You know how at the beginning of the year, everyone makes a New Years resolution saying what they want to accomplish and what they want to change in their life? Sure these are things you say, but along the line you slowly start to forget that it’s even a new year. This year, my ultimate goal is to form a band and become what the Shop Boyz classically coined a rockstar.

Now no one said that forming a band would be easy but you have to start somewhere and the best way for me to get this thing kicking is to go to other music events to see who’s out there and scope out the current music/art trend. Saying all of this, I was more than stoked when my friend Corinne Stevie asked me to perform with her and play an acoustic version of her popular song “Morning Sunrise” at the Atlanta Indie Festival. This was actually my first time playing my guitar with me not singing and having someone actually rapping over it which I thought was kind of dope. It was also my first time going to the Atlanta Indie Festival and I must say that it was an overwhelming experience to see so many talented artists doing their thing on the stage.

Upon walking in, I felt right at home as I saw people with pink hair, killer tattoos and lots of black sunglasses, even though I have neither pink hair nor any tattoos. I actually got the same feeling that I feel every time I’m with my Art Nouveau buddies because they are always wearing some colorful ass clothing and I’m simply wearing my usual black band t-shirt with tattered pants or shorts. It’s like an outcast in a group of outcasts! Despite the heat though, the show kicked ass from start to finish.

Usually when I go to these kinds of events I feel like it won’t be as good as I would like, but a lot of bands actually caught my attention because they were really good. Being that I was slightly intoxicated, I didn’t catch the names of these bands (Vodka with Coke was good by the way), I just remember a guy in a yellow shirt with a violinist, and a chick on guitar and another one singing. What was funny was that they had a dance to go with their performance which made it a bit more fun and entertaining. The dude from the 90’s R&B group Soul 4 Real even showed up and performed which was a pretty nostalgic experience hearing all of those old songs. If only Heavy D was there to do his little part in their song “Every Little Thing.”

What performance really topped the day off for me was ALIen who almost beats up his drum set while playing to a song. He killed it when they played DMX’s Ruff Ryders Anthem; I mean this guy was awesome! He reminds me of how I am on my guitar where I play as wild as all hell while still playing in tune and in rhythm. This guy must be an asset in my quest to rock stardom. If I could play with a guy like that, who knows what the band would be like on stage! I would probably jump into the drum set during a performance just for the hell of it!

All in all, the Atlanta Indie Fest was great. I drunk good liquor, hung out with cool people, got a tan and saw Muffy perform one of my favorite songs from her, “I’m in Love with a Dope Boy.” Good job Corey Davis. You’ve recently outdone yourself. If this happened every weekend, I would definitely be in attendance (if it’s free).If you haven’t been to this event yet and you like good music and a feel good vibe, make sure you mark your calendar for the next time it comes around.

Later Days…

All Photos by Benjamin Carson