There is an annual Puerto Rican music festival held in Spanish Harlem the day before the PR Pride parade festivities. This year I played drums with a backing band for hip-hop group T-Weaponz. The band was appropriately named The Armory.
The band's manager picked me up with my drums at my apt in Harlem and we arrived at the stage on 122 Street and 3rd Ave around 12:15. I unloaded my drums and began setting them up backstage. By the time I was finished, there was still at least half an hour before we were to take the stage, so we had some short interviews and photo ops with the group.
Finally it came time to bring all the gear, including my kit, onto the stage. I quickly set everything up and returned backstage for the start of the show.
I was hardly able to hear anything on stage, which made things a little difficult. But I think that overall, the band played well and we were able to hold it together.
I captured some video footage of the event, some of which you can see here. It's not the best A/V quality, as I'm sure you'll see. But hopefully there will be some better footage emerging from other sources in the next few days. Until then, enjoy what I've got here!

I'll be playing this event, a Puerto Rican music festival in Spanish Harlem! I'll be playing drums with a backing band for latin hip-hop group T-Weaponz. Words can't express my excitement. Find more info here: http://116thstfestival.com/
And check out this video to hear the group:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSAqi5ZFv4A&feature=related

There are two events happening this Monday that you all should know about and come to if at all possible.

1) Immigration Reform Rally
Last Sunday I attended a rally in downtown Manhattan for immigration reform. I regrettably arrived to the rally late and missed most of the action; but there will be another rally this Monday, which I plan to attend (on time). Here's a video I've put together of last week's event, in hopes of drawing more people from my church:

and here's last week's news coverage:
http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/118747/police-arrest-16-during-immigration-protest

2) Manhattan Wind Ensemble Concert
On Monday night I'll be performing percussion with the Manhattan Wind Ensemble, an adult concert band out of the 3rd Street Music School Settlement - a non-profit organization that has been serving the lower east side with music education programs since the late 1800s! Our concert for this season will be held at St Paul the Apostle church, just a block away from Columbus circle. The show begins at 8pm, suggested donation $10.

For more details on that:
Facebook Event Page
Third Street Music School Settlement

If you can make it to the concert, please also rsvp on the fb event page!
I hope to see you at either of these events!
Peace.