::BEHIND THE SCENES:: WITH ERIC ROBERSON

::BEHIND THE SCENES:: WITH ERIC ROBERSON

post by Gypsy
photos by Daria Johnson and Nocturnal Charm
video by Nocturnal Charm

Photo by Daria Johnson

In six years of existence, Gypsy Soul has always supported Eric Roberson after falling in love with his music with the initial listen of The Vault 1.5; but we have never sat down for an interview...until now! He and his team were gracious enough to let us behind the scenes at sound check at The Baltimore Soundstage for an interview and look at his preparation. With a fun loving personality that was very welcoming and genuine, Eric certainly made us excited, overwhelmed but very comfortable when engaging with him.

Eric sat down with us before his show promoting his new album The Box. We talked about perception and using it to find opportunities and blessings, his longevity and a few of the facets to his success, and the art of collaboration or rather the accidental art of collaboration among many things.

 Photo by Nocturnal Charm

We were very surprised to learn that Music Fan First was written in the bathroom...but just click the video to find out more tidbits in our first (hopefully of many) sit down with Eric Roberson.


         



To view more photos from that night click HERE

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::RECAP:: MARSHA AMBROSIUS LIVE AT THE BALTIMORE SOUNDSTAGE

::RECAP:: MARSHA AMBROSIUS LIVE AT THE BALTIMORE SOUNDSTAGE
Post by Daniel Harris
Photos by LaVan Anderson

It has been 12 years since "The Songstress" aka Marsha Ambrosius released her first album as one half of the soulful duo Floetry. But as each and every concert goer found out this past Friday at the Baltimore Soundstage, there is no stopping Marsha Ambrosius!

The Baltimore Soundstage once again proved that it is a premier venue and the perfect host for Marsha's Friends and Lovers Tour. With incredible sight lines at every angle in the venue and great sound, the soundstage was an amazing way to take in the evening's artists. Before Marsha Ambrosius took the stage, her tour provided an opportunity for Baltimore to get familiar with a few up and coming artists.

First to take the stage was Motown recording group Mprynt. When you are an R&B group on the Motown label, there is a lot to live up to. Although there were some signs that they were fairly new to performing on this level, this group of four managed and represented the Motown name very well. After covering artists like Jay Z, Tupac and Blackstreet, Mprynt performed "Don't Hurt Me." A decently put together tune, was a good way for the crowd to get a sense of who this group is and their potential to be successful in the music business.

Next to perform was Jade Alston. From her first song "Good Times", it was very clear that Jade was a unique artist. Jade's blend of R&B, soul, alternative and folk was a true testament that music really knows no boundaries. After being diagnosed with a serious heart condition, Jade Alston purposed to do the music that she loved and that spoke to her most. Her sound is a very polished one, which is the perfect vehicle to drive her very open and straightforward lyrics.

Both Jay Hayden and GoGo Morrow are no strangers to the big stage and their respective
performances made that very evident. Both Jay and GoGo gave great energy and connected very well with the audience. Sharing the stage with artists like Deborah Cox, Tank and Eric Roberson, Hayden's laid back acoustic set gave the audience a great opportunity to see why he has been able to share the stage with so many talented artists. GoGo Morrow, former background singer and dancer for Lady Gaga, gave the crowd a high energy performance that was the perfect lead in to Marsha Ambrosius.

The anticipation for Marsha reached it's highest point yet and just as it was about to boil over, she took the stage to an eruption of cheers. Marsha Ambrosius knows how to give a great performance. The sold out venue was not only treated to Marsha's incredible vocal ability but also some very candid moments. Each time she chose to reflect on some moment of her love life, there was the sense that it was much more than a show. It was a way for her to really work some things out and share her experiences.

Marsha is a very clever and truly ingenious artist. How she effortlessly transitions from "Late Night, Early Morning" to Prince's "The Beautiful Ones" was classic! Her self produced take on the Sade classic "Stronger than Pride" perfectly blends the smooth Sade's familiar smooth sound with heavy Hip Hop influence. (Jeru the Damaja's "Come Clean" being the base of her interpretation) 17 years removed from it first being penned and 9 years since recording it, "Butterflies" is still a crowd favorite. With both Marsha and the sold out crowd singing, it became one huge chorus singing those very memorable and relatable lyrics.

If an opportunity presents itself to check out the Friends and Lovers Tour, it would be foolish to pass it up.

Our thanks to the Baltimore Soundstage for the media access and photographer LaVan Anderson for the wonderful photos.

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::RECAP:: Dom Kennedy Live At Baltimore Soundstage

::RECAP:: Dom Kennedy Live At Baltimore Soundstage
by Daniel Harris

Besides displaying skill and talent, one element that seems to have been taken out of Hip Hop today is "hunger." In its early days, the hunger to be heard, the hunger to be received and the hunger to be respected as an art form was present in every Hip Hop artist. Last Thursday, that sense of hunger was brought back as Dom Kennedy kicked off his "Get Home Safely" tour at Baltimore Soundstage.

