All words: Andrea McPherson
All photos: Jati Lindsay

At a packed out show, in the small but well-known Liv nightclub in NW, the Cornel West Theory defines their rendition of renaissance during their first ever album release concert for their third album, Second Rome (out now on SOCKETS Records-ed). While remaining totally oblivious to gimmicky trends, outside opinions and criticism, their message is jarring and intimidating, proving that the flip side of progressive music and revolution ain’t so sweet.

What they have to say isn’t easily articulated, but so easily understood with a motley mix of vocals, spoken word, electronic sounds, drums and guitar. It’s an extroverted sound that, ironically, is not for the typical listener but their music is for everyone; it’s simply complex, “We have grown so much in terms of our musicianship and how we operate as a group,” says the man at the helm of extemporaneous sounds and electronics, John Moon says in a post-haste interview immediately following the show, “We’re not about pounding people over the head with our message and our sound.”

With the ability to metamorphose, yet still keep with their message of the forward mobility of all marginalized peoples, it’d be hard to categorize their music because they’d simply break it out of the box; their style cannot be singularly defined. Over the years, their genre has worn many different masks, giving them the ability to satisfy the tastes of a diverse audience. Sometimes changing with the times has its benefits, “At first I think we were all about that noise-Jazz, Hip-Hop sound,” says spoken word vocalist and emcee of the group, Rashad Dobbins, “This third album is a melding of those first two.”

At first, their music is a hard little pill to swallow; they’re intense, a little strange and their sound is intense, raw and jarring, but once listened to is easily understood, “My personal objective is to figure out the meaning behind relationships,” says Yvonne Gilmore, spoken word artist for the group, “Whether those relationships are between the government and its people, men and women or Black people and White people.”

As people press themselves into tiny, sweaty spaces and crane their necks just to get a clear view of the stage, this out-of-the way band is on the come up from performing to unoccupied chairs at the former Bar Nun on U Street. This show is beginning to come into its own. The atmosphere is sticky and tangible. Once the harsh stage lights are turned off, the graceful silhouette of the evening’s honorary vocalist, Deborah Bond takes center stage. Her voice and that of Ndigo Rose (Tony Hicks, vocals, keys) and the lyrics, “I so many words I am trying to say, that you blow me away,” wash over the crowd. Their melody is a perfect intertwining of melancholy and acknowledgement; it is an anthem for the young children of the world. One is compelled to wonder what Deborah’s inspiration is as she sings with eyes closed and totally uninhibited; lost somewhere in the music, yet somehow found.

Each member of the group, with their respective talent and aura brings a different color to the prism. Sam Lavine, sets the tempo with his effortless drum skills; Katrina Lorraine Starr’s soft timbre and vivid poetry root the band’s music with a maternal and unapologetic force; Tim Hicks with his fireball of a personality has no choice but to keep the crowd intently watching his every move as he contorts his body and launches himself of speakers. The set also includes Malik Hunter on base and Zack Butler on guitar.

In conjunction with Socket Records and Cornel West himself, the Cornel West Theory has manages to pull off a seamless show. To put it simply, they are an amalgam of Rage Against the Machine, Saul Williams and the Black history that wasn’t taught in the public school systems. Presented was a full range of emotion: angry and militant to soft and nurturing, which is somewhat analogous to the Black struggle itself. And as if to dispel any myths, Dr. Cornel West himself, who also is featured of 18 of the 21 tracks on the latest album, decides to grace Liv with his presence. It was the perfect dose of balance with aggressive and bold songs mixed in with a bit of rhythm and soul.

Previously in Live DC:

• PHOTOS: 30 Seconds to Mars @ SONAR (brought to you by Maybelline)
• Live DC: Autolux @ Black Cat brought to you by Moldex Ear Plugs
• Live DC: Dominique Young Unique @ DC9
• Rock The Bells Report
• PHOTOS: Family Hemerlein August Edition
• LiveDC: Matisyahu @ 930 Club
• PHOTOS: Scissor Sisters @ DAR
• Live DC: Tears for Fears @ 9:30 Club
• Live DC: Vivian Girls / Brett and the Whispers / Heavy Cream @ Comet
• LiveDC: Crystal Castles @ 930 Club