Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
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Sharon Jones
It is especially in these times in which we live… these grossly-underrated sad, scary and sorry days that are tantamount to some of the most paranoid times on earth …… that we, the people, need this - NOW! The people need it, and they want it… and she is here to ‘give the people what they want’!
So… Thank God! Hallelujah to the heavens! The Soul Savior of the world has arrived to wash away all of our woes and worries!!! But we all knew she would, because every time she’s been here, she’s torn up venues, nite after nite, in that dynamic energized fireball sweet soul singing fever that she creates! Man, if you can’t transport yourself to 60’s Detroit, and feel and experience the power of Soul in its most manic and dramatic beautiful moments; then THIS is as close as you get today. She’s the Queen, from Atlanta, Georgia, the birth place of Martin Luther King Jr; a long time New Yorker… “Ladies and gentlemen, the star of our show; the super soul sister with that magnetic je ne sais quoi…. Miss Sharon Jones…… Miss Sharon Jones……”
The night kicks off at The Melbourne Town hall. Now, as majestic as this venue could be, I wouldn’t have chosen this place myself. I mean, I could moan about the pretty average bar access, lack of the cloak room (E-Specially when ye sweatin’ down for some of that sweet soul sound) and the early, early shut up da shop situation, but then, who noticed the place (let’s be honest) soon as the buzz set in...
So… Thank God! Hallelujah to the heavens! The Soul Savior of the world has arrived to wash away all of our woes and worries!!! But we all knew she would, because every time she’s been here, she’s torn up venues, nite after nite, in that dynamic energized fireball sweet soul singing fever that she creates! Man, if you can’t transport yourself to 60’s Detroit, and feel and experience the power of Soul in its most manic and dramatic beautiful moments; then THIS is as close as you get today. She’s the Queen, from Atlanta, Georgia, the birth place of Martin Luther King Jr; a long time New Yorker… “Ladies and gentlemen, the star of our show; the super soul sister with that magnetic je ne sais quoi…. Miss Sharon Jones…… Miss Sharon Jones……”
The night kicks off at The Melbourne Town hall. Now, as majestic as this venue could be, I wouldn’t have chosen this place myself. I mean, I could moan about the pretty average bar access, lack of the cloak room (E-Specially when ye sweatin’ down for some of that sweet soul sound) and the early, early shut up da shop situation, but then, who noticed the place (let’s be honest) soon as the buzz set in...
 Sharon Jones image courtesy of soulbounce.com
Um… err…… I was late to the first band, the fabulous The Bombay Royale!! And I’m sorry for that fact, as I know this band is awesome, and am in no doubt that they warmed the crowd up nicely, if the joyous facial expressions and the scent of LIFEs aroma abundant were anything to go by when I arrived…… There’s anticipation in the room…. The Dap-Kings enter stage…. Here beginneth the sermon…
We get a cruising funky intro instra-mental from one of the coolest of cool bands about; The Dap-Kings are ice cool man… They are a band of integrity; of pure rhythm and that renegade feel. I could not imagine any other to fill their place behind her, from times past to present. Enter the Dapettes, Saun & Starr, long-standing backing singers for Miss Jones. They melt the crowd immediately. Wow!! What a pair of voices; amazing!!! |
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When they are behind her, they perfectly compliment her; and on their own, I feel something special brewing with these Sisters onstage. I’m sure there’s a lot to come yet. They put together a short but memorable spell of lush ricocheting and intertwining harmonies. I can’t wait for more. Their debut 45” Hot Shot is another Daptone Records entry into the essential revival of this genre, but I cannot wait for the release of their first album. Ladies…bring it on….
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And as the Dapettes take their place for the next installment, you can feel the vibe in the room rise… The unshakable smile you get on your face when anticipating something phenomenal is about to be unleashed… Cue Emcee and guitarist, the hyper-vescent Binky Griptite and the eagerly awaited intro to her arrival…. “Please, welcome on stage….. Miss Sharon Jones….!”
