Foreign Exchange in DC!

>My feet hurt.

I have never been the type of guy to ever consider having a pedicure, but as of right now, I’m thinking that it may be a good idea.

I’ve been on my feet, using my feet, almost non-stop, for the past 24 hours. Doing what?

Attending The Foreign Exchange concert at the Black Cat in DC!

First off, let me state that this is my first secular concert. I attend one of America’s premier Christian university, and it being a college, there are a maelstrom of Contemporary Christian concerts. I’ve seen TobyMac, Switchfoot, Thousand Foot Krutch, Family Force 5, Flame, Lecrae, Tedashii, Rush of Fools, KJ-52 and more, all live. And these were pretty good concerts. As a fan of the previous mentioned artists, I’m an advocate for loud music. Especially when talent is involved (whoda thunk that TobyMac can *kinda* breakdance?).

But this past Sunday was particularly special for me. For a number of reasons.

A. In Lynchburg, the nightlife is seriously lacking. I’m from the Northeast sector of the country, so I’m rather accustomed to a more active PM lifestyle. And I’m not even a real huge party hopper; I’m just not used to a citywide unofficial 10pm curfew.

B. The parties that I’ve been going to lately have SUCKED. Maybe that’s how folk get down in the Burg. Maybe that’s how college folk compensate for the severe deficit of dusk-themed activities. But I have learned that I am not a house party kinda dude. At least not these house parties. (Wack Music+Lame Dancing+Beer Pong as Prime Entertainment <>

C. I am personally trying to get more comfortable as a 20something. I’m not a teenager any more, and I feel that I’ve got to pursue more on my weekends than the issues in Bullet A & B.

D. A few months ago, I bid farewell to one of my favorite Hip-Hop groups, 4^th Avenue Jones. I needed something to balance out that missing weight.

Come heaven or Afghanistan, I was going to that concert.

As we arrived in the Black Cat, my excitement level was humming at an 8. Then Big Pooh got on stage.

I will say this. Pooh catches a lot of heat, oft getting called the weakest link in the duo of Little Brother. I don’t necessarily agree, but I think that he was on point last night. Him being on his own grind, I feel, has given him the space to dig deeper into his craft.

I was hoping that there would’ve been a bit more LB tracks, but like I said, the man is on HIS grind, getting his name out there.

The DJ spun for a little bit, attempting to prep the crowd for what was about to go down. At times, he was lacking, but he eventually got it right. I personally would’ve preferred more Michael Jackson cuts. But I’m biased.

Then Nicolay stepped out. (That ‘bama is tall.)

Crowd recognizes him and goes nuts. He is followed by Carlitta Durand (who is a fine looking woman, by the way. If she is reading this, CAWL ME.) who starts off the set with “Lose Your Way” off of Nicolay’s “City Lights 2” album. Beautiful song.

Then the rest of the band comes out.

Yazarah, with her fine self, Darien Brockington and Phonte Coleman.

I’m not going to go on and on about how magnificent this night was. The web has enough of FE concert reviews. Instead, I’ll just make a few points.

· D –Brock can sang. That boy went to CHUCH. No, not church. CHUCH.

· Yazarah is like a modern day Tina Turner.

· Phonte is HIGH-larious. And a very talented individual.

· It says volumes about what you do as a performer when the audience can tell that you love what you do.

· The world needs another FE/LB album.

· “Good beats. Dope rhymes. This Hip-Hop thing isn’t really that hard.”

· LB stands strong, with or without 9^th Wonder.

· Eff Bad Boy. We need more HOJ.

· …we need to support good music, not just Hip-Hop.

Ya’ll need some FE in your life. Find your way to a show ASAP. Rob somebody, stab somebody, just do eet.

**Oh, if someone knows what the song “Purple Flip” or “Something About You” is, lemme know? I’m trying to make a playlist on my iTunes, and I have no clue where those songs came from.