The blaring tones of saxophones and trumpets, the strum of
the electric guitar from all sides, bombarding sound; a soulful, raspy, adroit, aged voice; the crisp stinging of the holding of a note. It’s raw
emotion at it’s finest. Sentiment, upliftment… church! A spiritual experience borne
of social activism and political unrest. Loud. Full. A shame for those who only
have the option of listening through headphones, for Beats by Dre nor Aviators can compete with this—this—live show. It’s heavy, and
intense, with the background slap of a soul-harmonic; and it's all led by Aloe Blacc.
Aloe rang in the celebration of the last BAM Rhythm and
Blues Festival act of the summer, and although he didn’t look like a seer when
he entered the stage, Aloe, with his first note, started channeling the sound
of predecessors Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, and Donny Hathaway, but for this
generation. He starts off with “Politician” and ends the song with Stevie
Wonder’s chords to “Living For The City.”
Showing where he
likes to hang in his off hours, he continues the show with a vibrant “Tonight, Downtown,” also touching the crowd with I'm Beautiful” and “You Make Me Smile,” elated by a
young child front and center, dancing and waving his hands.
Bill Withers was the inspiration behind this next song. In “Hey Brother,” Aloe croons about a woman
doing a brother all types of wrong. On the same line of storytelling, he sings,
“Miss Fortune,” about a man who “let his fortune become his "'misfortune.'"*
Crowd participation accompanies more well known singles “I Need A Dollar,” and “Loving You Is
Killing Me;" but his long-held notes on “Cali
Dreaming” straight penetrate the heart. After playing a lesser known but groovy tune about seizing the day ("Opportunity"), he ends with a slow rendition of Michael Jackson's “Billie Jean;” yet he
couldn’t get through his set without dropping some knowledge on the kiddies.
“There’s better music than “to the window, to the wall!”
Aloe wittingly shared. “This is a different kind of ‘Birthday Cake.’ This is
the cake that lasts forever, good music.”
Clap to that. --GB
*Aloe also performed "Good Things," "Green Lights," and others during his set.
*Aloe also performed "Good Things," "Green Lights," and others during his set.
Propers: Lucia Reed, Lucia Reed Photography