And the crowd does welcome her! Here she is… The most electrifying Soul singer in the world today! Bang!! They kick off with “Stranger to My Happiness”…. I think….. well, I’m fairly sure but… this is the thing. You can try to lay back and take it all in, in a reserved fashion, trying to remember everything and taking notes, but there’s seriously no use in that, because this performance, like all this group’s other performances, implores you to get up off of yo’ ass!! And you have no choice!!!! You gotta move!! Now, I own all their platters, but damn me if I can remember this set list because being there and listening to it, you’ve got to be a part of it. Groovin’ it, jivin’ and just shakin’ it man. It is electric!!! It’s hot!!! It’s relentless and all engaging. She demands your attention. She demands your participation. She’s absolutely luminescent. A solar flare that reaches far into the audible space we inhabit, and heats us in a way so that deep inside, the fragility of life is no longer threatened. |
And this is the way that it should be; because it’s Soul: the most important part of the human entity; and you can only be happy when you feel the warmth. By the second song, she has someone from the crowd dancing with her. By the next song, she’s plucked about eight people from the crowd, and has them grooving with her on stage. She’s totally accessible and democratic. Even at one stage, when a couple of punters try to slap each other about, she stops the show totally and has a counseling session with them. She sorts ‘em out…peace is made…equilibrium is restored, and the show rips along again. Soul will save the world!
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The set flies at rapid speed. Songs take on extended unrestrained re-interpretations. The band sounds incredible. Bosco ‘bass’ Mann is the undeniable band leader, but every element of this band is its own master. Sharon, though, is the accelerant; and that makes it go way beyond just fantastic musicianship.
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What would the JB’s and James Brown band be without James Brown? A great band but not the phenomenal creation they were with the Godfather of Soul. And she is the incarnation of that intensity and energy; your Sam and Dave, your Tina and Ike, your Aretha, your Otis. She bounces around the stage with such ferocious energy that it’s completely enthralling; a pure dynamo on stage. I don’t know how she keeps it up. Especially after what she’s recently been through, that can’t be easy. But I guess this is the ultimate cure. And we are so, so thankful to be in her audience. We are her flock; religious insofar as great music will allow.
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There’s a couple of ten minute plus songs - insanity!!! A Gladys Knight and the Pips’ cover. Another song and She heads to the bar… A full bar, with barkeep, on stage, all night, servicing the refreshment requirements of the talent onstage. You would think She must be tired, but no, wrong, her energy is boundless.
But alas, the show must come to a close. It feels premature. This should’ve gone on for longer; much longer. But the venue can’t permit it and sorry to say no encore. But that’s fine with me, I feel they crammed every second with vitality so one could not leave disappointed by that bit of bureaucracy. That was damn hot!!!! |
And, for what it’s worth, there are those groups in history whose sound the recorded session can never really do justice to, and this group is just that. As a live affair, this had a mind-blowing resonance. Just what the doctor ordered.
And so as we head to the after-party at Boney, we talk with like-minded, exhilarated individuals and I realise how important she is in this world. A united optimism surfaces, people start to talk, open up, loosen up, and in that, it seems things may just eventually turn out ok. Well… maybe if all people of this world surrendered a little of their time to hear this sound. 50 years ago Soul gave us the soundtrack to massive social change…. We could do with a little of that now! Right NOW!!! Thank you Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings! You give us hope.
Pete Ferenczy
And so as we head to the after-party at Boney, we talk with like-minded, exhilarated individuals and I realise how important she is in this world. A united optimism surfaces, people start to talk, open up, loosen up, and in that, it seems things may just eventually turn out ok. Well… maybe if all people of this world surrendered a little of their time to hear this sound. 50 years ago Soul gave us the soundtrack to massive social change…. We could do with a little of that now! Right NOW!!! Thank you Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings! You give us hope.
Pete Ferenczy
Read Fee B-Squared's piece on Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings' album Give The People What They Want or watch the clips for "Retreat" and "Stranger To My Happiness".