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Thats right folks!
I saw THE James Brown perform live in London on May 7th.
What can I say, it was unbelievable. I was surprised the guy was still standing let alone still touring.
Half expecting JB to arrive on stage wielding a zimmer frame, I stood in the crowd in front of the stage as a very well rehersed band played as tight as you'll hear funk at me and worked the entire audience up into a frenzy. I must admit, I'm not much of a dancer and with the exception of Tower of Power's last UK gig, I go to live music primarily to listen (at T.O.P I danced like a crazy fool for 2 hours then nearly died!).
However, in a similar manner to TOP here I found myself, along with the rest of the audience, quite vocally demanding the presence of the Godfather of Soul.
James eventually took to the stage and ran energetically through a set of the funkiest tunes I ever did hear! Not only that but he went through the whole performance, by that I mean he did all the tricks he'd been known for over the years - skitting up and down the stage like he must have done in his younger years. Everyone of the band (and it was a HUGE band) gave it 100% from start to finish, which is always nice to see.
There was a mild dip in quality about half way through when some other singer, a woman that I'd never heard of, took to the stage and sang a duet with Mr. Brown. Now, its not that she was particularly bad in any way, its just that though JB was only singing the occasional line in this duet, he so severely outclassed tha lady that you were just left thinking that she didn't really belong on the stage.
They closed the evening off with a suberb and elongated version of Sex Machine that brought the house down (almost literally), made all the more special by the fact that James Brown, THE James Brown refused to count the band in to Sex Machine until he'd confirmed that he would have some Fish & Chips after the show (surreal, but amusing).
He even managed to fit a new number into the show. It was kind of standard funky-ass James Brown stuff, this time on the theme of "Killing is out, Scool is in" - so keep an ear out for it in the near future. I was surprised to see that before performing this tune, James asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the recent school tragedy in Germany (and even more surprised to see the rowdy London audience grant the moment).
All in all a top gig, one of the best I'll ever see. If you're lucky enough to get the chance to see him, then don't pass it up. I only say that because I very nearly did!
I saw THE James Brown perform live in London on May 7th.
What can I say, it was unbelievable. I was surprised the guy was still standing let alone still touring.
Half expecting JB to arrive on stage wielding a zimmer frame, I stood in the crowd in front of the stage as a very well rehersed band played as tight as you'll hear funk at me and worked the entire audience up into a frenzy. I must admit, I'm not much of a dancer and with the exception of Tower of Power's last UK gig, I go to live music primarily to listen (at T.O.P I danced like a crazy fool for 2 hours then nearly died!).
However, in a similar manner to TOP here I found myself, along with the rest of the audience, quite vocally demanding the presence of the Godfather of Soul.
James eventually took to the stage and ran energetically through a set of the funkiest tunes I ever did hear! Not only that but he went through the whole performance, by that I mean he did all the tricks he'd been known for over the years - skitting up and down the stage like he must have done in his younger years. Everyone of the band (and it was a HUGE band) gave it 100% from start to finish, which is always nice to see.
There was a mild dip in quality about half way through when some other singer, a woman that I'd never heard of, took to the stage and sang a duet with Mr. Brown. Now, its not that she was particularly bad in any way, its just that though JB was only singing the occasional line in this duet, he so severely outclassed tha lady that you were just left thinking that she didn't really belong on the stage.
They closed the evening off with a suberb and elongated version of Sex Machine that brought the house down (almost literally), made all the more special by the fact that James Brown, THE James Brown refused to count the band in to Sex Machine until he'd confirmed that he would have some Fish & Chips after the show (surreal, but amusing).
He even managed to fit a new number into the show. It was kind of standard funky-ass James Brown stuff, this time on the theme of "Killing is out, Scool is in" - so keep an ear out for it in the near future. I was surprised to see that before performing this tune, James asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the recent school tragedy in Germany (and even more surprised to see the rowdy London audience grant the moment).
All in all a top gig, one of the best I'll ever see. If you're lucky enough to get the chance to see him, then don't pass it up. I only say that because I very nearly did!
You went in the end then Tarrant? Good stuff! Glad you enjoyed it mate.
Cool. Gotta love James Brown.
I bought a great CD for a fiver of James Brown Christmas songs. Unseasonal now, of course, but they're fantastic all the same. I recommend immediately downloading Let's Make This Christmas Mean Something This Year and Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto. 'Crackers' the pair of them.
