MEMORIAL HALL
Friday, April 20, 2018
(Cincinnati, OH – 1/16/18) – Of all the projects Mavis Staples has penned, her most recent album If All I Was Was Black may be her most earnest and soulfully personal. The 16 new tracks on the project a powerful and stirring assertion of Mavis’ perspective on race, judgement and more.
The album is a collaboration between Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy. It is a kindling testament of wisdom and experience, full of moments of tension intensity, juxtaposed with moments of warm and thoughtful serenity. She creates potent gospel-meets-bluesy folk songs that feels like an extension of age-old tradition while maintaining a sonic atmosphere with a modern texture. On the track ‘Build a Bridge,’ Mavis croons “when I say my life matters, you can say yours does too, but I betcha never have to remind anyone, to look it at from your point of view.” Perspective is a key component of the project, with lyrics providing meaning to the past, present and future.
Reserved tickets: $80.00, $70.00, and $55.00 (plus applicable fees), go on sale Friday, Jan. 19 at 12 p.m. at www.memorialhallotr.com, the Memorial Hall box office or charge by phone at 513-977-8838.