REVIEW: Raphael Saadiq’s Latest Tour Takes Boston On A Journey To The 60’s
Raphael Saadiq live at House of Blues from ThatsMajor on Vimeo.
When soul singer Raphael Saadiq’s Kings Keep Marching tour stopped at Boston’s House of Blues it was more than just a show. In support of his latest album, The Way I See It, this was an evening of celebrating the Soul of music.
If his work with Tony! Toni! Tone! found him dipping a toe in the retro pool, then The Way It Is, is a full on leap in the deep end. This time he makes a voyage back to the sounds Motown, Memphis, Philadelphia and New Orleans. Recently, many artists have mined a retro-soul sound (most notably Amy Winehouse), none with the results of Raphael Saadiq. Saadiq somehow brings an authenticity that others can only pray for. Paying tribute to classic sound in a fresh way is nothing new for him. Translating that in the studio is one thing. Saadiq’s triumph is how well he brought that into a live setting.
Taking the stage to the sounds of Marvin Gaye’s version of the Star Spangled Banner, Saadiq seemed committed to creating a full experience for the HOB audience. (Even Raphael’s roadies are in skinny suits and ties of the era.). Dressed in a blood red skinny tuxedo, he is a showman embodying the soul men like Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson and James Brown that inspired this new record. He is taking the audience on a ride on Raphael’s Soul Caravan. You can almost see Saadiq in the black and white hues of the Ed Sullivan Show as he leads his 7 piece band deftly through his up tempo hour long set.
Having come to the public’s attention as a part of Tony! Toni! Tone! in the late 1980s and with R&B trio, Lucy Pearl, in the early 90s, you can tell that he enjoys the group dynamic by how he shares and incorporates his backup singers. In fact, they aren’t in the back at all. They are front and center with him sharing dance steps and lead vocals. Occasionally sprinkling in hits from his previous groups (Lucy Pearl’s Dance Tonight seems happily at home within the set) he stays focused on his new material to the crowd’s delight. The old school vibe is being taken to heart by the crowd with numerous couples dancing like they are at a sock hop. Announcing that this was the last show of the tour, Saadiq seemed intent on giving the crowd its money’s worth. By the time he takes the stage for the third encore to lead a jam session version of The 5th Dimension’s “Let The Sunshine In,” his point is proven. This has to be one of the best concerts that Boston has seen this year. Jackie, Otis and James would be proud.
Opener Soulive built their fans locally and fit perfectly into the throwback vibe of the evening with their minimalist soul sound. The three piece (a guitar, organ/keyboard and drums) kept a steady groove occasionally paying tribute to artists like James Brown and Stevie Ray Vaughn with winning results.
Los Angeles based, Toronto, Canada born singer songwriter Anjulie’s Caribbean influenced big beat sound is the start of something very refreshing. Bubbly, confident and fun on stage, all she needs is one hit song to fulfill her star potential.
