The Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings show at the Egg on Saturday was the final event of last weekend's grueling social schedule - and what a way to wrap things up! Again, I can claim only a cursory familiarity (thanks to WEXT, 97.7) with Jones and her music, but I do know that she and the band melted the snow at the Egg last weekend. Talk about smoking hot! If you're not acquainted with the band, here's some information that should get you up to speed. And - they were the back-up band for Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album in 2006. What you may not gather from the link is the fact that Sharon Jones definitely has taken the crown from James Brown as the hardest working (wo)man in show business. At 55 years old, she was an absolute dynamo never slowing down from the time her feet initially hit the stage.
A couple of real writers have reviews posted, look here and here. If I had to really write a review, I would have to mention that the preliminary acts left me a bit puzzled. Charles Bradley seemed like a bit of a caricature to me and I wasn't unhappy when he wrapped his set up. The female singers were good, but not overwhelmingly so, which is what I guess you'd want from your opening act. One of the night's highlights, for me, was witnessing Dimitrios Menagais (from the Wine n Diner) rock the stage with Sharon Jones early on in the show. I think she was quite taken with him - his zoot-ish suit and surprisingly terrific voice seemed to really be appreciated by Ms. Jones and I'm sure she didn't regret pulling him from the audience to join her on stage - very cool. This show was very much a dance party - it was pretty much impossible to stay in your seat during Sharon's set. Unless, of course, you were stuck between your freakishly tall friend and a guy with no sense of spatial allowance, but, that's another story all together.
Although I hadn't really heen exposed to Sharon Jones until fairly recently, I understand she's played at the Green River Fest in Greenfield, MA and Mountain Jam at Hunter Mountain. Both of those music festivals are annual events, so keep your eyes open for another nearby appearance, get yourself a ticket and get ready to have a good time.
I wasn't super familiar with Ms. Jones either, but had a fantastic time. Totally great show for a date. And now I definitely want a dress covered in fringe. You know, for shakin' it.
ReplyDeleteThat was a really, really, great show. Sharon Jones gave her all that night and the audience couldn't get enough of her. I thought the Dapettes were good and the band was really tight. As for the opening act, not good. I read reviews about Bradley and they were all good. I don't get that. We thought he was a very bad James Brown impersonator. As for Mr. I Gotta Dance Without Any Rhythmn Crazy All Over the Place, we were to his left. Extremely distracting. I was afraid he was going to crash into my husband any second. Not sure if that is the same person you meant re no sense of spatial allowance. We were in the row with no seats in front of us. The aisle became Mr. Fancy Feet's personal stage/dance floor.
ReplyDeleteWe should of had a DelSo meet up! Who knew there would be so many of us there...
ReplyDelete@3rd Auntie - I was in the absolute last row, so that person wasn't responsible for my being crowded.
I love her. Completely broken-hearted about missing this show. But glad that you have been going out and living it up. I think you must be re-living your twenties!
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