Celebrate Black History Month with Afro Charities

By Deyane Moses

Join us for the February 2024 Public Meeting of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum on Feb. 5, at 11 a.m. The theme of Black History Month for this year is African Americans and the Arts, as announced by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). 

Afro Charities will be hosting a table at the event. Community members can learn more about the organization and view rare artifacts about Black Artists in the AFRO’s archive! During the event, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Afro Charities team members, network with Baltimore-based Black cultural arts vendors, discover the Commission’s upcoming initiatives and listen to inspiring speakers from the heritage and preservation community.

The event is hosted by the Baltimore City commissioner delegation, including Dr. Edwin T. Johnson, Dr. Kali-Ahset Amen, Dr. Walter “Wali” Gill, Philip J. Merrill, Dr. Brian C. Morrison, Ada Pinkston and Wesley C. Wood.  Dayvon Love, director of Public Policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, will serve as special guest speaker for the event.

MCAAHC’s mission is to preserve and promote African American history throughout the state of Maryland. On Jan. 19, 2024, Gov. Wes Moore announced that the Commission, in partnership with the Maryland Historical Trust, would receive a total of $5 million in grants to 24 nonprofits through the African American Heritage Preservation Program for FY 2024. We’re thrilled to announce that Afro Charities was among the recipients and has been granted $250,000 towards the Upton Mansion project – the future home of the AFRO Archives, Afro Charities and AFRO News.

Don’t miss this opportunity to kick off Black History Month with Afro Charities and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture in February! For now, take a look back at what happened this week in history. Do you have a favorite AFRO Archives story? Find @AFRONews on social media today and let us know! 

This week’s clips from the AFRO Archives

Deyane Moses is curator of the AFRO Archives for Afro Charities. 

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

The Chattery to host Black History Month programming

The Chattery, a local non-profit, is offering art-centered and community-focused programming in honor of Black History Month.

The celebration starts off with a night market on Friday, February 2 from 6:00PM to 9:00PM. The market will feature 15 variety vendors, along with live music starting at 8:00PM.

Every evening following the market, The Chattery will host the following events:

Thursday, February 8 (6 p.m.) – Black Art Lounge (Free)

The Black Art Lounge is a space where guests can immerse themselves in a creative atmosphere and engage in a variety of art activities inspired by renowned Black artists and icons. Activities include:

  • Coloring with the vibrancy of Kehinde Wiley
  • Painting in the spirit of Jean-Michel Basquiat
  • Creating collages inspired by Shanequa Gay
  • Journaling reflections reminiscent of James Baldwin.
  • Crafting friendship bracelets inspired by Beyoncé and Kelly

Thursday, February 15 (6 p.m.) – Movie Night: Do the Right Thing (Free)

Guests are invited to watch the classic Spike Lee film, Do the Right Thing and are welcome to BYOB. Light snacks will also be provided. The film licensing has been sponsored by Arts Build. 

Thursday, February 22 (6 p.m.) – Sip & Savor: Celebrating Black Winemakers

Led by wine enthusiast, Nneka Ijeoma, students will be guided through a journey of curated wines, proudly featuring exceptional creations from Black-owned brands. This workshop is $35 and is 21+. 

Thursday, February 29 (6 p.m.) – The Black Experience: A Kickback (Free)

A fun evening filled with music from DJMCPRO and games to celebrate the Black experience and the finale of February’s Black History Month events at The Chattery. 

“This year’s focus for Black History Month is joy,” says Shawanda Mason, co-founder of The Chattery. “Black Joy is a movement and practice of finding positive community with others in a safe space and that’s what we do throughout the year but especially during Black History Month.”

All of the events will be held at a classroom space located at 1800 Rossville Avenue, Suite 108. 