I bought a great CD for a fiver of James Brown Christmas songs. Unseasonal now, of course, but they're fantastic all the same. I recommend immediately downloading Let's Make This Christmas Mean Something This Year and Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto. 'Crackers' the pair of them.
Thats right folks!
I saw THE James Brown perform live in London on May 7th.
What can I say, it was unbelievable. I was surprised the guy was still standing let alone still touring.
Half expecting JB to arrive on stage wielding a zimmer frame, I stood in the crowd in front of the stage as a very well rehersed band played as tight as you'll hear funk at me and worked the entire audience up into a frenzy. I must admit, I'm not much of a dancer and with the exception of Tower of Power's last UK gig, I go to live music primarily to listen (at T.O.P I danced like a crazy fool for 2 hours then nearly died!).
However, in a similar manner to TOP here I found myself, along with the rest of the audience, quite vocally demanding the presence of the Godfather of Soul.
James eventually took to the stage and ran energetically through a set of the funkiest tunes I ever did hear! Not only that but he went through the whole performance, by that I mean he did all the tricks he'd been known for over the years - skitting up and down the stage like he must have done in his younger years. Everyone of the band (and it was a HUGE band) gave it 100% from start to finish, which is always nice to see.
There was a mild dip in quality about half way through when some other singer, a woman that I'd never heard of, took to the stage and sang a duet with Mr. Brown. Now, its not that she was particularly bad in any way, its just that though JB was only singing the occasional line in this duet, he so severely outclassed tha lady that you were just left thinking that she didn't really belong on the stage.
They closed the evening off with a suberb and elongated version of Sex Machine that brought the house down (almost literally), made all the more special by the fact that James Brown, THE James Brown refused to count the band in to Sex Machine until he'd confirmed that he would have some Fish & Chips after the show (surreal, but amusing).
He even managed to fit a new number into the show. It was kind of standard funky-ass James Brown stuff, this time on the theme of "Killing is out, Scool is in" - so keep an ear out for it in the near future. I was surprised to see that before performing this tune, James asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the recent school tragedy in Germany (and even more surprised to see the rowdy London audience grant the moment).
All in all a top gig, one of the best I'll ever see. If you're lucky enough to get the chance to see him, then don't pass it up. I only say that because I very nearly did!
I saw THE James Brown perform live in London on May 7th.
What can I say, it was unbelievable. I was surprised the guy was still standing let alone still touring.
Half expecting JB to arrive on stage wielding a zimmer frame, I stood in the crowd in front of the stage as a very well rehersed band played as tight as you'll hear funk at me and worked the entire audience up into a frenzy. I must admit, I'm not much of a dancer and with the exception of Tower of Power's last UK gig, I go to live music primarily to listen (at T.O.P I danced like a crazy fool for 2 hours then nearly died!).
However, in a similar manner to TOP here I found myself, along with the rest of the audience, quite vocally demanding the presence of the Godfather of Soul.
James eventually took to the stage and ran energetically through a set of the funkiest tunes I ever did hear! Not only that but he went through the whole performance, by that I mean he did all the tricks he'd been known for over the years - skitting up and down the stage like he must have done in his younger years. Everyone of the band (and it was a HUGE band) gave it 100% from start to finish, which is always nice to see.
There was a mild dip in quality about half way through when some other singer, a woman that I'd never heard of, took to the stage and sang a duet with Mr. Brown. Now, its not that she was particularly bad in any way, its just that though JB was only singing the occasional line in this duet, he so severely outclassed tha lady that you were just left thinking that she didn't really belong on the stage.
They closed the evening off with a suberb and elongated version of Sex Machine that brought the house down (almost literally), made all the more special by the fact that James Brown, THE James Brown refused to count the band in to Sex Machine until he'd confirmed that he would have some Fish & Chips after the show (surreal, but amusing).
He even managed to fit a new number into the show. It was kind of standard funky-ass James Brown stuff, this time on the theme of "Killing is out, Scool is in" - so keep an ear out for it in the near future. I was surprised to see that before performing this tune, James asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the recent school tragedy in Germany (and even more surprised to see the rowdy London audience grant the moment).
All in all a top gig, one of the best I'll ever see. If you're lucky enough to get the chance to see him, then don't pass it up. I only say that because I very nearly did!