The weather forecast for Thursday July 7th, 2011 called for hazy, hot and humid conditions with a chance of a thunderstorm. The predictions alone threatened any planned outdoor event especially the concert featuring Angie Stone and Joe at The Dell Music Center. Needless to say Ms. Stone must have been chanting “No More Rain in This Cloud” over and over again because not a drop fell on the outdoor venue that night. “Great,” I thought, “Let the music begin…”
Joe was the first to perform; backed by a full band, Joe bopped on the stage wearing a well fitted shiny gray suit, white shirt and dark sunglasses. I was thinking “dag, Joe, you look GOOD!” but I digress, he began the show with a few songs I didn’t recognize but I started groovin’ to “Let’s Stay Home Tonight,” the third song. His “love sexy” filled the arena as he gently caressed the large 1940’s style microphone while he sang directly to the ladies in the crowd. The swoons soon became universal head nods once The Pharcyde’s “Passing Me By” beat dropped and he performed the “Stutter” remix. Joe, like R. Kelly, rolled through each song seamlessly only Joe performed the songs in their entirety. Sometime after the 5th song Joe thanked everyone for supporting his career since 1993 (wow, has it really been that long), announced that his new album “The Good, The Bad and The Sexy” will be available September 13th then abruptly left the stage. There were a few applause and a few “What?? That’s it” exclamations from the audience while the band continued to play a song and a half after Joe’s departure. The whole scene was weird because the instrumental to Big Pun’s “Don’t Wanna Be A Player” was playing and the spotlights were moving like someone was supposed to be on stage but no one was there…okay, and…scene.
The intermission did not seem terribly long mainly because it featured a poetry set from Ms. Pat McLean. The soulful evening continued when the stage was suddenly drenched in red flood lights with three well centered purple spotlights then three background singers emerged wearing all black. The audience began to clap and sway as the musicians played “Joy and Pain” by Frankie Beverly & Maze then finally Angie Stone strolls to the microphone wearing black tights with a black and silver metallic off the shoulder top. Angie Stone is a true soul singer who doesn’t need much processing or overdubbing and she knows how to choose background singers who can not only compliment her vocally but also match her in a flat footed gospel wailing contest; in a phrase, Angie’s singers can blow! Angie’s set included bonding with her “sisters” in the audience with the song “Pissed Off,” throwbacks to her “rap” days in the 1970’s, a live remix of former flame D’Angelo’s “Brown Sugar” with her track “Everyday” and the elevation & celebration of the “kings” in the audience during her hit “Brother.” The show was mellow & groovy, raw & inspirational, full of brotherly love and sisterly affection. Unfortunately I was acting quite “Joe” because the lateness of the hour sparked my early departure, but I could fully appreciate the sound of the music mixing with the sounds of summer in the inner city as I drove away. “No More Rain in this Cloud,” one of her last songs for the evening, was not just a prediction, it became the inspirational soundtrack to my ride home and a reminder of how powerful music can be when it’s well done. Thanks Angie!