For more information, visit The Chattery’s website.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

February Events

RECURRING EVENTS

First Fridays • 10am-2pm, Creative Clay Outdoor Art Market, 1846 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg • 5-9pm, First Friday Art Walk, Downtown Gulfport • 6-9pm, Concert in front of Studio Movie Grill, Seminole City Center, 11201 Park Blvd. N, Seminole
Last Friday 6-9pm, live music at the John’s Pass Bell Tower, John’s Pass Boardwalk and Shopping Village, 12902 Village Blvd., Madeira Beach
1st Saturday • 8am Beach Cleanup, Archibald Park,15100 Gulf Blvd. Mad. Beach.
2nd Saturday • 8:30am, Beach Cleanup. Municipal Pavilion, 11260 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, 11185 Gulf Blvd.The Market Marie,10am-3pm, Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater • 5-9pm, St. Pete Artwalk. Artists and gallery owners from 40 studios and galleries in five arts districts show off their latest works. Take the trolley, drive or park and walk. stpeteartsalliance.org/artwalk
3rd Saturday • 10am-2pm, Crossroads Market, Crossroads Christian Church, 1645 Seminole Blvd., Largo • 10am-5pm, Creative Pinellas at Pinewood, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo • 5-9pm, Indie Faire, Beach Blvd., Gulfport. Outdoor, socially distanced event in Gulfport features local art, handmade crafts, jewelry, and pottery to locally sourced botanicals.
4th Saturday • Pinellas Arts Walk 4-8pm, Pinellas Arts Village Walk, 5600-5800 Park Blvd. (north side), Pinellas Park. Pinellas Park Art Society, Donnelly COVE, Complete Sweet Shoppe, Pompei Factory, Studios @5663, Painting with a Twist, Bottles Pub, and Swartz Gallery.

ONGOING

Through 3/31 – Resilience & Revolution: An Immersion of Black Americana
Free, The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, 2240 Ninth Ave. S, St. Pete. The exhibition delves into the rich tapestry of African-American history and culture and aims to be a beacon of hope, knowledge, and understanding that challenges stereotypes and celebrates the resilience and contributions of African Americans.

UPCOMING

2/1-11 – U.S. Premiere: Whiskey & Soda
$36, time varies by date, The Off-Central Players, 2260 First Ave. S, St. Pete. While Margaret Thatcher prepares to speak at the White House in 1979, she invites John Lennon for drinks. Thatcher has a deal for John that could change the course of his life. Their fears of the past and their dreams of the future come to the surface. These powerful beliefs and their force of personality lead to a dramatic and explosive finale. John would go onto to write his last but legendary album, and Margaret would deliver to the White House one of her most notorious speeches. Tickets: https://theoffcentral.com/tickets

2/3 – Raptor Fest
Free, 10am-4pm, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Pete. Watch trained raptors in free flight, learn about Floridaʼs native raptor species, get a photo with live birds of prey, learn from local environmental exhibitors, and enjoy activities for children and families. Scheduled flight shows and bird walks. Free parking with shuttles at Lakewood High School and Lake Vista Rec Center.

2/3 – St. Olaf Choir Concert
$40 adults and seniors/$10 students, 7pm, First Presbyterian Church, 701 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, Composed of 75 mixed voices, the choir is hailed as one of the nation’s premier a cappella ensembles, renowned for its artistry and beauty of sound. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/ymn2kmr4 or 800-363-5487.

2/3 – Sixth Anniversary Fire & Light Celebration
$60/$40 members, 6:30-8:30pm, Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave., St. Pete. Mix and mingle with more than two dozen international glass artists. Immerse yourself in the ambiance of live music, and savor delicious hors d’oeuvres as you marvel at the Museum’s spectacular collection. http://tinyurl.com/yzsu5ve3

2/3-4, 10-11 – Pinellas Medieval Festival
$15/$22 day of, 9am-5pm, DK Farms and Gardens, 1750 Lake Ave SE, Largo. Adventure awaits with pony rides, miniature golf, animal feeding, wine tastings and more! Enjoy the artisan market and live blacksmith demonstrations. Be entertained with archery, tournament reenactments and tomato throwing. Enjoy a stroll through the farm to see the animals. Ticket information: DKfarmsandgardens@gmail.com or 727-348-0818

