Sunday evening, I was reminded of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, where the film’s stenciled white rabbit graffitied around Brooklyn pointed the way to a secret performance from the fictional, enigmatic indie rock band Where’s Fluffy?
But standing on Washington Street in Durham, instead of Fluffy, letter-size sheets of paper emblazoned with The Foreign Exchange‘s signature plus sign pointed the way to an exclusive, invitation-only performance from the R&B band at SoundPure Studios.
As the clock ticked closer to 6 p.m., a line of 30 or so people who traveled from as far as Cleveland for the event formed outside the Durham recording studio. And as the line began to snake down Washington, the air of mystery grew with anticipation of what to expect of the evening ahead.
Entering the studio, each guest was handed a paper bag marked only with a sticker depicting the cover of The Foreign Exchange’s third studio album, Authenticity, and another sticker displaying the guest’s name and their T-shirt size.
With the entry way quickly crowding, the director of operations for The Foreign Exchange, Aimee Flint, asked us to open our bags and put on the T-shirts inside. Each shirt featured a heart composed of maple leaves breaking apart and transforming into a flock of doves. Under the logo were the words “Fight for Love,” the fifth track on Authenticity.
Flint then ushered the crowd into the recording space, where we were offered a glimpse at what was in store. A baby grand stood in place of keyboards, two acoustic guitars sat behind three stools lined by three vocal mics, and a six-string acoustic bass rested aside a drum kit.
This wasn’t going to be just any Foreign Exchange performance; we were going to be treated to a very rare, acoustic performance from the R&B band.
Embodying the statement adorned on our shirts, Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder emerged in front of the crowd and announced in his baritone voice a very Purple Rain-esque, “Ladies and gentlemen, The Foreign Exchange.”
For those of who have followed The Foreign Exchange’s Phonte Coleman’s career since he was one-third of Durham’s Little Brother, seeing 9th Wonder introduce his former band mate — who he ceased work with in 2007 — was a true testament to the words “Fight for Love.”
“[T]he symbolism of having my man [9th Wonder] in the building tonight meant a lot to me. A WHOLE lot. Much love, g,” Phonte Tweeted after the show.
9th Wonder responded, “Luv homey..all luv.”
It was a beautiful statement to where the pair have gone together and where they are going on their separate treks. The sky’s the limit for two of the Triangle’s most talented hip-hop artists.
With that, Phonte and +FE producer Nicolay walked out with their band — as well as singers Jeanne Jolly and Sy Smith — to deliver a completely acoustic set that we then-and-there learned would be filmed and recorded for a later release.
Between +FE songs and even a James Taylor cover, Phonte cracked jokes about the recording and subsequent performing of songs, how he typically doesn’t like to open up about the subject matters of his songs, and the language barrier the band faced while touring around Europe.
But it was a complete re-envisioning of the band’s Grammy Award-nominated track “Daykeeper” that drew the largest crowd response, with folks laughing as the typically eerie single was transformed into an upbeat minstrel-style country-western sing-a-long.
“Listening to the playback of this live [Foreign Exchange] show,” Phonte Tweeted just hours after the performance. “Boy are y’all in for a treat. This was truly a blessing.”
Truth.
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