Wonderful spread in today’s News and Observer: check it out. I’m a little offended they don’t think I look like a “stately, seasoned gentlemen” but I guess that comes with the territory, lol! See yall tonight at the NC Museum of History.
Save Our Arts 2012 Poster
Gotta love the 2012 Save Our Arts poster! Check us out at Motorco Music Hall this Saturday with Megafaun, Mount Moriah, Poetic Justice, Pie Pushers, KoKyu BBQ & more 6PM-until. It’s a benefit concert for Durham Central Park School. Check their website for more deets: http://cpsfcsaveourarts.
Roots To Rap at NC Museum of History Friday
Tomorrow The Beast presents Roots To Rap: A Musical Conversation at the North Carolina Museum of History to kick off their 11th Annual African American Cultural Celebration. Our soul sister Shirlette Ammons opens up at 7PM. $11 advance tickets!
Pierce on My Carolina Today
Watch Pierce “juggle a lot of balls“ on NBC 17′s My Carolina Today. He talks (briefly) about The Beast’s new album, his recent trip to Ghana and the Beat Making Lab he’s teaching at UNC with Apple Juice Kid.
Muhsinah x The Beast “Once Again” #Durhamrocks
Grammy nominee Muhsinah performs her song Once Again, accompanied The Beast at Six Plates in Durham. What a great night.
Freelon Teaches Beat Making Lab at UNC
Pierce is teaching a Beat Making Lab in UNC’s Music Department with beat battle champion Apple Juice Kid this Spring semester 2012. Originally founded by Dr. Mark Katz and AJK, the course teaches 20 lucky students how to produce music using the open-source software Audacity, Reason 6 and Abelton Live. Like on facebook.
Danny Simmons, Sacrificial Poets & Pierce
Danny Simmons rocks the Carolina Theatre with Sacrificial Poets and dancers, actors and poets from Duke, NCCU, UNC. Beast emcee Pierce Freelon the event, which explores Danny’s (co-founder, with brother Russell Simmons, of HBO Def Poetry Jam) little black book called, “Deep In Your Best Reflection.” Pre-order your tickets ASAP.
The Black Candle Soundtrack
I wrote a Kwanzaa anthem which appeared on MK Asante Jr’s award-winning documentary narrated by Maya Angelou entitled, The Black Candle. Produced by Derrick Hodge, this track features some of The Beast’s biggest inspirations: Robert Glasper on piano and Chris Dave on drums. Happy Kwanzaa yall!
Sampling Classical
@ewhirsh just tweeted our Gustav Holst sample of the week. “Live, unrehearsed sample chopping, improvising, freestyling” – this is why I miss aLive…
Brain x Storm: Album Titles?
This winter we’re taking a break from live performances to focus on writing and recording our next album. We’ve been brainstorming concepts, song/musical ideas, artwork and album title – please hit us up on facebook with your suggestions: www.facebook.com/thebeastmusic
