On our way to New Orleans, we were welcomed by the Midwest giants Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Detroit Cleveland: The Tower City Center adjacent to the Ritz Carlton Hotel is a reliable place to pick up sneakers and last minute gear. Minneapolis: Unfortunately the Mall of America left our entire crew disappointed after a five-hour, uneventful, shop-less marathon. However, Myth in Minneapolis was the most fashionable venue of the entire tour. The club reminded me of Purple Rain - where the spaciousness was conducive to the big band sound for which the city is famous.
DetroitHip Hop and boxing royalty were in the house when we played Detroit: Big Daddy Kane and Thomas "Hitman" Hearns. Detroit was a perfect set for the brothers, with 90% of the audience being women. As a distinguished ambassador of Hip Hop it was a mark of distinction to hear Big Daddy Kane giving Ne-Yo props for bringing R&B back to the way it used be. New Orleans
"Do me a favor when you go back to wherever you from? Tell everybody that we still here. Don't feel sorry for us. Just let everybody know that we still here and to come check us!" The enthusiasm and passion in this native New Orleans voice was celebratory at best with no desire to look back, only to share the goodness of knowing for sure that he is a survivor. Mark and Greg, the two-man welcoming committee leaning on the bar at Razoos on Bourbon Street were trash talking about the New Orleans Saints' guaranteed return to the Superbowl, while buying everybody at the bar and surrounding tables shots of Patron. Their humble appearance was evidence that there was no desire to be perceived as ballers. . . just a sincere determination for everyone to feel welcomed. It was an honor to be invited to perform at the 13th annual Essence Music Festival themed "Party with a Purpose." We opened up for legends Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly on the last night of the Festival. Ne-Yo was invested in the Essence Festival's return to New Orleans. He has family from New Orleans so the weekend long widespread reunion was a homecoming in more ways than one for Ne-Yo.
Ne-Yo and fam in New Orleans. Photo by Johnny Nunez.
Ne-Yo and fam in NOLA. Photo by Johnny Nunez.
Photo by Johnny Nunez.
Steve Harvey at the Essence Music Fest. Photo by Johnny Nunez.
Luckily I drank a Red Bull before I ran into Celebrity Photographer Johnny Nunez, jokingly referred to backstage as Peter Parker; this guy's photography style defies the laws of gravity and should be bottled and sold. As the official photographer for the Essence Music Festival, Johnny hooked me up with an exclusive peek into his backstage expedition, adding hustle and flow to the phrase "Who Shot Ya." The tone behind the scenes was all love - beautiful women in abundance, absent of Glamazon pretense, poised mostly as heroines, tirelessly combating age old stereotypes. In other words, these ladies were in charge! I enjoyed a brief lesson in photography, watching Johnny immortalize the feminine force that governs Essence beside the likes of San Antonio Spurs' Coach Avery Johnson, Lionel Richie, Lyfe Jennings, Angie Stone and Ne-Yo of course.
Photo by Johnny Nunez.
After the concert, I went to the Essence/HBO Party featuring a special performance by Mario. Guests were loosely bobbling while conversing in honor of a job well done and ushering in talks of future business. Wendell Pierce, who plays Homicide Detective Bunk on the HBO series The Wire, was in the house representing his hometown of New Orleans.
Out of respect, I had to visit the Lower 9th Ward - not so much to see the ruins of Hurricane Katrina but to remind myself of the majesty of the people. The word "return" seemed to be paired with the Essence Festival, yet it is so relevant to the feeling of the families and people that are still being ignored. The cultural celebration is very much alive, yet fighting for an existence that is threatened by some Fortune 500 companies who see no more than fertile land that can be turned for profit. Know that Donald Trump has a huge Trump sign planted on empty lots of land. With it being the last city on the US Tour it made me reflect on what gives being on the road life apart from the performances, shopping and the work are the everyday people. Without the energy of the crowd, there is no performance. New Orleans needs the energy of the tourists, party-goers and the everyday people alike - so the famous gospel song says, "They need you to survive."
The world tour begins Saturday in Africa!
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Comments
1.
kayleigh says:
when ne-yo in holland cuz i like his songs so much and him self too he's so sexy and cute
July 31, 2007 at 8:40 am