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On the Scene: Six Summit Gallery Fashion Art Performance

by Dano Nissen
written by Dano Nissen

Ballet. Nina Simone. Bunny art. Catwalk. Miss New York. Moscow mules. 

All of that was on display at New York Fashion Week’s Six Summit Gallery fashion art performance in the Port Authority bus terminal on Thursday, Sept 8.

Attendees could walk around and peruse the artwork — from sculptures to contemporary canvas paintings to photography. Complimentary “cocktails to go” from Merican Mules could be picked up at the bar. The flavors: Moscow Mule, Mexican Mule, Southern Mule and Tropical Mule.

After viewing the gallery and grabbing any one of the gingery drinks, everyone was called to sit down and enjoy the show.

An opera singer kicked things off, crooning around the cozy room. Then a ballerina pranced about. And Miss New York Taryn Smith belted her rendition of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good.” Interspersed between all the performances were catwalks. Models showed off luxury handbags, high end dresses and chic street wear.

The event was part of the Six Summit Gallery, which hosted several other exhibits in the Port Authority bus terminal. Other exhibits included portraits of famous musicians, an artistic homage to New York City and more.

New York Fashion Week kicked off Sept 9 and ends Sept. 14 with buzzy appearances by the likes of Anna Wintour, Serena Williams and Lil Nas X.

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Diplo Show Us ‘This Is How We Do It’ on a Friday Night at NYC’s Electronic Zoo Music Festival

by Emerson Unger
written by Emerson Unger

 

EZoo’s Twitter

 

“This is how we do it. It’s Friday night and I feel all right. The party is here on the West side,” and that is exactly what legendary DJ Diplo brought to this year’s Electronic Zoo Music Festival. Sampling the 90s hit song by Montell Jordan, Diplo got the party started on Friday night on the east side— of Manhattan a.k.a. Randall’s Island just as the sun was setting. As dusk settled in he took to his DJ set up as the smoke began to fill the Antheon stage.

Starting his set bathed in green lights with forest imagery, he shouted out New York City saying, “New York how you feeling” as he began playing KHIA’s “My Neck, My Back.” Clad in a simple white tee and shades, he mixed “My Neck, My Back” with his song ‘Biturbo” with Raumakustik as the vibe moved from green to red with a digital lava video and solar flares behind him. As darkness started to fill the approaching night sky Diplo’s stage morphed into a purple and blue set and light show as the crowd grew filling up with kids rocking everything from light-up sneakers to shades for the song, “Enjoy” by Misael Deejay.

Diplo then went on to spin “Party Starter” by  Matt Guy,  “Bussin” from Mikey Barreneche and  “Right 2 Left” by  Diplo & Mele as well as Nader Razdar’s “Alegria.” His set/ stage changed vibes from deep space to space lava to deep sea and then to a forest covered in flames all to match the song he was spinning. With his horse voice, he admitted to losing a few days earlier, Diplo would occasionally interject a shout-out to the crowd to get them pumped and keep the energy high.

Leaning into a trance state, Diplo played, “Back Once More” by  Pajane. He then played “Benz” by Euro Trash, “Brooklyn Bounce” by Mele, and Fisher’s “Wanna Go Dancin’.” He continued on with his own songs with LSD and Sia for “Thunderclouds” and “Be Right There.” He finished this part of his set with “Deep Inside” by Hardrive and a dance mash-up of The White Stripe’s “Seven Nation Army.”

Then the Antheon stage went blue again for Diplo’s and Miguel’s song, “Don’t Forget My Love.” The blue stage faded into beautiful purple flames for Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us” and Diplo’s “On My Mind.” Diplo when on to spin “I’m Addicted To The Beat” by David Kim and Kanye West’s “Power” before closing out his set with his own songs “Revolution” and “Let You Go.”

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Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 2, Episode 3 Review

by Julian Cannon
written by Julian Cannon

The first words that came out of my mouth upon watching this week’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan is “Raq should have killed Unique.”

That did not happen. But I do believe Unique will team up with the Italian group to get back at Raquel and her empire. But does this mean that Raq is going to start losing control of being the kingpin? I do not think so. She has more problems to clean up other than the nasty rats that chewed up her money. I feel that Kanan is starting to know that Raq is lying to him as she has an answer to every bit of his concerning questions. The way they are writing Raq, they should have written Ghost the same way. That master manipulator, who lies and deceives everyone around them.

The best scenes of this week’s episode featured Kanan and Famous. These two have a great brotherly bond and I am looking forward to seeing more of them on this season of Raising Kanan. I think that because Famous’ name were on the cassette covers, it might tie into something in the future that could affect Raq’s connection to the drug game.

I do have a theory. As a result of her relationship with Howard, Raq snipped on Marvin and DefCon so that she could lead them. The purpose of Howard telling Raq Scrappy was to kill him and lie to Kanan about it- all to turn Kanan against his mother. As soon as Kanan discovers she killed Scrappy and lied about it, his relationship with her may be lost forever.

And then we finally see Jukebox and her mom meet for the first time at the church and Jukebox stormed off after seeing her. Jukebox will have a ton of questions so I hope that this will be addressed soon. But at the recording studio is where Jukebox also shines as the actress Hailey Kilgore haas a great voice and when she sings, I am drawn into her.