2/6 – Valentine’s Mixer, hosted by The James Museum Trailblazers
$25/$20 members, 6-8pm, James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, 101 First Ave. S, St. Pete. Enjoy a wine tasting provided by Book & Bottle, sweets from Schakolad Chocolate Factory and a custom floral bouquet activity with The Roaming Petal. Hosted by the museum’s Trailblazer Committee, who are art lovers ages 21-35. Open to everyone ages 21 & over, regardless of relationship status. Space is limited; registration required. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/27tktx56

2/9-10 – The Studio Honors: Celebrating 20 Years of Community
Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S, St. Pete. Friday cocktail party $50; Sat. awards gala $175 and up; The Studio Honors recognizes contributions made by individuals in our community who uplift others through their efforts, mirroring The Studio’s dedication to the arts, equity and diversity. The event serves as an important annual fundraiser for The Studio@620. Info and tickets: http://tinyurl.com/5d9dt6c5

2/9-3/29 – Born with Teeth
$29-$95, times vary by date, Asolo Rep, Sarasota. Get an inside peek at the tumultuous relationship of two of history’s greatest playwrights, William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, each harboring momentous secrets. Be among the first in the nation to watch this award- winning new play that offers an alternate perspective on the history we think we know. An Alley Theatre World Premiere production. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/mux6c7ft

2/10 – 31st Annual Dunedin Mardi Gras Parade and Festival
Free admission, 1-10pm, spans Pioneer Park, Main Street, and Broadway. The streets of Douglas and Main will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly zone all afternoon and evening for music emanating from multiple stages as well as food, beverage and merch vendors. The parade begins at 7pm, departing from Douglas Ave./Beltrees, traveling north to Skinner Blvd. Be prepared to catch beads!

2/10 – Super Bold Saturday,
Free, 1-5pm, Tropicana Field, Lot 4. An exciting family-friendly event that allows you to register to vote and learn about your voter registration status.

2/10 – Lealman Honey and Arts Festival
Free admission, 8am-5pm, Ray Neri Park, 4303 46th Ave. N, St. Pete. The festival offers a day filled with honey tastings, artistic wonders, and abundant family-friendly fun. Sample a diverse range of honey varieties sourced from local beekeepers, while local vendors showcase honey-infused artisanal food creations. Local artisans will exhibit handmade jewelry, intricate pottery, stunning paintings, and unique sculptures.

2/10-11 – Gulfport Fine Arts Festival
Free admission, 10am-5pm, Veteran’s Park, 5350 31st Ave. S, Gulfport. This waterfront arts festival hosts a select group of juried artists in all genres of media from across the country.

2/14 – Valentine’s Vows and ‘Girl Shy’
$14.50, 7pm, Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St., Tampa. The Right Rev. John Bell, (Tampa Theatre President & CEO), will lead married couples in an en masse renewal of their vows, written especially for an audience well-versed in romantic movie quotes. A champagne toast and viewing of the 1924 Harold Lloyd silent film “Girl Shy” will follow. Should anyone be ready to walk down the aisle that night, just bring your marriage license, and Bell will perform the legal ceremony! Film starts at 7:30pm. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/3xu8ykrj

2/16-18 – Gasparilla Music Festival
$60 (two days) and up, Julian B. Lane Park,1000 N. Boulevard,  Tampa. The two-day event will feature 50 bands performing on five stages at its new venue. Family-friendly performers at the Kids Fest 1-3pm on the 18th. Tickets at www.gmftickets.com

2/17 – 65th Annual Queen of Hearts Ball
$200 and up, 6pm, Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront. One of St. Petersburg’s most anticipated charitable events of the season, the Ball includes a cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, live music, silent and live auctions, and an elegant program honoring two selected charities and St. Petersburg’s most philanthropic and honorable women. Net proceeds will be distributed to Wheelchairs 4 Kids and Inspire Equine Assisted Center. Tickets: http://www.queenofheartsball.org/ 727-593-4699.

