Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of playing a few parties centered around movies highlighting a lead Black character in a heroes position. From RZA’s Afro Samurai to both the Black Dynamite movie and soundtrack release parties and now adding to the resume of geek meets DJ culture, the release for Marvel’s Luke Cage score composed Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Thrown and hosted by Joe Turner of Atomic City Comics here in Philly, the event took place at L’etage which fit perfectly in style and very close to the infamous Cotton Club from the series including a selection of Luke Cage themed cocktails. Before things got underway, Drexel University Professor Vincent Williams gave an introduction and history lesson of the Luke Cage character and how it’s changed over the years to fit in with the times. The musical theme of the evening was handled by Foxx Boogie, Matthew Law and myself and blended an atmosphere of vibrant selections from and inspired by the soundtrack that fit perfectly with the strictly enforced “classy” dress code. In keeping with the live performance aspect which of the series, Alexa Gold along with Naeemah Maddox and Lucien Dowdell performed a Sharon Jones tribute set which felt right especially with the recent loss of Ms. Jones.
An incredible night enjoyed by both comic readers and fans of the show in celebration of a mighty hero who has finally gotten the spotlight he deserves since making his debut in the 1970’s.