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Apples in Stereo The
Holmes Brothers |
Ted
Leo + Pharmacists / Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings 11.08.2005 / Mr. Small's Theatre / Club Cafe / Pittsburgh, PA
Unseasonably warm weather made this a pleasant bike trip. I got to the South Side a little early and dropped into Dee’s for a beer. Some chick there was dressed as Pocahontas and even though I didn’t notice her at first she felt the need to explain the outfit and the fact that she works at Costume World and is required to dress up as something different every day. I’ll remember this the next time I’m bitching about putting on a tie. I got into Club Café and Sharon Jones had just joined the Dap-Kings and was on her second song, “How Do You Let A Good Man Down?” In attendance was too small a crowd (half-full) and too old a demographic (40+) for such a wonderful and dynamic performer. Nothing wrong with the older folks but the high-energy performance by Sharon would have benefited from a livelier crowd. Sharon’s voice was silky smooth and the Dap-Kings proved to be more than just a backing band, their tight rhythm and horns putting an exclamation point on every outrageous move by Sharon. And can this woman move! She commands attention the whole performance. It may be just a coincidence that she’s from the same hometown of Augusta, Georgia as James Brown but her energy level would make the Godfather proud. Playing most of the songs off Naturally, Sharon and the guys performed a power hour of soul like no other. She was dancing out in the crowd, the crowd was dancing up on stage and all the Republicans were silenced as Sharon envisioned a meeting with G.W., admonishing him for New Orleans before the band went into “What If We All Stop Paying Taxes?” It was one hell of a show and if it wasn’t for a member of openers The New Alcindors, one that would have ended without an encore. But the repeated chants of “Sharon Jones” brought Sharon and the guys back for one more. Sharon, to me, looked exhausted but she churned another one out to the delight of the crowd. Afterwards it was a long bike ride and an ill-advised stop at Sufak’s for a beer. By the time I got to Mr. Small’s (10:20) Ted Leo had already been on stage for (Manny’s words) “a bit.” Turns out I had already missed favorites “Me & Mia” and “Rude Boys.” The place was as packed as the Ryan Adams show and finding a decent spot proved difficult. I retreated to the back for a beer as Ted and The Pharmacists were playing a spirited “The One Who Got Us Out.” The show continued to plod along and I’m afraid it became a victim of my expectations. Last year’s show was so on and something was missing here. I’m not sure if it was the curse of Mr. Small’s or the fact that Ted had a cold but I kept waiting for a big payoff that never came. The setlist included great versions of “Counting Down The Hours,” “The High Party,” and “Shake The Sheets” but all these songs were played last year and it’s what wasn’t played that I missed. “Criminal Piece,” “2nd Ave., 11AM” and “The Anointed One.” Any one of those would have been nice. Oops! Am I letting my inner nerd fanboy show? Regardless, these guys on an off night are way better than ninety percent of the bands out there. They did play a song or two off an upcoming release due out next year and by the sounds of it, another success. And I’ll be first in line at Chevy Amphitheater for tickets. |