2/17-18 – Meet and greet with Christopher Still
$25, 2pm, Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum, 100 Beekman Lane. Noted Florida artist Christopher Still will share insights into his creative process in an exclusive private preview of “The Great State of Florida “ exhibit that opens to the public 2/20. The exhibition includes several original works by Still donated from private collections., as well as his most recent masterpiece, “Beautiful and Historic Tarpon Springs.” Admission to the museum is $3 resident/$5 non-resident. Museum hours are Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm. www.TarponArts.org, 727.942.5605

2/17-18 – Clearwater Craft Festival
Free, 10am-5pm, Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., Clearwater. The festival features handmade arts and crafts as well as a green market area, offering a diverse range of hand-picked goods and eco-friendly products to peruse and purchase.

2/17-18 – The Florida Highwaymen exhibit
Free, Sat. 6-8pm/Sun. 2-5pm, Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S, St. Pete. The installation speaks to the struggle for freedom and self-respect and is an Essential African-American art movement from 1950’s Jim Crow South. Some 14  artists are represented in the exhibit.

2/18 – Brothers from Another Mother Comedy Tour
$25 general admission/$40 (premium seats), 4-5:30pm, Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S, Gulfport. Two nationally known comedians, Jackie Flynn and Kevin Flynn, (no relation). Tickets at Gulfport Senior Center Foundation office from 9:30-1pm, Monday-Friday and at the Gulfport Beach Bazaar. Online tickets: http://tinyurl.com/4b6ce2rm  Benefits the  Gulfport Senior Center Foundation Building Commitment Fund.

2/23 – Arts Legacy REMIX: Mabuhay Florida – A Celebration of Filipino Culture
Free, 7:30-9pm Riverwalk Stage, Straz Center, Tampa. A celebration of the vibrant visual art, fashion, music, and food that make up the Filipino culture. Experience the richness and range of emotions that emanate from the culture’s ability to story tell through many artistic forms.

2/23-25 – St. Petersburg Seafood and Music Festival
$7, Fri 4-10pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Vinoy Park, downtown St. Pete. Local restaurants and food purveyors will cook up seafood entrees and vegetarian dishes, along with side dishes and desserts, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Live music by local and regional bands. And…arts, crafts and other fine products at the market!

2/24 – 20th Annual Get Rescued
Free admission, 10am-5pm, 3101 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport. An animal-focused event with adoptable pets, pet supplies drive, pet friendly shopping, street festival, raffle, weiner dog derby, and more. Up to 50 animal rescue groups, pet friendly vendors, pet care education, and a pet foot and supplies drive. All leashed people and well-behaved pets are welcome. Proceeds benefit Get Rescued, Inc, which supports animal rescue groups throughout the state.

2/24 – Iconic: Paint St. Pete Edition
$150 members/$175 non-members, 7-10pm, Morean Center for Clay, 420 22nd St. S, St. Pete. This fundraiser for The Morean Arts Center will highlight the city’s talented artists as they engage in a one-day battle of the brushes. See plein air paintings unfold before your eyes during the day at several iconic St. Pete locations, then attend the evening event to view the final masterpieces, bid on favorites, and cast a vote for the most captivating artist. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/28vth2tr

2/25 – “Garden Groove” concert
$30-$35, 3-5pm, Dr. Carter A. Woodson African American Museum, 2240 Ninth Ave. S, St. Pete. “Garden Groove” features the Scotty Wright Quintet, presented by the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association in celebration of Black History Month. Wright will be joined by some of the area’s best: Butch Thomas (saxophone), Judi Glover (keyboard), Erik Hempel (bass), and Rod Alnord (drums). Tickets at http://tinyurl.com/2rt8pbdb

2/26 – Radio Theatre Project Live
$20/$25 members, 7pm, The Studio @620, 620 First Ave. S, St. Pete. Join local actors as they bring unique stories to life, accompanied by Foley artist Matt Cowley and interpreted for the hearing impaired by Carol Downing. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/37xsst4j  727-895-6620

3/2 – Gulfport’s Pink Flamingo Home Tour
$25/$30, 10am-5pm (ad page 51) Tour Stetson University College of Law, built as a luxury hotel, and a number of artistic homes in the Northwest Gulfport Stetson area.

