Oakland went hard last night. Transitioning from high stakes
local basketball (because the Warriors are a local team,
despite all the TV references to san francisco), D'angelo
picked up the energy where the game left off, and brought the
funk to Oakland on the first night of his headlining US tour
for the first time in 15 years.
The energy the Vanguard brought to the stage, led by one of
the best performers of our generation, was held down by Chris
Daddy Dave and Pino Palladino. As to be expected from those
two, they played consistently, while inserting their own
nuance and flair. Each of them had a solo at some point in the
night. The show was the structured with funky break downs
interludes similar to those in the Voodoo tour in 2000, but
this time coming more consistently throughout.
The band play an hour long set. Then came back for another 45+
minute encore and then to finish off with a few songs to leave
4000 people leaving awestruck.
Big shouts to Kendra Foster. I had heard about her presence in
the Vanguard and in D's recording process. I appreciated her
but I didn't quite understand. I saw the Vanguarf perform
opening for mary j blige I about 2 years ago in the bay area.
They brought the energy and the hype and were amazing, but it
was a short set and very much focused on D'angelo's shine.
Last night, Kendra Foster was as close to stealing the show as
I think anyone would be from D.
The show had incredible lighting design, and other than some
sound glitches the sound was pretty impressive. The only
song I will mention specifically, is the Charade. As to be
expected, it was powerful live. But dedicating the song to
Oscar Grant in Oakland, on the first night of the tour, with
black fists raised high, was a powerful moment. (Just 2 days
before the show, Oakland police killed a black man who head
pulled over and was sleeping in his car, and also had a loaded
gun on the seat of car. In order to deal with him, the police
shot at his car with bean bag guns, and then with live
ammunition, killing him. The crisis is very present here).
In a 2.5 hour set, D'angelo and the Vanguard held up to
anyone's high expectations, and went beyond. Intense show,
powerful energy and the funk was BROUGHT. From Black Power to
a fully infectious dance party, and just on the first night,
everyone who sees the show is in for a treat.
I will be excited to catch them tonight at the Nokia in LA,
and then in 2 weeks at the Warehouse in Houston. See you
there?