floetry-floology

Floetry reunited, playing 3 NYC-area shows on tour (one with R. Kelly); Musiq Soulchild touring too (dates)

Floetry

The Floetry reunion came to the Pageant Friday night for a sold-out show with Marsha Ambrosius (the singer) and Natalie Stewart (the poet).

The women didn’t address why they broke up or why they’ve been gone so long, only that “we’re here for you,” which seemed good enough for the fans.

…Whatever happened to kill the group’s vibe a decade ago, the magic was still there as the harmonious duo brilliantly played off of each other’s strengths (while mostly not standing side by side).

Floetry’s main formula — Ambrosius either singing behind Stewart’s poems delivered in a raplike cadence or Stewart providing spoken breaks to Ambrosius’ often impressive wailing — was intact.

“If you know these songs, you need to sing along,” Stewart said early on as Floetry and the four-piece band delivered on “Big Ben,” “Ms. Stress,” “Headache” and “Mr. Messed Up.” [STL Today]

British neo-soul/hip hop duo Floetry broke up after their 2005 sophomore album, Flo’Ology, and Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart (aka The Floacist) embarked on separate solo careers. Earlier this year, they finally got back together and have been on a reunion tour that sounds like it’s going over pretty well (that’s a review of the St. Louis stop above).

The tour hits NYC on July 19 & 20 at BB King’s, the former of which will be opened by Janine & the Mixtape. The day before that, they’ll be right outside of NYC opening for R. Kelly at Newark’s Prudential Center (7/18). Tickets for all three of those shows are available. All dates are listed below.

In related news, Floacist collaborator and fellow Roots/Robert Glasper/Bilal/etc collaborator Musiq Soulchild is also touring this year, and playing two nights at that same NYC venue. Musiq hits BB King’s on October 21 & 22. Tickets for those shows are on sale now.

Musiq also teams up with Common, Slum VIllage and more for the 10th annual DC Loves Dilla tribute/fundraiser in honor of the late J Dilla which happens in DC this Friday (7/10) (tickets). The next day, Common headlines the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival.

All of Musiq’s dates and Floetry’s dates are listed, with some videos, below…

The Floacist – “Forever’ (feat. Musiq Soulchild)

Floetry – “Say Yes”

Floetry – “Floetic”

Floetry – “Say Yes” live in 2015

Robert Glasper – “Ah Yeah” (feat. Musiq Soulchild & Chrisette Michele)

The Roots – “Break You Off” (feat. Musiq Soulchild)

Floetry — 2015 Tour Dates
7/8 Iron City Birmingham, AL
7/9 Kentucy Center Louisville, KY
7/10 Knight Theater Charlotte, NC
7/11 Center Stage Theater Atlanta, GA
7/12 Durham Performing Arts Center Durham, NC w/ The Foreign Exchange
7/15 The NorVa Norfolk, VA
7/16 The National RIchmond, VA
7/17 Theater of the Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
7/18 Prudential Center Newark, NJ w/ R. Kelly
7/19 BB King’s New York, NY
7/20 BB King’s New York, NY
7/22 Cone Denim Entertainment Center Greensboro, NC
7/24 Wilbur Theatre Boston, MA
7/25 Grand Theater at Foxwoods Mashantucket, CT
7/26 Theater of the Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
7/30 House of Blues North Myrtle Beach, SC
7/31 Center Stage Theater Atlanta, GA
8/2 House of Blues Lake Buena VIsta, FL
8/4 Saenger Theatre Mobile, AL
8/5 David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts Tampa, FL
8/6 The Ritz Theatre and Lavilla Museum Jacksonville, FL
8/8 Merriweather Post Pavillion Columbia, MD w/ Erykah Badu

Musiq Soulchild — 2015 Tour Dates
Jul 10 Howard Theater Washington, DC – ‘DC Loves Dilla’ w/ Common, Slum Village
Jul 11 Wolf Creek Amphitheater Atlanta, GA
Aug 15 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, Canada
Aug 21 Yoshi’s Oakland Oakland, CA
Aug 22 Yoshi’s Oakland Oakland, CA
Aug 23 Yoshi’s Oakland Oakland, CA
Aug 24 Yoshi’s Oakland Oakland, CA
Sep 12 Detroit Opera House Detroit, MI
Sep 17 Indigo At The O2 Greenwich, United Kingdom
Sep 19 The Institute Birmingham, United Kingdom
Sep 20 The Ritz Manchester, United Kingdom
Oct 02 City National Grove of Anaheim Anaheim, CA
Oct 21 B.B. King Blues Club and Grill New York, NY
Oct 22 B.B. King Blues Club and Grill New York, NY
Oct 24 Howard Theatre Washington, DC
Oct 25 Howard Theatre Washington, DC