3/2 – Tickled Pink Comedy Tour
$40/$55 Palladium Theatre, 8pm, 253 5th Ave., St. Pete 33701 
Squeaky Clean comedy tour. (scan QR code on page 55)

3/2-3 – Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Free, Sat. 9-6, Sun 10-5, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa. One of the top outdoor, juried fine arts shows in the U.S. The festival showcases artists and their work to include ceramic, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood, as well as the works of local young artists. Artists vie for nearly $100,000 in prize money and scholarships.

3/2-3 – Pinellas Botanicals and Brunchfest
Free, 9am-4pm, 5010 81st Ave. N, Pinellas Park. Get your bloom on at this weekend bursting with a vibrant fusion of blooming beauty and mouthwatering brunch delights. Festivities will include live music, a best brunch competition, a selection of unique plants, charming garden accessories, talented local artisans, craftsmen, and kids’ activities.

3/9-10 – 49th Tarpon Springs Fine Art Festival
Free admission, 9am-5pm Sat./10am-5pm Sun., 100 Library Lane, Craig Park. The festival offers more than 150 exhibiting artists, selected by a jury of discriminating art professionals. Visitors enjoy a full schedule of music, sample craft beers, and taste a variety of crowd-pleasing international foods. Only ADA compliant service animals allowed. No coolers.

3/14-17 – Spring Break Waterfront Festival and Battle of the Bands
Free (pay to park), 3-9pm (3/14), ROC Park, 200 Rex Place, Madeira Beach. The biggest community event of the year, BOTB kicks off the festival 3/14 and provides a platform for local artists and rock bands to showcase their talent. Bands will compete in elementary, middle school, high school, and young adults categories. A variety of food trucks and beverage vendors, along with favorite rides and games will be on hand. 

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Once I learned about Dr. King his dream became my dream

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Evanston’s historic Second Church of Christ Scientist hosts Brazilian jazz show

It was a cold and rainy night but that didn’t deter a crowd of music lovers from coming to “Donovan’s Garage Presents an Evening of Brazilian Jazz,” on Jan. 23 at the Second Church of Christ Scientist in Evanston.

The church was purchased in December 2022 by Englewood native Steven Rogers who is working to highlight the history of the land the church sits on while providing a free venue for Black artists to showcase their talent.

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“I want to make the church an asset to the Black community in Evanston, in Chicago, and the Black national community,” Rogers told Chicago Tribune reporter Darcel Rockett for a story in Nov. 2023. “I love the arts. I want to host choirs from historically Black colleges when they make their annual tours throughout the country. I’d like to have guest speakers, prominent speakers in the Black community, book clubs — anything that has to do with art and the Black community.”

The land previously housed multiple Black families who were forcibly uprooted and moved to the city’s 5th Ward during a time when racial segregation was being perpetuated. Now, Rogers is working to give the space back to the community.

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The massive auditorium was more than half full of fans who wanted to hear the program created by Donovan Mixon who worked alongside four of the top local musicians for the performance.

The quintet, Mixon on guitar, Jim Barbick on saxophone and flute, David Chelimsky on cavaquinho, Geoffrey Lowe on bass, and Heitor Garcia on drums played 10 diverse selections.

Jim Barbick was front and center, playing saxophone and flute, throughout “Donovan’s Garage Presents an Evening of Brazilian Jazz,” Jan. 23 at the second Church of Christ Scientist in Evanston. Also pictured left to right are Heitor Garcia on drums and Geoffrey Lowe on bass.

