Music all around!!

The past few days have been full of great music for me. This past Thursday night (8-2-07), I had the opportunity to see the Rock the Bells concert at HiFi Buys Amphitheater. Well actually I was working at the show. I work at HiFi Buys every summer as a server for the box seats. It's a great way to see concerts and shows that I wouldn't normally go to. I've seen Jimmy Buffet, Mudvayne, Poison, Dave Matthews Band, 311, Kenny Chesney and many more other artists.

Well last Thursday I got a chance to see the lineup that consisted of Jedi Mind Tricks, Immortal Technique, David Banner, Pharoahe Monche, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Nas, Erykah Badu and the Wu-Tang Clan. It was a great show. Now I must qualify this by saying that I'm not a huge hip hop person. Like I told someone at the show, I'm an "R&B chick" but since I started working with my business partner and other die hard hip hop heads, I have become much more aware of hip hop. I love a great lyricist almost as much as I love a great singer. I was honored to have the opportunity to experience the Rock the Bells festival. It was cool to see Talib Kweli and Mos Def perform as Black Star. And Nas was definitely great to watch. I can see why he has the fan base that he does. He has so much charisma. I only got to see a few minutes of the Wu-Tang Clan but it was great to see a large group of rappers on stage and understand everyone clearly.

Now on Saturday I had the opportunity to work at the Flashback Festival. I always try to work that festival whenever I get the chance because there are always some old school groups that I would like to see. This year I was excited at the opportunity to see Stephanie Mills. I made it a point to stay after I was done working to sit and watch her do her thing. I got to hear her sing two of my favorites ballads of all time, "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love" and "Home". Like I said before, I'm an "R&B chick" who listened to a lot of her parent's music growing up so I am a fan of Jeffrey Osborne, Billy Ocean, Rene and Angela, Stephanie Mills, Klymaxx and many more. My Sirius radio is more often on the easy listening stations than anything.

If you have the chance, check out the Rock the Bells festival. Here is the website: www.rockthebells.net