We started the evening with glass of art and ended the night with a forty ounce of funk.
We, a lovely lady named Krista and I, started the night at Mason Murer, in search of enriched art with spine tango mango. Lots of mixed medium work through out the gallery. A featured artist in the group show New Blood was the reason for our visit at this mammoth facility of art. Every time I visit this gallery I appreciate the smaller venue that are more romantic and personal. There seems to be a huge mix of socialites and cover girl glam at this venue. Art star wanna bes, filled the space until we got into the small section of New Blood artist, where the walls were stuffed as if they said, lets keep our artist up throughout most of the gallery and cram this group show into the smallest area since we don't rep any of them. But as always there you found the most humble of artist that were engaging and open to talk with the patrons about there ideas and works of art. There's always good art work on the walls at Mason but you have to find it due the massive amounts of work, as well of the lack of cohesiveness in having a group show.
Then we ventured to Castleberry Hill. The Nelson Street Gallery www.nelsonstreetgallery.com had a two man show which consisted of interactive work from Greg West and William Downs. After being in the coliseum of galleries it was refreshing to visit a place with raw art works, work produced with no intent of selling to the posh and divas, this work spoke to those that admire the fresh, raw feeling of producing work with an approach of placing something in your hand and transferring the power of thought through the object being held onto a surface. Some may feel that this work was rudimentary, abrasive, but that's in the Eye of the Beholder.
Time to wet the whistle and gets some beers and where's a better place then Elliot Street Pub. Well if you remember when I had a gallery in Castleberry this was my watering hole, as well as they schooled me on all the break ins, how the hood was coming up, and it's always good to have two bad ass biker looking muhfugahs as friends. They make the best sandwiches to fill the hunger and it goes good with the vast selection of spirits. I had the "Dirty Bird" turkey with lettuce, tomato, swiss and blue cheese, heated on rye bread. Damn DAmn DAMN James!!! As always I run into the coolest people there artist Scott Dupree and Jack Pait, Charlie Blackcat Smith (builder of metal sculpture) had the BAD ASS EVERMAN sculpture out. Now if you don't know who Everman is or seen his work then OPEN YOUR EYES because it's all around you everywhere. This one is like the Burning Everman.
We ended the night at Terminal West because I had a surprise for the loverly lady I was with. I made a call across seas to the English Riviera and asked if they could put on a private concert for me and a select artisan of Atlanta, and they said of course. So I arranged for my plane to go pick them up, feed them, tune their instruments, take them to Buford Highway, Atlanta's Riviera and deliver them in time for tea and cookies, before the show. Last night's show was an example of musical excellence. The current band consists of Joseph Mount (composer, singer, keyboards and guitar), Oscar Cash (saxophone, backing vocals, guitars and keyboards), Anna Prior (drums and vocals) and Gbenga Adelekan (bass guitar and vocals). Joseph came out an addressed the audience by introducing the band and apologizing for having a fuxt up voice and said he would still give his 100% which he did and surpassed. Although I should have brought my ear plus because the sound man had his on while doing the sound check I guess, and had the vocals too low and the instruments cranked up. But it didn't affect the outcome. I can still hear the music today, ringing in my ears. Maybe thats why they do that, kinda a two for one show.
Friday Night South Atlanta Stage.
Some how I keep myself surrounded by good people with a knack for finding the best of Atlanta. A friend Kelly Callahan invited us out for a quint evening of soulful maladies, on this Memorial Weekend, and oh did she have a surprise for we. As we arrived in this neighborhood in South Atlanta, which looked like your common older neighborhood with houses built around the 1920-50s, along came this beacon of light. As you began to get closer you notice this lilac colored house with branches painted across the entire side and in the vacant lot beside sits a round stage with two large wooden poles with lights hanging from them. There were wood benches for people to sit on but most people brought blankets, snacks and adult beverages to cool their pallet. We parked the car and were introduced to a cadre of people all with the intention of being barefoot and dancing by the end of the night(which we were half way into the night). Our first to enter the circle of sound was Mieka Pauley. 
The soothness, sultry, seductive, projective voice of hers penetrates your body with each sound wave, and carries you. Her voice was heavy, full of volume while floating like a beacon at sea. Before she finished her set a fan from the crowd kept screaming "do a song with MARSHAL!!!!" so she ask Marshal to get on up and join her. It reminded me of those Sunday evening at my grannies house, when my mom and uncles would gather up the hood in the garage and have a jam session throughout the night. When accompanied by Marshal, Mieka's performance turn the volume up to about 20 from 10. Not to say anything bad about Mieka just seemed that Marshal brought out the best in her abilities as well. They were like Venus and Serena playing each other for the championship, or like Bonnie and Clyde becoming outlaws of the soundwaves. Marshal stayed on staged and performed one song "my mama's dead" and basically stole the whole damn show. This dude had people stopping their trucks in the middle of the road, rolling down their windows to listen in awe as he strummed on his guitar and carried the tunes of an old blues singer, this mofo was possessed, he might as well start floating around the stage. 
Last to take the stage was Gedeon Luke & The People. Gedeon (go-don) Luke had the presence of a reverend taking the pulpit, with the choir already clapping and swaying. You know how the preacher just slides in on one foot and joins the synchronized side to side motion of the choir. He took the stage like a double dutch jump roper and continued his message of love. His music seemed inspired by the likes of Sly and the Family Stone, Al Green and of course the Godfather of Soul JB.
All I can say its thank you Atlanta.
