Entertainment For Lively Minds
A Legend in another lifetime?
Being an old fella, I am only too conscious of the risk of everdwelling in a twilight land of old musics, where the long forgotten live on forever, perhaps best exemplified by the fact I was listening to Hedgehog Pie on my way into work today..... Anyhow, in an effort to stretch myself out of my comfort zone, I spent saturday night at the Birmingham Academy, a venue I very infrequently frequent, having only ever previously seen the Levellers and the Dandy Warhols there, finding the floor too sticky and the view too poor. I had been brought to see John Legend, someone I had only ever heard of, rather than heard. I knew him to be a soul/r'n'b (new meaning) sort of singer, knowing also that Stevie Wonder approved of him, which can be no faint praise. My first impression was astonishment at the diversity of the demographic, literally all shapes, sizes, colours and creeds, as well as teens to pensioners, all extremely knowledgeable and partisan, seeming to know all the words and all the appropriate moments to loudly cheer their main man. Very impressive: I haven't seen that sheer range of adulation ever before. Was it worth it? Well, I guess I would have to say I probably wouldn't go again. Or buy anything by him. It was a little too polished, perhaps, for me? Something didn't quite ring true, altho' I was clearly alone in my view. What know others as to whether I am being fair to clearly a very talented performer, performr maybe being my problem?
P.S. Despite this less than glowing, may I point you toward the support act, one Laura Izibor, who was terrific. Like a younger Macy Gray, this irish, I learn, singer, has great presence, great songs and a look, even of an attractive Phil Lynott, were he a woman. I believe the word is sassy. Her album, out in May, will be one I will be getting
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John Legend
Like you, I'd only heard about him and my gut feeling was that I'd find him okay-ish. Your comments pretty much confirm what I probably already knew. I guess you have seen many concerts over the years and know what you like. It's possible that the John Legend fans are the kind of folk that don't go to gigs that often and are more easily impressed. Nothing wrong with that.
As Bob Dylan said on one of his radio shows, the reason he plays a lot of old music is because there is a lot more of it than there is new music. There is also the advantage of wheat being separated from the chaff over time; the good stuff endures and the rest gets forgotten (usually).
As for genres, I no longer know what is soul, r'n'b, or anything. Take Americana - I have my idea of what Americana is but the genre seems to mean slightly different things to different people, which I suppose is great - a democratic genre - by the people, for the people!
By the way, I'm listening to Jonah & The Whale as I write this. New music to my way of thinking. I've played it a few times and It's starting to get under my skin.
Off topic I know (sorry)
But the Noah & The Whale album was a revelation to me. I was expecting more of '5 Years Time' (Nothing wrong with that btw) but it's so much more. Good stuff.
John Tedium
I saw John Legend interviewed on Paul O'Grady's TV show, and he was the dullest man of all time. If you're going to choose a stage name like that, you really need to put in more effort to live up to it.
I think you're spot on, Retro.
Following up on glowing praises within these and other web walls, I bought one of the John Legend albums, played it once or twice then shelved it, underwhelmed.
I've also been listening to Ms Izibor, having lucked upon some of her promo CDs only a couple of weeks ago, and I agree, she's very promising.
Hedgehog Pie!
Now you're talking.
Sticky floors
is indeed a problem at the Birmingham Acadamy made even more off putting by not knowing exactly what liquid or fluid it is that is making the floor sticky. I have been twice and one of those times was to see Elvis Costello and went because he usually has a habit of bypassing Birmingham and I have to drive to Manchester, Liverpool or London. Anyway I digress. About two years ago I recommended to an acquaintance of mine that he should go and see Tom Russell since he was playing in his home town of Pocklington. He went to the concert with his wife and when I asked him what he thought he said it was a great show and that Tom Russell reminded him of John Legend. Not knowing John Legend I checked him out. You have got to be fucking joking - not at all like Tom Russsell and I have to concur that he is not my cup of tea.