Acoustic Guitars, Rap Duos and more at SAM Fest
Photos and Article by Reza Corinne Clifton. Click here to see more photos.
1st photo: Big John Tierney and Charles Chachi Carvalho perform together at the Living Room. 2nd photo: DJ Therion spins hip hop for the audience. Click here to see more photos from the night
PROVIDENCE, RI - One man’s mission to address youth violence became another opportunity for both established and up and coming artists, performers and athletes at a recent event called the Sports Art Music Festival—or SAM Fest. Organized by Big East Music Entertainment, LLC (BEME) and the self prescribed Hip Hop Mayor of Providence, Charles Chachi Carvalho, SAM Fest brought together artists of the hip hop elements—rappers, dj’s, visual artists and breakdancers—and skateboarders, who all converged at the Living Room on Saturday night, November 11. The event was also in honor of Randy Hien, who was the longtime owner of the Providence local music headquarters, the Living Room, until his recent death on September 25.
The multitude of local artists who showcased their talents at the November 11 event included photographer Owen Muir; reggae and hip hop turntablists, respectively, DJ Therion and DJ Blademon; and members of the breakdancing troupe, Case Closed. But also front and center was Carvalho himself and his fellow hip hop emcees—19 year old female prodigy, Wande, and her co-performer that night Lah-Young Wahmu.
Carvalho has a diverse set of musical contacts, clear in his inclusion of the phonetic ska-jam-rock band, Ocean State, and what could be described as the show stealer, acoustic guitarist and long time local vocalist, “Big” John Tierney—who performed mesmerizing, infectious acoustic covers of selections of hip hop hitmakers including Biggie Smalls and Cypress Hill. Tierney and Carvalho closed the night out with an impromptu/freestyle/jam session that had the audience hooked.
Keep in mind: Carvalho has long been a familiar name on a local and regional level. He regularly performs locally and at regional hip hop festivals, while some know him from opening for national acts, like prolific hip hop emcee Ghostface Killa. He also currently runs a weekly “forum,” called Polyphonic, to unify “emcees, instrumentalists and poets” Monday evenings at the Providence Black Repertory Company. Other reasons one might recognize “Chachi’s” name is because his events are regularly announced on the radio hip hop programs of the University of Rhode Island’s 90.3 WRIU FM.
1st photo: Hiip hop emcees Wande and Lah-Young Wahmu. 2nd photo: A dancer from Case Closed. Click here to see more photos from the night.
Like his distinct musical acquaintances, Carvalho’s typical audience could be described as unique too, in that for the past 18 months, he boasts, all of his shows have been all ages. This policy has exposed him to and allowed him in turn to expose talent like Wande, who at 19 has been performing for several years. Additionally, for those who might say that young people only like what some consider corruptible mainstream artists, Carvalho offers a different perspective—even a challenge. For him, part of his all ages policy is in order to bring in older individuals who will come with youth from within their own circumference. “It’s mostly getting the word out to the parents and to the older brothers and sisters” he explained during a quick interview last Wednesday. “[Y]ou guys have to come; you can’t be too cool.”
And you can’t be too critical, this writer might add to Carvalho’s assessment. For hip hop’s critics, who would jump to lump the entire music and culture to the laziness, repetition, and/or morally questionable sounds coming out of commercial media outlets, take note. This night was about honoring a man with a big altruistic heart who opened the door to countless local artists and to live music-lovers of all ages. It included a diverse set of musical performers, genres, and vehicles for the art, and it was done to highlight the tradition of creativity, empowerment and introspection that was originally borne in hip hop. And RI’er or not, it was and continues to be in your backyard.
Click here to see more photos from the night. For more information about “Chachi” Carvalho and Big East Music Entertainment, LLC, call 401-RI-help-u or visit www.myspace.com/bigchach.
Reza Corinne Clifton is a community organizer for high school reform at RI Children’s Crusade for Higher Education. She is also a freelance writer who is regularly published in several RI-area publications. Her articles can be seen at www.RezaRitesRi.com and she can be reached by emailing rezaclif@aol.com.
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