BLK ODYSSY @ Songbyrd Music House [DC] - 8/16/2022
BLK ODYSSY’s Juwan Elcock at Songbyrd Music House in DC (Photo ©2022 Mauricio Castro)
The musical odyssey of BLK ODYSSY speaks to people in different ways, thanks in no small part to the many musical paths the duo of Juwan Elrock and guitarist Alejandro Rios take their listeners. There is soul, psych-rock, jazz, hip-hop, thrown in a blender and juxtaposed with the joys and hardships of being a Black man in America. In an interview with KUTX, Elrock explains that the album is “an internal perspective of our reality…from various vantage points: a proud black person, a human who faces addiction, depression, and anxiety…the perspective of reckless youth, the vibrant culture in hoods all over America.”
This vulnerability put to tape on the excellent album BLK VINTAGE was magnified tenfold in person at Songbyrd, with a just as excellent backing band propelling his storytelling in hypnotizing ways. The band, many of whom grew up together, didn’t rest on their laurels all night, weaving stories and keeping some very tight timing and musical turns that enraptured the crowd all night. In the middle of the set, Elrock took the time to give a shout-out to a fan who sent him an encouraging message, one received in the midst of a hard day in Nashville for the band. It’s clear that the group’s empathy for others and desire to share more sides of the America we don’t all see has resonated with many, and that the band does not take the accolades they’ve received for granted.
BLK ODYSSY’s latest release is the extended album BLK VINTAGE: THE REPRISE, which includes new songs like “BENNY’S GOT A GUN” with Benny the Butcher and George Clinton.
Opening for BLK ODYSSY was Eimaral Sol, who also contributed to BLK VINTAGE and sang with BLK ODYSSY for the second half of their headlining set. Her latest release is the single “Care2Much” through 11:11 Concepts.
