UPDATE: The DC Show has been postponed due to weather. More info to come.
Some great music is set for NYC and DC, as the BRC’s Million Man Mosh returns to the Highline Ballroom (NYC) and the Howard Theatre (DC) to raise the roof in solidarity with ongoing movements for social justice.
Here’s the official press release on the effort:
NEW YORK – On Friday, January 23rd, The Black Rock Coalition proudly presents ‘The Million Man Mosh III’ at The Highline Ballroom in New York City and at The Howard Theatre in Washington, DC. The show will feature several exciting progressive artists: The futurist punk rock collective, Dragons of Zynth; Geeche rock-soul goddess Tamar-kali and her hardcore 5ive Piece project; and more to be announced in coming days. New York City legend Garland Jeffreys will join the New York show in a rare intimate appearance.
Launched in 2012, ‘Million Man Mosh’ continues its tradition of being a platform for music, community networking and political organizing. The driving force in this third edition is solidarity with Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Yvette Smith, John Crawford and countless other victims of excessive violence by law enforcement agents and a historically unjust legal system. Some of the proceeds for both MMM III shows will go to area community groups working towards social justice. A third show in Philadelphia is being discussed.
“The first two Million Man Mosh shows addressed how a fractured criminal justice system can affect a person of color on an individual,” said Earl Douglas, BRC executive director. “With this edition, The Black Rock Coalition looks to show how a broken system affects entire communities of color. It wasn’t a matter of if we were going to make a collective statement, but when.”
‘The Million Man Mosh III’ will feature two of the most dynamic performers on the Black rock scene in New York City. Dragons of Zynth have been Afro-futurist punk rock pioneers for nearly a decade, working with prominent figures such as Massive Attack and TV on The Radio’s David Sitek. The band has performed with Yeasayer, Saul Williams, Modest Mouse, Television and The Roots. Tamar-kali has been a long-in-demand multi-faceted, explosive artist and performer for over two decades. She has collaborated an performed with such renown artists as Paramore, Meshell Ndegeocello, Fishbone, Jean Grae and The Roots. She was a central figure in the award-winning documentary “Afropunk” and has been a regular in the Afropunk Festival. These two artists will perform both the New York and DC shows. Legendary New York rocker Garland Jeffreys will share an intimate acoustic set of some of his most powerful pieces and share some of his rarely-heard spoken word material. Other artists for both New York and DC are confirming daily and announcements will be made within the next week.
The ‘Million Man Mosh’ was born in 2012 as a benefit for Donovan Drayton, son of legendary guitarist and BRC member Ronny Drayton. Donovan had been held at Riker’s Island for the past four years on a murder charge for which he had been innocent. After two “Million Man Mosh” fundraisers and a lengthy and expensive court battle, Donovan was acquitted in 2013.
The 2014 edition of Million Man Mosh will be a launch point for addressing the disproportionate number of people of color in the criminal justice system, ‘stop-and-frisk’/’broken windows’ policies and escalating costs to families for legal defense. Poets, community organizers and groups will be present to lay out strategies for people to get involved in the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
“When the non-indictment came down in the Eric Garner case, there was a huge outpour through our social media asking if the BRC had anything planned,” said Darrell McNeill, director of operations of the BRC. “Million Man Mosh was clearly the most appropriate platform. Not only did Highline–who partnered with us on MMM from day one–get on board, but they offered us the Howard Theatre as well. We’re also talking about possibly bringing it to Philadelphia, but we need to iron out logistics.”
“After that,” McNeill added, “It was just a matter of getting the artists and organizations to step to the plate. We got some of the best in the business right out the gate, with others looking to get involved as well. It’s very hectic sorting all this out-lots of things still in flux-but the sheer dedication to the cause is what’s pulling everyone and everything together.”
The Black Rock Coalition, now entering its 30th year, is a non-profit, member-supported organization founded to facilitate the maximum development, exposure and acceptance of Black alternative music and its creators. The BRC was formed in 1985 by guitarist Vernon Reid, journalist/musician Greg Tate, artist rep and producer Konda Mason and others as a means to galvanize support for cutting-edge artists of color that are otherwise dismissed by the media and the music industry. Go to www.blackrockcoalition.org or check out our Facebook page or Twitter feeds for more information.
‘The Million Man Mosh III: A Community Gathering For Music & Justice’ will be at New York’s Highline Ballroom, on Friday, January 23, 2015, featuring Dragons of Zynth (with very special unannounced guest), Tamar-kali & 5ive Piece, Garland Jeffreys, and more guests to be announced. The Highline is at 431 West 16th Street in New York City. Doors are at 6PM and show time is at 7PM; tickets are $17.50 in advance and $20 day of show. Info: (212) 414-5994; www.highlineballroom.com.
‘The Million Man Mosh III: A Community Gathering For Music & Justice’ will also be at Washington DC’s room, on Saturday, January 24, 2015, featuring Dragons of Zynth, Tamar-kali & 5ive Piece, and more guests to be announced. The Howard Theatre is at 620 T Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001. Doors are at 6PM and show time is at 7PM; tickets are $15 in advance and $18 day of show. Info: (202) 803-2899; www.thehowardtheatre.com.
UPDATE: For the DC show, talented multi-instrumentalist, producer and vocalist Kokayi will be on the lineup!
