are you ready for some dynamite soul?

we went to see a living legend last night.

who? er, whom?

why, soul brother number one, mr. dynamite, the ninister of the new super-heavy funk, the hardest-working man in show business, the godfather of soul, mister james brown!

while hmc had seen him years ago, i realized recently that i’ve never seen him live. sure, he’s still working hard, but isn’t he like 500 years old? how much longer can her carry on? you got to go see him while he’s still alive and witness the spectacle! otherwise won’t you regret it later, that you didn’t see james brown when you had the chance? i’m still kicking myself for missing the 1945 mahatma gandhi “partition this!” tour. what am i going to tell my grandkids? sure, i could have seen james brown live, but instead i stayed home and watched a very special episode of “the biggest loser”. the one where they threw lard at each other. plus, he was playing at the historic paramount theatre in oakland. where better to see him?

so how was he? pretty dynamite. with lots of fanfare and build-up, he finally came out and immediately gave everyone what they were screaming for: hooting and hollerin’, the hot-damn dance steps, and as much soul that you can carry in a bucket.

it was a big-ass production, finely and professionally coordinated like a little big of vegas brought to your town. james looked good for being 500 years old, but i’m thinking that on some songs he’s got the backup singers doing the really strenuous parts whereas before he would have just sung those himself. and it’s pretty funny that since the actual backup singers don’t really provide much t&a, there are an additional two t&a dancers that come out and jiggle for your pleasure. clad first in american flag tights (living in america!) and then hotpants that said “JB” on the ass. (although, granted, they are not without skill: one does backflips, and the silicone-enhanced one does a little bit of spanish rapping).

possibly the biggest giveaway, however, was the fact that there was no encore. not just the obligatory one, but NONE AT ALL. good night oakland! don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out!

hmc said that he did like 10 encores when she saw him back in the day. but now at least i can tell my grandkids that i saw james brown live.

(“live? what’s that? is that when you actually bought music on discuses?”)

Posted at November 19, 2005 11:06 PM