Jessica Fabus Performs in front of very large crowd in Chicagoland last night

[Kid Heartbreak]

There's a bit more to the story than the title says. Jessica Fabus was supposed to open up for Cynthia last night at a club type event. Cynthia got stranded in Atlanta and thus was unable to make it there, leaving Jessica to be the only act in front of a very large, drunk, & potentially hostile Chicago area crowd. That crowd was almost overflow, that's how packed it was. Keep in mind that this isn't the east coast where they're used to seeing new school/current freestyle acts perform. It's something that's just not done out here. Even the old school acts that get booked are only a few of the most obvious legendary acts. This was kinda like a "Seinfeld" episode put to real life (the circumstances just colluded together). She did good, considering the circumstances. That girl has stage presence & definitely looks like she belongs up there. The disturbing part of things is something I've seen numerous times before at club type/concerts out here (especially when there's a very large crowd) and that being how by the time the performer gets on stage, the crowd is so drunk that most of them aren't even paying attention or even looking to pay attention. I've seen that with some legendary acts and there's no basis of comparison for this as we don't have freestyle concerts with current artists in Chicago. I guess that's the pitfall of the "club shows" as the way certain logistics wind up being structured as opposed to an arena or theatre type concert. At the club concerts, many times it's only the peeps right in front of the stage that's tuned in while there's a whole club full of people seemingly unaware that there's even a performance going on. That's why I like going to the theatre/arena type shows so much more than the club shows. I don't pay to go to these things so the fact that the club events are usually cheaper doesn't really matter to me, lol.

J Fabs seemed to handle herself very well. She had a very stylish look goin' on (Chicago females don't usually dress like that). That was the first time I ever met her and she had this "New York fashionista" type of a persona. She looked like what a dance music performer should look like.

And they were actually playing freestyle in the club last night. Anyone who knows Chicago knows that they don't ever play freestyle in the club out here, not even at the "freestyle" events.

 

[Kid Heartbreak]

(I was trying to post pictures but I don't know how to do this)

 

[Wild Style]

Jfab.... I think you just coined her pseudo nickname. They were suppose to be shooting her video at last night's show.

If you have the pics on your drive just click onto manage attachments then click on browse then choose the pics and hit upload.That should do the trick.

 

[Kid Heartbreak]

Jfab.... I think you just coined her pseudo nickname. They were suppose to be shooting her video at last night's show.

If you have the pics on your drive just click onto manage attachments then click on browse then choose the pics and hit upload.That should do the trick.

Yeah, that would be a cool nickname for her, lol.

 

[Kid Heartbreak]

I have more photos from yesterday, but I'm having issues with the "online transfer" from my phone.

 

[Kid Heartbreak]

I took photos of the crowd and how packed it indeed was. These photos don't even come close to telling the story as it was one of those types of venues where there was both an outside patio and club on the inside with peeps partying on both sides.

 

[Kid Heartbreak]

The most interesting part of the whole night might have been that the crowd didn't seem to mind that much when they heard that Cynthia wouldn't be able to make it through. They had announced it early on so the crowd couldn't have been that drunk yet. I guess that highlights the vibe of apathy that has come to characterize the Chicago underground music scene. It's like no one cares about anything anymore except gettin' bent. This is much the reason why it's so difficult for anything new to ever hit like back in the day. That was the "most difficult to impress" crowd that there could ever be for a club type event. It's like J Fabs went through a military boot camp type training for performing last night. If an artist can hang in there with that crowd (especially under those circumstances), that artist can make it anywhere. I was impressed at how she didn't let it phase her and the way she was able to maintain her "poise" throughout the whole performance. It's like what I told her after the show "none of the other new school artists can have anything on you after this. I can't imagine them being able to hang up there in front of this crowd (despite the big game some of them might talk)." It's true, I don't think that something like that has ever happened in Chicago freestyle history where a straight up "new school" act (anything in the last 12 years) wound up being the main event for a crowd that large. Maybe that's why I can't stop talking about it. I guess you'd have to be from Chicago to know what I'm talking about, but from what I hear that would have held true on the east coast also. This was not a "get together" type event in any way so don't get it twisted.😎

 

[comicbookguy]

Personally, I don't see her as a serious artist at all. How is it that it took her a year and a half to release "On My Own" after her debut track "Obviously"? Also, was she singing alone or did she have dancers? I can't stand new school acts who are too cheap or not smart enough to include dancers in their performances. I think you (KHB) are giving her way too much credit than she deserves. Maybe that's the first time she actually met a new school artist who actually looks attractive lol.

