@25Mag’s Kiah McBride reviews the “Our People, Our Haiti” benefit show at the Warehouse Loft in Washington, D.C. The show raised $1000 and featured performances from Tabi Bonney, Chris Barz, The Five One, G5 Clive, Amber Mimz and others. Review and photos after the jump!
One of the many hidden treasures that D.C. has to offer lies within a four-story brick building called The Warehouse Loft. It was here that eager musicians and fans alike gathered for the “Our World, Our People” Haiti relief concert featuring a variety of local DMV artists. The show started hours late, surprise surprise; however, once the music started, the atmosphere quickly transformed from a laid-back social scene to an all-out concert.
Opening the concert was an eclectic girl group, The Goldin Girl Tribe, who quickly grabbed the crowds’ attention with suggestive body rolls and an upbeat island sound. The diverse girl group knew just how to keep the excitement alive in the room and interacted with audience members throughout their performance.
Not far behind The Golden Girl Tribe was The Five One band who took the word “hype” to a new level. They came on stage with such high energy that had the crowd started bobbing their heads and foot-working to every song. Their live band set featured 50′s inspired jams and a stunning guitar solo.
Following The Five One band was well-known DMV artist and poet, Chris Barz. Barz hyped the crowd up with his welcome song “Mr. Barz, Mr. Barz” from his latest project Class [Sickz] Out The Dark released this past December. Surprisingly, this lyrically gifted emcee is under 21, yet he possesses the talent and skill of a veteran as demonstrated in his tribute to Haiti, which he composed just minutes before his performance.
Finally to grace the stage was headliner Tabi Bonney, who immediately received a lot of love from the overzealous audience. Bonney began with a shout out to Haiti and a reminder to the crowd to help those affected by the disaster. Fans rushed to the front of the stage to dance and chant along with the lyrics to his popular hit “The Pocket” off of his 2006 debut album A Fly Guy’s Theme. Bonney got into his element with quick-footed shuffles to “Jet Setter,” an upbeat track with a futuristic sound.
The Warehouse Loft was an ideal place to hold the benefit concert. The lively atmosphere and wide selection of performers made the Haiti relief event worth the five dollars it cost to get in. Among the main performers were other talented DMV artists including G5 Clive, Daron Forbes, M1 Platoon, and Mz. Mimz. Despite the initial wait, the performers left the fans with quality music and a positive vibe.
