J Music

J Music: MTV Jams Featured Artist Allen Stone

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This song has been stuck in my head all week.  His spot on MTV Jams definitely doesn’t hurt.

I’m finally checking out his debut album Allen Stone and so far I like what I hear.

Although I was excited to add another concert to my to-do list, it seems I will be in Atlantic City for Bey’s Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (!!) when he hits my area. Nonetheless find some of the dates for the New York area below and on his website. (Maybe I can make the NJ show, I would love to get a live sampling… #personalproblems)

Jul 25 ✮  Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing ✮  Philadelphia, PA

Jul 26 ✮  Toyota Oakdale Theatre ✮  Wallingford, CT

Jul 27 ✮  Bank of America Pavilion ✮  Boston, MA

Jul 28 ✮  Saratoga Performing Arts Center ✮ Saratoga Springs, NY

Aug 3 ✮  PNC Bank Arts Center ✮  Holmdel, NJ

Thoughts from an objective Beyonce stan…

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Whereas “Bow Down” and “I Been On” lack a beginning, middle, and end, Whereas “Bow Down” is around 1min long,  Whereas I consider them to be separate entities although they were released simultaneously |  From this point on I will refer to them by their names or as interludes (that’s fair right?)

As interludes I feel like there is not much of an opinion to have…

I am not gonna’ lie, I’m a bit confused as to what direction the album will take and this release made me a bit apprehensive — Bey is clearly not concerned with my vision for the project!

Beyonce is one of (very) few artists who can get two interludes played on the radio. Multiple times.

Did anyone else picture the look on Michelle Obama’s face when she heard “Bow Down”?

Maybe she went with this slightly basic approach (lyrically) to give herself some room to breathe creatively — hopefully the album’s content will be fun, soulful, emotionally-charge, and innovative with a side of “ratchet.” Just a side. Two sides? But not the whole plate.

J Music: Brandy at the Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)

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This weekend, I was all over Philly, New York, and Connecticut.  First stop was Philly to see one of my all-time favorites, Brandy!

Seeing as I was definitely tardy for the party, I missed Brandy’s opening act Go Go Morrow, but I arrived just in time to see Brandy open her set.  Her mission for the night was to give us the whole Brandy catalog in an hour and a half set, and trust me, it was no small feat.

Brandy performed songs from her new release Two Eleven and so many more including “I Wanna Be Down,” “Sitting on Top of the World,” “Angel in Disguise,” “Boy Is Mine,” “What About Us?” “Full Moon,” “Wildest Dreams,” a Whitney Houston medley, “Without You,” “Let Me Go,” and “He Is.” When she wrapped up with “Put It Down” I was left still trying to catch up as she took us through almost 20 years of music.

Two snaps to Brandy. Yes, honey!!

Find a great montage of her performance here. (Start at the 2:00 mark)

Brandy also had Luke James comes out and do a quick set for the crowd that included “I Want You” and “I.O.U.” Even though his entrance was a bit delayed, awkward, and confusing for the crowd, that was forgotten once he launched into “I Want You.”  The ladies loved him (and so did I)!

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BONUS: An inspirational story that came from the show — at one point during her set Brandy took the time out to thank her “fabulous” hair and makeup team.

Tatiana Ward, or @BeatFaceHoney as she is known on Twitter and YouTube, got the chance of a lifetime when her idol contacted her via Instagram to sing her praises and ask her to do her makeup for the Philly show. All in a few days her life has changed. She is now traveling with Brandy as one of her makeup artists!! Look at God!  

**Photos from Brandy’s Instagram.

J Music: Jojo & Friends via Stage It

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So let me preface this post by saying, I am a mess. Not only did I do a post about this live stream last week, but I also had paid for a ticket. That’s why it makes perfect sense that in the confusion of life I COMPLETELY missed the whole performance.

Anyway thanks to Andrew Kay, I was still able to watch her performance via YouTube and you can too!

Set List

Andre (0:00)

We Get By (3:40)

Demonstrate (7:08)

Marvin’s Room (10:40)

Billions** (14:00)

I Don’t Want to Wait (Dawson’s Creek Theme Song)** (18:24)

Disaster (23:04)

Ordinary People (27:09)

Leave (Get Out) (32:06)

Boy Without A Heart (35:32)

Thinking Out Loud** (40:40)

Too Little, Too Late (45:26)

**My Favorites

Following the concert, #FreeJojo started trending on Twitter.  It is clear from her tweets of frustration that she is looking to get out of her current contract with Blackground Records. The record company continues to delay the release of her third album.

#FreeJojo

Find the link to download Jojo’s latest EP here.

*Pictures from Jojo’s Instagram.

J Music: 143 – Tiffany Evans

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There is no doubt Tiffany Evans can sing, but does she have what it takes to return to the music spotlight?

Tiffany, who starred in Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman at age 13, found some success with her single “Promise Ring” featuring Ciara in 2007.

After a hiatus, Tiffany returned to the scene again in 2010 when it was announced she would be working with Papa Knowles around the time his credibility and career were crumbling.

After parting ways with Knowles in 2011, getting married, and giving birth to a baby girl, the “I’m Grown” singer is back with her February release 143.

I have yet to listen to the whole EP, but I am liking the lead single “143 (I Love You).”

 Listen to 143 below.

Find more information about Tiffany Evans here

Download 143 here.