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Sunday, July 12, 2009
Live review: Jamie Foxx at the Erwin Center
Frank Sinatra. Barbra Streisand. Bing Crosby. Jamie Foxx.
Those are the only four entertainers who have both won an Academy Award for acting and released a number one album. Although the first three are singing legends known more for their music than their movies - and Foxx is the other way around - the Terrell native made good on his boast Saturday night at the Erwin Center that “we’re not playing around. We’re gonna put on a great show for y’all.”
Although “Slow Jamz” dominated the set list (with constant referral to “Texas women” between songs), the black leather clad Foxx came out charging with “I Don’t Need It” getting almost the entire crowd of 4,300 on their feet. The new single “Digital Girl”- which sounds as lame as the title- tried in vain to keep the party going. But then it was time to focus on suggestive love songs in falsetto a la R. Kelly. On the intro to “Slow,” from his new album “Intuition,” Foxx hosted a booty-grinding dance-off between five female audience members and turned it into a comedy bit. The first dancer was cut-off after five seconds when body parts spilled out of her black dress. When the next contestant seemed to be underage (she brought her mother up there with her) Foxx retreated to the far end of the stage and looked away. When a plus-sized woman did the bump-and-grind, Foxx joined in, singing the praises of a big woman.
But this was a night of music, rather than comedy (though opening comic Speedy was a blast), so it was back to new tunes like “Freakin’ Me,” “Overdose” and “She Got Her Own” (dedicated to Michelle Obama), as Foxx has an album to sell.
Switching into a glittery blue-green suit, Foxx also reprised his Oscar-winning role as Ray Charles, rocking his head side to side as he sang “What’d I Say” and “I Got a Woman,” which segued into “Goldigger,” the smash duet with Kanye West.
The audience, as delirious as you’d think an older crowd (late 20s to early 40s) could get, just about stole the show during a tribute to Michael Jackson near the end. The DJ played snippets of “PYT,” “Rock With You,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” (while Foxx did shy approximations of cool moves) and then he cut the music midsong so the audience could finish it. Let’s just say that there was no need for anyone to say “I can’t hear you.” The Jamie Foxx audience did Austin proud.
I’ve seen R. Kelly and Mary J. Blige on the same Erwin Center stage and in terms of sheer musical talent, Foxx is not quite in their league. He could use a couple more funk numbers to go with the serpentine, pleading love songs that go on and on. But when you consider his massive personality and ease of communication, Foxx is as good an R&B showman as there is out there.
The theme of the show, as laid out by Speedy, was to forget about the economy for two hours plus. “As much as you paid for tickets ($60 each), you can’t pay the rent no how, so you might as well have fun tonight.”
Rather than give goosebumps, Foxx throws a party; a loud, sloppy, crazy fun affair. Saturday night felt like the Texas homecoming that it was.
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Spoon, Foxx: weekend update
Swooning to Spoon. Fifteen Spoon fans were treated for heat exhaustion at the band’s jam-packed, three-night stand at Stubb’s Thursday through Saturday. But none required transport to the hospital, said Tannifer Ayers of Southwest Emergency Action Team (S.W.E.A.T.). Eight Spoon fans passed out Thursday, the hottest of the three nights, when the temperature was 99 degrees at showtime,
Michael Jackson and the recession were hot topics at the Jamie Foxx show at the Erwin Center Saturday night. Money worries had limited the crowd to about 4,300 folks willing to pay $59.95 plus service charges. The stage was set up at about halfcourt and the upper balcony was closed off.
The highlight of the show was when the DJ played snippets of such Michael Jackson songs as “Billie Jean,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” and “Thriller.” Foxx didn’t really do much during the segment, but stand there and sorta lead the zombie chorus line on “Thriller,” but the audience took over the vocals with gusto. A great moment during an otherwise plodding show.
