All Year Summer & Duendita Put On A Stellar Performance at Jack Douglas Music Hall

Chris Toro and Miguel "MG" Gallardo (All Year Summer) on stage at Jack Douglas Music Hall. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

In our first major show of 2017, we witnessed two captivating performances by All Year Summer and Duendita, as they graced the stage at the Jack Douglas Music Hall for its first official music showcase.

Located inside the renowned Institute of Audio Research, both artists performed songs from their previous EPs and upcoming releases in front of an intimate crowd that lasted through the night. Filled with expressive vibes, soulful melodies and astounding entertainment, we were blown away by the incredible talent and genre-binding complexities that these artists displayed and whose music kept us standing at our feet – eager for more.

Miguel "MG" Gallardo quick with the flows at Jack Douglas Music Hall. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Bronx natives, Chris Toro and Miguel “MG” Gallardo, kicked off the show with a dynamically galactic and pulverizing set, delivering chill sounds, explosively driven beats and experimental lyricism that rushed through are bodies and cuddling our ears.

Their performances to “One Hell of A Ride” and “Lemonade” were synonymous with the room: gently steamy and soulfully warm. MG’s smooth vibes and Toro’s decadent flows complemented each other’s styles perfectly as they rapped over relaxing keys and soothing compositions – infusing their bars seamlessly with command.

Chris Toro vibe 'n out at Jack Douglas Music Hall. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Toro provided us with a treat of his performance to, “Watch Your Flowers,” as the songs cooling essence quieted the room as we bobbed our heads to its soul-soothing 90’s boom-bop sound. The dynamic duo also performed their new song, “Light The Tree,” which provided audiences a breezy baseline track, filled with a soft hook and pulse-cleansing rhythms that had us lighting up and cruising throughout the night.

Along with an unreleased track filled with ferocity and fired-up flows, All Year Summer truly provided the link between fantasy and reality – excelling through the poetic complexities of their sound at the Jack Douglas Music Hall. Their lyricism and thoughtful metaphors offered us a refreshing taste of unconventional hip-hop that urges audiences to challenge the genre to continuously seek creativity.

All Year Summer at Jack Douglas Music Hall. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Duendita headlined the Jack Douglas showcase with a timeless and captivating performance that stunned audiences in their seats. Her gorgeous vocals and perpetual depth masterfully resonated across the venue, as the singer-songwriter performed songs from her upcoming EP – illustrating her tenacious versatility as an upcoming artist.

duendita gracing the stage at Jack Douglas Music Hall. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

The surrealist singer-songwriter lost in the music at Jack Douglas Music Hall. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Also performing songs from her previous EP’s, Duendita offered us a surreal treat that deliciously contained euphoric rhythms, soothing keys and surmountable flows that whispered through our ears and into our souls. Kicking off her set with the stage lights off, the soul surrealist kept us guessing throughout the performance, as she provided us with aesthetically pleasing compositions consisting of gentle keys, empowering beats and euphorically complex productions.

Her vocals to “Dream of Me” and “Open Wide” were seductive, tantalizing and soulfully dreamy. Her performance allowed us to give way and provide our attention to her angelic notes blessed with divine serenity, meticulous lyricism and with an unwavering stage presence.

duendita looking on at the crowd at Jack Douglas Music Hall. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

All Year Summer and Duendita enumerated two impressive and enjoyable performances for us to witness last month at the Jack Douglas Music Hall. Immersed in the urban soul and hip-hop genres, All Year Summer and Duendita have discovered excitingly new approaches to how contemporary indie-music should be. 

Both artists exhibit a strong dedication to sound, meaningful lyrics and complex arrangements that exemplify the quality of music coming from this independent New York scene. 

duendita singing majestically at Jack Douglas Music Hall. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Make sure to follow, share and listen to All Year Summer and Duendita on their social for future shows, music and tours! Feel free to comment, share and follow The Fox and King, Inc. on our social below.

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French HipHop/Blues Band Scarecrow Put On a Roaring Performance at Drom NYC

Very rarely do we get the chance to witness a group of music who can grasp the sounds of different cultures so effortlessly and harness them as their own. With the power of a roaring bluesy vocal, a groovy baseline and a smoking late 80’s/early 90’s sound, Scarecrow - The Blues Hip Hop showed us how artists can successfully master that calling. 

With much thanks to the combined efforts of The French Embassy and Bureau Export, Scarecrow showcased their talents for the France Rocks SummerFest in New York for the first time in over two years last Friday. We caught their performance at the mysteriously intimate and gypsy-esque Drom NYC amongst a group of music enthusiasts excited to take part in the French quartet’s latest act as they prepared for their second album, The Last, releasing this coming Friday.

Scarecrow’s featured performance was a spine chilling and aggressive piece that spoke of the band’s ingenuity and aesthetic appeal. Ahead of a thunderous and enticing intro, lead vocalist and bluesman, Slim Paul, let out a roaring vocal that channeled across the shadowy halls of Drom, crawling up its back-stage curtains and hurling towards us. It was a unique sound that truly blew us away: A kick-ass note that personified beautifully through Paul’s affirmed lyrical and edgy voice, labeling its mark at any New Orleans jazz club or Memphis BBQ joint.

What followed was a genre binding and sound twisting bar from French emcee, Antibiotik Daw, who also masterfully scratched the turntables with late 80’s/early 90’s urban adlibs, screeching hints of Chuck D, Run DMC and The Wu Tang Clan. Although we unfortunately couldn’t understand the fast hitting French lyrics, it was Antibiotik’s confidence, swag and all-out vibe that helped get our heads bopping, while the bluesy bass lines from Jamo and funky drum set from Le Pap, helped solidify Scarecrow’s urban and bluesy musical arrangements.

What really struck us was Scarecrow’s consistency. Whether their song was predominately hip-hop, blues, funk or a bit of both, the quartet meshed the sounds together flawlessly. When Antibiotik viciously spit on the mic, Slim Paul's raw vocals and Jamo's gripping guitar play brought Scarecrow's performance from the sounds of classic hop-hop into the essence of rock. Accompanied by Antibiotik’s scratches, we were constantly taken for a musical ride that stopped along 80’s hip-hop, 70’s funk and good old fashion dirt-road blues.

Scarecrow’s hip-hop elements, raw rural bluesy notes and urban-esque vibe provided the finishing touches on an already bubbling melting pot that billowed a steam enriched with generations of musical influences, cultures and instrumentation. Scarecrow’s continuous efforts to bridge together American and French music are groundbreaking. With sounds reminiscent of both Screamin' Jay Hawkins and 90's Hip-Hop, the group truly is deserving of their international praise. Their ability to embrace these different sounds allows them to conquer audiences in not only the U.S. or Europe, but throughout the world as they've performed over 400 shows in 10 countries and have a tenacity to produce even more.

This group can truly be an inspiration to aspiring artists and bands across the globe not only for their incredible showcases, gritty music, and cool vibes but for how they can bring cultures together. Somehow we seemed to have lost that in both the mainstream and independent music scenes, but Scarecrow tackles it head on. Truly, they are one of the best bands we’ve seen this year. Can’t wait to catch these guys again. Their new album, The Last, will be available for streaming and digital download this Friday, June 24, 2016. Make sure to catch Scarecrow the next time they’re in your city!

Make sure to listen and follow to Scarecrow – The Blues Hip-Hop music below.

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