We chatted with both Nikki Glaspie and Ivan Neville before the show:
Nikki, how did you get involved with Harold Robinson Foundation?
I got involved with HRF through Angela [Failla, the HRF Program Director]. She used to work for Dumpstaphunk. She had been telling me about this camp that she was working at for a while and her boss David Moss, he had come to New Orleans a couple times, and was like “Yo man, I really want you to check out my foundation. I work with Fishbone.” They do a lot of stuff there with Norwood and Fish. They started a Watts Conservatory of Music which is kind of like a separate thing. The way we [Nth Power] got involved was they threw a party and we did Earth Wind & Power at the party.
Was that in New Orleans?
No, it was here, in L.A. at The Regent [the beautifully restored downtown Los Angeles music venue] and this was like two years ago. The next day they had a retreat. So, the Nth Power went to the camp. And we all cried our eyes out for like four hours and we decided to do a free choice. They do a rotation; they do a couple of different activities – writing, basketball or art, whatever. We did a music free choice, because they had instruments there. So, we set up and the Nth Power played for the kids and it was insane, it was life changing.
I’ve been back to that particular camp, it’s called Camp Felix and it’s for foster youth specifically and they do that every December. It’s like the third week in December. So, this was my third year going to the camp. It’s pretty much how we got involved. And then we started playing at Pedal on the Pier [another HRF fund-raising event on the Santa Monica Pier] and trying to raise money for the foundation because we went there and fell in love.
What is your role with the Advisory Board?
My job is to spread the word; to get people involved. That is my sole responsibility being on the Advisory Board, is bringing people into the fold. Since I have been there, a bunch of my friends have gone up to camp and taught music to the kids. One of my old teachers, Kudison Kai, she did a vocal workshop with them which I heard was really amazing because everybody has a voice. And for [the kids], they don’t get to express themselves or use their voice. So, it was really important for them to understand that they have a voice and that they can use it. We have been trying to implement more music since I have been involved. I have had friends go up and teach. I’ve taken the band up to the camp.
Just this past December The Homies went up there because we played the next day [at The Mint]. The day before, we had rehearsal and then we drove up to camp and played for them, which was pretty awesome because a lot of them have never seen music before. They have never even seen a band and it’s really amazing to see them see it for the first time. Can you imagine? I don’t know if you remember your first show. I remember mine. Mine was, I was very fortunate. It was B. B. King. That was my first concert. B. B. King, Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi. It was when I was 15. It’s crazy. That’s basically how I got involved. I have been around ever since doing different retreats.
What they do is they take kids from the ghetto and bring them up to camp and they disguise peace and love and all different activities and it’s pretty awesome to see. They get kids from rival gangs from different neighborhoods which is really intense. Because depending on where you are from and your territory, you get shot. But there is no other instance where these people would be in the same place together. So, it is pretty intense when they have rival gangs and they see eye to eye. Why are we fighting? Why are we trying to kill each other? It doesn’t make sense, over territory. They are doing a lot in the hood out here and it is pretty amazing.
How did tonight’s gig come together?
Basically, it’s kind of funny. I started The Homies here in September. Angela was like “it would be cool if we could do something like this for HRF.” And I’m like “of course.” The band, Nth Power, has already done it a couple of times in different iterations. It was real easy to call some of the cats that have been doing the gigs with The Homies and put it together. They wanted Ivan; some star power.
He seems to like this place a little. [Neville has recently played at The Mint with Dumpstaphunk and with Dragon Smoke. He has been coming to the club for performances for over 20 years.]
Oh yeah, exactly. He has been coming here, playing here forever. It’s really cool to have him. It’s dope because it’s worlds colliding and merging.
You are obviously on good terms. Is it weird to play again with him after being away from Dumpstaphunk for a while?
No, I’ve been playing, subbing with Dumpstaphunk for the past four years. If they need help, or somebody can’t do a gig, I’ll step in and do it. I just played with them in Atlanta and somewhere else. I don’t remember.
So, it is possible to see you behind the kit with Dumpstaphunk again in the future?
Yeah it happens occasionally. At least two or three times a year.
What’s going on with Nth Power in 2019? Any new music? Gigs?
Yes. We are putting out a record. It’s going to come out, I think, in the beginning of April. We hit the road the same time. We haven’t announced yet. All the promoters are not ready to announce.
Can you give us any teases on upcoming shows?
We are going to be doing the Northeast and we’re going to the Midwest; basically, the Eastern seaboard up to Jazz Fest.
So, there will be Jazz Fest gigs. Both Nth Power and you individually?
Yes, Jazz Fest. Nth Power has a daytime set. I’m probably not going to do any Nikki Glaspie & The Homies shows. I have no idea. There are so many shows that happen.
Any upcoming gigs you are particularly looking forward to?
Hey, Jazz Fest is like my favorite thing on earth. It’s like, that’s really all.
Are you doing any other festivals?
We are doing Electric Forest, that’s going to be awesome. We are doing High Sierra. The normal, all over the place! Doing some stuff over the summer with Maceo [Parker] personally.
Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl just announced their lineup and Maceo with his band is on it.
Oh, nice. I may or may not be there. It depends on the Nth schedule. If we’re off then I will definitely be there.
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