Baltimore was the first stop for the Dom Kennedy's tour. Before Kennedy took the stage, Inglewood native, Skeme kicked off the tour and got the crowd ready for the main show. Being the first act of the first show of the tour isn't an easy thing to do but Skeme made it look effortless.

The energy he brought to the stage was a great way to set the tone for the rest of the evening. Skeme, like Dom Kennedy, brought a hunger that has really been missing from hip hop. If Skeme's performance was any indication for the rest of the evening, it was going to be a good night.

Baltimore's appreciation for Dom Kennedy, as he hit the stage, was almost like the LA rapper was doing a show in his hometown; But listening to him, the honesty of his flow, the love shown at the Baltimore Soundstage was understandable. Songs like "My Type of Party", "Let's Be Friends" and "Dominic" were void of mainstream jargon or cliches. In a recent interview with The Baltimore Sun, Kennedy says, "My mindset going into Get Home Safely was making a project that I could be happy with for the rest of my life and something that will stand the time."

Not only can Dom Kennedy rest assured knowing that his music stands the test of time, he can continue to rock stages knowing that he is contributing to real hip hop.

Our special thanks to Baltimore Soundstage for the media access.

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::RECAP:: LIANNE LA HAVAS & ALICE SMITH LIVE

::RECAP:: LIANNE LA HAVAS & ALICE SMITH LIVE

by Daniel Harris end note by Gypsy
Photos by: Nocturnal Charm

While Baltimore may not be thought of a city for great acts to perform, 24-7 Entertainment and Baltimore Soundstage is doing what it can to quickly change that perception.

This past Friday, the Marketplace venue was blessed host to two powerful, sultry, dazzling artists in Alice Smith and Lianne La Havas. Aside from two amazing performances, what was most intriguing about the night was the composition of the crowd.

The concert was open to all ages and that's exactly what the crowd consisted of. Those under 21 were represented very well. In fact, it seemed as if they made up the majority of the crowd. It was quite inspiring. There are a lot of notions about those under 21 and their music selections these days. Many major labels seem to think that if it doesn't have a catchy hook or repetitive beat, this group will not support. Observing the crowd last Friday, it may be in the best interest of some labels to reevaluate their notion.

The show starts and the place erupted with cheer for Alice Smith as she took the stage. Judging from the expression on her face, it really took her by surprise. No full band, no instrumental tracks, no DJ; Alice took the stage with an acoustic guitar player and her booming voice.

Her setup proved to be the perfect means to get lost in her music. Alice is a pure singer and her lyrical content was not overshadowed by her singing ability. As she was singing, it was apparent that she possess the ability to draw listeners in to the raw emotion of her music.

Once her set was finished, Alice Smith left the stage to the same eruption of cheers she received at the start of her performance. The crowd is given a few minutes to wrap their heads around the experience while the stage is set up for Lianne La Havas.

Lianne delivers her music with intense passion, connecting with her audience on a very real level. Setting up to perform "Forget", she let the crowd know that their singing of the hook needed to be as angry as possible to really express the emotion of the song. In fact, throughout the night, Lianne seemed unashamed to share many of her life experiences through her music.

Her vocal abilities are equally matched by her incredible talents as a musician. It is a well known fact that she has the talent to play guitar. Her album "Is Your Love Big Enough?" did a great job to highlight her talent with songs like "They Could Be Wrong" and "Age". However, during her live performance, she showed the audience that her skill set goes way beyond just being able to merely play guitar. Lianne La Havas is a rocker in every sense of the word!

Thanks to the efforts of groups like 24-7 Entertainment and Baltimore Soundstage, the Charm City is quickly on the rise to host more amazing shows like this one. Thank you to the Baltimore Soundstage for the access.

To view more pictures for the show please click HERE

Gypsy Note:

Ive seen many shows and heard many artists perform but this was one of the best musical experiences I have ever participated in. I say participate because there is a giving and a taking done by both the artists and the audience during a live show such as this where the artists are so vulnerable and raw. After being a fan for so long of Alice Smith it was fulfilling to be able to FINALLY see her live and to experience what I hear in my car or all over my house was incredible. To add to the night the beautiful voice of one of my new favorites, Lianne La Havas made for an unforgettable evening. Not to mention they both were sweet as pie and incredibly gracious. Imagine if these ladies were played on the radio here in Baltimore, imagine how the things were hear might change the things we do...how substantive music on the airwaves might change the culture of a city...

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::TIX FIX:: LIANNE LA HAVAS & ALICE SMITH

::TIX FIX:: LIANNE LA HAVAS & ALICE SMITH

LIANNE LA HAVAS & ALICE SMITH

are coming to Baltimore at the Baltimore Sound Stage on Friday, July 26th!!

Need tix? Enter our give a way to win ONE (1) pair of tickets OR if you want to get tix before they SELL OUT then head over to http://www.baltimoresoundstage.com.

• COMPLETE the form below.


