Erykah Badu LA release party, and a Sun Ra moment: NUCLEAR WAR

Last night’s release party for Erykah Badu’s new album at at the El Rey Theater in LA was amazing. The El Rey is a relatively small venue, the place was packed, the sound was rich, and Badu was in spectacular form with an incredible supporting ensemble. Opening turntablists J Rocc, DJ Nobody, and Kutmah spun fine sets, too. At left, one of a number of great shots from the evening by Jewell at Frolab (Flickr slideshow after the jump). The poster Badu is holding was designed by Emek, more of his art for this release here.

One of my favorite moments in the set last night was when Badu turned to her laptop on stage (yep), opened up a Sun Ra track, let it hang in the air for a while, bobbing her head, then led her band and the audience in a live call-and-response cover of that same song. The track was Nuclear War. I’ve embedded the original above.

“Nuclear War…. Nuclear War… They’re talkin’ about… Nuclear War… It’s a motherfucker, don’t you know… If they push that button, yo’ ass gotta go….”

Go get the new Badu album, it’s full of sweet funky beauty: New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh. More Frolab photos from the release party after the jump.

(Special thanks to Metzger, Morpheus, McGinley, and Victor!)