Marco McKinnis Live At SOBs
Marco Mckinnis and his brothers Caleb & AJ are some of the most creative, inspiring, and interesting 17yr old kids you will ever meet. Coming from Virginia on a over night bus and arriving in New York early Sunday morning was the start to their trip. To say these guys were "hungry" for such a young age was an understatement, I mean looking back to when i was 17 i was just starting to go into the city, let alone going to one of the biggest cities in the world. So at times I look at Marco Caleb and AJ in amazement because I'm still scared now at 23yrs old so i can only imagine whats it like for them. When i finally get back to New York from Ohio for Christmas, I immediately hit up Marco to find out where the gang is at. So when i find out that everyone is at SOBs having a nice "day before the show meal" it was perfect because Ive never been to SOBs. I walk in and see everyone sitting at this round table like the "Knights Of King Arthur" or something. I got a chance to meet the homie Jonas who works with SOBs throwing shows and events a very nice guy and great host. After everyone finishes eating we head over to MTV/VH1 studios and meet up with MrGif (one of the most talented people i know) and we shoot a few 3D images with MrGif's famous scanner which was used for Marco's background while performing. We we finish shooting at MTV we make our way to the Creative Control offices where the great mastermind behind all this Carlyle works at. We kick it for a few hours eating pizza, playing music talking about the show and just how its going to go. MrGif's office was in the same building so we end up going there and played Super Smash Bros as the night starts to come to a end. Marco Caleb and AJ go the studio to record some and I head home to get ready for tomorrow night. Its 5:30pm on a Wednesday and I'm walking up to SOBs for Marco's soundcheck, you feel his nervousness see his anxiousness I mean he's 17 at his first show did I mention at SOBs NYC. Their slogan is SOBs "where legends are made" so this isn't some run of the mill type of first show, opening up for Luke James a very popular RnB artist so the show as sold out completely. One of the things that makes Marco Caleb and AJ so unique to me is the brotherhood and comrade they posse. I mean i have two younger brothers myself so I understand it, the laughing the joking the teasing of your brothers. Going over songs with each other like you know actually caring about one another and not trying to "finesse" every living thing around them. It just good to see and for them to be like that while being young i hope they don't lose it, so we are in the green room now waiting to go out for Marco's performance. As we make our way up stairs the place is packed wall to wall, I mean its hard to move around without bumping into someone not to mention the place was empty during soundcheck so I knew he felt something seeing all those people. Marco takes the steps up to the stage a hush goes over the crowd, he introduces himself there is few whispers throughout the crowd but the song starts. Marco has a hit with "Beautiful Demo" I mean a absolute hit, you could tell it was his first time up there on stage performing but the song and the vocals just rode through the venue so smoothly. Offering a soothing feeling of comfort like your mom just made some cookies and kissed you on the forehead, the song felt like peace literally. He performed a another song that is unreleased that you guys will hear one day but overall i believe the trip with his brothers Caleb and Aj was a success. I mean theres really no way it could be a failure I mean like really lol, they have accomplished so much just by being here. As Marco began to walk off stage he was welcomed by daps and hugs from his brothers and from some NY homies, it was just nice to see people be there early in someones career. Like this is the type stuff has human being you remember everyone that was there at your first show, like its important. To see someone realize and touch their dreams right before your eyes is one of the most inspiring things that can happen to you while you're alive, so I hope this story and these young brothers inspire you as much as they do me.