All of the Chicago-based musicians have artistic roots in South America.

The focus was on the music with Mixon only making very brief comments between selections.

The program kicked off with “Caminhado” by Nelson Cavaquinho and Norival Bahia, a lively, whimsical piece featuring Barbick on flute.

Next up was “The Monster and the Flower” by Claudio Roditi. Barbick switched to saxophone for this bouncy number, demonstrating that he is a master of both instruments. The piece features a rousing drum solo.

Next came the driving beat of “The Comet” by organizer Mixon. The sometimes cacophonous interactions between the instruments captured the fury of a comet streaking through the sky.

Every note seemed to be singing in “Eu Quero e Sossego” by K. Ximbinho and Hianto de Almeida.

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The fifth selection was another Mixon piece, “October,” in which the composer took the lead, joyfully moving to the beat as he played his guitar. Saxophonist Barbick jumped in, adding some cool sounds to the seasonal piece.

J.J. Johnson’s “Lament” was a moody, deep piece, that captured the sorrowfulness of its title.

Next up was “Noodles,” a bouncy tune by cavaquinho player Chelimsky. He said he wrote that piece while working on a cruise ship and didn’t know why he called it “Noodles,” unless it was because he was eating a lot of Ramen noodles.

That was followed by the bluesy sound of “Xote do Almeidinha” by Hamilton de Holanda.

The ninth selection on the program was the world premiere of “Happy, Happy,” another Mixon creation.

“I wrote it for this occasion,” the composer said of the joyful piece.

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The program concluded with “Estamos Ai” by Einhorn, Ferreira and Werneck. One woman and two children were picked from the audience to play maracas to the lively beat.

Mixon presents a diverse selection of themed musical programs, featuring different musicians, under the banner of “Donovan’s Garage.” His website describes it as “a performance laboratory in which artists collaborate live on stage to execute spontaneous improvisations of known and original compositions.” The goal is to allow audiences behind the scenes of the musicians’ creative process, according to the website.

To learn what’s coming next, visit donovanmixon.com/index.html. Those interested in booking the space can reach out to Rogers at his website stevensrogers.com.

Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero’ on Max, A Hangout Doc With The Rapper, Singer, And Viral Star As He Celebrates His Arrival And Considers What’s Next

Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero (now streaming on Max, formerly known as HBO Max), named after the breakout “Old Town Road” star’s first full-length album and given name, finds the rapper, singer and social media provocateur in a contemplative place as he and his team launch his first headlining tour. Directed by Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel, and shot over two months in 2022 and ‘23, during tour stops and at his new Los Angeles home, Long Live Montero catches Nas X as he indulges in his newfound fame, embraces coming out, and considers his status and influence as a Black queer artist operating in a high-exposure place. Sure, his live show includes an elaborate, custom-designed horse. But “Old Town Road” was just the beginning…    

The Gist: It’s a dream, he wished it on a genie/I got fans finally, ain’t you wantin’ them to see me? Onstage at Detroit’s Fox Theatre, as Lil Nas X performs his Grammy-nominated single “Panini,” he and his passel of dancers appear shirtless, with matching gold arm gauntlets and leg greaves, chest pieces with leather straps, and a codpiece in the form of a blazing golden sun. If you’re gonna go big for your first national tour following an international smash hit, this is certainly an expressive way to do it, with a video backdrop that recalls Tarsem’s 2011 fantasy Immortals and the wider known universe. 

The themes of Lil Nas X’s live show, like the chapter headings of Long Live Montero, are “rebirth,” “transformation,” and “becoming,” formulating the now 24-year-old’s overnight viral success with 2019’s country/trap/country-trap hit “Old Town Road” into a journey encompassing viral spontaneity, the many forms of creativity, and not missing the moment or the opportunity. It’s one thing to make a song, promote the hell out of it on social media, and see it suddenly catch fire; it’s entirely another to be the star, and prepare for tour with daily choreography sessions back in LA. “It’s scary,” Nas X says in the doc, a month out from day one. “They’re all so good.” But the dancers are not just pros but a supportive group, too, and there’s an easy camaraderie between them and the man of the hour, who came out publicly in the months after “Old Town Road” broke huge.

