August Highlights

The last Tues in August....

Impromptu performance with beat boxer Joshua Silverstein
who came just as we were about to end the night.

Opening the night with Group Improv madness.
Topics: "The Cat at the Door" and "Hunger".

First time performing on the Soulophonic Stage:
Roger, who found out about us from our friends
at Corazon del Pueblo.


Spoken Word maverick Jason Michael aka 23 Skadu:
also a first timer at the open mic.

The Usual Suspects: Mataji Booker [above]
and Zsoveonne [below]

Working them there loop pedals.

Boyle Height's Dez Hope [Anthony Mendez]: featured artist
for this month's Acoustic Night. 8/23/11

Riel Paley performing a brief excerpt
from his one man show "Antiman".

Featured poet of the night, Sammy
representing "Corazon del Pueblo."

Host/MC Mataji Booker

Soulophonic founder Tito takes to the stage

Group Improv fun.

Zsoveonne in fine fashion form

Robyn "Ro" Smith getting cozy on the stage:
It was a hot night, and she was reading some hot,
passioned filled poetry if you know what we mean.

Starky Gonzalez doin' his thing, reading some of his super social conscious poetry.

The night's Group Improv Poem set
included the topics: Freedom & The Sea

Lindsay Smith, Zsoveonne, Mataji Booker & Starky Gonzalez.

Singer/Songwriter Lindsay Smith and a friend on percussion.

Lindsay Smith was joined by her sister Robyn, a Yoga teacher during her last few songs she did an improvised Yoga flow it was A M A Z E to the i-n-g !

TIGHT!

Lindsay Smith Rocks our first official Acoustic Night at Soulophonic!

Acoustic Singer/Songwriter Lindsay Smith rocks the mic
as our featured Musical Act of the night!

Guest DJ Mbela aka Abstract Butta Fingers

First timer Patrick Thomas

Robyn Smith performing some empowering feminine poetry

Anthony Valdez venting it out!

Darius Shipp

Dead Poet MC dropped in last minute to flow.

[DA Collective/Tercer Quetzal]
Conscious Hip Hop duo Owen Martinez and Mauricio Gomez
stopped through last minute: Always a nice surprise.

Next time I'll get a better photo!

Teen Night, July 2011

Lulu Favela (above), and Joy Woo (below), came down to
rehearse poems to be shared at an upcoming Step Up Showcase.

Xochilt Lopez, Elisa Contreras (far right)
and reps from Wilson High shared with us the inspiring story
of how they have been raising money, against heavy odds, to
fund themselves and other students for a super educational
trip to various parts of Mexico later this year.

Performer Anthony Minton stepped in to help DJ
from my laptop when the DJ couldn't make it.

Jason P., a second year student at Northridge came down
to share his culturally aware and social conscious poems.
We challenged him to memorize them for next time!

Alexis, on stage for the first time since she fainted on stage
when she was 5! - singing Selena Gomez accapella whilst
reading the lyrics from her iphone!

Soulophonic returnee Anthony Minton performing
two moving acappella rendention's of Justin Beiber & Kings of Leon.


It was an acapella night....

We closed the night out with our traditional Group Improv Poem. The audience threw out the topics "Techonology" and then we also did a poem about the "Beach." Ages ranged from 7 on up!

The perfect finale: Huitzil showed up just before we
closed shop and sang some seriously fly original reggae tunes.


Another beautiful night in Downtown LA...

Live Painting w/ Guest Band: Buffalo Electric 6/28/11

Buffalo Electric

Our first Live Art/Guest Band night was deliciously entertaining. The space was filled with new comers and regulars alike. Tons of friends and family came out to support Rock band Buffalo Electric and painter Priscilla Gonzalez and many of them jumped up on the stage. Her prescence on the stage painting live art added a soulful, extra added creative vibe as performers rocked their poems, songs and stories.

Painter Priscilla Gonazalez

Buffalo Electric Front man Christopher Mercado

Buffalo Electric Drummer and guitar front man Victor Lopez

Buffalo Electric's Ignacio Gonzalez

A Soulophonic tradition, guests take a stab
at Group Improv Poetry on stage.

A friend of the band's - Mark -
came down to share some explosive Spoken Word.

This lovely Three-o opened up the night.
I met 2 of them jamming on the train.

Regulars Natalie and Zsoveonne
watching the action from their usual seats.
Tito in the background...

Lindsay Smith...Our first female acoustic act in 5 months, other than myself.

It was a big night! Tell your lady musician friends about Soulophonic!!!

Darius Shipp (above) & AnthonyValdez (below): Locals who pop in from time to time.
Anthony read his poetry for the first time on our stage and has had the bug ever since.

After debuting his poetry the previous week, Jabari Booker
returned to share more of his words as he turned 18 at midnight.