one of the city’s trendier spots. Of course, management knows this
and acts accordingly — which in the ATL, means that 85 percent of
the floor space is dedicated to VIPs. Regular folks must squeeze into
the nooks and crannies and try not to block the beautiful people’s
vantage point whenever an artist takes the stage. Sitting near the
stage and looking at the faces of patrons forced to stand behind me,
I can’t help but think about the new “class segregation” taking
place in urban popular culture and wonder if we’ll soon see water
fountains requiring you to input your income level before taking a
sip.
But nonetheless, on this night, the crowd seemed less concerned
with elite status and more preoccupied with the stage, as two
beautiful and gifted soul singers were preparing their respective
shows. One, a newcomer with a tremendous amount of online and
word-of-mouth buzz, and the other one of the most respected —
if underappreciated — voices in independent soul music.
Up-and-comer India Shawn showcased a beautiful and powerful vocal
range and provided an adequate showcase for her instrumentally gifted
backing band. Based on the West Coast, Shawn captured the hearts of
everyone in attendance, as her infectious enthusiasm and sincere
songwriting won her new fans seemingly after every song. As the crowd
roared its approval, Teedra Moses finally took the stage a few
minutes after midnight and immediately took command of the room. The
New Orleans-bred songstress poured every bit of heart, grit and, (of
course), soul she had into each song and masterfully engaged the
audience with every wink, grin and wave.
“I’ve been a fan for some time,” said David Soon, a graduate
student from Georgia Tech who moonlights as a music producer. “I
try to catch her whenever she’s in town — love her stuff.”
As the earthy sounds of Teedra Moses wooed the crowd well into the
wee hours, one couldn’t help but think that such music deserves to
be appreciated in a way that “upscale” nightspots may not be able
to accommodate. Who cares if you’re a VIP or not, when music as
soothing as this is being made, everybody should be able to enjoy it
and share in it. And you shouldn’t have to have an orange bracelet
on your wrist to do so. –todd williams
