Landmark show for Stockton

Ian Hill / 209Vibe editorPosted May 10 at 06:25 AM

You probably missed the big picture if you were in Janet Leigh Plaza Friday night, and that's perfectly fine. You won't supposed to be thinking about city politics and the state of local music as you bobbed your head to Greyspace, Neglected and the Icarus Jones Collective.

So let's take a moment this morning and consider why the show was a watershed moment for Stockton, its talented young artists and local music:

-209Vibe and the Downtown Stockton Alliance brought live, uncensored, positive hip-hop downtown the day after the city planning commission effectively shut down Stockton's lone urban nightclub, Da Candy Shop.

-Hundreds of people checked out the show, danced and enjoyed the music. Many in the audience were not the performers' regular followers. There were no problems with the crowd - there wasn't even a remote threat of violence - and everyone had a good time.

-Two members of the Stockton Arts Commission, including its new president, left the show impressed by the performers' talent. The commission has done little to reach out to the city's young arts scene even though it is a city-sponsored agency, supported by public money, that is meant to assist Stockton artists. As Icarus performed, I told one of the commissioners that, "this has been going on right under the arts commission's nose!" It should be noted that I do have a great deal of faith in the new commission president, Paula Shiel, and I believe the agency will begin to find its way.

-The show also impressed the management of City Centre Cinemas 16, who noted it was one of the biggest crowds they'd seen for the Downtown Stockton Alliance's Music in the Square series. This is a pretty big accomplishment, as the theater managers and other downtown business owners can be the toughest critics of live music in Janet Leigh Plaza. And rightfully so - they want to make sure that the event doesn't scare away potential customers. Instead, business managers want the concert series to provide local residents with another reason to come downtown. Friday's show served that purpose, and hopefully it encouraged business owners to lobby for more live music in the area. City leaders would have to listen - after all, the purpose of downtown redevelopment is to encourage business growth.

-There were no complaints about language or the content of the music, even when my iPod accidentally played Talib Kweli's "Get Em High" over the speakers in the plaza.

-Two city bike cops parked by the edge of the crowd for a few songs then left after hopefully realizing that there weren't going to be problems with fans.

-In the end, all credit for the show's success must go to the Icarus Jones Collective, Neglected and Greyspace. They're groundbreaking hip-hop acts for Stockton because they focus on making great music, not just creating club bangers that make money. They don't take the easy road by using misogyny and simple lyrics about cash and cars to sell records. Instead, the Icarus Jones Collective, Neglected and Greyspace are artists, and they appeal to our higher consciousness through art. It builds positivity. Many other Stockton rappers take the low road in hopes of having a mainstream radio hit. I'm not sure if Friday's show would have been as successful if one of those more mainstream rappers performed.

If you missed the landmark show, you can check out the review and photos Monday