In a town where the crowds routinely talk and party their way through the headlining act, Rae was rewarded with strict attention, with crowd members at times shushing anyone who dared speak during a song. The radio hits Put Your Records On and Like A Star were predictably amazing, but the crowd was nearly as engaged by songs they'd never heard her do unreleased songs such as No Love Child and even a riveting cover of Led Zeppelin's Since I've Been Loving You, half jazz and half full-blown rock. Her crack eight-piece band was supremely tight and warm, but the best moments were the stripped-down ones where Rae's voice shone through, such as a delicate Till It Happens to You.
Maybe, Rae suggested as she left the stage, she'd be back on her own headlining tour soon. And maybe the sun will rise today. With such an opener you'd think John Legend would fear being just an afterthought in the show.
But there's a reason for the five Grammys he has under his belt for just two albums. Legend's rich, versatile style comes across much more forcefully live than on his albums, and when he's mixing songs from Get Lifted and Once Again, you realize that R B is just the start. He crosses genres and styles effortlessly, singing songs that sound last-week modern along with others that could have been cut straight out of 1978.
With an 11-piece backing band, his sound wasn't quite as note- perfect as Rae's, and things got lost in the mix. But with lots of touring, Legend has grown as a live performer, making cat-like moves across the stage and dressed in a snappy suit. Save Room was an early highlight, with Legend working the crowd into a frenzy.
At press time Legend was still onstage, and a planned duet with Rae on Where is the Love? still awaited fans. Note for note, easily one of the best soul revues to come through town since Prince.
News RSS