, putting on a dazzling display of histrionics and studied musicality. There was jazz, soul, r&b, and Katy Perry-esque bombast all packed into one electrifying set.
Highlights were “Lions, Tigers and Bears,” her first big hit, “Bust Your Windows,” a mid-tempo kiss off to a deadbeat lover, and “Need You Bad,” with it’s deft groove-switching and candy-sweet harmonies.
I wanted her set to go on forever, but we hit curfew and had to clear out. I grabbed some catfish for the road.
This restaurant was built for me. The minute I walked in, the smell of fresh shrimp immediately brought to mind strains of the Jay-Z classic ‘Lobster and Shrimp.’ Scrimp.
It also brought back memories of hitting shrimp restaurants with my family, going in on endless fried and non-fried morsels. Of going to that one oft-maligned seafood chain late night with my friends in college. Of hitting J&J fish in North Minneapolis before rehearsal.
One sniff and everything came back. I strolled into Killer Shrimp, Marina Del Rey already excited by the menu I checked out during a very slow workday. It has everything I’ve ever loved in one place; blackened salmon filet, grilled filet mignon, jumbo fried shrimp. A perfect mix of higher-end fare and comfort-food favorites.
A bright and comfortable staff greeted and seated me in a booth with a stunning view of the water. As I waited for my server, I noticed the clientele at Killer Shrimp is both racially and professionally diverse.
There were business folk, families, young people on dates. It’s tough to attract such a wide array of people without being broad and boring, but KSMDR pulls it off with aplomb.
I tried a few apps, all wonderful. The shrimp cocktail was succulent and had plenty of plump ones. I wanted to tilt the glass over my mouth, but polite company held me back.
My favorite opener was the lobster mac, which tasted southern and decadent but also restrained in the best way. Even. I love this combo, and this was the best version I’ve ever had.
For mains I devoured paella that knocked me on my ass. Paella is a top three seafood dish for me; I make it all the time. So there was some pressure on the kitchen to deliver that flavor-texture balance I expect from this dish. They nailed it. Pretty confident I groaned like a fat uncle at a barbecue.
I also ate up some crab cakes, which were tender but had enough heft to satiate. Would and will recommend again and again.
Damn near didn’t get dessert, but I do P90x every day of the week I don’t have a hangover. So, some days. Game on.
Feeling at home, I had the apple cobbler which tasted…better than moms. She’ll never see this.
It was so very flame, so tasty and tastefully sweet. It was also a perfect ending to an evening that took me back to my Chicago/Memphis family roots. I will be back, and I will bring friends.
Anthony Hamilton and Fantasia Barrino played a thrilling sold out show at LA’s 7100 seat Microsoft Theater last Friday that took the audience to church, the club and everywhere in between. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.