PHOTOS: KRISTIN HORGEN | Every now and then, you hear one of those feel-good stories that just moves you. Charles Bradley is one of those stories.
This is a man who has been through some tough times, and they are etched into the lines of his face. He never gave up, and the result, at the age of 65, is establishing himself as a world-class soul singer. Having toiled in clubs for years as the James Brown impersonator “Black Velvet,” Bradley joined forces with Daptone Records, and a solo career was born. On Thursday night at the 9:30 Club, those in attendance bore witness to the true meaning of soul.
Kicking off the night was Brooklyn’s The Jay Vons. Starting their set with an instrumental version of the Four Tops’ “I’ll Be There,” the neo-soul quartet was the perfect way to get the crowd in the mood. Drummer Mikey Post was a focal point of the set, his perfect rhythms filling out the sound one moment, and lurking underneath in a tight, subdued beat the next. The band were polite, clean-cut looking guys, save for the organ player, who looked like an older veteran of life on the road.
One interesting observation: as you scanned the crowd, there were scattered sightings of older folk, but the vast majority was a young crowd. You can’t help but wonder if his music has reached the older demographic (maybe he should do an appearance on Today or Good Morning, America), or if there is a retro appeal to the classic soul/R&B sound that labels like Daptone are reviving. But I digress…
The room darkened, and The Extraordinaires took the stage, launching into an instrumental intro, briefly giving it a feel of a Las Vegas show. After a couple of minutes, organist Mike Deller stepped up to the microphone and introduced the star of the evening.
The crowd went absolutely wild as Charles Bradley made his way to center stage. Charles was endearing, proclaiming “We come with nothing but love to give you.” His moves and style were infectious, spinning around, spreading his arms, and falling to his knees to drive home the emotion of the music.
As Bradley wailed and soared through his set, it became strikingly apparent that he didn’t just sing soul music…he is soul music. It radiates from him, out of every pore, every bead of sweat and with every sound and movement he makes. He showed genuine appreciation for every person in the sold-out venue, proclaiming “I love you too!” after each round of applause. He later told the crowd that “I don’t call you fans, I call you brothers and sisters.” When he talked to the crowd, you couldn’t help but love him more, and as he sang, you could close your eyes and it was like stepping into a time machine to a different era.
Through all this, the Extraordinaires displayed every mark of a world-class band. The trumpet and sax player were in beautifully perfect step with each other, the guitars were fluid, and the rhythm section filled the room without overcrowding the rest of the sound. The band and Charles were in lock-step, following his lead, bringing the sound up and down as required.
The journey through Charles’ life as told through soul continued, increasing in energy as the show went on. He asked the audience, “Do you wanna go to church? That old-fashioned church,” and he preached the gospel of musical salvation. When he pleads “Don’t leave me,” the passion and emotion in his voice is so raw and honest, your heart can’t help but feel for him and what he may have gone through to evoke such powerful feelings.
Charles left the stage, but the Extraordinaires stayed, playing a fast-paced funky jam during the break. They played a fantastic instrumental version of Del Shannon’s “Runaway,” then Bradley returned to the stage, having changed into a gold, sequined suit. Upon his return, they went into “Confusion,” then slowed it down a bit. The next song may have been slower, but it ebbed and flowed from soft to powerful. The crowd went wild as he took his jacket off, screaming “Baby, baby, baby!”
Charles and the band left the stage, and returned shortly after to wrap up the show with an encore of his autobiographical hit, “Why Is It So Hard.” After the lights had come back up, the smiles on the faces of those in attendance told the story of what a special show we had just been witness to.
Sometimes, you go to a show, hear some good music, and have a good time. Once in a while, if you’re lucky, you may see someone like Charles Bradley and have a truly uplifting spiritual experience.
I highly recommend watching the documentary Charles Bradley: Soul of America, an amazing look into his life and what he went through to get where he is today.
