Concert preview: Joi at Bengal Coast in Dallas (August 22)

by JW Richard of Mandrake Arts & Media

Joi is planning a new CD release soon and one can only hope that she’ll grace the crowd with the new selections.

Today’s soul music has brought fans almost back to a place before black music was a part of the overall pop music landscape. Finding out who has the soul grooves happens more by word of mouth than believing in radio or even the deluge of artists on the internet. Take Joi Evelyn Gilliam for instance, better known to fans as Joi (not to be confused with the Middle Eastern electronic group or the dance music vocalist by the same name). Now if you were one of the unfortunate ones to miss her 1994 rock and soul debut, Pendulum Vibe, then perhaps you heard her track, “Freedom”, covered by several women, including En Vogue, Queen Latifah, and Me’shell Ndegeocello, in the Panther film soundtrack.

After some label issues and a short stint with Raphel Saddiq in the group Lucy Pearl, she released Star Kitty’s Revenge in 2002 with a more mainstream R&B/soul but still channeling the freakiness of Betty Davis. That project’s single, “Lick”, is the basis of the “Lick” Safari party Saturday night with hosted by De Novo II and IYG Media at Bengal Coast. Doors open at 10pm and the cover is $10 before 11:30pm. Kudos to De Novo II and IYG Media who, like Honey Entertainment, are bringing more live soul acts as a part local lesbian and gay nightlife scene.

Along with performing her underground classics from those projects and 2007’s Tennessee Slim is the Bomb, Joi is planning a new CD release soon and one can only hope that she’ll grace the crowd with the new selections. So, take this word of mouth and make plans to be there. For more info on the show, visit www.inyourgayborhood.com.