“I felt like coming out was very important if I wanted to progress,” Lil Nas X says in Montero, where he’s often interviewed from between the mess of white sheets in his bedroom. “There are still parts of myself that I am learning to accept,” he continues, a theme the doc supports with sequences full of fan testimonials regarding their own experiences with inclusion and embracing their personhood. We also meet members of Lil Nas X’s family, see him interact backstage with Madonna, and get more glimpses of the live show as it travels through San Francisco, Atlanta, and Boston, where the rapper and singer buys pizzas for the Christian protestors who accost his fans outside the venue.

LIL NAS X LONG LIVE MONTERO STREAMING
Photo: Max

What Movies Will It Remind You Of? Back in 2020, Ariana Grande documented her third world tour with Excuse Me, I Love You, and that film’s exploration of pop star mechanics, such as the grind of learning and training for lengthy dance routines, is echoed in Long Live Montero. Montero and Lil Nas X himself also directly reference Little Richard as a Black artist who operated from a place of strength within spaces both straight and queer, an aspect of Richard’s life and career explored at length in Lisa Cortés’ 2023 documentary Little Richard: I Am Everything.  

Performance Worth Watching: Let’s hear it for the dancers. Much like Taylor Swift’s crew did in the recent Eras Tour concert film, Lil Nas X’s group of supporting dancers are a constant presence on the Long Live Montero stage, driving the choreography and production themes forward. Offstage, they also become a kind of mobile moral support unit for the young star as he navigates his first big tour.

Memorable Dialogue: “Tomorrow is the first day of tour. Detroit. And I’m wondering, like, am I going to shake it all off and just go crazy and have fun? Or am I going to freeze up and, and – go back inside of my dad’s balls?” Long Live Montero is at its most lively when it lets its subject just riff in confessional mode. 

Sex and Skin: Well, onstage or off, Lil Nas X doesn’t wear a lot of shirts.  

LIL NAS X LONG LIVE MONTERO
Photo: Max

Our Take: Lil Nas X fans will undoubtedly get a kick out of the live footage in Long Live Montero. But some of the doc’s most interesting moments are in the focus it puts on the conception and realization of the tour. When an artist becomes well-known for a viral hit, which picks at the idea that it’s all just one fleeting moment for the “Mambo No. 5” pile, how do you construct a fleshed-out reality around him, and what does that look like? For Nas X, that means a lot of gold. It means dynamic choreography. It means ambitious live setpieces like “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” which Nas X calls a growth song. And not just because he emerges from a cocoon on stage. He says “Montero” allowed him to leap past his “friendly cowboy” role in favor of becoming a “gay guy in public.” 

But it also means hiring a horse designer. Los Angeles-based fabricator and sculptor Margot Rada is interviewed in Montero as she sews glowing LED eyes into the incredible, gold-plated, working equine costume that will be operated on stage by Lil Nas X and two of his dancers. Live, the moment encapsulates the hugeness of “Old Town Road.” But it also expresses the tour’s need to be larger and more physically grand than just one song. And with that, Montero also gives its subject lots of space to get philosophical about how his life has changed, both as an artist on his first headlining jaunt and as a man continuing to hone his personal and professional identity.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Follow Montero Lamar Hill as he takes the Lil Nas X mystique out on the road in an imaginative and expansive live show. But hang with him, too, in his bedroom at home, or while dancing solo in tour buses. Long Live Montero is an engaging doc that reveals an artist in the very midst of capitalizing on his whirlwind journey to fame while also giving thought to his personal identity.

Johnny Loftus (@glennganges) is an independent writer and editor living at large in Chicagoland. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment