Friday night’s Music in the Schools show at the Crystal Ballroom was a success on a lot of levels. Moneymakin’ (over $18,000 was raised for local public schools’ music programs), performance (perhaps the best Shaky Hands set ever, among other great sets) and straight up inspiration. This next video, taken by Dave Allen over at Pampelmoose (I had neither the foresight or camera skills to capture any media), illustrates that last quality.

I knew there would be a lot of young people at this show, but I had no idea State of Mind would have its name chanted a good ten minutes before they took the stage, or prompt a Kanye-caliber scream upon their opening bars (p.s. more on Kanye tomorrow). I had no idea that when they urged the crowd to “put your hands up,” EVERYONE would comply. And it was a beautiful thing.

See, I sat with these Grant High MCs in Vursatyl of Lifesavas’ Hip-Hop 101 class, where they discussed music, shared recommendations, learned hip-hop history and, eventually, shared their skills with their teachers. Vurs and the other organizers bonded with the group who cut across town after school to attend the classes. Harry Mack, the young MC that ended Hip-Hop 101’s final class, took the Crystal’s stage with reckless abandon, his body turning to rubber as he worked the crowd. You’ll see him here (he’s the guy with the ‘fro and the yellow De La shirt), along with the rest of the crew:

State of Mind at the Crystal Ballroom from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

After seeing this spectacle, I had to let Vursatyl (who couldn’t attend the show due to a scheduling conflict) know what his old students had pulled off. I sent him a text, to which he replied quickly and excitedly. “Tell them I’m there in Spirit,” Vurs said. Sure was. These kids just played the show of their lives.

The other lesson I learned that night? The word “motherfucker” gets a teenage crowd soooo amped.

State of Mind drops its debut CD, Lift Off, at Satyricon June 21.

Links:
Yacht @ MITS (Pampelmoose)
Shaky Hands @ MITS (Pampelmoose)
State of MindSpace

Photo: Screen capture from Dave Allen’s video.