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Review: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at Stubb’s
Deborah Cannon AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Let us ponder for a moment the oft-overlooked engineering marvel of the classic woman’s high-heeled shoe. A model of material economy, that 2- to 3-inches of pointed wood or plastic can support a human body through day-to-day rigors - walking, trotting, scaling and descending stairs - is itself no small feat.
It’s a fair bet craftsman from Italy and the world over don’t have the mechanics of Sharon Jones’ feet, ankles, legs and hips - and the nightly stress test they provide - in mind when creating for the typical shoe consumer.
But as the dynamic soul singer showed Wednesday night at Stubb’s, she’s anything but typical, in movement as well as voice. Preceded on stage by eight piece soul and R&B band the Dap-Kings, the Augusta, Ga., native was introduced by guitarist Binky Griptite as a woman “so bad, she’s badder than bad!”
The diminutive Jones belied that description, smiling and beaming from the moment she shucked and jived onto the stage in a simple dress and heels, dancing nonstop as she tore into early songs like “How Do You Let a Good Man Down?” and the new “Nobody’s Baby.”
As authentic, skilled and heartfelt as the Dap-Kings’ soul revue routine is, it was clear from Jones’ first earthy, gritty tones that her oversized voice is the main attraction, and the gospel-trained singer knows how to put it to best effect.
Consistently powerful and controlled throughout the night, Jones never once strayed into the raw growling that often lends misguided “authenticity” to similar retro-minded soul acts.
The combo’s skill combined with Jones’ effervescence made it pretty easy to forgive that almost all of the songs in the 90-minute set were about men good and bad, and highs and lows of loving or losing them.
The few times when she strayed from that well-trod path were also somehow emotionally higher. A cover of James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s World” and the gospel song “Answer Me” brought more brooding and joy, respectively, into the proceedings.
And the absolute apex came near the end of the first set, when Jones and the band did a between-song look at the plight of enslaved Africans and overwhelmed Native Americans through song and dance. Words defy Jones’ movements here — though “tribal” probably comes closest — as she vocally and physically channeled her ancestral history for the crowd in a blur of energy that drew rapturous cheers.
That it was the only point in the night when Jones went barefoot says a lot; that when she gets going, even the best shoes can’t contain Sharon Jones.
Our Live from Austin 2008 photo gallery now includes pics from last night’s Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings show at Stubb’s BBQ.
- Photos: Live from Austin 2008
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