• Entries will only be accepted between the hours of 10AM on Monday 7/22 until 12 noon on Thursday 7/25.


• One entry per person.


• If you have won a contest/giveaway from Gypsy Soul in the past 30 days, you are ineligible to enter.


• All entries that do not adhere to the above stated guidelines will be disqualified.
  Entrants must be in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area and available to attend a show at The Baltimore Sound Stage, 124 Market Place Baltimore MD 21202 on Friday, July 26 at 7PM.


• One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entrants on Friday 7/26  to receive a pair of complimentary tickets to the show. The winner will be notified by email and/or mobile phone by Friday 7/26  at or around 11AM and provided with further details.


• The winner's name will be announced on Gypsy Soul's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Thanks for SOULCIALIZING!!

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::RECAP:: PJ Morton LIVE in Baltimore

::RECAP::  PJ Morton LIVE in Baltimore
by Daniel Harris 
Photos by Tameka Harris

Great music doesn't start with musicianship, vocal abilities and stage presence. Great music starts when an artist produces music that is true to who they are as people, not cogs in the music business factory. This past Saturday, PJ Morton once again showed Baltimore why he truly makes great music.

The Baltimore Soundstage played host to an incredible night of music and good vibes as the New Orleans born soul singer electrified the crowd with his candid lyrics, crisp musical style and engaging showmanship.

What was most interesting about this mini tour PJ Morton is on, with New York and Washington, DC as the other cities he blessed this weekend, is the addition of an up and coming talent to his opening act for each of the weekend's concerts.

Many may recognize J. Drew as the brother of gospel artist Kierra Sheard and the production genius behind much of her work. Deciding to test the waters as a frontman, J. Drew took the stage for only the second time in his very short solo career (with his first show being the previous night in New York.)

J. Drew has the musicianship (his band blazed!), he has the vocal abilities (he's from the Clark Dynasty, you'd be a fool to expect anything less!) and some stage presence (it was his second show and the newbie jitters showed through at times.); However, he lacked depth in his songwriting. This should be prefaced by saying there is no expectation for J. Drew to do Gospel. As a musician and artist, he should find his path in the music business.

J. Drew's set was filled with a lot of mediocre, "flavor of the month" lyrical content and colloquialisms, with constant requests to "turn up." Personal sidebar: If that term were to die right now, it wouldn't be the worst thing that ever happened.

Perhaps a bright spot for the young artist, he has potential. With more development and finding his lane in the business, J. Drew could be your new favorite artist.

As the moment approached for PJ Morton to take the stage, it was very hard to tell what exactly he would give the audience. A true music industry non-conformist, PJ definitely values artistry over industry, making the anticipation of his performance all the more exciting. And don't for one second think that his recent signing to Young Money has changed him or his music!

Watching his same showmanship mastery, listening to him perform songs from his new album New Orleans and still being able to hear the PJ fans know and love, watching the audience being moved by every chord played and note sang, still being able to feel and connect with each and every song; You leave with the sense that PJ Morton will "always be."

To see more photos from the show click HERE and become a fan of Gypsy Soul on Facebook!

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::RECAP:: Maysa Leak LIVE

::RECAP:: Maysa Leak LIVE
by Daniel Harris

Selling out any venue is an amazing feat. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication put into an artist's craft. For Maysa Leak, selling out a venue in her hometown was a major accomplishment.

Located in Baltimore's Marketplace, Baltimore Soundstage was the perfect place to celebrate the release of Maysa's latest release Blue Velvet Soul, her 10th solo album. One of the city's premier performing venues, this space provides national recording artists with an intimate setting to showcase their talents.

What is considered a first for the area, Baltimore Soundstage often  presents artists in a fully seated setting. Concert goers can enjoy Baltimore Soundstage's delicious menu while listening to their favorite artist perform.

Maysa took the stage with an overwhelming show of love from her hometown crowd. Her voice quality and control made for a very enjoyable evening of music. Watching her as she commanded the stage and everyone's attention was an amazing experience.

The Baltimore Soundstage was filled to near capacity with loyal supporters of this wonderful talent. However, Maysa wondered if she could even fill this or any venue in her hometown. As she began to cruise through her set, she told the crowd that many critics have said it would be impossible for her to gain the support of her hometown. This international superstar had a real fear that people would not show up.

Throughout her illustrious career, there have been some who've said that it would be impossible for her to appeal to her hometown crowd. "They told me I could sell out DC and the surrounding areas but never my hometown" says Maysa. Judging from the massive line to get inside the venue and the deafening roar as Maysa took the stage, it is safe to say that "they" were completely wrong!

As the concert concluded and the crowd rushed to purchase her new album.

As music lovers, we cannot stress the importance of supporting the artists in your own backyard. Hometown support is a great test for the support that these talented artists will receive abroad. Hometown support is a great boost to the morale of artists at all levels in the business.

Tell us what you think? Are you surprised that Maysa had this concern? Do you feel that your local music scene does enough to support local artists? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below. Make sure to follow Maysa at @MAYSALEAK‎

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