Credit: Otter
The ceiling breathed and heaved and with every base chord and the walls ran with sweat as hands raised to testify that "yes everybody got their something/ everybody is a star"
Last Friday night I had the pleasure to see Nikka Costa live for an impromptu show at the Roxy here in Hollywood. A surprise concert that caught me off guard, if it wasn't for the blah blues and the well wishes of my darling younger sister it was definitely something I would've missed out on (again!)
Seeing Nikka Costa live is something akin to a religious revival. Between her soulful voice as she writhed across the stage...in yes her sparkly cape, the wailing of the electric guitar, organ and... trombone she managed to lift and take everyone on her funky musical journey. It's also great to bring a new fan or someone who's never witnessed her spitfire performance as my friend turned around to me delighted that "holy shit Imma need to smoke a cigarette after this"
Being the music-head I am, every Tuesday I used to book it to the now extinct Wherehouse on my bike (cause that's how we rolled in my college town) and check out the new cd releases on Tuesday. Yes cd. One Tuesday my junior year of college (aging myself) I happened to pick up a cd sampler off the single shelfs (y'all remember the cd singles?!) for a buck. The cd single whose cover of a neon pink star caught my eye contained 4 songs of some singer I had never heard of but recognized some of the producers on it (?uestlove among others) and decided to take a chance. I mean it was a buck! And I'm so glad I like pretty shiny things because those first funky notes that blasted surprisingly out of my stereo was well welcomed and like most of my musical choices shaped me in some way and I became an instant fan. I eagerly awaited the drop of her full album and my roommate/BFF somehow managed to get her hands on a huge concert promo poster for me that hung in my room for years (In fact I have it somewhere in storage somewhere)
She also coincided with the continuing evolvement of my style into the '70s boho chic style I rocked at that point in my life. Sporting a huge [accidental] orange/blond afro-curly ponytail I bust out my mothers high waisted jean skirt and dug up some high-waisted wide legs which, worn with fringed vest/boho blouses and my omnipresent woven rucksack from Costa Rica completed my retro-vibe.
credit: Conor
That year I also got to see her live ( and her buzz she created with the single 'everybody's got their something' that appeared I believe in a jeans ad?) at a small intimate club in San Francisco. I dragged above bestie, sister and another friend for what turned out to be a throwdown of one the most delectable, downright funky ass grooving/catching the spirit/sing-a-long hand clapping concert experiences I've gotten to enjoy thus far. Blue eyed soul, funk and all that jazz.
This Friday night her backup band was in full form and we all got a kick of watching the young blond female trombonist get down with Nikka and the crowd, i'm surprised she was old enough to perform in a club that was 21+ My only complaint is... the Roxy. I love that its all historical and sheit, and a small enough space that you can reach out and touch the performer (or at the least make eye contact)...but they need to update their sound system. The dj between the sets spinned some great old and new 'element' hip hop songs plus like sly and the family stone to set the night, but their sound system when compared to most of the musical arenas here in Los Angeles... or even the clubs is outdated. You would think with the stamped on the ticket, '2 drink minimum' they could afford to redo it... but whatevs. I only bought one drink. So take that Roxy.
Knowing that I most likely would be getting down and dancing and the fact the Roxy gets hotter/wetter then a Miami night- I wore a simple grecian styled throw on dress from H&M (I never ever shop this much at stateside H&M, I'm surprising myself even) and some gladiator-esque wedge heels. too literal? Maybe. You be the judge. And as predicted I was drenched by the end of the night.
~ jacket: oldy but goody Old Navy "voldy" hooded leather jacket
~ dress: H&M
~ shoes: Miss Sixty strappy heels
~ jewelry: Forever 21 necklace
stay funky.
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