Early Influences: The Fresh Festival in '84, Porgy and Bess in '87
These Were the First Performances that Really Became "LIVE" For Me
Stream of thought…
If we want to count from the first time I got a real check for it, I’ve been working in the live venue space since around 1989. I was a sophomore/junior at Mira Mesa High School. I would work occasional shows at The Spreckels Theatre with my Dad as a security guard. I would post up in the lobby and watch the crowd until the curtain and through intermission. Since then, I have worked an abundance and variety of live performances. With that being said, there are two performances that I attended between the ages of 12 and 15 that to this day, have not been outweighed in my mind.
The Fresh Festival ‘84 Tour
I’m a Hip-Hop Kid. This is the music of my youth. New and fresh with a new culture in tow. Break Dancing, Pop-Locking, DJs, and Graffiti Artists. I was even in a crew(Whodini Rockers). Shout out to Candy Rock, Sound Innovators, and all the other Breaking and DJ crews around Mira Mesa. I’m 12 years old. It’s a Friday and my sister comes home and asks me the most surprising question I had ever been asked at that time:
Her:
Hey! You want to go to the Fresh Festival??
Me:
Speechless
The Fresh Festival was no regular affair. This was the first-ever national Hip-Hop tour!! Its official name was The Swatch Watch New York City Fresh Festival ‘84 Tour.
Like,
What??!! Yes!!!!
I was in a state of shock! Shook. Shoocketh! In a state of unbelief.
I don’t know if I can convey how monumental this moment is for Hip-Hop loving kid of the time. I’m in San Diego and I am about to see Run DMC, Whodini, The Fat Boys, Grandmaster Flash?? Live??
I don’t remember the drive to the San Diego Sports Arena. I just remember walking towards the ticket office, hoping it wasn’t sold out. Out of nowhere, a man stops my sister and asks if she is looking for two tickets. Two of his people couldn’t make it. He will sell them to us at the GA price. A whole $13 each!! Sold! We got the tickets and hit the entrance. The seats were front row!!!! Unbelievable! I stood on my chair and rocked out the whole show! My sister? Sat down and read a book by the flashing lights. Rap and Hip-Hop were not here thing. She just took her little brother to watch his thing.
It was a once in a lifetime moment during a first for a new music and I was there! And my sister took me, for the love of her brother. Unforgettable event.
San Diego Opera’s Production of Porgy and Bess, 1987
Fast forward a few years. By way of working at the Spreckels Theater, my Dad would get tickets for a lot of different events. Concerts, Padres Games, Motocross, etc. My birthday was coming up on March 4th of 1987. The big 15 years old! My Dad said he was going to take us (Mom) out for my birthday, and I could not wait to see what ticket he came up on this time. He told me! On my birthday weekend, we were going to see…wait for it… an Opera! Porgy and Bess.
Huh?! Ok.
Saturday night came. I got fancy dressed and jumped in the back of the car for what I knew was going to be a boring night. We went to dinner and then headed to the San Diego Civic Theater. Made it through the lobby shuffle to find our seats and then the show started.
I was transfixed. I could not take my eyes off the stage. I had never seen or heard this live before. I hearing the Porgy and Bess studio album by Miles Davis and studying the record sleeve at home. I think I read something about it in Jet or Ebony magazines and somehow not seen the film version.
Seeing this now, live, with these powerful performers and these voices that sound like thunder from heaven was a new experience! I had never seen or heard black bodies and voices occupy this space. I had only seen opera on TV, and it seemed boring. I didn’t identify at all. This was different altogether. This was…new. A classic for others, but new for me. It was a new respect for the art. What was completely foreign was now embedded in me, and I have dug opera ever since. I’ve even performed in a couple. Non-singing parts, of course.
The point is that these two performances stand out in my mind because at such a young age, I was begging to understand the importance and intricacies of the performing arts world. The power of live performances to transform realities in people. To solidify and expand culture. I count myself fortunate to have seen and been involved with such a variety of arts and media in my life. Most importantly, it always started as a family affair.
Until next time,
Ahmed