Solid episode of Raising Kanan this week!

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D’USSÉ VIP Day Party Experience, Watermark NYC

by Gabrielle Babson
written by Gabrielle Babson

On August 21st, D’USSÉ hosted its third VIP Day Party experience in New York City. Taking place at the Watermark at Pier 15 in the heart of the South Street Seaport, there were several variations of cocktails to complement the Cognac we all know and love. Starting with the D’USSÉ Peach Sidecar, to the D’USSÉ Lemonade and finally the D’USSÉ Day Punch, there was plenty to go around and all of which fit the description of a tasteful summer cocktail. Along with a variety of beverages, there were special guest DJs playing many of the popular hits that kept this summer on a high note. As everyone danced to a few of our favorite songs, there was a photo booth that gave guests the option to digitally transfer photos to their smartphones for all their social media needs!

As if that wasn’t enough, a largely crafted Jenga set kept many of the guests at the edge of their seats while being in complete joy of the game! Specialty popsicles were served as we were encouraged to indulge in various food options (ie. cheeseburger sliders, coconut shrimp, fries, charcuterie boards, etc) and free merchandise. With the scenery of the city skyline and beautiful waterfront views, D’USSÉ surely had us on our feet enjoying every bit of the party!

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RoleCall Theater Presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream In Atlanta

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

RoleCall Theater is a non-profit independent theater company that provides a safe space for creatives to display their talents. From short plays and films to workshops and improv shows, RoleCall Theater introduces a new wave of talent bringing a fresh perspective to the theater community.

The quaint space is located in Downtown Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, an eclectic historical building that was remodeled in 2014 and houses various cuisine-focused restaurants, trendy retail stores, comfortable outdoor spaces and a rooftop with a view that is to die for.

Right between a parking garage and Pancake Social, a trendy brunch spot, is RoleCall Theater. It’s tucked in to a small corner, and if you’re not paying attention it’s easy to miss. Their outdoor theater space, when not in use, is a typical 3-tiered seating area for patrons.

But what it lacks in space it makes up for in culture.

This summer, RoleCall Theater is the home of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

You can catch the Shakespearean tragedy live from Thursday to Saturday until August 20th.

Only evening shows are available, which is perfect if you’re trying to avoid Atlanta’s almost unbearable summer temperatures. But even the sweltering heat isn’t enough to ruin this quirky yet entertaining depiction of one of the playwright’s most popular works.

Given the feel of this play and the many times it’s been done by other theatre companies, it’s expected of the cast to convey a comedic and zany approach but in an exciting, energy-packed plot of confused romance as well as pleasurable, weird schemes.

Trevor Poli as Demetrius, Nicolette Acosta as Helena, Molly McInturff as Hermia and Sully Brown as Lysander.

Directed by RoleCall’s in-house director and producer Lyssa Hoganson and Evan Fields, the famous play was brought to life with a talented 7 person cast and just a few props.

The last time I read A Midsummer Night’s Dream was in High School, and I hadn’t thought about it since. The old Elizabethan English left me confused and 17-year-old me didn’t quite have the appropriate attention span to absorb all five acts. But it all started to come back to me once I took my seat inside the RoleCall Theater.

This time, despite the frequent switches between the fairy world and the human world, following along was pretty easy – which is a testament to the memorable performances of each cast member.

Most people already know the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s a play within a play, and it follows four lovers, an upcoming marriage and a group of amateur actors. A few fairies are sprinkled in there, too.

The cast features The Knockturnal’s very own Nicolette Acosta as Helena/Flute/Cobweb, Madeline Brashier as Puck/Philostrate/Egeus, Sully Brown as Lysander/Nick Bottom, Evan Fields as Oberon/Theseus/Snout, Molly McInturff as Hermia/Starveling/Peaseblossom, Kaley Pharr as Titania/Hippolyta/Snug and Trevor Poli as Demetrius/Quince

Every group eventually ends up in the same place at the same time. Mischief takes place at every turn and themes of love and heartbreak come up often, thanks to the inevitable side effects of overdosing on love potions. There are romantic and physical chases due to mistaken identities and an obnoxiously dramatic wedding all delivered in to a wonderfully bold performance.

You may not remember how this adventure plays out. I know I didn’t, initially. But it doesn’t matter because the performance, while enigmatic, was as magical as a fairy-enchanted forest.

Above all, the whole production organically flows together with Nicolette giving a magnetic portrayal of scorned lover Helena, and Molly conveying the opposite side of the spectrum of adolescent love in her character Hermia. Sully and Trevor do a great job of commanding the room during their heated love-ridden arguments as Lysander and Demetrius. Evan and Kaley accomplished the difficult task of presenting the beautiful yet dangerous realities of marriage between Oberon and Titania.

And no one could have played the role of Puck better than Madeline, with her adorable charisma and playful demeanor.

With a sense of baffling foolishness and wonder, the play concluded.

