To All The Ladies In The Place with Style & Grace: SICSundays presents ‘Ladies First’
“I just want women to always feel in control. Because we’re capable. We’re so capable.” -Nicki Minaj
SICSundays opened 2017 with their 17th show, entitled “Ladies First,” which opened doors and presented a new opportunity for the performers of the monthly showcase, also referred to as “Chicago’s Best Day Party.”
The January edition of SICSundays not only reintroduced us to some of Chicago’s most talented female vocalists, but also created a new platform for celebrating dance, modeling, band collectives, in addition to a spin on genres like spoken word, the blues, hip hop, soul, and of course, rap.
The Ladies First show also celebrated the laid back and engaged formats of DJ Mos Precious and Blok Club DJs Silkee and Lady Dice, giving Kwiet Storm and Big Tank a break for the evening. Although he wasn’t on the turntables, P1 named Big Tank the official cocktail server for the evening, and he owned it.
P1 opened the show by paying homage to the essence of this month’s theme of celebrating women, giving individual shout outs to some of the key players of SICSundays. Here, you have vocalists and host, Sharmon Jarmon and Tan (who was celebrating her birthday!), photographer J. Nicole Smith, DJ Mos Precious, Communication Support Lead, Shartia Marie, and myself, as the monthly event blogger.
DJ Mos Precious started the show off by embracing her femininity with high energy, and in my opinion, one of her best performances at SICSundays. Sharing a few of her experiences of being in the industry for four years was both humbling and inspiring. Mos Precious performed “On One” and “Humble Yourself,” which was written after taking a personal hiatus. This song is a direct correlation to [her] life as a performer, and she reminds all of us to stay grounded and to do the right thing.
Jurisdiction da Necessity performed next, and had me feeling like I was cruising in Los Angeles back in the 90s, in a pair of gold hoops with red lipstick. The first half of her set was performed solo, and she was later accompanied by her male counterpart, which added some depth and bass to the set. Jurisdiction’s R&B vocals combined with a reggae sample, her “anti-foolishness” demeanor and lyrics allowed the audience to witness her style and hear her story, clear-cut and authentic.
Although she was sick, Sharmon Jarmon pushed through like a champ and provided us with a sensual, upbeat performance that showcased both her individual style and story, through raw emotion, movement and lyrics. Sharmon was accompanied by live drummer Paris J’Mal and later brought Shartia, on stage, a perfect example of two women supporting each other and having fun in their element(s). What I admire most about Sharmon is her wardrobe selection: it’s always a combination of the decades, with bold accessories, big [red] hair, and an unapologetic shade of lipstick. She has the ability to encourage crowd interaction, and even more noteworthy, Sharmon can sing a cover to a song and make it sound like her own.
Side note: During Sharmon’s set, I caught a glimpse of DJ Mos Precious smiling from ear to ear [and turnt] behind the DJ booth.
Toine came ready to perform, representing Chicago’s south side and blessing us with a spoken word, rap and R&B mashup. Or, what Kwiet Storm referred to as, “a Jill Scott thing.” Although her change of pace varied from song to song, Toine was honest, quirky, and had a few stories to share. Referring to herself as a “storyteller,” it was not only her lyrics that caught my attention but also the beats that she sampled. Each bar was specific, detail-oriented, and captured the essence of drama. “Data Plans” told the tale of love, discretion, and all of the inquiries in between living and learning.
Ya Yah Townsend set the bar and took the cake for most innovative and compelling set of the show. From her mermaid leotard (and fishnet tights), to her soulful vocals mixed in with a style of music that I refer to as “blues for the new generations,” and the confidence displayed during her Acapella performance. I was completely blown away. Ya Yah switched it up with a cover to Crystal Waters’ “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless,” and included a dance segment with two male dancers, which really got the crowd engaged.
Bianca Shaw followed Ya Yah’s performance with her band, The Sound Attack (featuring an acoustic guitar, bassist, and drummer!), and was my second favorite set. She opened her slot with a cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie,” almost bringing a tear to my eye. Providing concert-level quality of percussion, bass, vocals, and the band’s overall movement created a unique presence for the vibe of SICSundays. Bianca’s image went from Dangerously In Love to Roman’s Revenge, thanks to her small frame, noted stage presence, and evident passion for embracing her favorite genres of music. From “Bipolar,” which featured Bianca rapping, to “Blues Brother,” which sounded like background music from a burlesque show (with a dose of bass), and her cover of The Roots ft. Erykah Badu’s “You Got Me,” this lady and The Sound Attack didn’t come to play games.
The moment Resse P entered the building, I knew that she had a purpose beyond performing her set when she started schooling the audience and shedding light on issues within the Black community. Resse placed an emphasis on changing the norm and setting higher standards for ourselves. The combination of her jazz and rap sonic was the perfect precedent for creating a balance between the good and the bad, living our lives as better men and women, and most importantly, acknowledging one’s own self-worth and value. Her intro to Young M.A.’s “OOOUUU” and the inclusion of drummer and vocalist Morgan Mimosa was the ending needed to conclude the first edition of SICSundays: Ladies First.
Morgan Mimosa officially closed out the show with a few tracks from her album Sex & The City, which features some solid beats and clear, brutally honest punchlines. I was already intrigued by the fact that she played the drums, but even more impressed by her performance capability, stage presences, outfit of choice, and dance moves.
We live in a male-dominated world and even more so in the entertainment and music industry. Female performers now have so many creative outlets and business opportunities to take advantage of, and it all starts with the belief in our own dreams, and supporting each other. That is not to discredit the male support that we have, because at the end of the day, we all need each other.
It all starts with one, and the idea of this show was collaborated on by Sharmon, P1, DJ Mos Precious, and LP. LP always pushes performers to leave a lasting impression, while making sure that each artist on the lineup receives the due and proper recognition.
A special ‘thank you’ to all of this month’s performers! Join us next month on February 19...with a surprise theme!
Watermarked photos CC: J. Nicole Smith
