Okay I promised two days ago I would be completely caught up and it didn’t happen. I’m working it out though. Finally I’m at New Year’s Eve. No big meal planned for the next day. My brother swore that he would go on a fast. Gosh darn. I knew it wouldn’t last long but it didn’t put a bump in the road.
Food, however, wasn’t on the agenda for me. I was waiting for Jana Hicks to get to my house. It’s no secret that I’m slow but when it comes to something absolutely going down I’m pretty punctual and can be that way at the drop of a hat. I know, go figure. All the time in the world and I take every minute of it. Little time, got to be somewhere, I’m watching the clock like Bond de-activating a bomb and not missing a minute.
No one believed me but I was ready to roll by 7:30. The show started at 8:30 and I was sure it would. We got in there slightly before 9 and missed Keri Hilson’s show so I can’t comment on that. Oh I guess I should say that we sat next to the AJC’s Sonia Murray, who if you know has covered Atlanta’s music scene for a minute, particularly when no one else in the world particularly cared. Unfortunately she missed Keri’s performance too so I have no feedback on Keri. As she and her dancers were finishing off ‘Turning Me On’, I did see that DJ Mars was her DJ so I got to shout him out.
Keri Hilson, DJ Mars Robb D. Cohen/Robbsphotos.com
Gorilla Zoe Robb D. Cohen/Robbsphotos.com
Next up was Gorilla Zoe and he rocked it. He absolutely did the most with the little time he had. I think he did three songs and the growing crowd was with him all the way. The show really began in earnest with Gym Class Heroes. I think my friend Jolon Martin first hipped me to them. Initially I confused them with The Cool Kids who are from the Midwest but there was no confusion about how good they are. Talk about presence and ability to connect. They were so polished. I definitely got an eye for them blowing up even more in 09. Loved them. I so wish they really were from the Midwest but I must say Geneva, New York hop and rock on!!!
Gym Class Heroes Robb D. Cohen/Robbsphotos.com