 

[Kid Heartbreak]

Maybe that's the first time she actually met a new school artist who actually looks attractive lol.

I really can't argue with you on that part. I'm LMAO at your comment as you just pointed out the obvious. That says a lot about the freestyle industry in general and the direction things went in during the last 12 years or so. There was a lot talent but not a lot of attraction. Most of the acts were out of shape, over the hill, and came off as if this was something where looks shouldn't matter. That creates this perception as if the artist is not on top of their game (no matter how on point their vocals are). The general public is looking at the total package, not just one aspect of the game (the freestyle industry seemed to not realize that). Freestyle has come to be characterized by the general public as artists who are "old" & "out of shape". That's the biggest thing holding the genre back at this point whether peeps want to admit it or not.

As far as dancers go, I did have a chance to speak with her in detail before & after the show and she did express to me numerous times how badly she wanted to have dancers but how it's not quite as easy as it may seem to come up with something that's good & is gonna work. I know what she's talking about, at least out here in Chicago. It's not like in New York where everyone has this mentality of wanting to shine. The Chicago "state of mind" is like no other in this entire universe. This really might be the most grimy/hardcore market out there. For the last 12 years, word has been out on the streets that "new freestyle is wack". Cuz of that, nothing new has stood a chance regardless of whether it was good or not. Good new songs, if heard in the mix, will be assumed by the listener to be an old school rarity thus making any new artist development off of it almost impossible. Ask anyone from Chicago and they'll verify everything I'm writing. It's for all those reasons that I'm giving her some extra props here. I don't think it's something to be overlooked.

 

[crypticreign]

Was Tim Spinnin the DJ that night? Also.. how many tracks did she perform? Doesn't she only have one song?

 

[Kid Heartbreak]

Yeah, Tim Schommer was the dj that night. He actually had her perform at one of his sets out in Schaumburg (Chicago suburb) a few weeks before the one that this thread is about.

She actually has two songs (Obviously & On My Own) and did perform both of them. Let's keep in mind that she was supposed to be opening up for Cynthia that night. It was supposed to be an old school event (the "old school" banner can be seen in some of the pictures I posted).

 

[homerjay]

Also, was she singing alone or did she have dancers? I can't stand new school acts who are too cheap or not smart enough to include dancers in their performances.

You gotta remember these people are only getting a fraction of what the more established old school artists are getting. I myself love dancers too but can understand why they don't always get dancers for their gigs. I have also noticed that some bring younger kids to dance (which are entertaining) cause they are more affordable yet entertaining.

 

[CPR Jose Ortiz]

Jfab.... I think you just coined her pseudo nickname.

Jessica Fabus' nickname IS JFab.
Thats what she was referred as on the Willie Valentin Show weeks ago.

She has alot of potential as I compare her voice to Lil' Suzy but without the nasal issue.

I would do everything in my power not to have videos of her performances on youtube because she is not a polished Artists yet.

I will say that she has alot of passion for the music and performing.
I hope she stays grounded and a student of the game.

 

[Wild Style]

Jessica Fabus' nickname IS JFab.
Thats what she was referred as on the Willie Valentin Show weeks ago.
She has alot of potential as I compare her voice to Lil' Suzy but without the nasal issue.
I would do everything in my power not to have videos of her performances on youtube because she is not a polished Artists yet.
I will say that she has alot of passion for the music and performing.
I hope she stays grounded and a student of the game.

You're right. I forgot to post that her myspace address has her JFab nickname in it.

www.myspace.com/jfabmusic

I noticed that her performances have improved from what I saw from the Lemon Tree last month.

 

[Freestylepaul]

Cant wait for you guys to see more photoshoots from this girl..SHE IS A TRUE FASHIONISTA! The girl is hot..
And i love the fact that she isnt one of those artists who are trying to gear away from the freestyle sound ..My money is on this girl...shes got the look, the talent..She just needs to throw in a good stage show and the girl will be on fire! (and i know age is nothing but a number, but these days the younger you are the better chances you have at radio play these days, and im thinking shes right now one of the youngest freestyle artists out there right now)

 

[Kid Heartbreak]

SHE IS A TRUE FASHIONISTA!

That was exactly the word I used to describe her. Obviously I must have been on to something if someone else is noticing it.

 

[Freestylepaul]

like i said..at first when i saw her pic from the Dont Look Back cds, there was something really different about her..then when i saw her pics that she just did, i honestly have to say hands down, she is putting the "style" back in freestyle!

 

[freestylegreek]

She's on my facebook and i enjoy her music especially since Carlos produced it. Ive seen her youtube videos of her perfomance and all she needs is to work on that and everything will fall together.