Crib Notes

SUGARHILL AIN’T DEAD

(See more photos of Sugarhill’s last jam at John Crooms’ photoblog, mauricegarland.com or rollingout.com.)

Last night’s going-away party at Sugarhill in Underground Atlanta was “beautifully chaotic,” in the words of resident funkstress Joi, who’s held Sugarhill’s open mic night down as host since its inception in ’06.

When we broke the news on Crib Notes last week that the owners of Sugarhill had decided to close down Atlanta’s premier live soul venue to search for better digs, people began leaving mournful comments (myself included) that made it seem as if the announcement marked the end of an era.

But when Joi stepped on stage around 11:30 p.m. last night clad in skintight patent leather leggings, a backless red tee and red platform stilettos, it was apparent that she had not come to kick the proverbial bucket. Instead, Sugarhill’s last jam quickly morphed into a nasty, New Orleans-inspired, funk-jazz, juke joint of a funeral.

“This journey started about two and a half years ago ’cause it wasn’t shit to do in this city,” Joi eulogized from the stage, “this beautiful chocolate city full of talented artists.”

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UPDATE: Read the follow-up post, Sugarhill’s last jam — plus a Shameless Plug for the future of live music in Atlanta.

Next Tuesday will be the last night for Sugarhill — Atlanta’s premier destination for live soul and progressive urban music.

It’s a stunning announcement — but maybe not too surprising considering the obstacles the venue has faced since its inception.

Much of the onus for the club’s closing lies with “Underground [Atlanta] mismanagement,” according to co-owner Richard Dunn, who partnered with Jason Carter (Sol Fusion promoter), Freddy Luster (former co-owner of Yin Yang Café), and Rival Entertainment/Center Stage co-owners Josh Antenucci and Tom Cook to open the venue in September 2006.

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SOL BROTHER NO. 1: Bilal performs at Sol Fusion on Thanksgiving eve.

(photos by Shannon McCollum)

Sol Fusion, the international love fest/get-your-back-up-off-the-wall jam helmed by lifestyle aficionados J. Carter and Kenny Burns, hit yet another crescendo last week during its fifth anniversary celebration. Voted Critics’ Pick for Best Club Event by CL in ‘05 (click here to read the review), Sol Fusion is a cool blend of artists, musicians, creative cuties, down-home homies and on-point crowd controllers such as DJ Kemit. With soul maestro Bilal riding shotgun, this was one event everybody and their mama’s mama will tell the grandkids about.

See, Bilal ain’t your average singer. He’s emotive. His live set is a mixed bag of personal narrative and an extreme exercise in sonic freedom digging in the crates of jazz, blues, hip-hop, R&B, alternative and musical expressions yet to be named. And with a distinct voice moving from falsetto wails to baritone-inflected blues, every woman in earshot was wooed. But Bilal is more of a blue-collar soul star than the ego-driven star all too commonplace in the industry. His appeal rests on a marriage between witty lyrics dripping with lived experience and a toe-tapping/head-nodding rhythm section causing body parts to shake. Though he covered classic tracks such as “Love Poems” and “Fast Lane,” his performance of the foot-in-your-ass track “Sometimes” brought down the house (almost literally) as a possessed Bilal slammed mic stands and gave his electric piano a beating only Ike Turner could appreciate. (more…)

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