I caught a Thursday night show, so it wasn’t too packed. The box-sized room with long, black curtains adorning each side was tight. I remembered thinking “Surely, this cast of seven can’t give us, the audience, a compelling performance in such a tiny space?” There was a sturdy, black step ladder situated on top of a few vintage rugs in the middle of the room. The set up was almost too simple. I wasn’t sure what I had walked in to, but I left feeling happy that I did.

You can purchase tickets to RoleCall Theater’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream here.

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India Shawn Delivers An Honestly Raw, But Soothing R&B Set at BMI’s Lollapalooza Stage

by Emerson Unger
written by Emerson Unger

Courtesy of @indiashawn

 

With the wind effortlessly blowing, the beautiful songbird, India Shawn, took to the BMI’s Lollapalooza stage to pour out her soul with her R&B songs that are a collection of honesty, trials, and triumphs. Clad in pink with feathers, the LA base songwriter and songstress, belted out the ethereal, “Floating away.” She followed it with her honest and retro vibe song, “Don’t Play With My Heart,” before diving into her laid-back song, “Cali Love.”  Then Shawn took a second to chat with fans. She expressed her frustration about living in LA and the lack of finding honest love despite trying.

After taking a beat, she dove into her song “Too Sweet.” With sensual moves, she reminded the audience that she cannot only tempt but also reward those who love her. Accompanied on stage by her guitarist and drummer, India Shawn ruled the stage captivating those in the audience who love to sing along with her, especially for “Too Sweet.”

Shawn changes things up for her next song, “Not Too Deep.” Slowing the tempo down, she made every word in the lyrics not only heard but felt with deep emotion and honesty.  With sensuality on full display, Shawn then got brutally honest for her next song, “Exchange.” Hitting high notes, she made the audience feel the moment, in which she put pen to paper to craft the song.

Shawn then reminded her fans that not only is she sensual, but she is also strong. Belting out the song, “Superfine,” she championed her happiness over heartbreak all while noting to everyone that she is one fine-ass individual. She then gave the crowd her rendition of Brandy’s “Almost Doesn’t Count,” before singing “Movin on.” She rounded out her performance with her final song “Caught In The Middle,” which she released only days before Lollapalooza.

Check out India Shawn’s new music video for “Caught In The Middle.”

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Buffalo Nichols Brings His Life Journey To The BMI Lollapalooza Stage With A Raw & Powerful Performance

by Emerson Unger
written by Emerson Unger

@buffalonicholsmusic

Life can teach you many lessons, even ones that you don’t want to learn, but for rhythm and blues singer/ songwriter, Buffalo Nichols has taken those life challenges and channeled them into a brutally honest and authentic hard-working music career. Better or for worse, married to the music as well as his guitar, Nichols has traveled the globe from Milwaukee to West Africa to Texas and Europe with the mission to turn an artist’s dream into reality and bring blues music into the future by putting stories of black Americans back into folk music.

His latest stop on his journey has brought him to the iconic Lollapalooza BMI stage. In front of a packed audience of young and old and every color, Nichols sang his heart out. A company just by his guitar and a drummer, he held the audience’s soul in the palm of his hand. With the audience hanging on his every word, he admits his captivating stage presence is not one that he developed overnight. “It’s definitely learned and not natural,” he said. It’s evident that his undeniable stage presence has been one that has been earned through years of setbacks, challenges, and strife culminating in an excruciating pressure that only develops the world’s rarest gems.

As for his music, it seems to have hit a cord with the masses given the pain brought on by the pandemic. He acknowledges with songs like “Living In Hell,” his music has been resonating with more and more people, “I think… a lot of people were trying to escape from the darkness of the last two years, but I think a lot of people are giving into it…not in a negative way but just accepting it. I think that’s why people come to my music.”

Accepting one’s fake can be a love and hate relationship, which is something he can identify with when it comes to his guitar. “It means everything and nothing,” he says about his six strings. “I tried so hard not to play guitar and do something else with my life, but it just [keeps] calling me back,” he admits. “I love it; it’s ruined my life and saved my life,” he said.

As for the next chapter on Nichols’s Journey, well he’s back on the road. His next stop will be AMERICANAFEST before heading to New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, Texas, and Little Rock Arkansas.

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SKYBAR’S NIGHT MARKET

by Naomi Pandolfi
written by Naomi Pandolfi

On Thursday, July 21, 2022, Skybar’s Summer Nights Night Market made its return at Mondrian Los Angeles. Guests were treated to a market featuring all the summertime essentials: sunglasses, hats, jewelry, swimwear, and more. Additional installments included a beauty bar and tarot readings. Bites by Chickies Hot Chicken were available, along with cocktail specials poolside. The musical vibes for the night featured live DJ sets. Besides Chickies Hot Chicken, participating vendors also included The Good Witch, LA Tarot Readings, York and Angel Jewelry, Leo West Ear Piercing, JDS Swim, Bitty Love, Eco Pop Marketplace, Crop Top Chuy, _Droppin Jewels_, L. A. G. Vintage, Body Sculpting by Shapetress, BEAUTY BAR + CHAIR MASSAGE, and Kin Amora Moroccan Made Clothing.

Skybar’s next night market will be “In Dust We Trust,” a Burning Man-themed night market taking place on Thursday, August 18.

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