Elena's Soul Lounge Gone

So just imagine once upon a time in Philly….. Good old Philly… Our rich and profound town filled with music and entertainment, that there would be a little lounge in west philly called Leroy's Showcase Lounge.

Legendary it was….most nights it would showcase famous acts from Patti LaBelle, The Staple singers, The O'Jays, Harold Melvin in The Blue Notes…. Just insane.

Not just showcasing their talent, but this was one of their spots,  where they came to chill, get smashed and have fun together, through music, drinks, whatever.

Walking into Elena's Soul…I always felt that it was a place filled with so many vibes and memories of the past, but the great thing about it was, it never left. Everytime i stepped foot in that place and we jammed among friends and family, even folks from out of town would stop in. One thing for sure is that you were guaranteed a great time and a weird always, but cool and funny vibe.

I mean, I felt it almost every single time i went there and now it's gone?

December 24, 2012 Elena's Soul caught fire. It was a place that was building back a tradition that once lived there for many years, socializing, drinking, eating, and hearing great music, whether it was on the turntables or with the live musicians.

The first time I found out about it was from my great friend and partner DJ Danophonic….he told me that this place Leroy's at the time was gonna be a cool spot in west philly… of course i Believed him but it took awhile and he would usually hang there a bunch, and i came a few times but the place was so filled with cigarette smoke, i couldn't stand to be in there too long.

Yes it was a gritty bar, that all the cats came to hang and drink of course, and bless the place with their gifts of music.

good times at elena's

It made sense that whenever anyone played, it always had a vibe….the sound system wasn't the best, but you were hands on with the musicians, entertainers, bar tenders, Dj's, even the owner of the place took the mic a few times while we jammed and had fun. I can't believe its gone.

Sad is not the word for the moment, you try to not have selfish thoughts  about the things you remember of the place, so you think about everything.

People first met there, people went there to hang and have a good time in a cool neighborhood. People come from shows, all parts of philly because they know they are gonna be entertained, folks even drive in from out of town to catch the vibe.

Me and Bilal at Elena's

It's hard to even write this blog post due to everything that one can endure at a time and you wake up and now this.

That place burned to the ground! 

I was just sitting here in the studio thinking, well, at least i have the jam session this week, where i can meet up with friends and family, and look towards a brighter day… now, i just sit and cherish memories… which puts a deeper dent on the outlook of things.

You just hate to see something built from the ground up to only be knocked down.

They worked hard there….they built a respectable spot for people to lounge at. 

We played so many hours there, Original Music always…We had so many great times there. i know…. i keep saying it, but it's just a sad deal, i feel like i lost something too man.

Everybody have their spots in philly, the jams, whatever, but nothing was EVER like Elena's……..EVER

Some jam sessions are jams made up with people doing covers or whatever they know how to play, at this jam, we basically freestyle with the notions that your gonna vibe with us, keep in mind, most songs, great songs are made up that way!

I'm glad and thankful nobody got hurt…and i just wanna take the time to thank thee entire staff over there, you provided us with a comfortable place to play, you catered to us with the coolest service, you became family to us, and we will always be around when you need us. Thank You.

Algernong Allen…. Thank you for taking your hard earned time and money to keep that place going… I'm sure only bigger and better things are on the horizon.

It has to be…that place was offered a living room atmosphere to so so many people.

You made that happen and now that its gone, its a really sad man, and i'm sorry.

I wanted to remember those times, so for most of the day, i found some recordings that we did there, of the jam session… I managed to take a whole night of jamming, all types of funny things you will hear on the recording, and got it to a cool 27 minutes.... Please listen... and share of course with everyone you know, keep the memories going and just keep eachother in prayer.

Merry Christmas and A happy new year.

Mckie

Venting Out Loud

 ATTENTION….

I Haven't written a blog in a few months, but this one was well worth the wait man. 

I'm thinking to myself reflecting on the moves I've made in my career, and thinking about all the people that came in my life and help me get to my dreams of being a successful musician and eventually producer!

The road wasn't easy, at times I felt I should be in a better position then some should have been, and your talent just makes you feel you that your suppose to do any and everything. I had to learn the hard way, but it turned out being the right way to go.

I even read books on how some things go on just to educate myself on what life i wanted to get myself into.

I played gigs where it felt like i would never make it out the city. I traveled through a few cities only to make a few bucks, but little did i know, I was paying my dues and grooming myself for the bigger picture. 

When People say you have to obtain a bunch of patience and perseverance, they mean it in all senses of the meaning.

Remain patient man, God didn't give you that talent for no reason, if you put in the hard work, your gonna reach a peak, but it will NOT happen over night man.

1998 marked the time when i Graduated from High school, it was a significant timezone for a young musician coming up in Philly. 

Nothing was given to you like things are today. Call me old or whatever, its the damn truth.

Everybody earned their stripes for all the success that is happening now.

It makes it that much sweeter because some of them, well, actually a lot of them come from my hometown and they are close friends as well.

Yeah, whatever, getting to my point.

To  all the college musicians who are privileged to attend a prestige school, Please, Please, Please man. Use it to your best interest, but Never, Never, Never use it to the point where your promoting false information man.

I can't understand for the life of me why you use  situations like, your school being able to afford to pay for an artist to come there and perform, with the school band that is, and ruin their tunes and then promote how you've toured with them, when in fact, you've only shared the stage with them for a brief, nice and short and sweet recital or function, your school (Berklee) created for you.

Last time I checked, when you promote yourself, you normally would have to actually play for this artist, for a significant amount of time.

Playing with Bilal… or etc artist at your school doesn't mean you go and tell your homies and the world that you've toured with them. ( YOU NEVER DID THAT)

The shit doesn't count man. I played with several people in my time and I STILL don't include them on my resume of touring. When you have talent and your dope, after a while, your gonna get discovered and eventually wind up doing the things you want. Patience!

Granted, we are in a different time in music and the platform for cats coming out and wanting the lime light and now all of the sudden recording their own records, it's very inspiring, but in all actuality, your killing people's ears by putting shit out because you have the means and you really haven't developed a good enough sound to call your own yet.

Yeah, Im talking about you, if your gonna take it personal!

Now days, anybody can devote their young lives to a macbook pro with logic and youtube. That's how you created your sound and album and I don't think that shit is cool. What the hell did you go to school for in the first place???

My suggestion, Maybe you should really study music in a pure form, and not just listening and learning certain groves and songs just for the fuck of it.

Ok, you can play Jaco all day, and chicken, my most hated jam session song, but, can you actually sit down and just play a few notes and have people leaving, with a good impression, and a good sense for who you can be down the road.

I know, maybe i sound a bit harsh, but i wasn't a schooled musician, I didn't have a platform where you really don't have to do shit to make it out.

I didn't come up in a era where you play in church and people worshiped your ground,and  immediately your head balloons to a point where your thinking, wow man, yeah I'm dope…. Im suppose to go straight to the majors man.

Nope I didn't do that at all, so why should you?

Walk a humble ground man, don't run around in a city, telling folks your touring with this person and that person. After a while, i assume it will catch up with you, and when people finally catch on, your  basically looking like an ass.

There's no need to state your claim, specially when your doing well, why? well, people, and social networks, and all that stuff will do it for you.

Your playing will do most of the talking, and the rest is strictly on how your choose to carry yourself through it. DON"T LIE…. DON"T SAY I TOURED with BILAL AND WHO EVER ELSE  you only played one show for, ok, maybe two, but that's not enough to say… I've toured with this guy and that girl, or guy, whatever you wanna call it.
You get my point!